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The ideal starting All Blacks' XV for the Rugby Championship
By Ben Smith
The All Blacks‘ 36-man squad for The Rugby Championship has seven newcomers, including Chiefs flyer Shaun Stevenson who was subsequently drafted in to provide cover for Mark Telea, and late injury replacement Tevita Mafileo.
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The All Blacks have five Tests to experiment before the Rugby World Cup so it makes sense to debut the newcomers to see how they perform at Test level.
Here is a hypothetical All Blacks 23 based on the needs of the selectors before the squad is cut down to 33 for the campaign in France.
15. Will Jordan
The All Blacks have a history of meddling with the fullback position in a World Cup year, sometimes with terrible results.
In 1999 Christian Cullen was moved to centre, in 2007 the same switch happened to Mils Muliaina. In 2019 Beauden Barrett was moved to No 15 at the 11th hour in order to accomodate Richie Mo’unga at first five. All three campaigns ended without World Cup success.
Jordan has been used as a right wing so far by the All Blacks but indifferent form from Beauden Barrett combined with Jordie Barrett’s move to No 12 presents a perfect time to hand the keys to the in-form Crusader. As a genuine fullback, this move for Jordan won’t be the same as the mistakes of the past.
14. Emoni Narawa
The Chiefs wing had a sublime Super Rugby campaign capped off by an impressive performance in the Super Rugby Pacific final. Given he was selected over Stevenson in the initial squad, he would be expected to get the nod ahead of his Chiefs’ teammate for a starting berth in the No 14 jersey. The All Blacks selectors will want to see if Narawa’s game translates well at Test level.
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13. Rieko Ioane
After a great end to the 2022 season with the All Blacks, there is no reason to change or experiment at centre, particularly with Lienert-Brown out and no other player coming in. The more time for Ioane at centre the better, particularly as Jordie Barrett only moved to No 12 late in the year. The more Tests they get together, the better for the All Blacks, as they are out-and-out the best midfield combination available.
12. Jordie Barrett
Ditto for Barrett at second five, who took over the role in 2022 for three Tests against the Wallabies, Wales and England. He could do with a Test against Argentina and South Africa where he will be tested physically. The set-piece carries will hit different against the Boks compared to the Wallabies.
11. Leicester Fainga’anuku
The form wing in Super Rugby Pacific, Fainga’anuku deserves the chance to start ahead of Clarke. His attacking game is more complete with better distribution and offloading skills. Defensively, Ioane and Clarke haven’t clicked together either. That channel is the weakest in the All Black back line and needs fixing. The Crusaders found that in the semi-final with a smart line from Will Jordan who ghosted through. Fainga’anuku had his own defensive troubles against Ireland last year but is deserving of another shot.
10. Damian McKenzie
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Despite lacking some game management smarts in the Super Rugby Pacific final, McKenzie was back near his best at No 10 for the Chiefs this season. He is the long-term option for the All Blacks at 10 and needs some game time before the World Cup just in case injuries strike. Defensively, he is better than Mo’unga, while hopefully Joe Schmidt can bring the best out of him in terms of controlling a game.
9. Cam Roigard
He’s been picked for a reason, now is the time to see what he has at the highest level. Aaron Smith is a known quantity and to a lesser degree so is Finlay Christie. Roigard needs to have a Test or two in the All Blacks system if he is a genuine prospect for the World Cup squad over Brad Weber or Folau Fakatava, who have been picked in the XV squad. Roigard should start two of the three Tests.
8. Luke Jacobson
The Chiefs No 8 has been selected for the first time since 2021 off the back of strong Super Rugby Pacific form. Jacobson must start against the Springboks to test himself against one of the strongest loose forward units in the game. Ideally he would play the Pumas as well, who have another formidable back row with Pablo Matera. Savea does not need to start a lot, and some load management wouldn’t go amiss.
7. Sam Cane (c)
Nothing is going to stop Cane from captaining the All Blacks this year, which means he needs to be on the pitch during the Rugby Championship to lead a side with a number of inexperienced players. He had consistent form with the Chiefs despite the yellow card in the final. Cane has to start all three Tests in the Championship.
6. Scott Barrett
Barrett has played most of the Crusaders season at lock, but is clearly in Foster’s World Cup plans as a blindside flanker. Some more starts at No 6 will prepare Barrett well for a Test season where he will likely feature across the loosies and second row. Frizell is a known quantity but Samipeni Finau might find a debut off the bench at some stage.
5. Tupou Vaa’i/Josh Lord
Either of the Chiefs locks can do with a start, particularly Lord who continues to be selected despite a lack of game time. Sam Whitelock should be rested for almost the entire campaign, and perhaps be eased back into it in August for the second Bledisloe and warm-up Tests. Vaa’i or Lord can use the valuable game time.
4. Brodie Retallick
Retallick brings the experience with Whitelock nursing the Achilles injury back to health. Although he had back luck in the last World Cup year when he suffered a shoulder injury against the Springboks in 2019 during the Rugby Championship. He made it back for the World Cup but wasn’t quite fully fit, so he will be hoping this time around to stay healthy.
3. Tyrel Lomax
After rising to become the first choice tighthead last year, Lomax should continue to start along with the rest of the new look front row that went undefeated over the final seven Tests in 2022. Although the All Blacks have a depth crisis up front, there is no point wrapping the front row up in cotton wool who are all mid-20s and in their prime. Tamaiti Williams as an impact player off the bench will give the All Blacks a boost and solid 1-2 punch with Lomax.
2. Samisoni Taukei’aho
Without Ardie Savea or Akira Ioane in the starting line-up, Taukei’aho is needed as a ball carrier aside from the fact he is the best hooker. He is one of the strongest in the team at generating front foot ball. Has to play.
1. Ethan de Groot
At times the Highlanders prop did not look in good form this year, but he was a revelation for the All Blacks in 2022 so until he has a poor showing in the black jersey must be picked. De Groot can mix it with any pack and was instrumental in bringing down the Boks last season.
Bench
16. Codie Taylor
17. Ofa Tu’ungafasi
18. Tamaiti Williams
19. Lord/Vaa’i
20. Papalii/Finau/Savea
21. Aaron Smith
22. Richie Mo’unga/Beauden Barrett
23. Shaun Stevenson
I think its a good first power house 3 forwards aswell as flankers and number 8. all the backs but not jordie barrett hes not good at number 12
Definitely do not agree that Barrett and Ioane are our best midfield combination. Havili is lightyears better than Barrett. So when he is fit, he needs to start alongside Mo'unga. For now, yes, start Barrett but sub him asap and let's see what McLeod can do.
1 De Groot, 2 Taukei’aho, 3 Lomax, 4 Retallick, 5 Va’ai, 6 S. Barrett, 7 Cane, 8 Savea, 9 A. Smith, 10 Mo’unga, 11 Fainga’anuka, 12 J. Barrett, 13 Ioane, 14 Narawa, 15 Jordan, 16 Taylor, 17 Tu’ungafasi, 18 Williams, 19 Frizell, 20 Jacobson, 21 Roigard, 22 McKenzie, 23 McLeod
No matter how you slice it, the All Blacks lack power and physicality in the midfield and size and power in the back row due to poor selection and development over this 4 year RWC cycle. I would prefer Savea at 7 with a big ball carrier at 8 and a big powerful linebreaker at 12 or 13 but there has been a failure to develop big hard running, hard hitting centers in NZ.
Agree Will Jordan Number 15.
Mounga is 10 - Mounga's defensive cover is excellent - go watch a few Crusaders games.
Barrett is a lock, a very good one and an intelligent player, don't squeeze him out to number 6 to justify your personal preferences.
Beudan, I think "the writing is on the wall" for him. A few moments of his old self in the Super Rugby games, but that's all.
Agree with Jordy's position, but Mr Foster needs to have a word about his apparent, occasional brain fades!
Cane is a work horse, no doubt, try him at Number 6 and Ardie open side? I think Ardie has better attacking prowess, although his defensive work could be better.
I don't understand benching Ardie. He's been the best AB, by far, for a few years now. And if you ask any opponent, I'm confident they would rather see Ardie on the bench than on the field. The commitment to Cane makes no sense, Ireland made him a laughing stock.
Forget about 2019 - Scooter was thrown in at the deep end with not a lot of prep at 6. My only reservations about this team are that there are players there who have had a lot of recent loading - Fainga'anuku (who might be injured), Jacobson and Barrett, for instance, ahead of players who desperately need game time - Clarke, Savea and Frizzell. Maybe they'll use Mendoza to bring a few of those guys back to match fitness...
Scott Barrett is a lock, the English exploited his weakness at the shoddy semi-final defeat of the All Blacks in Yokohama. Richie is our number 10, the rest of the team makes sense. Ardie has a great leg drive. He can play openside. Bench Cane!
Scott Barrett as a lock is his best position. Tamaiti Williams has a big engine, so start him. Dallas McLeod at 12 instead of J. Barrett. The rest of the team is perfect.
I like the thinking. Particularly the back three and Stephenson, Roigard, Finau, Lord, Via getting a good opportunity to enter into the team and shine in games to come. Keeping the mid feild settled seems a good option. I'd give McCloud some time at 12 asap too.