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Ex-All Blacks greats clash over team selections for Tonga test

Photos: Photosport

A pair of former All Blacks greats, as well as an ex-Black Fern, have revealed who they believe should start for New Zealand in their first test this weekend.

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The All Blacks will open their 2021 campaign with a clash against an under-strength Tongan side at Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland on Saturday before going on to play two test against Fiji over the following fortnight.

Much intrigue has surrounded the selection philosophy the All Blacks will adopt heading into the July test series, of which they are expected to dominate.

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With 18 players in Ian Foster’s squad who have 10 test caps or fewer, there is a definite sense of inexperience within the current All Blacks squad, and with the next World Cup only two years away, Sir John Kirwan believes these tests are an opportunity to give those newbies more exposure at international level.

Speaking on The Breakdown earlier this week, Kirwan said powerhouse No. 8 Hoskins Sotutu is a prime example of a promising youngster who should be thrown into the mixer as early as this week to gain more experience.

Having only made his test debut last year, Sotutu has just five test caps to his name, and Kirwan believes the 22-year-old needs around 30 test caps by the time the 2023 World Cup kicks-off.

It’s for that reason, he said, that Sotutu should start at No. 8 this week ahead of the likes of Ardie Savea, who has been tipped by some as a possible long-term option at the back of the scrum, or impressive All Blacks returnee Luke Jacobson.

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“Want to win a World Cup? You need an absolutely world-class, game-changing No. 8, and I think Ardie is an outstanding No. 8, but I think he’s a better 7 at that level,” Kirwan told The Breakdown.

“I reckon you’ve got to play Hoskins from now until the World Cup so he gets there with 30-odd test matches because I think his acceleration off the mark, his ability to take a bad scrum and get over the advantage line, his ability to do that [break the line] out wide is very special.

“Ardie can do that as well, but you imagine him on the right side [of the field] and Ardie on the left side in attack, on the fringes.

“I just think Ardie wants to play 7, your captain [Sam Cane] is out [due to injury] – just play him there.”

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Kirwan’s comments came after ex-Black Ferns midfielder Hannah Porter outlined that she would like to see Savea utilised at No. 8 over the coming weeks.

“I’d personally like to see him at 8 and start Dalton [Papalii] at 7 and put some fresh blood in there and put [Ethan] Blackadder at 6,” Porter, a two-time Women’s World Cup-winner, said.

The makeup of the All Blacks’ loose forward trio wasn’t the only point of discussion on The Breakdown as Kirwan, Porter and former All Blacks utility back Mils Muliaina debated who should start in New Zealand’s midfield.

The All Blacks have been ravaged by injury in that position, with last year’s starters Anton Lienert-Brown (elbow surgery, out for two-three tests) and Jack Goodhue (ruptured ACL, out for season) sidelined with various injuries.

Braydon Ennor has also been ruled out of the Tonga and Fiji tests due to appendicitis, while Ngani Laumape’s imminent departure to France leaves the All Blacks short-stocked in the 12 and 13 jerseys.

In their places, Foster has wing-turned-centre Rieko Ioane, three-test utility back David Havili and the uncapped Quinn Tupaea as his only fully fit players who have been listed as midfielders.

All Blacks defence coach Scott McLeod last week suggested that outside back Jordie Barrett could also be used there as an emergency option, but Porter was adamant Havili and Ioane are now the first-choice midfield options.

“I think Havili and Rieko in the midfield, for me,” Porter said, three weeks after she told The Breakdown she would prefer to see Ioane on the wing prior to Lienert-Brown’s and Ennor’s injuries.

Muliaina, meanwhile, labelled New Zealand’s extensive injury list in the midfield as “a blessing in disguise” for Ioane, who has been vocal in his desire to play in the midfield rather than the wing but has only started one test at centre.

However, Muliaina expressed concerns over Havili’s and Ioane’s defensive sides of the game and how they will fare as midfield partners in test rugby.

“My only concern there is their defensive effort. How are they going to go? Who is going to be the person that dominates?” the 2011 World Cup winner said.

“We love seeing this [Ioane’s attacking ability], we’ll see a lot of this against Tonga, his natural flair, being able to express himself and make busts, but from me, who’s going to be the person that defends and sits someone on their backside that we have always had for the All Blacks?

“This is a good chance now to do it against a Tongan team that will be direct and physical. That there will be what I’m looking for in terms of what we learn, but, the two guys together, I think now’s a good chance to mould that combination together.”

Kirwan agreed with Porter and Muliaina about selecting Ioane as a midfielder as he sees the 24-year-old as a long-term centre because of his “out-and-out pace”.

“I still think he’s getting to grips with the defensive line and just getting really confident,” Kirwan told The Breakdown.

“He’ll put a big hit on when he’s really, really confident defending at 12, where he’s got someone that he’s really confident with, and I think that could be Havili.

“Sometimes he tries a little bit too much on the outsides, so I’d like to see him attacking the inside channel a wee bit more, but he’s just got out-and-out pace.”

Muliaina, who played in the midfield and at fullback for the All Blacks, added that Ioane will become a more mature player and will grow into the centre role with more time in the position over the coming years.

“It takes a bit of maturity in that position, at centre, to understand what messages you need to feed into your second-five or your 10, compared to being out wide when you just waiting for the ball and saying, ‘Hey, there’s space’,” he said.

“Now you’ve got to organise, so he’s actually got to help organise and to give those messages to someone like Havili or [Richie] Mo’unga or a Barrett who’s in there, and that’s where maturity comes into it, and you can only gain that by playing that position.

“He’s had a couple of years now with the Blues, he’s taken on a leadership role, which I think is fantastic. Now is his chance to step up to the big time and grow that, and grow that in an environment that’s possibly been given to him because of the injuries.”

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Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 3 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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