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Folau Fakatava's injury has 'opened the door' for Brad Weber and TJ Perenara

(Photo by Lorenzo Di Cola/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Brad Weber will make his return to the international arena on for the first time this year on Saturday when the All Blacks take on Wales in Cardiff.

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The 31-year-old halfback had been an ever-present member of the side since 2016 but missed out on selection for New Zealand’s July series as well as the Rugby Championship, with Ian Foster plumping for two young guns to back-up Aaron Smith in the forms of Finlay Christie and Folau Fakatava.

While Christie made his Test debut last year, Fakatava was a new addition to the mix, and their inclusions alongside Smith saw Weber and fellow experienced operator TJ Perenara relegated from the squad.

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Both halfbacks featured for the Maori All Blacks in mid-week fixtures against Ireland in July and were also selected in the inaugural All Blacks XV side which is currently touring Europe but a season-ending injury to Fakatava has seen Weber re-join the national side for their end-of-year tour, and his return to top-flight rugby will take another step forward at the Principality Stadium this weekend after being named on the bench.

“He’s played really well,” Foster said of Weber this week. “That 9 position was a tough selection [at the beginning of the season]. We really felt this was a year we wanted to have a good look at Folau in this camp and I guess he knocked out a couple of pretty experienced campaigners.

“With his injury, it’s opened the door for Brad and also TJ. TJ will be playing in the [All Blacks XV] this weekend and Brad with us.”

Foster didn’t have any specific advice for Weber regarding Saturday’s clash, simply noting that the Chiefs and Hawke’s Bay representative has been performing on the field already this season.

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“[He needs to] just carry on doing what he’s doing,” the head coach said. “We’ve given him a couple of things we wanted him to tidy up on. He’s a quality person and we kind of felt, look, he’s here, so we might as well get him in there.”

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Christie was given the No 9 jersey for last weekend’s match with Japan and somewhat flattered to deceive – although it wouldn’t surprise to see the 27-year-old given another opportunity off the bench in the All Blacks’ remaining tour games against Scotland and England following Saturday’s skirmish in Cardiff.

Perenara, meanwhile, will don the starting halfback duties – and vice-captaincy responsibilities – for the All Blacks XV in Friday evening’s fixture against Ireland A while 21-year-old Cam Roigard will provide back-up off the bench.

With Fakatava likely to make a return to the field during next year’s Super Rugby Pacific season, the selectors could again struggle to whittle down their halfbacks to just three selections ahead of the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

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In the meantime, however, Weber will be eager to remind Foster and co that he’s still a strong option for the flagship tournament.

Saturday’s match is due to kick off at 3:15pm GMT.

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O
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 2 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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