The winners and losers from Ian Foster's first-ever All Blacks squad announcement
It’s come about three months later that originally anticipated thanks to the disruption COVID-19 has caused, but new All Blacks coach Ian Foster was finally able to name his first All Blacks squad on Sunday.
The unveiling of the squad was met with much anticipation, with punters eager to see who from the highly successful Super Rugby Aotearoa stood out enough to warrant inclusion for a yet-to-be-confirmed test schedule.
With seven players named in the All Blacks for the first time, and a handful of others who have been omitted or were unlucky to miss out, here are some winners and losers from Foster’s 35-man squad.
Winners:
Akira Ioane
Arguably the biggest ‘winner’ from the newly-announced squad. After years of showing a multitude of potential but failing to fully deliver, it seemed his All Blacks prospects were over when ex-head coach Steve Hansen publicly grilled him for being too lazy last year.
However, Ioane has taken that criticism and used it to adjust his mindset and improve his defence, work rate and ability at the breakdown.
All of that culminated in a standout Super Rugby Aotearoa campaign with the Blues, and the 25-year-old has deservedly won his first All Blacks call-up since 2017.
Alex Hodgman
Few would have expected loosehead prop Alex Hodgman to earn All Blacks selection this season, with the former New Zealand and Fiji U20 representative hardly setting the world alight since making his professional debut for Canterbury in 2014.
That changed this year, though, as he shone as part of a vastly improved Blues forward pack through his defensive work ethic and strong scrummaging to win national honours for the first time at the age of 27.
After missing out on selection for the #NorthvSouth game, Alex Hodgman thought it was an indication he wouldn't be named in the first All Blacks squad of the year.https://t.co/oiqbW4bzh2
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 6, 2020
Tupou Vaa’i
The biggest bolter in Foster’s squad, Tupou Vaa’i didn’t even have a full-time Super Rugby contract at the beginning of the year.
In fact, he hadn’t even made his Chiefs debut until Super Rugby Aotearoa kicked-off in June.
It’s taken just under three months for the All Blacks selectors to deem him worthy of a call-up, though.
With Brodie Retallick, Scott Barrett and uncapped prospect Pari Pari Parkinson unavailable, New Zealand’s depth at lock has been exposed, but the selection of 20-year-old Vaa’i – who should become the first All Black born in the new millennium – looms as a long-term fix to that predicament.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CEyigv2gqFi/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Quinten Strange
Like Vaa’i, Crusaders youngster Quinten Strange has undoubtedly benefitted from Barrett’s lengthy toe injury and Retallick’s sabbatical in Japan.
As such, many projected either him or Parkinson to make the step up from Super Rugby to the test arena, but the latter’s season-ending ankle injury has paved the way for Strange to make the national squad, despite being out of action for most of the year through injury.
Cullen Grace
The youngest full-time Super Rugby player in the country this season, Crusaders rookie Cullen Grace was sublime for the reigning champions in his debut campaign.
The 20-year-old loose forward, who can also cover lock, brought intense physicality on defence and was an assured option at the lineout while playing blindside flanker.
Was ruled out for the latter part of Super Rugby Aotearoa with a broken thumb, but showed more than enough potential to warrant selection.
Hoskins Sotutu
When former All Blacks captain Kieran Read retired from international rugby last year, one of the biggest questions needing answered in this year’s Super Rugby campaign was who will replace him at No. 8 for the All Blacks.
No player answered that question so affirmatively like Hoskins Sotutu did for the resurgent Blues.
The 22-year-old was a behemoth both on attack and defence, so much so that he attracted interest from England boss Eddie Jones and Fiji head coach Vern Cotter.
Foster has landed his man, though, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Sotutu start alongside Ardie Savea and Sam Cane in the loose forward mix.
https://www.instagram.com/tv/CE0fMOIFl0V/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Karl Tu’inukuafe
After missing out on World Cup selection and being diagnosed with viral meningitis last year, Karl Tu’inukuafe’s re-call into the All Blacks environment is admirable.
Take into consideration that he also missed the majority of the Blues’ campaign due to an ankle injury, and it shows how much the All Blacks selectors must value his world-class scrummaging. Could emerge as a worthy challenger to Joe Moody for a starting role.
Dalton Papalii
Similarly to Tu’inukuafe, Blues flanker Dalton Papalii missed the cut to go to last year’s World Cup after being handed just three minutes of action against the Springboks in Wellington to prove his case.
However, a spellbinding Super Rugby season sees him edge the eye-catching Lachlan Boshier for a berth at openside flanker, and it’s hard to argue against the three-test star’s inclusion given how powerful he can be on either side of the ball.
Asafo Aumua
Another to be excluded from the World Cup cohort, Asafo Aumua finally looks ready to win his first All Black test cap, three years after playing two non-tests for the national side against the Barbarians and a French XV.
It comes after the Hurricanes hooker impressed with his physicality throughout Super Rugby, to the point where he has leapfrogged Highlanders rake Liam Coltman in the national pecking order.
Tyrel Lomax
It’s been nearly two years since Tyrel Lomax made his debut for the All Blacks against Japan, but the former Australia U20 representative should add to his sole test cap after standing out in his first season with the Hurricanes.
The tighthead prop moved to Wellington from the Highlanders ahead of the 2020 season, and has made every post a winner through his strong ability at scrum time.
Lomax’s try in Saturday’s North v South clash also exemplified how damaging of a ball runner he can be.
Damian McKenzie
While Caleb Clarke and Will Jordan are the new faces in the outside back contingent, it’s the re-call of Damian McKenzie that should merit plenty of plaudits given how well he has recovered from a serious knee injury.
A ruptured ACL ruled him out of the World Cup, and his nine-month spell on the sidelines left questions over whether he could return to his scintillating best as an electric ball-runner.
Despite the Chiefs’ winless run in Super Rugby Aotearoa, McKenzie eased those concerns, with his outstanding showing for the North over the weekend illustrating he is still as difficult as ever to contain for opposition defences.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CE0Xy1nD-Gx/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Losers:
Lachlan Boshier
Perhaps the unluckiest player not to make the 35-man squad, the writing was on the wall for Lachlan Boshier when he was excluded from the North’s match day squad to face the South over the weekend.
It’s a cruel blow for the uncapped 25-year-old, who was among the most impressive players in a dismal Chiefs outfit throughout Super Rugby Aotearoa.
That hasn’t appeared to be enough, though, with Foster and his fellow selectors instead keeping their faith in Dalton Papalii as the back-up openside to Sam Cane and Ardie Savea.
Liam Coltman
From attending the World Cup to being demoted as a bench player for the Highlanders in the space of less than a year, it was always going to be difficult for Liam Coltman to retain his place in the All Blacks.
His place as third-choice hooker has subsequently been taken by the highly-promising Asafo Aumua, with the 30-year-old now set for a season of Mitre 10 Cup action with Otago.
Work on his lineout throwing seems to be a necessity if he is to win back his place in Foster’s squad.
Angus Ta’avao
Having been out of action for six months with a leg injury picked up during the Chiefs’ first match of the initial Super Rugby competition in January has taken its toll on Angus Ta’avao.
A torn quadricep muscle meant the 14-test prop had just three matches, including the North v South match, to mount a case for retention in the side, but Tyrel Lomax’s solid form for the Hurricanes has left Ta’avao on the outer.
He will, hwoever, be a valued addition to Auckland’s Mitre 10 Cup squad.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CE0QdvNBRaJ/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Pari Pari Parkinson
All Blacks incumbents Scott Barrett and Ngani Laumape have both seen injuries eliminate their chances of All Blacks selection. The same can be said for Highlanders lock Pari Pari Parkinson, but the difference is that he isn’t an All Black incumbent, as this squad stood as a prime opportunity for him to earn national honours for the first time.
Standing at 2.04m, he is the tallest player in the country and would have been a valued asset at the set piece, as he was in Super Rugby Aotearoa.
Instead, an ankle injury has brought his season to an end, and the chance to establish himself on the international stage has gone begging.
Josh Ioane
Arguably the second-unluckiest player to miss out on All Blacks selection behind Boshier, Highlanders playmaker Josh Ioane will have to bide his time before he adds to the solitary test cap he earned against Tonga last year.
Stuck behind Richie Mo’unga and Beauden Barrett in the first-five pecking order, few players have a tougher task on their hands in trying to topple their opponents for a place in the squad than Ioane.
Still, his efforts for the Highlanders were top notch once he came back from a quad injury, and it’s only a matter of time before he returns to the national set-up.
Luke Jacobson
Luke Jacobson’s All Blacks fortunes were probably indicative by the fact he missed out on selection for the North squad last week, but it’s fair to say he would have still been in the mix given how highly he was rated by the selectors last year.
With limited game time with the Chiefs due to injury, the 23-year-old was picked to travel to the World Cup with just two tests to his name.
That showed his abrasive style of play was held in high regard, but it seems his ongoing issues with concussion, which also prevented him from playing at all at the World Cup, has stymied his test prospects this year.
Comments on RugbyPass
excellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
9 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
12 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
9 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
9 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
9 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
9 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
41 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
57 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
3 Go to commentsResults probably skewed by the fact that a few clubs have foreign fly halves in their 30s, but most teams have young English scrum halves. Results also likely to be skewed by the fact that many teams rely on centres and fullbacks to provide depth at 10, whereas they will need to stock a large number of specialist backup 9s.
1 Go to commentsI really get the sense that when all is said and done, the path of least resistance will end up being a merger of Wasps & Worcester that essentially kills the Worcester Warriors brand and sees Wasps permanently playing at Sixways. I’m not saying that’s what should happen or what I want to happen. I just think it’s the easiest rout to take and therefore, will be what happens. Wasps will definitely return to play first, and I suppose it all depends on if they can find support at Sixways. If people turn up and support Wasps in that community, at that ground, I bet they drop the Sevenoaks plan and just remain at Sixways. Under the radar but not totally unrelated, it looks as though London Irish are going to be brought back from the dead by a German consortium and look set to return, likely to the remade Championship. It’s set to have 12 clubs next season with 14 in 2025/26, what do you want to bet those extra 2 are Wasps and London Irish?
3 Go to commentsThe shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to commentsBold headline considering the Canes and Blues are 1 and 2 and the Brumbies were soundly beaten by the Chiefs and Blues. Biggest surprise is Rebels 4 Crusaders 12 - no one saw that coming. If Aus are improving that’s great 👍
3 Go to commentsAnna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to comments