The All Blacks starting spots up for grabs in first Bledisloe test
An ex-All Black and a Super Rugby centurion have weighed into the selection dilemmas facing New Zealand boss Ian Foster ahead of the opening Bledisloe Cup test this weekend.
The All Blacks will square off against the Wallabies for the first time this year at Eden Park in Auckland on Saturday, and all eyes will be on Foster’s team when it is unveiled on Thursday.
After being granted a chance to experiment against Tonga and Fiji last month, this weekend’s clash with Australia is likely to see Foster produce his strongest-available lineup.
The closest indication we have seen to New Zealand’s top-strength team this year came in the All Blacks’ 60-13 thumping of Fiji three weeks ago, and the dominance shown in that performance could result in minimal changes being made to that side.
While Foster revealed to media on Monday that he has the makeup of his team locked in, he refused to give much away as to who exactly has cemented their places in the match day squad.
Since then, former All Blacks rake James Parsons believes there may be more selection headaches confronting Foster than meets the eye as he pinpointed various areas of the Kiwi lineup that are still up for grabs.
Speaking on the Aotearoa Rugby Pod, Parsons, who played two tests for the All Blacks between 2014 and 2016, said Richie Mo’unga is likely to retain his place in the No 10 jersey after his compelling performance in the second Fijian test.
He believed, however, there is less certainty in the midfield, loose forwards and second row.
“I think they’ll probably stick with Richie,” Parsons told the Aotearoa Rugby Pod.
“I think Fozzie [Foster] made it pretty clear that he’s got the nudge there and I don’t think he did himself any disservice from the last Fijian performance.
“I think the spots that are up for grabs are probably that 13 spot. We spoke about Anton [Lienert-Brown] and Rieks [Rieko Ioane] and who goes there.
“The locking position… Is it Brodie [Retallick] or is it [Scott] Barrett? Is it Patty [Patrick Tuipulotu]? And what mix do they go for on the bench?
With Beauden Barrett appearing to no longer be a frontline option for the 15 shirt, you might have expected the team’s fullback to become less prominent. In fact, they’ve gone in the opposite direction. #AllBlacks
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“I still think 6, 7 and 8 is probably the biggest debate they’ll have, what make up of that, and the bench will go.
“Ardie performed really well. Dalton’s performed really well. Ethan Blackadder has performed really well.
“I think Luke Jacobson and Hoskins [Sotutu], that’s a really hard one because Hoskins did well as well and Luke’s probably had more of the minutes, so you’d probably think he’s got the inside running there.
“I think Aki [Akira Ioane] probably has the 6 jersey, at this stage, so it’s that 7, 8 – who they go for and who’s on that bench.
“Those are the three areas for me – 13, loosies and the locks – that I think will be the positions up for grabs from that last testing that ran out.”
Parsons added that Jordie Barrett is likely to start from the No. 23 jersey due to his versatility as an outside back and midfielder, as was seen in New Zealand’s season-opening clash against Tonga.
Crusaders and Maori All Blacks halfback Bryn Hall, meanwhile, noted the injury status of Will Jordan could be vital in determining how the backline lines up.
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Jordan was pulled from the field early in the first half of the second test against Fiji due to a hamstring problem, and Hall wondered whether that niggle could keep his Crusaders teammate sidelined for the upcoming Wallabies test.
Foster told media on Monday that all players in the squad – bar injured props Joe Moody and Ofa Tuungafasi – are fit and available for selection, but that didn’t stop Hall from theorising a makeshift backline if Jordan pulls up lame.
“The left winger role, as well, will be interesting,” Hall told the Aotearoa Rugby Pod.
“I think the fact that Will Jordan could be injured, he obviously had that injury in the last Fijian test match, so if he’s not available, does George [Bridge] come back and Sevu Reece comes back [to the right wing]?
“Or, does Rieko possibly play 11? Or Jordie [Barrett] as well? You think about Will, he’s had a great test series playing Fiji, the Tongans, so I’m probably thinking there might be a little difference in there, who they have in that left wing area.
“Damo [Damian McKenzie] probably at fullback and keeping Davey Havili, depending if they want to have Anton or Rieko, as well.
“I wouldn’t be surprised seeing Rieko on the wing, if Will’s injured.”
The All Blacks will announce their side to face the Wallabies at 11:30am on Thursday NZT, with kicks-off at Eden Park at 7:05pm on Saturday NZT.
Comments on RugbyPass
RIP big man 🙏
1 Go to commentsThe GB coach. “Just because we don’t get together as much as other teams we don’t use that as an excuse for performances when we don’t hit the mark”. Why mention it at all then?
1 Go to commentsNo mention of the yellow card for Harlequins which really cost them.
3 Go to commentsThought you’d left us Nick. Good to have you back writing for us. So hunter ikitau works? I reckon wright kellaway as two of the back 3. Tim Ryan and Toole looking good for strike winger but I still want the power of korobeiti and figure our forwards still need him to help them out. Million dollar question is who plays 10? I’m thinking Noah for his kicking and combo with wright. Reckon the pair adds up to an attack and kellaway will help. Can you comment on Zac Lucas in Japan? How is he going?
1 Go to commentsMack Hansen, Ethan Roots, Taine Plumbtree, Louis Lynagh, Emmanuel Meafou? Which country do you want to pick your Barbarians from?
3 Go to commentsInstead of apologising, try to act like an adult, fcknut.
3 Go to commentsLooks like the Force twisted his leg…ahem arm
5 Go to commentsScotland should change their name to the Barbarians
3 Go to commentsThe game was already over leave the bloke alone ….from a Welsh fan 😀👍
3 Go to commentsShamefully the Toulouse players acted like footballers, falling down feigning injury at the slightest knock. About time refs penalised this play acting.
8 Go to commentsAnother non Scot for the anti Scot Townsend. Soon there will be no Scottish born and bred players in the National team.
3 Go to commentsGreat comeback to the playing field by Richie Mo’unga after the loss of his father. A great performance by Richie . I know him well and he is a great guy. On and off the field one of the greatest for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson would have loved him in his All Black’s side. A very missed player and person.
2 Go to commentsYeah nah he comes across as a funny bloke, but that stopped abruptly after the Nutcracker Prince debacle✋
3 Go to commentsAt this point I can’t watch him without thinking he’s a dirty slimebag. He should have been banned for the same amount of time that Quinn was out. It took Tupaea near on a fricking year to get fit enough to play again and his leg will never be the same. The other crap thing is that he was at ABs level and now he has to claw his way back there when he could have had several games under his belt.
5 Go to commentsThe Black Ferns 7’s have been without Captain Sarah Hirini now since Dec 23 in Dubai where she suffered a bad ACL injury - hopefully she is on the road to recovery for Madrid and Paris. Now also have Tyler King and Shiray kaka on the Injured List but the Team still found a way to win in Singapore and claim the overall Title.
1 Go to commentsUtter grub, hope he gets his leg broken. Shocking he is still playing after intentionally breaking quinn tupaeas knee
5 Go to commentsGreat to see NZ 7s teams finally coming into form and playing at the level that is expected of them.
2 Go to commentsChief Cheapshot on the market again.
5 Go to commentsCrusaders went all in to buy Hotham and Kemara staight from Hamilton Boys. Then they picked up Reihana and Hohepa; all have been dropped for superstar Havili, who is a very good fullback, that’s it. Ennor and Goodhue were schoolboy stars too but went backwards at the Crusaders. Maybe they have finally decided to give another poach Levi Aumua the ball?
16 Go to commentsJoe S has some talent to pick from. The Reds loosies look the best in Super? Aus might just give Razor a headache this year. Int. experience v Cantab greenhorn:) Should be fun.
16 Go to comments