Earlier this week, the All Blacks Rugby Championship squad was announced with 39 players selected for their first two fixtures against Argentina and South Africa.
The squad has a great blend of experience, youth and rewarded (in most selections) Super Rugby form. Eleven Crusaders are in the squad but many from the Super Rugby champions will not travel to Buenos Aires.
Here are five talking points from the squad announcement.
1. A change in the backup hooker stocks
The non-selection of 20 Test-capped Nathan Harris shows there will be a change in who backs up Dane Coles and Codie Taylor. Highlander Liam Coltman and Hurricane Asafo Aumua were selected ahead of Harris. The Chiefs’ hooker will have to get back into form playing for the Maori All Blacks against Fiji this month.
Coltman had one of his best Super Rugby seasons and is arguably New Zealand’s best hooker at the breakdown and winning turnovers in the tackle. He has a good chance to establish himself as a regular in the All Black environment and add to his four internationals. He will be a good chance to play against Argentina with Taylor likely to stay back in New Zealand after the Super Rugby Final.
Aumua, who toured with the All Blacks in 2017, has reinvigorated himself this year after a poor 2018. The explosive Hurricane has the ability to provide great impact with his powerful ball carrying and exceptional bursts of speed. There are still concerns over his work at the set piece. Working with All Black forwards coach Mike Cron will improve those concerns.
2. Who is playing blindside flanker?
The squad includes five options to wear the much talked about number six jersey in Vaea Fifita, Shannon Frizell, Dalton Papalii, Luke Jacobson and Jackson Hemopo.
Liam Squire has made the brave call that he is not currently ready to play international rugby. He will work his way back into contention playing for Tasman. He will be in a race against time to be physically and mentally ready to play in the World Cup after a limited Super Rugby showing.
Luke Jacobson has been rewarded after some brilliant performances early in the season before suffering a concussion. The former New Zealand Under-20 captain has the ability to play all three loose trio positions. “He is a very physical defender, a good ball-carrier and not just as a carrier-passer, he’s got the ability to beat people, has the ability to offload in contact and can play multiple positions,” is how Steve Hansen has described the loose forward.
With Jacobson being out of action for the last two months he is getting valuable game time for his local club Hatapu.
3. Is the squad light on number eight options?
With eight loose forwards named, Kieran Read is the only specialist number eight in the squad. Read is expected to miss the Argentine leg with Ardie Savea likely to start at the back of the scrum. The corresponding fixture last year was when Savea played number eight and kick-started his remarkable run of form over the last ten months.
Other options would be to utilise the aforementioned Jacobson who can play across the back row. The athletic Shannon Frizell is worth considering at number eight with his great speed and ability to carry well.
Two notable number eight options were omitted from the squad. Luke Whitelock, who captained the All Blacks against Japan in 2018, has missed out due to a large number of flankers being selected.
The enigma that is Akira Ioane received some stern words from Hansen saying “He came into the season probably not as fit as he could have been, and played every game for the Blues at the same time as trying to get fit.” Ioane amassed 1243 minutes this season (ninth most in whole competition). He will get an opportunity with the Maori All Blacks.
4. The midfield
The well-publicised debate on which midfielders will go to the World Cup continues. Four midfielders were selected in Anton Lienert-Brown, Ngani Laumape, Jack Goodhue and Sonny Bill Williams. The ever-reliable Ryan Crotty was not selected due to a fractured thumb and ruling him out for eight weeks.
Lienert-Brown deserves to start against Argentina after being one of the best players for the Chiefs this season. He was first equal in offloads with 29 during Super Rugby. He should partner Ngani Laumape who has a direct approach to get gain line. Laumape is also adding more strings to his bow with the ability to put in clever attacking kicks.
Jordie Barrett and new inclusion Braydon Ennor can offer midfield cover as well. Barrett will be valuable due to his ability to play 12, 13, 14 and 15.
Williams has played minimal rugby this season due to a number of injuries raising concerns about the 33-year-old’s durability. A pulled hamstring at the most recent All Black training camp has SBW in doubt to play the first game of the Rugby Championship. Do his injury concerns open the door for a return of Ma’a Nonu to give the midfield an experienced campaigner?
(AAP Image/Dave Hunt)
5. Form has been rewarded
Across the squad, Super Rugby form has been rewarded by the selectors with the inclusion of energetic halfback Brad Weber and Super Rugby’s leading try-scorer Sevu Reece.
Weber will look to add to his solitary cap in 2015 after what was a coming of age season for him. His ability to snipe from scrums and rucks using his great acceleration and support play were part of the Chiefs charge to the playoffs this year. At 28, Weber will be eager to make the most of his recall.
Sevu Reece did not have a Super Rugby contract at the start of the year. He was thrown a life-line by the Crusaders and took it with both hands. He scored 15 tries showing great speed, agility and skill. He is a somewhat controversial figure after going through the courts last year after assaulting his girlfriend.
He was discharged without conviction but did lose a contract with Irish club Connacht. He has moved on from that incident and made the most of his second chance.
David Havili is the most unlucky player not to be selected. Fifth in attacking metres (1277) and line-breaks (16), you would have to wonder, what more the Crusaders could have done?
With a large squad named expect the majority of the squad to feature in the first two games of the Rugby Championship before more settled selections are shown for the Bledisloe Cup. This highlights the All Blacks’ 2019 priority order of:
1. The World Cup.
2. The Bledisloe Cup.
3. The Rugby Championship.
Ryan
Roar Rookie
I don’t rate the Bledisloe any longer, a rivalry requires two good teams.
Ryan
Roar Rookie
Cheers bro - re cake walk, I was expressing my opinion and two hundred mates, who each have another 200 mates so a fair chunk of the nz population =D
taylorman
Roar Guru
Then it just comes down to coping. 3 subs cant cover midfield and back three when 9 and 10 have specialist only subs, and they've gone with that every test, Barrett not being injured a help.
Die hard
Roar Rookie
Yes Tman but what if you need a replacement for Barett when he is the one injured. Mo'unga is not a back three replacement then.
taylorman
Roar Guru
So do I, and I think the length of time he spent on rubbishing Ioane at the selection briefing was over the top. Unless it suggests Hansen is REALLY frustrated Akira hasnt done the work, and wanted him in. Saw somewhere, Blues supporters page I think that some comments have thrown up some very impressive stats from Ioanes season that leave those selected for dead in some areas. Must dig it out.
taylorman
Roar Guru
Yes true about the sub, though you could find your back three sub via Barrett when Mo’unga comes on, barrett to FB and reiko, ben or say reece off, smith to wing...at a pinch. You have an issue if the midfielder is injured as well, Mo’unga would have to cover there as theres no one that can remotely play midfield, experience wise, and its usually the midfielders that need subbing with the hit rates they absorb.
Die hard
Roar Rookie
Its not often easy to carry a specialist 2nd five as reserve cover TMan. A five three split allows a half back, a first five cover and a back three cover. Another reason Lenert-Brown and now Goodhue are so valuable being interchangeable in the centers. Laumape however is out and out one position. If Barrett or McKenzie were on the bench then Laumape could fit but I cannot see Hansen going that path. I like Laumape and agree that hes a beast. But I can't see him ever achieving the sustained threat or assuredness of Nonu. That alone makes him a great squad player perfect as an alternative or back up but not often starting the big ones.
Nobody
Roar Rookie
Laumape has great potential, but in a tight RWC knockout I'd still rather see Nonu come off the bench, right now anyway. But in Shag we trust.
taylorman
Roar Guru
Exactly.
Neil
Roar Rookie
It's been dealt with.
Neil
Roar Rookie
The so called offending was on different planes. You cannot compare Reece and Folau. Besides Reece was dealt with in the courts and discharged with no conviction. Why are we even talking about it. PC reasons I would guess which in my opinion are no reason at all.
Neil
Roar Rookie
I think Hansen was a bit harsh on his assessment of Akira Ioane. I have always thought of Bluesthe same as Waratahs. Both teams have stars and they think they are entitled. They clearly do not train hard enough. But Akira has been a standout. When others are spent from both teams, he has still been going.
Carlin
Roar Rookie
Very good point about Laumape. He is probably the best NZ midfield in getting over the line. Also his stats don’t lie especially that he is always up there with the leading try scorers. Last year they said he lacked communication with fellow players and he has also been criticised for not being a great defender at times. He is also unfortunate that Crotty and SBW are still around and that they are likely to be in the mix unless injured. Personally I would be disappointed if SBW makes the World Cup Squad if he doesn’t get enough games under his belt. He would be way too underdone.
Tony
Guest
Its very frustrating how comments people keep ignoring the value of Laumape. As a 12 he gets over or thru the gain line nearly everytime which leads to front foot ball - isnt this the holy grail of attacking rugby. Hes also good at setting up his outsides - eg Huricanes tries this season. Hes a nightmare to defend and virtually unstoppable close to the goal line. Name me any other 12 who does this ? He has also partnered BB all season in SR - why would you break that up ? If you look at the stats hes also run more meters and prob scored more tries than any other midfield. what more cld u ask for !!!!
taylorman
Roar Guru
True, TJP, Savea, Laumape and maybe BBBBB off the bench. One things for sure, things would be happening regardless of what went on before these guys went on.
Carlin
Roar Rookie
I am truly in favour of Goodhue and Lienert-Brown combing as the midfield. The impact of that Hurricanes trio off the bench (and even add Savea) could run away with games in a very quick fashion.
taylorman
Roar Guru
“I see more of a ALB and Goodhue combination in the middle with Ngani to explode from the pine” gotta be. I’d also feel better if Mo’unga started if that were the case. All three are more structured players. With Beaudy, Perenara and Laumape coming on with 20-25 to go I think some serious damage would result, and for me is a rare scenario where the better player ‘beaudy’ subs instead of starting because no one does sub better than he. Perenara and Laumape would also punish the half gaps left by the tired ones who dont sub off.
Carlin
Roar Rookie
There was another case with an up and coming rugby player Losi Fillipo who assaulted some members of the public including 2 women. He was not convicted due to the effect on his career. He received counselling and did a course about not using violence. Has ended up playing for Wellington and made a NZ Sevens development team. From the details I heard it sounded like he did some pretty major physical harm and should have had some jail time.
Carlin
Roar Rookie
Aumua's criticism around the set piece came from Steve Hansen himself at the squad announcement. That is a good way to describe him as a hybrid between Coles and Mealamu. There is no doubt he can go a long way as an All Black. It has been a cake walk in recent years but if you ask the coaching staff and the player group they still believe it is important to them and hence why they always have that trophy as a high priority.
Ryan
Roar Rookie
Yes the boks has always been the pinnacle for the Abs imo, considering they are the toughest opposition per history.