World Cup auditions continue for All Blacks - Rugby Championship preview
After a dominant June series win against France, the All Blacks will be hoping to keep the Rugby Championship trophy and Bledisloe Cup locked up for another year as the 2019 World Cup edges closer.
The All Blacks outscored their French mid-season opponents 127-38 over three tests and will be hoping for more of the same when they meet with Australia, South Africa and Argentina over the next few weeks.
Steve Hansen’s men will open their Rugby Championship campaign on a high, with the Christchurch-based Crusaders having secured another Super Rugby title and four of the five New Zealand franchises reaching the knockout stages of the competition.
The All Blacks’ first fixture of the Championship – against Australia in Sydney – will be where they make their mark and set the tone for the rest of the competition. Despite Australia emerging victorious in Brisbane the last time the two teams met, the last time they met in Sydney, the All Blacks romped to a 54-34 win. If the New Zealand side can find that second gear early on, they may end Australia’s Championship aspirations before they have a chance to get off the ground.
The schedule of the tournament serves to benefit the All Blacks, as – aside from their early visit to Sydney – they will spend the first half of the tournament at home. Their final fixture – the third Bledisloe Cup test – in Yokohama could prove decisive if Australia can defend their home turf in the opener. Outside of World Cup fixtures, the All Blacks have suffered two consecutive losses at a neutral venue. They lost to Ireland for the first time in their history at Chicago’s Soldier Field in 2016, and in 2010 they lost to Australia in Hong Kong.
With an Australian resurgence on the cards after a strong series against world number two Ireland and South Africa coming off a series victory against world number four England, performing on the road, especially towards the tail end of the competition, will be key for the All Blacks as they fight to retain their place atop rugby’s pecking order.
What has separated the All Blacks from the rest of the teams in the competition is their difference in problems. While the Wallabies and Springboks have concerns surrounding depth in key positions, one of the All Blacks’ biggest problems is that you can only have 15 men on the field at the same time. With the Rugby World Cup just over one year away, each minute on the field serves as an audition to get on the plane to Japan next year – especially for those on the fringes.
Rookie Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus recently acknowledged his side don’t currently have the ideal level of depth that he would like, while it’s no secret that Australia’s lack of depth in the halves and midfield injury crisis has hamstrung their chances of success in the upcoming tournament. Argentina will also be going through an adjustment period of sorts as they move forward with new head coach Mario Ledesma.
For Steve Hansen’s All Blacks, the surplus of talent at a number of positions gives selectors a problem most wish they had.
At first five-eighth, Richie Mo’unga is nipping at the heels of the incumbent Beauden Barrett. The scintillating form of the Crusaders playmaker has fans and pundits calling for the 24-year-old to assume the All Blacks’ No. 10 jersey sooner rather than later, while the electrifying Damian McKenzie – recently named by SANZAAR as Super Rugby’s Player of the Season for the third successive year – continues to push his own case for the spot.
In the midfield, the All Blacks still pose a major threat despite missing the oft-injured Sonny Bill Williams for at least the first part of the campaign. Williams’ injury woes open the door for Crusaders centre Jack Goodhue – who led all Super Rugby backs in made tackles this year – to resume his formidable partnership with the rock-solid Ryan Crotty and potentially shore up a permanent spot in the national side. Hurricanes form midfielder Ngani Laumape, included as injury cover for Williams, will also be focused on building his portfolio in the black jersey as he pushes for World Cup selection.
In the forward pack, the return of Kieran Read will serve as a huge boost as the captain grew from strength to strength at the tail end of the Crusaders’ Super Rugby season. Read will marshal many of the same troops from that title-winning group, with seven Crusaders forwards picked in the All Blacks squad, including five front rowers.
The area of most concern for the All Blacks from a selection standpoint is the back row. This stems from the omission of Vaea Fifita and inclusion of Jackson Hemopo. Fifita seems to have fallen out of favour after a drop in form and being used primarily as a lock by Chris Boyd at the Hurricanes. Hemopo – also used mainly at lock during the Super Rugby season – received the nod and will be used exclusively as a blindside flanker. After the departure of longtime workhorse Jerome Kaino, the No. 6 jersey is fairly open, though Liam Squire seems to have the tightest grip of any recent comer.
This tournament should clear things up for Hansen moving forward as he refines his World Cup group and tries to secure his sixth Rugby Championship title since the competition’s remodeling in 2012.
In other news:
Comments on RugbyPass
$950k for a Prop that isn’t fit enough to play 10 mins of rugby? Surely there is someone better to replace Big Mike with
2 Go to commentsFour Kiwis in that backline. A solid statement on the lack of invention, risk-taking and joy in the NH game; game of attrition and head- banging tedium. Longterm medical problems aplenty in the future!
1 Go to commentsGood article, I learnt quite a lot. A big sliding door moment was in the mid 00s when they rejected Steve Anderson's long term transformation and he wrote Ireland's strategy instead.
2 Go to commentsHi Dr Nick! I'm worried that I've started to enjoy watching England and have actually wanted them to win their last two games. What would you prescribe? On a more serious note, I've noticed that the standard of play in March is often better than early February. Do you think this is because of the weather or because the players have been together for longer?
10 Go to commentsMy question in all this brett is who is going to wear the consequences of these actions? Surely just getting the sack isn’t sufficient? A teenager working the till at woolies would probably get taken to court if they took $20 out of the till. You mean to tell me that someone can spend $2.6 million and get away with it? Where was it spent? What companies/people were the beneficiaries etc? How is it just being talked about as an ‘oopsie’ and we all just move on and not a matter of the court for gross negligence, fraud, take your pick…
18 Go to commentslove Manu too but England have relied on him coming back from injury for far too long and not sorted the position with someone else long term . It will be a blessing he has gone . Huge shame he was so injury prone . God speed Manu .
3 Go to commentsI agree with Ben Smith about Brett Cameron. The No. 6 position has to be a monster and a genuine lineout option, like Ollivon, Lawes (now Chessum), Du Toit, etc. The only player who fits that bill right now is Scott Barrett. A fit and fizzing Tuipolotu together with one of the young towers, Sam Darry or Josh Lord, would give Razor the freedom to play Barret at 6.
16 Go to commentsOutstanding article, Graham. Agree with all of it. And enjoy the style of writing too (particularly Grand Slap!).
2 Go to commentsI wouldn't pay a cent for that loafer. He just stands around, waiting for play to come his way. He won't make the Wallabies.
2 Go to commentsGood bit of te reo maori Nic. Or is that Niko or Nikora? On the theme of trees the Oaks v Totara. Game plan would be key. I have one but it would cost you.
10 Go to comments> Shaun Edwards’ You should not have to score 30 points to win a game, as exciting as it is. This statement was surprising to me. It is nonsensical .I guess it is a defence coach speaking. But head coach, defence and attacking coaches all work together. They are inseparable. You score more than the opposition to win. It only needs to be one score. You score whatever the game demands, whatever the opposition demand. You defend whatever it takes. The attack coach needs to be able to clock up 30pts if need be.
10 Go to commentsWho’d have thought, not having Farrell & Youngs kicking the ball at every possible opportunity and playing flat and allowing your centres to run and pass would pay off? No one could possibly have seen this coming. FML. It took a LONG time coming but at least that time has finally come. England need to find a backup to Lawrence. Freeman is the best candidate for me, I see no reason why he can't play 12. He's big, strong, fast and has great hands.
10 Go to commentsLove Manu but he's not the player he was and I imagine Bayonne have paid too much money for him.
3 Go to commentsNew Zealand have not beaten England since 2018 and even that was a pretty close shave.
1 Go to comments“a renewed focus on Scottish-qualified players” Scottish-qualified is another way of saying English. England has development more players for the Scotland national Rugby team in the last 4 years, than Scotland has.
2 Go to commentsThis sounds a lot like the old Welsh rugby proverb “Wales never lose. Other teams just score more points.”
5 Go to commentsFinally,at last, Borthwick has done what the whole of England have been crying out for. Ditch the kick chase and let the players have freedom to attack and run with the ball. It was great to see. Ford played really well and for the first time in ages was 5 yards closer to the gainline which then allowed a more attacking position . Pity it has taken 90 odd caps to do so. However, this has to continue and not be a false dawn . One issue. Marcus. With Ford having one really good game in 5 ,is he the answer long term . Smith puts bums on seats and is terrific to watch . How can you leave him out before he departs for France in disillusion . England are in danger of Simmons , Alex Goode , Cipriani , Mercer and now Smith being unable to get a selection ahead of “favourites” of the management regardless of form . Great to see England play so well .
2 Go to commentsCockerill was an abrasive player in the mould of a Georgian front rower who will have the respect of that pack. Looking forward to seeing what he can do with this exciting team, hopefully they can send a message to unions like Wales that money alone doesn't buy you wins.
2 Go to commentsI like the look of those July matches. Hopefully they'll get some good tests in November too.
2 Go to commentsThis is a poor article, essentially just trolling six nations teams
22 Go to comments