Why three Chiefs won't feature for the All Blacks this weekend
The All Blacks have made a host of changes to their team for this weekend’s rematch with Fiji in Hamilton, helping to spread the workload across the whole squad for the three games in the July series.
In fact, of the 38 squad members the All Blacks have called up for the first tests of the year, 35 have been given the opportunity to make their case on the field.
The three unlucky men who won’t feature in any of the matches are the Chiefs forwards trio of Samisoni Taukei’aho, Aidan Ross and Tupou Vaa’i.
For the former two, that shouldn’t necessarily come as a surprise.
Taukei’aho joined the squad after third-choice hooker Asafo Aumua took a knock to the head against Tonga in the opening game of the series. While the Tongan-born rake is excellent around the park, his delivery to the lineout is still a work in progress and Ian Foster and the All Blacks selectors will likely be hoping he can hone his technique before he earns himself a test debut.
It’s a similar story for Ross, who only received the call-up to the squad following last weekend’s win over Fiji, with Karl Tu’inukuafe invalided.
For second-rower Vaa’i, however, the omission is somewhat of a surprise.
Vaa’i was in fine form for the Chiefs throughout the season and while the All Blacks could have got by without selecting a fifth lock, the 21-year-old’s performances throughout the season undoubtedly convinced the selectors to persist with the youngster.
Vaa’i made his debut for the All Blacks last year after only being summoned into the Chiefs for the Super Rugby Aotearoa competition due to an injury crisis in the second row.
He quickly rose through the ranks and when New Zealand were also struggling at lock due to injuries, Vaa’i was the lucky man to earn selection.
Perhaps his heavy workload for the Chiefs this year has forced the All Blacks selectors’ hands, however.
“Some guys need more time than others,” said All Blacks assistant coach John Plumtree earlier this week. “Some had bigger Super Rugby seasons, there’s some guys carrying little niggles. So we put all those factors into place then select the team.
“So it’s just making sure that we keep wellbeing in the back of our minds as well, making sure that by the time we’re ready for Bled[isloe] I [in Auckland on August 7], that we’ve got a full squad that’s fit and healthy and ready to play.”
Fellow assistant coach Brad Mooar did indicate after last week’s game that Vaa’i – along with Anton Lienert-Brown and Ardie Savea – could be due for a game this weekend, however.
“Ardie, Albie and Tupou [Vaa’i] are tracking superbly and they’ve taken more and more part of training as the week has gone on, so it will be good to see them start to put more into as we build the week,” Mooar said.
That evidently has eventuated for Vaa’i but Lienert-Brown and Savea have both been named to earn their 50th caps this weekend.
Following today’s team naming, Foster confirmed that Vaa’i was available for selection after recovering from a minor injury but that he’d missed out to his more experienced teammates. He also suggested that an extra week of rest won’t harm the young forward.
“He had a niggle at the start,” Foster confirmed. “21 years old, had a massive Super Rugby campaign, probably played more than even what the Chiefs would have wanted with their shortage of locks and so this campaign is really about getting his Achilles right. His has come right this week but he’s just missed his opportunity.”
It will be disappointing for the second-rower, but with the All Blacks set to play a further 12 tests this year Vaa’i can expect to still chalk up plenty of minutes for the team in the months to come.
Comments on RugbyPass
I reckon it may be Jordan at 10 and Nohamba at 9, both players have played together alot and both have been on the Radar for a long time. After Pollard got injured in 2022 with Elton sidelined on a path of self destruction Erasmus and Nienaber indicated that the other options in the country at the time were thin but that Jordan and Manie were the 2 they were looking at. In the end Frans steyn played flyhalf, Willemse slotted in there on the end of year with Libbok as back up. Jordan was right there in the thinking back then so expect him to take the Jersey either as the starter.
1 Go to commentsHaha did he always say it in a sarcastic teacher sort of manor or was it the petulant English snob sort of wail?
42 Go to commentsWell said Mils. It is a big boost at last having Fergus Burke back at 10 for the Crusaders. Had a great season last year as the article says. Mils is also right about captain Codie Taylor’s performance in his return to the Crusaders last week. He was all class.
4 Go to commentsLet’s make them both Capt. I think we'd get the best of both of them and it would help alleviate some of the pressures of the role. They'd have to confer over on field decisions which should lead to “ learnings “ for both. They are our two best consistent performers.
16 Go to commentsOur best player by far..but not a good Captain..poor tactician cost the AB'S and Canes games by not taking the easy points and going for tries when the lineouts were a shambles..can he read a game? And his throat slitting gesture should disqualify him from the AB Captaincy..it is not the appropriate behaviour of an AB Captain.
16 Go to commentsForget what was said or how many players said it. TONY BROWN IS THE NEW ATTACK COACH. That’s the only story worth freaking out over. The springboks are going to grow their game an awful lot over the next cycle and it’s not just the 19 disgustingly arrogant Irish players who refused to shake Ebens hand and said “see you in the final if you can cheat your way past France” who will find that out first hand.
122 Go to commentsOn one hand I think it's a bit ridiculous that this gar into the season and with only 2 wins the Crusaders may make the finals. On the other hand if it was only top 4 or 5, then that last several weeks may be mainly dead rubbers. Nope, 8th place after round robin shouldn't be able to lift the trophy.
4 Go to commentsI do think the media in NZ treated him badly. Sam is a legend. He is humble, a great rugby mind and leader. What happened in the final could happen to anyone. The margins is so fine these days. I lay blame at the feet of the coaching staff and NZ rugby. The stats tell’s all. The AB’s was the worst disciplined side in the WC with more red and yellow cards than anyone else. Problem is NZ rugby is not training their players to play safer. And thats the danger a fast game brings. More yellow and red cards. But Sam Cane in my eye was and still is a great ambassador for the game, that just had a stroke of bad luck.
6 Go to commentsI hope Jim and co. Add this to their list of icebreaker questions they can ask all their guests going forward. So we can eventually hear what everyone thinks about this subject. “What do you think Ireland meant…”
122 Go to commentsHe’s a dominant personality. That might be both a good and bad thing in team dynamics. Certainly it ruined Smith’s first crack at 10 with Owen at 12. BTW, Bristol flatter to deceive. When things really matter, they tend to deliver less rather than more. Farrell would have been good for them
42 Go to commentsGot a lot of over the top abuse from Crusader fans, in particular, who thought every 7 they had was miles better. Now we will see if anyone is better? Laid his body on the line every game so finishing early makes sense. A lot of life left after rugby.
6 Go to commentsA poor decision to appoint Carley as not only is Pearce a better referee but also importantly speaks French.
2 Go to commentsHe is 100 % on the mark. Malicious arrogance with a lack of respect for the other teams mostly the south. they must learn from True rugby nations like the Boks and Kiwis
122 Go to commentsThis Outiniqua boy has played sublime rugby and deserves a spot in BI LIONS team. Well played son
4 Go to commentsI don’t like to see players miss big matches but this ban looks to be tailored to allow him to compete in the final. In principle a suspension for a very dangerous tackle in a semi should warrant missing the relevant final. Done now. One the flip side having both teams with very strong squads/teams available for the final will add to the occassion hopefully.
1 Go to commentsTalent to burn and a huge engine..hope he gets a shot at higher honours
2 Go to commentsIf anything like his dad he has a bright future, Soane was the best ball carrying props ive ever seen using a combination of pace power and footwork.
1 Go to commentsThose who saw Sharks vs Clermont and Ox N'Che vs Rabah Slimani should have a good idea of the best scrumagers… May be not the best props…
2 Go to commentsIt's been an unusual era of unpopular, highly competitive, domineering, fairly big fly halves in the home nations with Farrell, Sexton and Biggar. Russell is different in personality and player I think. I'd rank Sexton first of the three because he is just as good a game controller but also has a great passing game. And his competitiveness never seems to cause problems with refs.
42 Go to commentsThank goodness he wasn't born in Scotland, he'd have been a great candidate for the Scottish Barbarians. I wouldn't put it past them to push for a “where the player was conceived” rule 😂
2 Go to comments