- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
We’re less than a week out from the first All Black squad naming of the year. While most selections have been pretty well telegraphed, the fact that there are 36 spots to be filled means there is room for a few surprises.
There’s no surprise at all that the All Blacks, who have been under intense scrutiny after three lean seasons, have decided to make it as difficult as possible for the media to cover. They’re naming the side on a Sunday night in Te Awamutu, three hours’ drive from Auckland, Cheers Fozzie.
As per usual in New Zealand, the debate around who will be wearing the number 10 jersey has been the hottest area of contention, with the three most likely candidates having their moments so far this Super Rugby season.
But there are other areas of contention. Age and form are factors as old as the game itself but also given the All Blacks have never really settled on key combinations since their last World Cup win in 2015, there’s a pretty palpable feeling of the unknown as the time when they’re going to try and win it back draws closer.
Here’s a look at the All Black power rankings
Even though his Highlanders team was absolute rubbish this year, de Groot has very much maintained the form that saw him yo-yo back into the All Blacks last year after being mystifyingly dropped. There’s not really much between him and Moody who is down the chart due to an ankle injury that will heal up for the Test season, while Tuungafasi’s load has been eased thanks to a solid propping rotation at the Blues, with the veteran obviously an excellent option as well. Ross’s versatility could see him add to his one test cap.
1. Codie Taylor 2. Samisoni Taukei’aho 3. Dane Coles 4. Asafo Aumua
Taukei’aho was the talk of the town after his excellent introduction to Test rugby over the past couple of seasons, but Taylor has made a compelling case to take back the starting role after some standout performances for the Crusaders. He and Coles have played a big part in reinventing the role of the hooker, which keeps Coles in the frame despite impending retirement. The edge that all three men have over the others is that they are adept at scoring tries, not just from lineout drives but open field play as well.
(Photo by Fiona Goodall/Getty Images)
Many Hurricanes fans’ eyes were rubbed in disbelief as the side’s scrum dominated throughout this year’s Super Rugby campaign. OK, it didn’t help them get past the quarter finals but it certainly enhanced Lomax’s (and the aforementioned Numia’s) case as the front runner for the No.3 jersey. Laulala has been part of the aforementioned Blues rotation and has been consistent, while Williams’ enormous presence and Newell’s long term injury should see him earn a debut. If Jager is picked it will reverse the recent trend of Ireland bringing over New Zealanders to play in their test side.
1. Samuel Whitelock 2. Brodie Retallick 3. Scott Barrett 4. Tupou Vaa’i
Here’s where we hit a bit of a speed bump with the progress to the World Cup. While it’s blasphemy to suggest Whitelock and Retallick are anything less than All Black legends with 243 matches, it doesn’t hide the fact that both have suffered injuries this season and the only experienced back up they have is Barrett. Vaa’i is extremely promising but just hasn’t been given the Test minutes to take his game to the next level.
Blindside flankers
1. Ethan Blackadder 2. Shannon Frizell 3. Luke Jacobson 4. Akira Ioane
Blackadder’s spot is dependent on how serious the injury he picked up last weekend is, but it also shows just how long it’s been since the All Blacks had genuine first pick in the blindside spot. Frizell is capable but inconsistent, Jacobson is injury prone and Ioane needs to do way more to improve his perception as being a flat track bully.
1. Sam Cane 2. Dalton Papalii 4. Tom Christie 4. Billy Harmon 5. Du’Plessis Kirifi
There’d been a lot of chat about Cane’s place as All Black captain, as many believed he’s not even the best player in his position. However, his form throughout Super Rugby has put a lot of that to rest with Cane on a murderous defensive rampage throughout. Papalii has been very good too and may well feature on the blindside in conjunction with Cane if Blackadder doesn’t recover. Christie had watched everyone around him get injured and shouldered their loads at the Crusaders, while Harmon admittedly has had the benefit of being a standout player on a rubbish Highlanders team.
1. Ardie Savea 2. Hoskins Sotutu 3. Christian Lio-Willie
Arguably the first name after Cane on the team sheet is Savea, who has actually improved his reputation as a human highlight reel this season. After him, Sotutu has been very powerful and Jacobson is also a more than capable option if he can stay healthy. The real story though is whatever happened to Pita Gus Sowakula in the minds of the selectors – this time last year he was an All Black, by October he wasn’t even in the A side. Sowakula’s form certainly hasn’t dipped for the Chiefs, either.
(Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images)
1. Aaron Smith 2. Brad Weber 3. Finlay Christie 4. Cam Roigard 5. Folau Fakatava
For the last decade and a bit the All Black halfback picture has been Aaron Smith first, daylight second, then whoever else is playing well at the time. Remarkably, that’s still the case even though Smith is moving on after the World Cup, but the traffic jam behind him is packed. It really depends on who Foster wants to close out games – a similar model like Brad Weber or Finlay Christie, or the more physically imposing presence of newcomer Roigard.
1. Richie Mo’unga 2. Damian McKenzie 3. Beauden Barrett 4. Stephen Perofeta
This really is the million-dollar question. Right now, it feels like Mo’unga has the inside running as the Crusaders hit finals mode, and really the final itself could be a shadow All Black trial between him and McKenzie. DMac has shown just how much of a gamebreaker he is by being on the winning side against the Crusaders twice already this season, while Barrett’s form has dipped enough to raise a question mark over whether he’ll even be in the full-strength squad.
(Photo by Will Russell/Getty Images)
1. Jordie Barrett 2. David Havili 3. Quinn Tupaea 4. Levi Aumua 5. Bryce Heem
The news is better for the youngest Barrett brother, though. Even though he finally made it into the 12 jersey by chance when Quinn Tupaea had his knee rearranged by Darcy Swain, Barrett has shown what a lot have been saying all along. His strong running, offloading ability and option as a goal kicker make him an easy pick. After him, the All Blacks are sweating on the fitness of Havili and Tupaea’s comeback after that long layoff. If the dice is rolled it could be a call up for Aumua or even the 34-year-old Heem.
Outside centres
1. Anton Lienert-Brown 2. Rieko Ioane 3. Leicester Fainga’anuku 4. Jack Goodhue
Like the locks and blindside, the All Blacks really have been searching for a centre combination for quite a while now. Rieko Ioane’s shift in from the wing has seen him probably extend his Test career considerably, but he still is just shaded by Lienert-Brown. Fainga’anuku is an interesting case as he’s signed to go and play in France next season, just how that decision plays out and impacts his selection remains to be seen. His ability to play on the wing as well makes him hard to leave out.
1. Mark Telea 2. Shaun Stevenson 3. Emoni Narawa 4. Caleb Clarke
Telea has been hands down the most dangerous player in Super Rugby this season, carrying on the form that saw him pick up two Test caps at the end of last year. Stevenson has not played a Test but it’ll be a travesty if that’s still the case after the Rugby Championship, it also helps that he’s just as good at fullback too. Narawa would be a bolter but not too surprising given the All Blacks’ historical selections at wing for World Cups, while Clarke has slipped down the order having not been helped by a leg injury this year.
1. Will Jordan 2. Jordie Barrett 3. Stephen Perofeta 4. Damian McKenzie 5. Beauden Barrett 6. Zarn Sullivan
Jordan managed to hit the ground running after a long layoff due to concussion-related symptoms, scoring at a try a game as he reversed the Crusaders’ concerning injury toll by at least one. The only real competition he has is if Foster goes with a dual-playmaker role and puts one of DMac or Beauden Barrett there to partner Mo’unga at 10.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.