The three biggest match ups of the first Bledisloe Cup clash of 2021
The next instalment of the Bledisloe Cup will get underway on Saturday night as the All Blacks and Wallabies do battle at Eden Park for the first time in 2021.
The New Zealanders go in as heavy favourites against their trans-Tasman rivals for a multitude of reasons as the Australians aim to end a 19-year Bledisloe Cup drought and a 35-year hoodoo at Eden Park.
Dave Rennie’s men won’t go down without a fight, though, and, as they showed in Wellington last year, the Wallabies will back themselves to provide a first-up shock in the year’s opening Bledisloe Cup encounter.
With that in mind, here are three of the biggest match ups that could be key in determining which side gets the upper-hand in the 2021 series.
Aaron Smith vs Tate McDermott
The master vs the apprentice.
On one side, there’s Aaron Smith, long-regarded as planet’s finest halfback who is set to notch his 100th test appearance in this match.
His opposite is Tate McDermott, the plucky Queenslander whose ball-running exploits makes him one of the most exciting young talents to come out of Australia in quite some time.
Rennie was outspoken in his verdict throughout last month’s test series against France that the 22-year-old needs to improve on his core roles as a halfback to become a regular starter at test level.
Few halfbacks pose the same kind of threat that McDermott can with ball in hand, though, as the Reds have found out over the past few seasons, and it could be that attacking ability that could prove to be valuable for Australia.
By contrast, the core roles of a halfback are the key strengths of Smith’s game as his world-class distribution and extraordinarily high work rate have propelled him to a century of test caps.
Everyone knows how good Smith is and can be, so expect sparks to fly between these two as they try to get one over each other.
The Wallabies will be out to change 35 years of history at Eden Park on Saturday night in their Bledisloe Cup opener with the All Blacks. #AllBlacks #BledisloeCup #NZLvAUS https://t.co/3GRE06TrAl
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) August 6, 2021
Dalton Papalii vs Michael Hooper
The master vs the apprentice 2.0.
As is the case between Smith and McDermott at halfback, the New Zealand and Australian openside flankers contrast vastly in terms of experience, but are both supremely good players.
At 23 years of age, Dalton Papalii has been named to start in just his third test on the back of a barnstorming Super Rugby campaign with the Blues and a standout showing against Tonga last month.
A robust player, Papalii will look to utilise his uncompromising style of play to full effect against a Wallabies side that promises to front up physically after missing the last two tests against Fiji due to a minor calf injury.
Marking him is 108-test star and Wallabies captain Michael Hooper, who returns to Kiwi shores for the first time since last year after skipping the Super Rugby season to take up a sabbatical deal in Japan.
Often having to front the media as the losing captain, Hooper will be hoping to change that this weekend, but the 29-year-old has a difficult task of doing so with Papalii standing as his opposite.
A renowned attacking threat in open play and a machine over the ball at the breakdown, Hooper will need to call on all his talent and experience if he is to get one over Papalii and the All Blacks.
New Zealand Rugby is reportedly chasing another rugby league star shortly after Roger Tuivasa-Sheck’s early departure from the NRL last month. #NRL #AllBlacks https://t.co/MgrvUpUJzg
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) August 7, 2021
Rieko Ioane vs Jordan Petaia
After playing predominantly as a midfielder throughout Super Rugby and the July test series, All Blacks boss Ian Foster has pushed Rieko Ioane back onto the left wing, where he has spent the majority of his test career.
The tactical shift comes after Ioane produced his best performance of the July series in a cameo appearance on the wing during the 60-13 victory over Fiji in Hamilton on July 17.
Coming off the bench in place of the injured Will Jordan, Ioane looked dangerous whenever he received the ball as he bagged a try and put others into space in an energetic display that Foster will hope he can replicate against the Wallabies.
Marking Ioane is Wallabies youngster Jordan Petaia, the 21-year-old utility back who missed last month’s test series win over France as a result of a quadricep injury.
However, like his Reds teammate McDermott, Petaia is among Australia’s brightest young talents, as reflected by his selection in the 2019 World Cup squad as a teenager despite having never played test rugby.
In last year’s 43-5 defeat at the hands of the All Blacks in Sydney, Petaia was one of Australia’s best players on the park in a dire outing for the Wallabies, and he is likely to be heavily relied on again if the Aussies are to clinch an unlikely victory.
Comments on RugbyPass
Sorry Morgan you must have been the “go to for a quote” ex player this week. Its rnd 6 and there is plenty of time to cement a starting 15 and finishing 8 so I have no such concerns.
1 Go to commentsGreat read. I wish you had done this article on the ROAR.
2 Go to commentsThe current AB coaching team is basically the Crusaders so it smacks of wanting their familiar leaders around. This is not a good look for the future of the ABs or the younger players in Super working their way up the player ladder. Razor is touted as innovative, forward looking but his early moves look like insecurity and insular, provincial thinking. He is the AB's coach not the Golden Oldies.
10 Go to commentsSimple reason for wanting him back. Robertson wants him as captain. Otherwise he wouldn’t be bothering chasing him. Not enough reason to come back just to mentor.
10 Go to commentsI had not considered this topic like this at all, brilliant read. I had been looking at his record at the Waratahs and thought it odd the Crusaders appointed him, then couple that with all that experience and talent departing and boom. They’ve got some great talent developing though, and in all honesty I don’t think anyone would be over confident taking them on in a playoff match, no matter how poor the first half of their season was. I think they can pull a game out of their ass when it counts.
2 Go to commentsNot a bad list but not Porecki and not Donaldson. Not because they are Tahs, or Ex Tahs, they are just not good enough. Edmed should be ahead. Far more potential. Wilson should be 8 and Valentini 6. Wilson needs to be told by his father and his coach, stop bloody running in to brick wall defence. You’re not playing under the genius Thorn any more. He’s a fantastic angle runner. The young new 8 from the Brumbies looks really good too. The Lonegrans are just too small for international rugby as is Paisami, as is Hamish Stewart at 12. Both great at Super Rugby level. Stewart could have been a great 10 if not for Brad Thorn. Uru should be there and so should Tupou. Tupou just needs good Australian coaching which he hasn’t been getting. I don’t think Schmidt will excite him.
2 Go to commentsIf he wants to come back then he should. He will be a major asset to the younger locks and could easily be played as an impact player off the bench coming on in the last 30. He is fit, strong and capable and has all the experience to make up for any loss in physical prowess. He could also be brought back with a view to coaching within the structures one day. Duane Vermeulen played until he was 37 or 38. He is now a roaming coach within the South African coaching structures. He was valuable in the last world cup and has been a major influence on Jasper Wiese and other young players which has helped and accelerated their development and growth. Whitelock could do the exact same thing for NZ
10 Go to commentsBrett Excellent words… finally someone (other than DC) has noted that Hanigan is very hard and very good at doing what Backrow should do… his performance via the Drua sauna was quite daunting for those on the other side… very high tackle count… carries with good end result… constant threat to make a good 20-25 meters with those long legs… providing his mass effectively to crunching the Drua pack… Finally he is returning to quality form… way to much injury time over the last 2 years… smart-strong-competent in his skills… caught every lineout throw aimed at him and delivered clean pass to whoever was down below… and he worked hard for the whole 80 minutes… Ned has to be in the top 5 for backrow honors… He knows what is required as he has been there before…
20 Go to commentsI think Sam Whitelock should not touch a return with a bargepole. He went out on a high, playing in the RWC Final. He would be coming back into a team that will be weaker than last years, and might even be struggling to win games, especially against the Boks. Stay in France, enjoy another year with Pau, playing alongside his brother.
10 Go to commentsRyan Coxon has been very impressive considering he was signed by WF as injury cover whilst Uru has been a standout for QR, surprised neither of those mentioned
2 Go to commentsIt’s the massive value he brings with regard team culture/values, preparation, etc. Can’t buy that. I’m hoping to see the young locks get their chance in the big games though.
10 Go to commentsAll good, Gregor, except that you neglected to mention Sam Darry amongst that talented pool of locks. In fact, given Hannah’s inexperience and the fact that Holland won’t be eligible until next year, Lord and Darry might be the frontrunners this year, to join Barrett, Tuipoluto, Va’ii and possibly Whitelock. In fact there might be room for all of them if Barrett played 6 (like Ollie Chessum).
10 Go to commentsHis value is stabilizing the ship 20 - 40 minutes out from the final whistle plus his valuable experience to the underlings coming through.
10 Go to commentsWhat is criminal is she acts like it's no problem her actions have have cause the Italian player to lose her playing career, lose salary, if she did this in day to day life she would be in jail, she is a complete thug!!!
3 Go to commentsCorrect me if i’m wrong but the sadas have to win all games running into the finals yeh nah?
1 Go to commentsDon’t like Diamond but the maul is a joke, the sight of a choke tackle creating a maul then players in offside positions flopping on it killing the ball but then getting the put in? Banal.
3 Go to commentsHopefully Tabai Matson returns to Crusaders as head coach next season.
1 Go to commentsstorm in a teacup really. Penalty only so play on as the try was scored. Now the real question is: why was Maitland allowed to pass the ball off the floor? That is illegal but refs never pick it up.
1 Go to commentsWhen Beauden Barrett signed his contract before the 2023 RWC to play in Japan in 2024, it was NOT part of a sabbatical agreed to with NZRU prior to his signing, as was Ardie Savea and Sam Cane. Barrett changed his mind after the fact and negotiated his return to NZ Rugby and he was given permission to be eligible for All Black selection straight away once he signed a new contract to return to the Blues in 2025. Therefore, why would anyone argue against Whitelock returning to the All Blacks straight away after his season is France is finished if he signs a new contract with NZRU which includes a Super Rugby contract in 2025? If Barrett can, Whitelock should be allowed too.
10 Go to commentsThe All Blacks will select 5 locks this season. Scott Robertson will most likely want to select 2 veteran locks who can start right away in 2024 and 3 young promising locks who he would like to be pushing hard for selection in the starting XV in two years time- 2026. Scott Barrett is a world class lock. Who would you rather start beside him this season against England, South Africa, Ireland, and France- Sam Whitelock or Patrick Tuipulotu? I would choose Whitelock over Tuipulotu all day, every day.
10 Go to comments