There was a collective nationwide intake of breath last on Thursday as Ian Foster named his side for the last match of The Rugby Championship.
While the Bledisloe Cup had been retained, the business of winning the overall competition was still firmly up in the air and there were a few names in that match day 23 that were not expected to be there.
Scott Barrett was given a well-earned rest, no risks were taken with captain Sam Cane and his blindside partner Shannon Frizell, while hooking revelation Samisoni Taukei’aho started from the pine, the shortage at second five-eighth required Jordie Barrett to step forward from his custodian role, and the bench featured two rapidly being forgotten props and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck.
It was quickly apparent that coach Foster and team were using this final game to give those either underplayed or of varying form lines the opportunity to gain themselves a ticket for the End of Year Tour.
You can question many things about Foster, but his loyalty is not one of them. He said at the start of this international season he would more pick and stick, and while that has been turned on its head on form and game plan, giving a run to the players in the squad for most of the year in this final game was an action in keeping with his approach.
Before assessing those firmly in the crosshairs, the game of Jordie Barrett cannot be let slide without special mention.
(Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
It seems for two years now the argument has been, do the All Blacks need a big ball carrier in the 12 shirt or a player of broader skills that David Havili has so successfully brought?
Well, Jordie Barrett delivered the full package, the narrow runs he has made as a decoy in recent weeks were done with the ball this outing, he kept his head up around the kicking and distribution aspects of his game and all in all gave the coaching team something serious to think about before they head off north. He was that good, and poor old Bernard Foley will now remember why making coin in the Japanese League looked like a such a good idea.
Of those playing under a little more pressure, Dalton Papali’i showed up the best. He has been in seriously disappointing form when given minutes in the black jersey this year and really needed a big one. His tackle work rate was back: 18 without a miss, a pest without being great at defensive breakdowns and better than he has been at offensive ruck time.
What impressed most was with Australia using five-man lineouts, Papali’i appeared to be designated tackler on Rob Valetini in the midfield and he did a good job keeping him off the gain line eliminating a big Wallaby weapon from the week before.
Now third-ranked rake, Cody Taylor can be pleased in the main with his efforts although two wobbly lineouts didn’t help his overall performance. Really good with ball in hand and his decision making was back to his normal levels while not incurring a single missed tackle and of course getting on the scoresheet always helps.
He will be safe and secure in the squad, from both a game day delivery perspective and perhaps the rather large gap to the next contender.
Akira Ioane starting in the 6 shirt needed a big one after not imposing himself physically on game this year.
Quick sidebar to note the change in tone from the coaches this year. While still politely hidden and cloaked in coach speak, Ioane needed to match the physical effort seen from the Australians the week before and to some extent he did. He largely stayed narrow, made the tackles he had to, but the big defensive carries and the work at ruck time still come up short.
In a position where two Cantabrians are to return from injury and there is a surplus of talent tearing it up in the NPC he may well miss out on the big dance in a month’s time.
Only one of Ofa Tu’ungafasi or Nepo Laulaula is likely to get a boarding pass as third-choice tighthead behind the magically transformed Tyrel Lomax, whose narrow ball carrying gave the Australian loose forwards all sorts of issues, and country boy newbie Fletcher Newell. I am not sure we saw enough off the bench to be making a call.
The casebook of Roger Tuivasa-Sheck may well be a published mystery in the future. Coach Foster gave quite the list of work when he was released back to the Auckland NPC side and having watched four of those performances at that level I am not sure he is hitting his brief.
Interestingly, the lack of structure in the NPC has strained his best feature from his Super Rugby games, his defence. This game was in the bag relatively early but still RTS did get not get much of a run off the bench when time certainly allowed.
If one looks at the skillset required to play in the 12 jersey for this new All Black structure he does look like something of a square peg looking for a home and the lack of a kicking game also does him no favours. The decision to run him in the midfield rather than on a flank is starting to look like an ask that is unfair on the player.
Purely on form and skillset he isn’t on the plane, but do the All Blacks consider the amount of time (and a considerable amount of money invested) to be a greater determinant than those calling for elevation from the park, with Alex Nankivill and Thomas Umunga-Jensen prominent among them? The return of Anton Lienert-Brown takes one touring slot, and maybe the injury to Quinn Tupaea saves RTS this time.
A quick word on the overall All Black performance and it’s worthy of greater focus than I am going to give it here.
The attention to detail, the 80-minute focus, the goal line defence which was just heroic on occasion and the tone of coach and captain for the day, where the word physicality has replaced the word tempo, both before and post-game, bode well for the current direction of this side and its make up.
Englishbob
Guest
What would my SH brethren consider a par or pass NH tour? It's seems to be a good strong mix of fixtures for all concerned. England have Arg NZ and SA, I would be content with good performances against all three and wins against 2 of the 3, I personally think (depending on who SA manage to field at 9 & 10) that England will struggle against SA the most but we shall see. Its very hard to gauge where the SH teams are at the minute given how woeful the wallabies have been and how inconsistent the other 3 were. I think France and Ireland go unbeaten. Can't wait to watch!
kgbagent
Roar Rookie
I am confused about this draw thing. If the AB lose to France in the pool game does that mean they swap over to the 'easier side' like the Boks loss in the pool to NZ was beneficial?
kgbagent
Roar Rookie
I am confused about this draw thing. If the AB lose to France in the pool game does that mean they swap over to the 'easier side' like the Boks loss in the pool to NZ was beneficial?
Two Cents
Guest
Appreciate the consolation, but no thanks. Very little positive for Australia at all since we have supposedly been building depth for the last 20 years yet is thus far failed to materialise. Yes, the injury count for the Wallabies has been completely catastrophic and I sincerely doubt many programs other than perhaps your boys could absorb such punishing losses. But it doesn't explain or excuse how the same errors that saw us embarrassed in 2007 are still being repeated among the personnel we do have, which includes a number of players with more than 50 caps. Easy draws at world cups are deceptive and do not set your team up well for the closing stages of the cup as evidenced by Australia back in 2003. The only difference being that was still a world-class team full of high-quality players so in spite of the somewhat soft draw they were still able to mostly deliver when it counted. I don't see it as a disappointment to push the favourite team to second extra time, surely an unprecedented occurrence in internationals, let alone at a world cup. I only hope that within my life-time I get see Australia play that sort of rugby again. Or better still, 1999.
Two Cents
Guest
Good insight
Jeff
Roar Rookie
I thought we were over playing the Barretts where they want to play. BBB said he wanted to play at 10 and we know how well that went. Just because JB said he wanted to play at 12 do you think he should be selected there. Reiko want to play at 13 and is selected there. Do you think that is his best position.
Highlander
Roar Guru
The inability of our left winger and centre to connect with those around them on line breaks is starting to become of real concern - in tighter matches that could really be expensive
Colvin Brown
Roar Guru
Thanks for the excellent analysis HL. I guess from my viewpoint it was a comprehensive win to the ABs, at first look anyway 40-14. But looking at it more deeply the jury to me is still out on both teams. 5 tries to 2 is a statement of sorts but 3 of the ABs tries were maul driving tries (including the penalty try), and the 4th was Whitelock's try which could have gone either way and it wouldn't have been a surprise if it had been ruled out. Leaving Jordan's cracking try alone as the type of rugby try, I like to see. From the WBs viewpoint, Koroibete's non try by being in touch when taking the ball was a coach killer, and the WBs turned down easy points by not taking a number of simple penalty shots at goal at the time they were down a man. Leadership went missing with tap kicks being taken. Many of the WBs showed real determination for much of the game and showed to me they are not far away but were let down by two or three players who seemed to lose their collective way. Fix that, which they can do when some injured players return, and they will be in contention against anyone. The WBs also need to fix the excessive penalty issue and the simple handling mistakes. Where I am concerned with the ABs is in the lack of ability to turn line breaks into tries. It's a continuing theme and it seems some players regularly don't even look to set up their teammate for the run in. Maybe they will learn from extra coaching, but I'm concerned that time is running out. Unfortunately, the ABs can't always play at Eden Park
Tim J
Roar Rookie
Much appreciated for the update Bluesfan… :thumbup:
Pedro
Roar Rookie
He is still a pup. A few more years and he could be lethal. Good to see a bug guy who can actually tackle.
Atlas
Roar Rookie
Good question. I wondered if players can simply ‘pop-in’ to playoffs if they haven’t played any of the earlier matches during the first nine rounds – know this has happened in the past, the player/s who’ve done the grunt work all season bumped for an AB. Equally, valuable game time especially for the squad players who’ve had minimal or no test time. I’ve enjoyed the Bunnings NPC matches that I’ve seen, follow Taranaki -unbeaten in 2021 but now out of playoff contention after the weekend’s loss, the final 8 won’t be settled till after this weekend, round 9; six of eight teams are there, two of Tasman, Northland and North Harbour can get the last places.
Highlander
Roar Guru
He will never die wondering Topped tackle and carry counts for NZ props in Super Rugby last year Did notice when he made a couple of tackles in a row on Saturday and was slow getting up, Jordie whacked him on the butt and pushed him back into the D line.
Highlander
Roar Guru
At least they all facing in the same direction now Geoff, Taylor too good to fall off the rugby planet, but he has looked off - still had 3 poor line outs so work to do. Game plan now places less pressure on themselves and reduces risk of errors All on to the UK now and fingers crossed
Highlander
Roar Guru
Wasn’t a good choice……
Lux Interior
Roar Rookie
He was really throwing his weight around on Saturday, his chest was heaving with exertion in the minutes before he was subbed out. Great to see.
Mirt
Roar Rookie
As I said in the live blog, if that’s all Wilson has to offer, then it’s no wonder he seldom plays. Get up a head of steam and run into the solidest guy around, sheeesh….
Lux Interior
Roar Rookie
Grace's rehab period depended on whether he needed an operation or not. I didn't pick up any info on what happened in the end.
Geoff Parkes
Expert
Nice summary, mate. Def agree about Taylor. Not perfect, but he looked sharp and far more in tune with the game this week, so perhaps all is not lost with him.
Lux Interior
Roar Rookie
There was an extended passage of All Black defence in the second half that was really patient, accurate and disciplined. Everyone stayed connected as the Wallabies probed away struggling to breach the advantage line and iirc it ended with Foley conceding by kicking away possession. It really stood out as this mob actually looked like the very good AB sides of the past defending multiple phases in the middle portion of the field. Merhts actually made note of it in commentary, like me I think he also saw it as a green shoot for a team who so often struggle to impose any form of control when playing without the ball.
Biltong
Guest
I am, he was looking as potent as ever this past weekend.