While it’s been the craziest year to date due to the global pandemic, the dynamics of the famous New Zealand All Blacks are something we still ponder.
With the new generation seemingly coming in under new coach Ian Foster, the thoughts of the All Blacks’ aura possibly fading grow across the rugby world.
Will Foster be able to replicate the success his predecessor had? Will the players relate to him, as they did to Steve Hansen?
So many questions arise around the All Blacks, especially when a new coach comes in, and I wanted to try to dissect them after a strong Super Rugby Aotearoa season. Who would still slide into the XV for the dominating side?
After a fourth successive title for the Canterbury Crusaders, the thought of it all was pointing towards the fact that their head coach Scott Robertson should’ve been the All Blacks coach over Foster. That is for another article!
(Photo By Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)
With that being said, does it point towards an All Blacks side being dominated by the Crusaders? Do the last-place Chiefs get a few players involved?
There are so many talented players who stood out this season and some who are just too strong as incumbents to lose their spot. The debate of who deserves to be the in the first XV is an interesting one.
Picking a XV that would appease everyone seems to be an impossible job. Players who may be injured or on sabbaticals will be included for this exercise and the captain must be picked.
Okay, now that the rules are set, here is who I would pick for my All Blacks XV, if there were a Test this weekend (based on form and incumbency).
1. Joe Moody
2. Dane Coles
3. Nepo Laulala
4. Brodie Retallick
5. Sam Whitelock
6. Shannon Frizell
7. Sam Cane
8. Ardie Savea
9. Aaron Smith
10. Richie Mo’unga
11. George Bridge
12. Jack Goodhue
13. Braydon Ennor
14. Sevu Reece
15. Beauden Barrett
To name a few, there would be notable additions to a general All Blacks XV.
Frizell was the Highlanders’ best forward this season. With the All Blacks lacking a loose forward position, given Cane is locked in as captain at seven, Ardie Savea is a guarantee, just depending on what position you play him in. I have played him at eight, to make way for Frizell to play six for the Blacks. Frizell can be a genuine lineout option, as Savea is on his day.
(Dianne Manson/Getty Images)
Ennor is over Anton Lienert-Brown and Ngani Laumape. I just like the continuity of having the Crusaders’ backs, and having Ennor start. If NZ do go with Mo’unga at ten and Barrett at 15, I rather the combination of the ten-13 be strong, hence I would start Ennor over incumbent Lienert-Brown. Although I do love how Lienert-Brown plays, I also love Ennor’s style just as much.
Laulala after a very up-and-down season with the Chiefs is starting still for me. Questionable? Definitely – but I do love how he finished the World Cup and his physical nature is well needed in this pack.
Coles starts ahead of Codie Taylor. Taylor captained the Crusaders to victory and continually gets better. He really is the form hooker, but I cannot and won’t ever deny how good Coles is on his day. He is a genuine game changer, a better lineout thrower and an all-around tough guy on the field.
Now, the hard job of picking a bench for this XV.
This will cause arguments in the comments section, but based off the format of how I want to pick (hooker, prop, prop, lock, loose forward, halfback, flyhalf and outside back), this is who I would select to finish off my 23.
16. Codie Taylor
17. Angus Ta’avao
18. Karl Tu’inukuafe
19. Patrick Tuipulotu
20. Scott Barrett
21. TJ Perenara
22. Anton Lienert-Brown
23. Will Jordan
(Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)
The reserve props may cause a bit of stir, however Ta’avao and Tu’inukuafe suit the best impact for a strong side. There is strong incumbency on Ofa Tu’ungafasi from Auckland, but I really am not a fan of him. He lacks the work ethic needed off the bench and definitely the impact.
Although Scott Barrett is a lock, he has a very strong resume at playing the six position for the All Blacks as well. His durability in both positions will be a huge reason to pick him right off the bench. Hoskins Sotutu would fit perfectly off the bench, but for now, Barrett wins the loose forward bench position.
I did not carry a reserve ten, as I have two starting in the XV. If anything needs to happen, Jordan can cover fullback and rotate between the two tens I have supplied in the starting line-up.
Lienert-Brown picks himself. That’s unlucky for players like Laumape, Rieko Ioane, Jordie Barrett and Damian McKenzie, but ultimately, Lienert-Brown wins the utility back position on the bench.
If this were the All Blacks side for 2020, how would they go? How does Foster go in his first year at the helm?
Many questions will be answered if international rugby plays on, but what we do know is all these questions will be answered soon enough.
timber
Guest
The fickleness of some people. Sam Cane is our best no7, he's proven it time and time again in the cauldron of top test rugby. A few average Super games (by his standards), aren't going to supersede his proven and consistent performances at the higher level. There's clear precedent for this, Nonu, McCaw, Carter, Woodock, etc. all add average Super seasons before returning to dominance at Test level.
Nate
Guest
Ill give it a go... 1. Moody 2. Taylor 3. Laulala 4. Tuipolotu 5. Whitelock (c) 6. Frizzel 7. Cane 8. Savea 9. Smith 10. Mounga 11. Bridge 12. Goodhue 13. Ioane 14. J. Barrett 15. B. Barrett 16. Coles 17. Hodgman 18. Lomax 19. S. Barrett 20. Hunt 21. Peranara 22. Ennor 23. Jordan
Phantom
Roar Rookie
Your joking. He won’t make the 23.
Phantom
Roar Rookie
Yet was selected at 6 as a lineout option when we hardly got a lineout throw in during the first 40 and hardly challenged on their throw as they only had 2 tall forwards.
JD Kiwi
Roar Rookie
Yes, he had a very poor game. Ironically S Barrett played well.
JD Kiwi
Roar Rookie
I think there will be newcomers in the squad and plenty of rotation. Jordan, Sotutu, Boshier and Clarke for instance
Oblonsky’s Other Pun
Guest
Would love to see Will Jordan at 14 or 15. Watching him just brings out pure joy in me. He is as exciting as Barrett was around 2016, or Ben smith in 2013-14.
Phantom
Roar Rookie
Sam Whitelock was the biggest missing player that day.
Phantom
Roar Rookie
I agree with everything except #12 and #23. Laumape in at 12 push goodhue to 13. Jordie in at 23.
Pinetree
Roar Rookie
It will be pretty exciting seeing some of the younger/newer talent in the ABs, and whether they can transform that form to international standard. Will Jordan's stats have been through the roof at FB. One thing we know about Cane is that he performs at all levels, and that is still a quality that the new players will have to prove on the field if they get their chance in black,
JD Kiwi
Roar Rookie
To be honest, every team has at least one very good open side. Cane certainly needs to perform.
Pinetree
Roar Rookie
I have posted some stats below in reply to JD for the all the games in 2020. I had a feeling that those 2 games in isolation didn't really reflect Canes whole year of games, and that Dillon Hunt and Lachlan Boshier would have some stats that would put Cane under pressure, which they do with Hunt and Boshier having a higher success rate at tackling, and more defenders beaten. I totally agree that Cane's past form cannot be discounted, and he will probably be the man again back in black, but I think my hunch that other players might be putting pressure on Cane is justified. :happy:
Pinetree
Roar Rookie
Might as well put Boshier's stats up too for his 12 games. 68 carries for 214m 138 tackle attempts 127 made 91% success rate. 7 defenders beaten and 7 clean breaks 29 passes and 2 try assists. Turnovers won 12 turnovers conceded 4 Penalties conceded 11 Tries scored 7 (Hunt scored 1 Cane 0) Boshier is a bit of a penalty magnet, but you can see his stats also, IMO, put pressure on Cane as well. Good metres gained and a solid tackle rate higher than Cane, and beating defenders/making clean breaks (7 each to Cane 1 each).
Pinetree
Roar Rookie
All fair points. I think Dillon Hunt has been a bit underrated this year. His stats in comparison to Cane are pretty good. Cane played 11 games this year, and Hunt 12, so a reasonable number of games to compare. Carries and metres gained - Cane 59 carries for 95m, Hunt 43 carries for 118m. Tackles won - Cane 178 attempted 155 tackles made 87% success rate. Hunt 135 attempts 128 made 95% success rate. Defenders beaten - Cane 1 Hunt 7 Clean Breaks - Cane 1 Hunt 1 Passes - Cane 55 Hunt 20 Try assists - Cane 5 Hunt 4 Turnovers won - Cane 12 Hunt 11 Turnovers conceded - Cane 4 Hunt 3 Penalties conceded - Cane 6 (and 1 yellow card) Hunt 4 Cane goes through more work rate this year, and offers more distribution of the ball, but you can see Hunt has a better success rate at tackling this year (95% to Cane's 87%), has good discipline, beaten more defenders (7 to 1), and has made more metres from less carries, although that would be expected if Cane passes more often.They are about even in turnovers and try assists. I think it is worth noting that some other players are doing alright too, and putting pressure on Cane.
JD Kiwi
Roar Rookie
I wasn't suggesting that Pinetree. The most important form is in the test jersey, unless subsequent form is through the floor. In SRA he's been doing a lot of hard graft in a young pack that was generally second best. The stats back that up. You need those sort of blokes in big matches when the going is tough.
Pinetree
Roar Rookie
I wrote posts why Cane should have played before the match vs England began. I was questioning his form this year in relation to other players, as I have felt he maybe on a decline with the physicality he has endured, and questioned his captaincy in relation to Tuipolotu. Do you think his form is the best this year? and how do you feel about his captain role? His value for the ABs in previous years was never in question, so I would rather people don't assert that I thought it was
With so many backs being capable of playing multiple positions I wonder if Foster may go with a 6-2 bench. Even TJ has been playing 10 in the last 20 mins of most matches this year. Have a TJ, Dmac bench or a Ioane, TJ bench...Maybe a TJ, Mounga bench...If you consider a possible backline of Smith, BB, ALB, Ioane Jordan, Clarke, JB that would mean Clarke and Smith would be the only players that cant play 2 or 3 positions. Change out Clarke with Bridge and all but Smith play 2 positions. Mounga only plays 10 and Reece and Clarke only play wing. Too many options its doing my head in...
Jordans stats are sensational but with Jordie having been playing test rugby for a lit longer than Jordan I think JB will get the nod but its a win win dilemma for the selectors that for sure...lets hope they have a game to select for...
Do I have to??? The therapy is just starting to work!!!
JD Kiwi
Roar Rookie
Nice work Willie. Not dumping the captain like some is a great start. I can't leave Tu'ungafasi out, he's been immense. I reluctantly have to leave Brodie out, he's on sabbatical. The centres are tough to select, apart from the injured Laumape everyone is better at 13, which is more of a head position than a physical one. I don't think Ennor has the finer points of a test 13 yet and he can't play 12; Goodhue and ALB have for years, Reiko has developed and has massive potential. They are in the 23 for me. But there will be plenty of rotation through the series.