After much shuffling in the second half of the Southern Hemisphere season the All Blacks selectors will have been earning their coin this week as they sat down to decide not only the All Black squad for the End of Year Tour with matches against Japan, Wales, Scotland and England, but an All Black XV, which by the way doesn’t mean you are an All Black nor does it bind you to nationality at senior level yet I understand, but I bet you it does fall under the commercial revenue arm of the All Blacks.
This side will be playing the excellent Emerging Ireland side and the Barbarians, coached by the seemingly increasingly distant Scott Robertson. The All Blacks selected by the New Zealand selectors will be coached by Leon McDonald who has a free hand as to how they will play, no following the All Black game plan if he doesn’t want to.
Quick note: what follows are the selections I see as the big choices, not two complete squad lists.
And this leads to the big question: do the fringe All Blacks who have been carrying tackle bags all season stay with the senior side, or do they head off with the McDonald side and get some valuable playing time against good quality opposition, albeit below Test level?
Or is the option going to be there to switch between the two squads depending on match requirements? For example, does Stephen Perofeta get minutes off the bench versus Japan and then head off with the AB XV, or is there some mixture of both?
What we do know is the All Black XV will include the first cabs off the rank should those in the senior squad go down injured.
When thinking about the senior squad there doesn’t appear to be too much room for experimentation but there is a place to send a message, both about the type of players needed for the game plan they are now running, and for those who really haven’t hit the level required.
The front row picks itself: Aiden Ross gets the third loosehead gig, hookers are as per the program but only one of the previously favoured Nepo Laulala, Angus Ta’avao or Ofa Tu’ungafasi gets a seat on the plane. Ofa based on the fact he can play both sides and put in a real shift when back in the NPC.
For the AB XV, Tamaiti Williams, Asafo Aumua and Oli Jager should all be staying close to their phones.
All of a sudden New Zealand has some big promising locks coming out of the woodwork. In the senor squad out goes Patrick Tuipulotu replaced by Josh Dickson who has been training with the side for a good part of this year and has earned his shot in the trenches of Super Rugby.
The four locks of The Rugby Championship side all continue but I am wondering whether we might be seeing more of Scott Barrett starting and big Brodie Retallick from the bench as we go on.
(Photo by Fiona Goodall/Getty Images)
For the XV, they are spoilt for choice. Manaaki Selby-Rickit must be getting close, Sam Darry is one to watch, while Fabian Holland is demanding a step up.
Loose forwards, and it’s time to be harsh – not only does Akira Ioane have to give up his shirt, but the feeling that Hoskins Sotutu may never quite make the step keeps growing so he is off to the AB XV to get some game time where he needs to show that physical game at the next level.
Shannon Frizell, Sam Cane and Ardie Savea will be the first choices, the forward Barrett is 6 cover, Dalton Papali’I showed up just in time to save his seat on the bus and they are joined by genuine hard bloke Luke Jacobson and the calls of form No.8 Marino Mikaele-Tu’u must get him around the senior squad so the coaches can get a good look at him.
Tom Christie is a shoe in for the 7 shirt for Leon McDonald while Wellington’s New Zealand Under 20 player, Peter Lakai, is knocking it out of the park every week at No.8. Pita Gus Sowakula surely gets another go in a black shirt after a quick run at senior level.
Halfbacks are pretty simple. Folau Fakatava was promoted too quickly, has had a good stint with the senior squad but he needs senior level minutes so off he goes to the AB XV where he will be partnered by TJ Perenara.
I had TJP in the ‘never go back’ category and I still believe that, but boy he has had one hell of a season and you can’t write him off just yet.
Brad Weber takes the running halfback slot in the All Black side.
The choices for the 10 shirt is where the real conundrum begins.
Stephen Perofeta has both the skillset and the game management attributes to be able to play the All Black senior side game plan. When he was released back to Taranaki he just looked a different class to those around him. Patient, good distribution, quality attacking threat and a really good kicking game.
Is the XV tour the right place to give him minutes, or do they find a way to get him senior time? If Jordie Barrett plays 12 and Beauden Barrett is the fullback option then Perofeta gets the bench space at the big dance.
(Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)
There are so many talented young game managers that it’s too long to list. Canterbury has two, Wellington has two, Hawkes Bay, Otago and Waikato all have one each – good luck selecting one from those in form.
What to do with Damian McKenzie, though? Seems to be suffering from post-Japan syndrome and struggling for his best form, some clutch goal kicking aside. He may be one who suffers from the All Black game plan having moved on and his ‘hard at the gain-line’ approach my not fit the requirements at the AB level now.
From the start of the year when the All Black midfield was looking a little vacant, candidates are now lining up.
First change is clear Quinn Tupaea is of course out, and in comes Anton Lienert-Brown (I am presuming he gets through NPC in one piece, though).
Second, out goes Roger Tuivasa-Sheck – either for minutes in the AB XV or just out. The former New Zealand Warrior isn’t showing anything that earns a black jersey and being shunted to the wing for Auckland didn’t help him last week.
Lots of choice for replacements, Alex Nankivell, anyone called Umunga-Jensen, or anyone called Sullivan could all do a job (injuries excepted) for the AB XV.
My call-up for the senior side is a guy in red hot form and whose selection would set the international twitter universe right off.
Levi Aumua of Tasman is killing it with ball in hand this season. New Zealand-born, grew up in Australia and is qualified for both Samoa and Fiji and contracted to Moana Pasifika in Super Rugby. His performances are worthy of an All Black call-up, he is New Zealand-born, but selecting him out of Moana Pasifika will earn New Zealand Rugby zero friends.
Back three players also as per the program.
So many moving parts. What are your thoughts, Roarers?
Utiku Old Boy
Roar Rookie
Good comment OB. The fantasy of the Henry / Hansen genius overlooks how they often could not see the trees for the forest - often stumbling on selections through errors or lessons learnt the hard way. Foster has benefitted from his association with that era but in truth, McCaw, Carter, Whitelock, Reid, Kaino and others were more behind that success.
Old Bugger
Roar Rookie
The problem with Foster, is he keeps choosing players that are lucky, if they get to warm the bench. Otherwise they remain members of the extended squad without any minutes played, to their credit. Why pick them, if you don't intend to use them...????
Old Bugger
Roar Rookie
Aha....I guess that's the difference between us two and the AB selectors. They are there - we aren't...they see something, that we don't. Now, let's see if either U-J, gets into the 2nd XV cos there are some other players putting their hand up, for mid-field.
Utiku Old Boy
Roar Rookie
Christie for Kirifi plus Jacobson for Robinson and add McWhannell and Dickson to the locks rather than Holland - whose time will come.
Utiku Old Boy
Roar Rookie
Your selections make too much sense. Foster persisting with Laulala, RTS, Sotutu, Taylor, Fakatava, etc shows he is only forced to change his selections when his job is on the line. Personally, I'd like to see Whitelock rested and Selby-Rickett or another you mentioned with some game time and environment. Also a fan of Aumua in the centers and the Sullivans/Umaga-Jensens. AB XV announcement will be interesting but Mikaele-Tu, Jacobson, Christie, Lakai, and Sowakula would give the senior team loosies a run.
jcmasher
Roar Rookie
Mate I don't think either of them deserve to be in the team. I don't know what the coaching team sees in either of them that they haven't somehow demonstrated in either Super Rugby or NPC. I don't think AI shows "monster" form in either the Super competition or the NPC - when he plays and the fact that he goes missing so much in the big games means that for me he shouldn't be selected. As far as RTS goes, he shows a little bit of potential but nothing to show he should have been picked over Umaga-jensen or other players and I don't know why he has been.
Old Bugger
Roar Rookie
That has to be a plus for future propping stocks.....but, he will still be No2 in the Saders team no matter what side, he plays. He needs to move to another side where his abilities, can be seen as the No1 LH or TH.
Old Bugger
Roar Rookie
If you agree on AI's position after so many tests then surely, for a balanced approach, you'd allow RTS the same latitude, to show his or his lack of, abilities?? It's not the NPC or SR that he's been chosen for - its the ABs whereas AI, has shown his monster form in NPC and SR but then, becomes a no-show, in the ABs. If RTS shows form, he remains. If he doesn't show form, he remains anyway cos that's what's happening, with AI.
Nick
Roar Rookie
Not sure I agree with DP (until his form fell off for the ABs last Bledisloe excluded). MMT & Gus should have been there over Hoskins IMO.
CUW
Roar Rookie
@ Old Bugger just names on paper - without proper coach or strategies ditto Blues last time crusaders had a noname pack - but they delivered when it mattered
CUW
Roar Rookie
nothing new - is it ? :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: Forwards: Hookers Dane Coles (35, Hurricanes / Wellington, 84) Samisoni Taukei’aho (25, Chiefs / Waikato, 17) Codie Taylor (31, Crusaders / Canterbury, 72) Props George Bower (30, Crusaders / Otago, 19) Ethan de Groot (24, Highlanders / Southland, 10) Nepo Laulala (31, Blues / Counties Manukau, 42) Tyrel Lomax (26, Hurricanes / Tasman, 20) Fletcher Newell (22, Crusaders / Canterbury, 4) Ofa Tu’ungafasi (30, Blues / Northland, 48) Locks Scott Barrett (28, Crusaders / Taranaki, 55) Brodie Retallick (31, Chiefs / Hawke’s Bay, 98) Tupou Vaa’i (22, Chiefs / Taranaki, 15) Samuel Whitelock (33, Crusaders / Canterbury, 140) Loose Forwards Sam Cane – Captain (30, Chiefs / Bay of Plenty, 85) Shannon Frizell (28, Highlanders / Tasman, 21) Akira Ioane (27, Blues / Auckland, 19) Dalton Papali’i (24, Blues / Counties Manukau, 18) Ardie Savea (28, Hurricanes / Wellington, 67) Hoskins Sotutu (24, Blues / Counties Manukau, 12) Backs: Halfbacks Finlay Christie (27, Blues / Tasman, 12) Folau Fakatava (22, Highlanders / Hawke’s Bay, 2) Aaron Smith (33, Highlanders / Manawatu, 111) First five-eighths Beauden Barrett (31, Blues / Taranaki, 109) Richie Mo’unga (28, Crusaders / Canterbury, 41) Stephen Perofeta (25, Blues / Taranaki, 1) Midfielders Braydon Ennor (25, Crusaders / Canterbury, 5) David Havili (27, Crusaders / Tasman, 21) Rieko Ioane (25, Blues / Auckland, 56) Anton Lienert-Brown (27, Chiefs / Waikato, 56) Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (29, Blues / Auckland, 2) Outside backs Jordie Barrett (25, Hurricanes / Taranaki, 45) Caleb Clarke (23, Blues / Auckland, 11) Leicester Fainga’anuku (22, Crusaders / Tasman, 2) Will Jordan (24, Crusaders / Tasman, 21) Sevu Reece (25, Crusaders / Tasman, 21) Unavailable for selection due to injury - Ethan Blackadder, Jack Goodhue, Josh Lord, Joe Moody and Quinn Tupaea.
CUW
Roar Rookie
Levai is brother of Asafa Aumua - but he did not get into the toplevel as early on i recall his first ITM match - sent off for a huge hit on someone - just after coming on - lasted like 3 minutes :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: after that i think he found it difficult to get game time - perhaps as many here say of limitations - and his propensity to get carded i think he breakout season was last year for the Moana - andsome team shud take him and build on that , he has age on his side
CUW
Roar Rookie
H Sotutu was outplayed by both MArino MT and PG Sowakula - but then the Blues selectors want him in the NZ squad just like Akira I gets in despite others have always out performed him. even D Papalii is lucky to be there - he isnt that much better than the plethora of 7s in super rugger.
jcmasher
Roar Rookie
Why should RTS get a free run? He’s done nothing in the NPC or Super competition to show he belongs at the AB level and yet is taken on some sort of potential that has never been seen. Agree 100% on AI, he has never improved and still goes missing in hard games
Old Bugger
Roar Rookie
The crock is AI - he's had enough test matches to prove his case and failed whereas RTS, has only had minutes, to prove his. If they are serious about checking RTS out then, he must get a start against either Japan, Wales or Scotland.
jcmasher
Roar Rookie
So RTS and Akira still there. What a crock!
Locke
Roar Rookie
William's can play both sides but has stated that he sees his future at TH
Carlin
Roar Rookie
Thanks mate. Both have had good seasons. Yeah on the props I realised that with loose heads and not many tight heads. The squad I mentioned above was not a complete squad. It was more of who I think should be in that team.
KiwiHaydn
Roar Rookie
Think he’ll be in the mix post RWC, just not sure of his value for now…
Nick
Roar Rookie
I think Hoskins deserves another shot. He's had no where near the chances AI & PT have had. I was disappointed they did give him another run in B2. Hard to go from doing sweet FA to starting & he had classic tryouts to hard symptoms in B1.