I can see Scott Barret making a big difference to that tight 5. He might drag them all together by the scruff of the neck and set them to task. Or not…..?. I hope so. NZrugby need those boys to fire up!!

Thank you very much for the article Peter. My grandfather Ted Nepia is related was a cousin to George and both were raised in the East Cioast settlement of Nuhaka, the home of the Rakaipaaka tribe. I never met him unfortunately but he is held in the highest esteem on the East Coast. I remember being amazed that he played professional rugby league during the depression years to support his family to keep his farm and family going. Perhaps a measure of his great mana was that he was forgiven by the NZ rugby fraternity and welcomed back into the fold for such a sin.

Not a good look that gesture from Lomani when the cameras were on him. That was a disgusting act he had committed and to seemingly show pride in his act so publicly he needs to be further sanctioned publicly.

Thought provoking article Harry. Well done. One aspect I have not seen discussed here is that many of the Bok squads that won back to back world cups were selected before 2015 of soon thereafter and played for the SA super rugby squads and I would hazard got to know each other very well and spent several seasons playing against Aus and NZ teams until the restructure of Super Rugby. This group of players formed the backbone of the world cup winning teams. I wonder if the familiarity of these players with each other from their super rugby years contributed to their unprecedented success and whether this success can be replicated given Rassie will be selecting from wide ranging small groups of players. From lone rangers to the European squads. Probably irrelevant really.

???????????? for everybody except the Bokke. They were and are huge men many of them.

I would add the intensity that the All Blacks have brought to the international test playing scene over the decades. This focus on playing with intensity has often the Ben difference maker and I think is the main reason we have been the best team in the world for so long when up against bigger and stronger teams. It is an extremely difficult skill to master and not all players on the field display it all the time. But their desire is to keep that intensity going as long as possible. This year I see that intensity being displayed by several NZ players. Most of the Hurricanesbstarting forward pack. Samepeni Finau from the Chiefs. Most of the Crusaders when they beat the Chiefs. Blackadder when he throws caution to the winds. Scott Barrett when uninjured. This intensity has always set us apart and remains our best weapon. Our challenge is finding those players in all positions who have that intensity plus the skills and fitness to beat off Ny competition for their place on the team.

Well said Hamish! Agree with all of this. His time has come and it would be remiss of Razor not to see this. Probably Razors biggest and best call. Would give me a lot of confidence against England. Will work well with McKenzie starting and Beaudy on the bench. Please no Perofeta in sight. He scares me.

Our Hurricanes front rows are impressing at scrum time. Especially Lomax, Aumua and Numia. Great work rates and skill sets from all of them. Perfecting the attacking and defensive lineouts are next for the tight fives. After that they will be a formidable force for many years to come which they deserve with their attitude and efforts to date.

That is the best performance I have ever seen from the Black Ferns sevens in that semi final. The skill execution under pressure was outstanding. Especially the defence. Heck I was so proud of them. Great athletes from both teams. Scott Curry staying on the field and scoring that try will live long in the memory as well. Hope his injury is not too bad.

I find myself more and more glued to the performances of Sotutu and Akira. Those 2 hold the keys to improving the performance and results for the Blues and if they can play to the top level required for international class 6 and 8 then they can bring that over to the All Blacks. I seriously have my doubts though.
Akira. He has the physical ability to dominate collisions and dominate post contact metres. This down side is that he can’t sustain that level of performance for the entire game as Kaino could and Frizzell was building into even with his injuries. Or he hasn’t shown that this year. His lack of aggression at the contact area will exclude him from the AB’s this season. Such a shame.
Sotutu in the same boat. Lack of constant focus on dominating that contact area. Another waste of athletic ability. Maybe the solution is to start Akira and bring Sotutu off the pine to finish. Our AB’s need them both to step up this year and show us all they can mix hold their heads up in the company of Kaino etc. in the areas of contact aggression, ruck cleaning dominance and post contact metres gained.
I wish them both luck for this year and in the future. They are both so capable I hope they get the best out of themselves and make their separate but important statements to us supporters. Kia kaha!

I think I can see where you are coming from there Hamish. There were several times during the world cop during the games against Ireland and SA where Sam was fighting for the ball in a defensive ruck and came up with the ball or a penalty. Often a penalty. If he didn’t have his mouth guard in I reckon he would have had a snarl on his face (pukana) such was his ferocity and determination. So yes bring him back as a player for those big games. He is a true warrior who shows up when the team need him most. The closest we currently have would be Luke Jacobsen who could fit the bill.

Totally agree. Great points.

You are right. It really is a season by season thing for all teams to build that depth for the future. Then hopefully coaching can fill in any gaps. But hang on to them first if you can.

I wonder to what extent fitness and physicality will play a role in the forward exchanges when the northern hemisphere teams come south. Whether the desire of World Rugby to speed the game up will translate into actual ball in play time this winter. If the games can be slowed down to a war of attrition then we will struggle. If the refs can speed up the game and bring fatigue in we will have a better chance. As always it is the winning of the gainline and excellent goal kicking first then keeping that’s going for 80+ minutes that will carry the day. I am really enjoying the physicality of the Chiefs and Hurricanes packs. Also the ‘flying missile’ single jab battering ram style of the rebels and Drua when they are approaching the opposition 22 and goal line. Very hard to stop when they get their alignment right. Those big Drua boys force opposition to almost double team their forwards on the goal line leaving the outsides lightly defended.

Great post thanks. If that locking and back row talent has been slipping through the Crusaders fingers then that explains some of the lack of quality depth for the ‘second team’. The Chiefs area look to have benefited from them letting talent go.

I agree with you about DMac. Second week in a row I have seen him wincing in what I would call light contact around defensive rucks. Hope he is OK because what gold we have at 10 needs to be preserved. And he is certainly gold. Best form at Number 10 I remember seeing from him. He gives me confidence when on the field.

My initial response was to your initial comment that ‘ Must be concerning for ABs fans to see their super rugby sides going downhill fast’. When presumably you were referring to the Crusaders specifically?

Not when I look at the quality coming through the other 4 teams. We are undergoing a transition from Crusaders dominance to a more evenly distributed AB supply. I actually feel quite excited at the prospect. The only question mark being settled combinations in that tight 5. But looking across at the starting 8 for the World
Cup final and the 2 locks are the only area for concern where we are looking for starting replacements. Big Patty seems to be growing into his own and looks to be ‘seizing his mantle’ which I am very happy about. Further injuries aside aside of course poor bugger. We sure need him for the next couple is seasons. I like the look of that McWhannell as well. Very exciting time for aspiring 6, 7’s and 8’s this season. I think things are developing well in NZ and we will be OK for the test season.

I think “going down fast” is an exaggeration and I suspect an attempt for you to wind up AB fans. With the poor performance of the Crusaders so far this season the other 3 top NZ teams are adjusting to the new expectations of AB fans. That is looking elsewhere for a dominant tight 5. With quality number 5’s being in great demand. Still early days yet and I feel very excited looking forward to our forward pack for the England series. They will provide a great test for our new locks.

A very insightful write up Harry. Thanks for that. Really looking forward to the Esllaby line up against us for the Championship. As much as I am for Razors picks for us. Very exciting tournament in store for us all this year! Bring it on!

‘Kiwis can be very insular and stupid at times, it’s embarrassing actually at how arrogant and rigid we are when it comes to rugby.”
I am a rugby loving kiwi who thinks the current selection policy is fit for purpose for our country. We are not Australia. They have their own selection policy which suits them and good on them. I don’t appreciate being called insular, stupid, arrogant and rigid either because I hold a different viewpoint to yourself. I don’t know anything about your posting history. Maybe you insult everyone who holds a different viewpoint. I don’t know. Maybe I am being trolled. Then more fool me.

I wish he would keep his personal opinions about selection policy to himself. Unprofessional to air them publically and drop hints. Especially for the prospective AB’s in NZ who may now have new competition for his position.

I am not 100% up to speed with what the purpose of Razor’s visit to Japan is but I think I will assume he is visiting All Blacks on sabbatical and who will be available from mid year to play for the AB’s. He should be following current NZR policy with regard to overseas players, irrespective of his personal opinions. I personally like our current policy and fall on the side of the head coach working to develop up and coming talent and strengthening existing talent. He is not a selector only. To me coaching is by far his most important role, especially the mental side of performing at world class level for 80 minutes when called upon to do so. Total intensity and focus while on the field. Let’s continue to develop from within the country and encourage local players to perform to a higher and higher level.

Not a hood look from Penney playing down Franks clean out. Way better playing is with a straight bat I think. Not smart at all.

Very honest observations. I like it. Can’t quibble with many of them Coker. I missed the Highlanders game but those selections were always risky. Same with the Crusaders. Blues are all over the place as you point out with Sotutu and Akira once again only doing enough in fits and starts as per earlier seasons. If only someone could get into their heads and convince them of their considerable physical advantages and get them to utilise those advantages for 80 minutes they would be world beaters. McKenzie once again we have to be patient with to a degree if only because there is no one else coming through that is performing. Barrett will plug the gap temporarily when he returns but what sort of form will he be in?