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Time for New Zealand's young locks and blindside flankers to stand up and be counted
As we near the end of January, the new Super Rugby season broadens on the approaching horizon.
The new campaign brings with it a flurry of new faces ready to imprint themselves on the national selection radar in the absence of an array of seasoned veterans who have taken their talents offshore.
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In New Zealand, that void of experience will be felt across a range of positions at international level.
Gone are two-time World Cup-winners Sonny Bill Williams, Ben Smith and Owen Franks, who have relocated to Canada, France and England, respectively.
One-time World Rugby player of the year Brodie Retallick is also gone until next year, and he’s been joined in Japan by fellow lock Jackson Hemopo, midfielder Ryan Crotty and loose forwards Matt Todd and Kieran Read.
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Every one of those players featured for the All Blacks in some capacity in 2019, leaving New Zealand Rugby with some gaping plugs to fill over the coming months.
That job will be made more difficult through the additional departures of those who have donned the black jersey before, but whose services weren’t called upon last year.
These players – such as Liam Squire, Waisake Naholo, Nehe Milner-Skudder, Luke Whitelock, Ma’a Nonu and Elliot Dixon – provided New Zealand with an extra layer of depth that few nations across the globe can rival.
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It might bring discomfort to some that so many key figures have left Kiwi shores in such a short amount of time.
The losses of Read, Franks, Smith, Retallick and Williams leaves Ian Foster bare of five of his most experienced operators leading into 2020, while everyone else’s exits strips apart a significant chunk of the All Blacks’ enviably rich player pool.
But although New Zealand’s playing stocks have been decimated over the past 12 months, there remains a wealth of options at Foster’s disposal to alleviate concerns surrounding the drain of star power.
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Naholo and Milner-Skudder had already been usurped by Crusaders duo George Bridge and Sevu Reece on the wings prior to their defections to London Irish and Toulon.
It was a similar situation for Franks, who missed out on Steve Hansen’s 31-man squad last year to the more dynamic Angus Ta’avao and Atu Moli, while new Hurricanes recruit Tyrel Lomax is expected to flourish after moving north from the Highlanders.
Even with the presence of three-test utility back David Havili, uncapped Crusaders flyer Will Jordan and promising Highlanders speedster Josh McKay, the prodigiously talented pair of Damian McKenzie and Jordie Barrett are in pole positions to replace Smith at fullback.
Being a loose forward has never been so complicated.https://t.co/PBnysTiKCv #AllBlacks #SuperRugby
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) January 26, 2020
Ngani Laumape should rocket his way back into national contention after missing out on World Cup selection, and if Braydon Ennor can live up to the dizzying potential that he’s shown glimpses of, then incumbent midfielders Anton Lienert-Brown and Jack Goodhue have a fight on their hands to fill the role as successors to Williams and Crotty.
In the pack, Todd’s arrival at the Toshiba Brave Lupus opens the door for Luke Jacobson, Dalton Papalii and Du’Plessis Kirifi to stamp their authority over the No. 7 jersey.
That will especially be the case if either Ardie Savea or Sam Cane are utilised at No. 8 with Read plying his trade at Toyota Verblitz and previous back-up Whitelock now with Pau.
Even if Foster preferred to keep Savea and Cane in the openside role, Akira Ioane still looms as a damaging prospect should he be handed a chance at international level.
Similar assertions could be made about the depth charts at both blindside flanker and lock, but it is those two positions that have been left most vulnerable in the wake of New Zealand’s mass player migration abroad.
Squire was primed to take the No. 6 jersey until personal issues prevented him from representing the All Blacks ahead of his shift to the NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes.
In his place came Savea, who alternated the blindside and No. 8 roles with Read throughout the Bledisloe Cup series and World Cup while Cane held down the openside position.
When used, it was a largely successful loose forward combination, as the trio only tasted defeat once together when Scott Barrett’s red card allowed the Wallabies to secure a record 47-26 victory in Perth last August.
With Read now gone and Savea shaping as the early favourite to take the No. 8 spot, the hole at blindside flanker appears to have enlarged more than most other positions.
New Zealand's most experienced forwards had no response to England's young tyros. They've given plenty for their country, but @TomVinicombe suspects they might not have the gas for Test football anymore.https://t.co/esUdVUTyyA#AllBlacks #RWC2019 #ENGvNZL
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 31, 2019
Unlike at wing, fullback, midfield, tighthead prop, openside flanker and No. 8, there are few established contenders who can demand the All Blacks’ No. 6 like Squire did.
It’s an unresolved dilemma which arose last year when Squire’s unavailability forced Savea’s positional switch, and while that shift paid off in matches where he was selected at the short side of the scrum, Read’s exit has again exposed New Zealand’s lack of frontline blindside flankers.
Vaea Fifita was included in the All Blacks’ Rugby Championship campaign, but lacklustre showings against Argentina and South Africa did little to solidify his standing in the national pecking order.
He consequently lost out on a place at the World Cup to Jacobson, but the 22-year-old’s stint in Japan was short-lived due to lingering concussion problems which will restrict him from taking to the field with the Chiefs until next week at the earliest.
Jacobson’s injury replacement, Shannon Frizell, shone against lowly opponents Canada and Namibia, yet his exclusion from the match-day squad for New Zealand’s fatal semi-final against England was indicative of his status as a fringe member in the national ranks.
Hansen’s selection of Barrett as his starting No. 6 for that match was met with surprise and condemnation as it veered away from the Savea-Cane-Read trifecta, which ultimately played a key role in the All Blacks’ elimination from the tournament.
That’s not to say that Barrett isn’t a worthy option in the loose forwards given his tremendous physicality and set-piece prowess, but it’s difficult to envisage him being picked there this year considering New Zealand’s thin stocks at lock.
The newly-instated Crusaders captain should return to the All Blacks camp with Blues skipper Patrick Tuipulotu and Sam Whitelock, who is currently on sabbatical with the Panasonic Wild Knights in the Top League.
2020 was supposed to be somewhat of a comeback year for Nathan Harris. Instead, he'll be spending the #SuperRugby season on the sidelines.https://t.co/EL0sZ0Om6N @ChiefsRugby
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) January 28, 2020
Those three are bound to play integral roles in the All Blacks’ second row with Brodie Retallick out of action until 2021 as he enjoys time off in Japan with the Kobe Steelers.
Retallick’s extended time away opens an avenue for at least one new face to rise to national prominence.
That avenue would probably have been filled by Jackson Hemopo, but by linking up with the Mitsubishi Dynaboars, the former Highlanders utility forward not only ruled himself ineligible for international duties, but he has starved the All Blacks of a test-ready candidate at both lock and blindside flanker.
Instead, Foster will have to delve into the depths of Super Rugby to find adequate relief for both positions.
As such, the opening rounds of this year’s competition presents itself as an opportunity for the next generation of stars to stake an early claim for national honours come July.
Last year’s breakout star Tom Robinson has been named at lock for the Blues this weekend, while hefty expectations have been laid upon Highlanders behemoth Pari Pari Parkinson.
He’s been ruled out of action for the tournament’s opening five weeks, but the same can be said of Crusaders youngster Quinten Strange, who will no doubt be hoping to challenge for an All Blacks spot alongside fellow former New Zealand U20 stars Jacobson and Papalii.
How these promising up-and-comers fare over the course of the next six months remains to be seen, but for the sake of the All Blacks, their progress will be vital to filling the void left by Retallick and Read.
WATCH: Catch up on all of the very best from Round 3 of the Top League, featuring a host of international stars including Carter, Kahui, Retallick, Kerevi, Marks, Giteau, Snyman, Read, and many more.
Comments on RugbyPass
Exciting place to be for the young fella. I expected he was French Polynesian when I saw him included in the France 6N squad (after seeing him in NZs), and therefor be strong grounds we might loose him to rugby down here. Good, in that he is good enough to warrant such a profile, and from a journalism’s fan interaction aspect, to finally get a back ground story on the fella. Hope he has settled into NZ OK and that at least one rugby country will fit with him to help his development, which, if so, he should surely continue for a few years, and then that he can experience France to it’s fullest with a bit more maturity and less reliance on family than you would have at his current age. A good 3 or 4 years before he would be ready for International duty if he wanted to wait. Of course he already sounds good enough to accept a call up, and to cap himself, in the more immediate future (he’d have to be very very good in the case of the ABs), and he’ll get a great taste of that being with the Canes who have a bunch who are just a few years further into their career and looking likely Internationals themselves.
11 Go to commentsI remember towards the end of the original broadcasting deal for Super rugby with Newscorp that there was talk about the competition expanding to improve negotiations for more money - more content, more cash. Professional rugby was still in its infancy then and I held an opposing view that if Super rugby was a truly valuable competition then it should attract more broadcasters to bid for the rights, thereby increasing the value without needing to add more teams and games. Unfortunately since the game turned professional, the tension between club, talent and country has only grown further. I would argue we’re already at a point in time where the present is the future. The only international competitions that matter are 6N, RC and RWC. The inter-hemisphere tours are only developmental for those competitions. The games that increasingly matter more to fans, sponsors and broadcasters are between the clubs. Particularly for European fans, there are multiple competitions to follow your teams fortunes every week. SA is not Europe but competes in a single continental competition, so the travel component will always be an impediment. It was worse in the bloated days of Super rugby when teams traversed between four continents - Africa, America, Asia and Australia. The percentage of players who represent their country is less than 5% of the professional player base, so the sense of sacrifice isn’t as strong a motivation for the rest who are more focused on playing professional rugby and earning as much from their body as they can. Rugby like cricket created the conundrum it’s constantly fighting a losing battle with.
3 Go to commentsOh wow… “But as La Rochelle proved in winning in Cape Town this season, a cross-continental away assignment need not spell the end of days.” La Rochelle actually proved quite the opposite. After traveling to Cape town and back they (back-to-back and current champs) got mercilessly thumped the next week. If travel is not the reason, why else would a full-strength powerhouse like La Rochelle get dumped on their @r$e$ one week later?
26 Go to commentsYou know he can land a winning conversion after the full time siren is up. (Even if it takes two attempts.)
5 Go to commentsA very insightful article from Jake. I would love to know how South African’s feel about their move to Europe. Do you prefer playing in Europe or want to go back to Super Rugby?
3 Go to commentspure fire
1 Go to commentsA very well thought out summary of all the relevant complications…agree with your ”refer the Cricket Test versus 20/20 comparison”. More also definitely doesn't necessarily mean better!
3 Go to commentsMust be something when you are only 19 y.o and both NZ and France want you. Btw he wasn’t the only new caledonian in french U20 as Robin Couly also lived in Noumea until 17. Hope he’s successful wherever he chooses to play.
11 Go to comments“Several key players in the Stade Rochelais squad are in their thirties” South Africans are going to hate the implications of that comment!
5 Go to commentsI know Leinster did a job on La Roche but shortly after HT Leinster were 30-13 ahead of them and at a similar time Toulouse were trailing Exeter. At 60 mins Leinster were 27 ahead but after 67 mins Toulouse were only 19 ahead before Exeter collapsed. That’s heavier scoring by Leinster against the Champions. I think people are looking at Toulouses total a little too much. I also think Northhampton are in with a real chance, albeit I’d put Leinster as favourites. If Leinster make the final I expect them to win by more than ten and with control.
5 Go to commentsHey Nick, your match analysis is decent but the top and tail not so much, a bit more random. For a start there’s a seismic difference in regenerating any club side over a test team. EJ pretty much had to urinate with the appendage he’d been given at test level whereas club success is impacted hugely by the budget. Look no further than Boudjellal’s Toulon project for a perfect example. The set ups at La Rochelle and Leinster are like chalk and cheese and you are correct that Leinster are ahead. Leinster are not just slightly ahead though, they are light years ahead on their plans, with the next gen champions cup team already blooded, seasoned and developing at speed from their time manning the fort in the URC while the cream play CC and tests. They have engineered a strong talent conveyor belt into their system, supported by private money funnelled into a couple of Leinster private schools. The really smart move from Leinster and the IRFU however is maximising the Irish Revenue tax breaks (tax relief on the best 10 years earnings refunded at retirement) to help keep all of their stars in Ireland and happy, while simultaneously funding marquee players consistently. And of course Barrett is the latest example. But in no way is he a “replacement for Henshaw”, he’s only there for one season!!! As for Rob Baxter, the best advice you can give him is to start lobbying Parliament and HMRC for a similar state subsidy, but don’t hold your breath… One thing Cullen has been very smart with is his coaching team. Very quickly he realised his need to supplement his skills, there was talk of him exiting after his first couple of years but he was extremely shrewd bringing in Lancaster and now Nienaber. That has worked superbly and added a layer that really has made a tangible difference. Apart from that you were bang on the money… 😉😂
5 Go to commentsNot sure exactly what went wrong for him at Glasgow but it’s pretty clear he ain’t Franco’s cup of tea. Suspect he would have been better served heading out of Scotland around the same time as Finn, Hoggy and Jonny!
1 Go to commentsBulls disrespected the Northampton supporters and the competition. Decide quickly, fully in or out.
26 Go to commentsI wonder if Parling was ever on England’s radar as a coach? Obviously Borthwick is a great lineout coach, but I do worry he might be taking on too much as both head coach and forwards coach.
1 Go to commentsJason Jenkins has one cap. When Etzebeth was his age he had over 80 caps. Experience matters. He will never amount to what Etzebeth has because he hasn’t been developed as an international player.
2 Go to commentsSays much about the player picking this gig over the easier and bigger rewards offered to him in Japan. Also says a lot about the state sanctioned tax benefits the Irish Revenue offers pro rugby players, with their ten highest earning years subject to an additional 40% tax relief and paid as a lump sum, in cash, at retirement. Certainly helps Leinster line up the financial ducks in a row to fund marquee signings like this!!! No other union anywhere in world rugby benefits from this kind of lucrative financial sponsorship from their government…
5 Go to commentsTrue Jordie could earn a lot more in Japan. But by choosing Leinster he’ll be playing with 1 of the best clubs in the world and can win a champions cup and URC…..
6 Go to commentsThanks for that Marshy, noticed you didn't say who is gonna win it. We know who ain't gonna win it - your Crusaders outfit. They've gone from having arguably the best Super Rugby first five ever, to having a clutch of rookies. Hurricanes all the way!
1 Go to commentsGeez you really have to question the NRLs ability to produce players of quality. Its pathetic. Dont the 25mil in Aus produce enough quality womens players. Sad.
1 Go to commentsBulls fan here, and agree 100% with the conclusion (and little else) of this article. SA sides should absolutely f-off from the champs cup until we get fair scheduling, equal support for travel arrangements and home semis. You know, like all the european teams get.
26 Go to comments