The reasoning behind Ian Foster's first-choice All Blacks side
The underlying narrative throughout the July test series against Tonga and Fiji was that those tests were being used as auditions for players to make the first-choice All Blacks team for the Bledisloe Cup and Rugby Championship campaigns.
Now, on the eve of the opening Bledisloe Cup clash of the year, All Blacks head coach Ian Foster has revealed what he believes is his top side as New Zealand’s quest to retain one of their most prized trophies begins at Eden Park on Saturday.
All in all, 35 players were used by Foster as the All Blacks romped to victories over their Pacific Island neighbours in Auckland, Dunedin and Hamilton last month.
Only those who impressed the most over that three-week period have been named to square off against the Wallabies this weekend, though.
Most of those picked to ensure the Bledisloe Cup stays on Kiwi shores for a 19th straight year were considered lock-in selections by the New Zealand rugby public.
The likes of interim captain Sam Whitelock and imminent centurion Aaron Smith have expectedly kept their places at lock and halfback, as has star first-five Richie Mo’unga, hooker Codie Taylor, tighthead prop Nepo Laulala and experienced centre Anton Lienert-Brown.
Furthermore, the suspension of Shannon Frizell has ensured Akira Ioane’s place at blindside flanker, but that isn’t to say Foster hasn’t sprung some surprises throughout what he considers his frontline team.
Perhaps the biggest talking point of the whole team comes on the left wing, where Rieko Ioane has been picked after largely being used as a midfielder throughout the July tests.
Debate remains fierce as to what Ioane’s best position is, but, after a compelling cameo appearance on the wing in the 60-13 win over Fiji three weeks ago, Foster is content with playing the 24-year-old in the wider channels.
“He’s as sharp as I’ve seen him,” Foster told media on Thursday. “I think he had a calf that really impacted him in 2019. It slowed him down a little bit. I think he came back in 2020 and this year, he’s now looking, like I said, sharp and also confident.
“He’s getting a grip around 13, and, again, I’ve said this before, I really feel he’s grown quite a bit at 13, and the fact is that he’s a centre-wing, and I guess the debate will continue, but we’re pretty happy with him in both.”
Whether Ioane would have even featured in this week’s starting XV had Will Jordan not sustained a minor injury in the second Fijian test is unknown, but Ioane’s versatility seems to have played in his favour.
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“Will Jordan came off in the third test with a hamstring [injury]. He’s been able to train fully this week, but really didn’t want to test that at 100 percent, so we had a chance to not include him in the mix.
“He is fit and available, but it’s a chance to [give someone else a chance], and I think Rieko’s form at both centre and wing in July has been really strong.”
The other significant surprise comes in the loose forwards, where Dalton Papalii has been entrusted with starting duties at openside flanker in a selection move that pushes Ardie Savea to No 8 and demotes Luke Jacobson to the bench.
While Papalii isn’t undeserving of his place in the starting lineup, his recent injury concerns might have led some to expect the 23-year-old to have been eased back into action off the bench.
It also must have been difficult to overlook Jacobson’s top form from the No 8 jersey against Tonga and Fiji, but Foster is satisfied with what he’s seen out of Papalii throughout the course of the year.
“I think I’ve said before, Dalton, I thought, was probably our form loose forward in Super Rugby,” Foster said.
“He played well in the first test [against Tonga]. He then had a niggle, which meant we had to take him out for two weeks. [He] trained well, he deserves a chance.”
Any issues regarding Papalii’s fitness were alleviated during last week’s two-day training camp in Christchurch, where Foster said the five-test flanker shone through his work rate and application.
“If you look at his workload this year, he’s outstanding off the park, how he goes about his work. We’ve certainly got a lot of extra work into him over the last couple of weeks behind the scenes.
“We had a camp last week and Thursday’s training was pretty full-on and his goal was to get through that from a contact and a physical side and he did that pretty well.
“He came in this week and has just been 100 percent all week.”
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Probably the only other area of contention comes at loosehead prop, where three-test rookie George Bower has been selected ahead of the more experienced Karl Tu’inukuafe, who has returned after battling a slight shoulder injury.
Bower’s rise from an uncapped prospect to a starter in New Zealand’s biggest test of the year thus far in the space of a matter of weeks has hardly come as a surprise to his teammates, though.
“He’s probably one of the fittest props I’ve ever met,” Taylor, who will pack down alongside Bower in the front row, said.
“He runs a bloody good bronco time and just his charisma off the field – he’s a good man.
“He debuted a bit later in his career but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t want to learn and absorb as much as he can to make him a better player and he’s done that since he’s had an opportunity with the Crusaders and just taking steps forward every year.
“I think he’s settled in quite nicely into the group, without getting comfortable … He’s a great man and he just wants to absorb everything he can into his learning.”
Elsewhere, Foster said that Damian McKenzie’s selection at fullback ahead of Jordie Barrett was warranted due to his form and “decision-making”, while Brodie Retallick’s strong output in last week’s training camp has earned him a place in the second row.
David Havili, meanwhile, will suit up in the No 12 jersey for a third straight test after proving his worth in both matches against Fiji.
“He’s been playing there all year and he’s had two tests. He’s a heady rugby player, good distributor, good kicker and shown that, the physical side of the game, he was up to it in July, so he ticks those boxes,” Foster said.
Kick-off for Saturday’s Bledisloe Cup clash between the All Blacks and Wallabies is scheduled for 7:05pm.
Comments on RugbyPass
Lets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
10 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
10 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
34 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
34 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to comments