Roger Tuivasa-Sheck has missed out on the first All Blacks squad of 2022 as Ian Foster pulled a surprise with Scott Barrett at No.6 to play Ireland on Saturday.
Beauden Barrett will start in the No.10 jersey with Richie Mo’unga coming off the bench. Mo’unga has been battling a stomach bug.
Foster opted for Quinn Tupaea at No.12, the position where RTS has featured for the Blues with mixed success since his move from the NRL.
Leicester Fainga’anuku gets a debut on the wing, while Pita Gus Sowakula is the other debutant, on the bench.
Sam Cane will captain the side from No.7, while Finlay Christie won the hotly contested back up scrum half gig behind Aaron Smith.
Crusaders captain Barrett, who has played the majority of his 48 Tests at lock was preferred to start at flanker ahead of Akira Ioane who has been left out of the 23.
Barrett will be playing the role for just the second time at Test level – the last time was in the 2019 World Cup semifinal loss to England.
Foster opted for Ofa Tuungafasi at tighthead prop with Nepo Laulala left out. George Bower will start at loosehead ahead of Karl Tu’inukuafe.
The All Blacks are missing several key players due to Covid.
“This is doubly exciting for us playing at a packed Eden Park for our first test of the year, leading into a sold out Steinlager series,” said Foster in a statement.
“After what seems like a long time away from home, it couldn’t be scripted better to be back in front of our fans for this match.”
“Whilst this week hasn’t exactly gone to plan for us, our overall preparation has gone really well.”
In selecting this team, Foster said they’ve had to take into account managing players coming from the Super Rugby Pacific series.
“We’ve prepared rigorously for this match, albeit only having a ten day period together.”
Named to play his 133rd All Blacks Test Sam Whitelock surpasses Keven Mealamu as the second most-capped All Black Test player of all time (behind Richie McCaw), in what is his 12th season with the team.
All Blacks team to play Ireland (caps in brackets)
Tim J
Roar Rookie
:thumbup:
Tim J
Roar Rookie
BB did nothing in the final and was outclassed by Mounga, Kiwis that use commonsense which is most do not like Foster because he plays players out of position! And selects the wrong team to start. You like Foster as well as BB eh!!
Tim J
Roar Rookie
Here’s hoping WEST, hopefully they can surprise us. :thumbup:
Jacko
Roar Rookie
I think Barrett etc will match the Irish for speed Lukas. I dont see an area where NZ wont play better than the EOY tour last year.
Uriah Heep
Roar Rookie
"the only team Richie has really had a good test has been against the Australians" Had more than a couple agin the Bok - including his debut (without his ballsy heads-up play we wouldn't have won) and in another actually chased down Kolbe to stop a try (has anyone else ever done that ?).
Uriah Heep
Roar Rookie
And the glacial service of Perenara inside him.
Lara
Guest
Enjoy the game …..hoping for the best .
WEST
Roar Guru
Watching Schmidt with the All Blacks. Can’t help but get excited seeing our ace up the sleeve Mixing it up with the boys :thumbup:
Bentnuc
Roar Pro
Yeh very true. His pass is still the best. Good point about Fakatava. It looked like that was the plan. smith to steady the ship and fakatava to come on and break them up at the end. It just didnt work great and that was the worst highlanders season in a while. Just looks like he has fallen into the same trap that the likes of Gregan did towards the end of his career- scale back his game to passing with minimal questions asked of the defense with runs
Ankle-tapped Waterboy
Roar Rookie
Could be we see a redemption story unfurl before us on Saturday. It'd be good to excise some of the memories. But hard to do. The root cause was poor selection of players and their positions on the day. No wonder some folk even now are triggered every time Foster announces a selection.
Ankle-tapped Waterboy
Roar Rookie
Yes he's creaky at times, more than he was in the past. But he still has the best pass both left and right of any halfback in world rugby, and he has the champion athlete's ability to lift himself for the big games. Also his vision is superb, and he's still developing his game by going on probing runs. So he's not standing still! By the time he finishes his shift, the defences have all moved a pace or two wider. Fakatava is very good, and like so many others I too rate him, but it's worth noting he receives some nice gaping holes in the defence to run into. Those holes aren't so large in Test rugby, and they close quicker too.
Tim J
Roar Rookie
I mean if he feels that if he will only play second fiddle to BB. I did not say that he is going OS, I mentioned that I would not blame him if had offers and decides to go. Many players have done this because they are only getting older, and post RWC they leave while they still can contribute while setting their families set up long term.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Haha fact is all the selectors think Im right and you are wrong. BB massively outplayed Mounga in the earlier game in the season but I prefer to judge people as quality on way more than 1 rugby match in a season. Maybe thats where you fell down in your tipping. If thinking a world class player is a good player is having a man crush Im happy to have many man crushes on many ABs over the years as they have had many quality players. Foster doesnt select the team. He is part of the selection process but there is others involved. They must have liked BB as the starting 10 too eh!
Danny McGowan
Roar Rookie
No Tim, I was answering this post where it seemed you didn’t reliase he already going… “It is hard to fathom Highlander, RM in the semi and final showed his class. I am worried that he might look at overseas offers which I would not blame him for.” And as he is signed until WC , so what do you mean he might look at overseas offers then?
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Yeah U-J from the Highlanders had some injuries and U-J from the Canes got little time as you say. They are both very big guys and are still young. Lam looks to be a sensation once he breaks into the starting side but has some great guys ahead of him in the Blues squad. He just does everything right. Agree about Jacobsen at 6. I dont know what he has done wrong but again it comes down to who do you swap him in for. Id rather Jacobson at 6 and Barrett on the bench as lock backup but SB does seem to get better each year and is very experienced these days.
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
Wilkinson , Tim?? Nah, not IMO, as both Baz & Dan , were both exceptional, in their younger days. One might say, Wilkinson, whose she, but TBH, we continually overlook, the great first five's that have come from out of the Republic, over the decades.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Yep we certainly have some bench impact. Which is great. Is Grace a 6? He has the work ethic and no BS attitude. I would prefer Savea off the bench too.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Yeah I remember it that way. Coming into form and being injury free will mean he probably gets his ABs jumper a bit later this year. When you think Jacobson also isnt there its a strong Backrow squad the Abs have and Im very happy to see some actual no 8s in the squad but disappointed they then play Savea there. Bench looks to have plenty of impact.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
They have a lock at 6 so I dont see them needing another lineout backrower. Just need to organise the backrowers.
Tim J
Roar Rookie
Without doubt Muzzo, with Wilkinson the clear second best behind him. :thumbup: