Uncertainty lingers as All Blacks still no closer to finding their starting No 6
Well done to Luke Jacobson on his first All Blacks selection.
He played hard-nosed effective rugby for the Chiefs in eight games this season. But, like the All Blacks loose forward mix in general, there are questions that linger.
Jacobson has not played since May 11, for the Chiefs against the Sharks. Thereafter he struggled to shake concussion symptoms, which was a worry as he had spent the latter part of 2018 out of rugby clearing his head.
There were few clues as to his current state of fitness at last night’s All Blacks announcement. Clearly, the All selectors would not have picked him had they any grave doubts about his readiness to play, perhaps as early as the Pumas test on July 21. There was a hint that he is ready to roll, according to Marc Hinton of Stuff, but whether that means he will need to run out for his club side Hautapu this weekend is as mysterious as whether Sonny Bill Williams is still tied to Counties Manukau or not.
Jacobson, for all his eye-catching play for the Chiefs over a two-month period, is probably the beneficiary of the curious decision by Liam Squire to withdraw and the season-ending injury to Tom Robinson, the competition’s rookie of the year.
Is it going to be possible for Squire to prove he is up to international rugby with a few outings for his Marist club in Nelson or a couple of Mako pre-season runs? It just doesn’t seem plausible and, given he is leaving New Zealand Rugby at the end of the year, this could be it for the big bruiser.
Even more curious is the non-selection of both Akira Ioane and Luke Whitelock. That means there is no clear No 8 back-up to skipper Kieran Read. Jacobson started his last game for the Chiefs in that position, while we know Ardie Savea can do a job there. The Hurricane, the best player in Super Rugby 2019, started four of his 16 games for the Canes at the boot of the scrum. That leaves Shannon Frizell, who scored six tries for the Highlanders in 13 games and showed strong early form. But he started just once at No 8.
Other than Ioane, who was in an All Blacks training camp just weeks ago, Jordan Taufua is the big loser. Marginalised at the Crusaders due to the sterling form of Whetu Douglas, it looks like he will never get to wear the All Blacks jersey he was so close to claiming in 2018. Taufua is just plain unlucky.
So there are no less than nine players selected, plus Patrick Tuipulotu and including the admirable Jackson Hemopo, who can suit up at loose forward. And yet we are no clearer to discovering who will be the main man at blindside flanker.
Jacobson is just one piece of that intriguing puzzle. We hope he is right physically to make his mark and show us what he showed from March 15 to May 11.
In other news:
Comments on RugbyPass
I wouldn’t spend the time on Nawaqanitawase! No point in having him filling in a jersey when he’s committed to leave Union. Give the jersey to a young prospect who will be here in the future.
4 Go to commentsIt was a pleasure to watch those guys playing with such confidence. That trio can all be infuriating for different reasons and I can see why Jones might have decided against them. No way to justify leaving Ikitau out though. Jorgensen and him were both scheduled to return at the same time. Only one of them plays for Randwick and has a dad who is great mates with the national coach though.
53 Go to commentsBrayden Iose and Peter Lakai are very exciting Super Rugby players but are too short and too light to ever be a Test 8 vs South Africa, France, Ireland, and England, Lakai could potentially be a Test player at 7 if he is allowed to focus on 7 for Hurricanes.
5 Go to commentsPencils “Thomas du Toit” into possible 2027 Bok squad.
1 Go to commentsDon’t see why Harrison makes the bench. Jones can play at 10 if needed, and there is a good case for starting her there to begin with if testing combinations. That would leave room for Sing on the bench
1 Go to commentsWhat a load of old bull!
1 Go to commentsOf the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.
29 Go to commentsIrish Rugby CEO be texting Andy Farrell “Andy, i found our next Kiwi Irishman”
5 Go to commentsI certainly don’t miss drinking beers at 8am in the morning watching rugby games being played in NZ.
1 Go to commentsThis looks like a damage limitation exercise for Wales, keeping back some of their more effective players for the last 20/25 minutes to try and counter England’s fresh legs so the Red Roses don’t rack up a big score.
1 Go to commentsVery unlikely the Bulls will beat Leinster in Dublin. It would be different in Pretoria.
1 Go to commentsI think it is a dangerous path to go down to ban a player for the same period that a player they injured takes to recover. Players would be afraid to tackle anyone. I once tackled my best friend at school in a practice match and sprained his ankle. I paid for it by having to play fly-half instead of full-back for the rest of that season’s fixtures.
5 Go to commentsJust such a genuine good bloke…and probably the best all round player in his generation. Good guys do come first sometimes and he handled the W.Cup loss with great attitude.
2 Go to commentsWord in France is that he’s on the radar of a few Top14 clubs.
5 Go to commentsGet blocking Travis, this guy has styles and he’s gonna make a swift impact…!
1 Go to commentsWhat remorse? She claimed that her dangerous tackle wasn’t worthy of a red! She should be compensating the injured player for loss of earnings at the minimum. Her ban should include the recovery time of the injured player as well as the paltry 3 match ban.
5 Go to commentsArdie is a legend. Finished and klaar. Two things: “Yeah, yeah, I have had a few conversations with Razor just around feedback on my game and what I am doing well, what I need to improve on or work-ons. It’s kind of been minimal, mate, but it’s all that I need over here in terms of how to be better, how to get better and what I am doing well.” I hope he’s downplaying it - and that it’s not that “minimal”. The amount of communication and behind the scenes preparation the Bok coaches put into players - Rassie and co would be all over Ardie and being clear on what is expected of him. This stands out for me as something teams should really be looking at in terms of the boks success from a coaching point of view. And was surprised by the comment - “minimal”. In terms of the “debate” around Ireland and South Africa. Nice one Ardie. Indeed. There’s no debate.
2 Go to commentsThere’s a bit of depth there but realistically Australian players have a long way to go to now catch up. The game is moving on fast and Australia are falling behind. Australian sides still don’t priories the breakdown like they should, it’s a non-negotiable if you want to compete on the international stage. That goes for forwards and backs. The Australian team could have a back row that could make a difference but the problem is they don’t have a tight five that can do the business. Tupou is limited in defence, overweight and unfit and the locks are a long way from international standard. Frost is soft and Salakai-Loto is too small so that means they need a Valentini at 8 who has to do the hard graft so limits the effectiveness of the backrow. Schmidt really needs to get a hard working, tough tight 5 if he wants to get this team firing.
4 Go to commentsSorry 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.
2 Go to commentsGreat read. I wish you had done this article on the ROAR.
2 Go to comments