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Ian Foster issues update on Will Jordan, explains surprise selections for Wales

(Photo By Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

After mixing up their side for last weekend’s skirmish in Tokyo, the All Blacks have largely reverted back to the side that comprehensively dismissed the Wallabies at Eden Park early last month for this weekend’s clash with Wales.

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Shannon Frizell, Richie Mo’unga, Caleb Clarke and Sevu Reece are the only players to hold their spots from the match against the Brave Blossoms, while Brodie Retallick, Akira Ioane and Will Jordan are the only players missing from the starting line-up who featured against Australia.

The absences of Retallick and Jordan are unavoidable for coach Ian Foster, however, with the former serving a two-match suspension and the latter ruled out of New Zealand’s end-of-year tour altogether due to an inner-ear issue.

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“He’s dealing with a vestibular issue that’s not progressing fast so rather than him or us having any pressure around his return to play it’s just better making an early decision and just let him chill out and come right and come back firing next year,” Foster confirmed after naming his side to take on Wales.

While the bulk of the match-day squad remains consistent from the one that’s battled to a six wins and four losses throughout their 2022 campaign to date.

There are, however, a couple of surprises.

The selection of Codie Taylor at hooker will have raised a few eyebrows, with Samisoni Taukei’aho taking over as the first-choice No 2 this year.

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While Taukei’aho was originally supposed to make an appearance from the bench against Japan, a last-minute injury to Dane Coles forced a shuffle in the forwards and Taukei’aho and Taylor were both required to take the field. As such, Foster has decided to give Taylor – who has unquestionably been out of form throughout this year’s campaign – a rare starting opportunity.

“It’s just managing our three hookers, more than anything,” the head coach explained. “We had to make a late change last week with Colesy’s calf which put Soni into the starting line-up. Codie was going to have a break and he ended up playing so we just sort of felt we’ve got two battle-hardened hookers and we’ll just switch them around.

“But again, Codie was probably under a lot of pressure in his last Test start and we were delighted with how he went about it and played and it was good to see him back so it’s again a chance for him to cement his role as one of our leading hookers and we’ve got a lot of confidence in him in that regard.”

 

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With matches to come against Scotland and England, Taukei’aho will be expected to take back starting responsibilities for the remainder of the tour.

Taukei’aho’s exclusion is perhaps not quite as surprising as Jordie Barrett’s inclusion in the midfield, however.

While Barrett has been largely preferred at fullback, the 25-year-old was given an opportunity in the No 12 jersey against the Wallabies – and that’s where he’ll again start on Saturday afternoon.

“We’ve just gone with combinations from that Eden Park Test,” said Foster of the selection. “I said at the time, Jordie went in and I thought had an outstanding game. So it’s a chance to give him another start in that position in a different environment against a different team.

“It’s a bit about gathering information for the future but also pretty excited about what he brings and also the ability to use Davey [Havili] off the bench and utilise Jordie maybe in a different role later in the game.

“[Barrett] was physical, he was direct, he’s a good communicator. I think we’re in a nice spot because we were really impressed with the way Davey grew through the Rugby Championship then took a bit of a ding. That gave an opportunity for Jordie to go in there and this is a chance for him to cement his understanding of that role in our team and going forward, it just gives us a different style and a different game.”

Saturday’s match is set to kick off at 3:15pm GMT from the Principality Stadium in Cardiff.

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6 Comments
f
finn 731 days ago

honestly I was really hoping that Lienert-Brown's defensive heroics last week would have persuaded Foster and the Kiwi public that its a good idea to play midfielders in midfield

the enthusiasm for continuing Jordie at 12 so that Beauden can be shoehorned in at the back bodes well for some thrilling attacking rugby, but less well for building a seriously world class backline that can keep up with northern hemisphere teams

N
Northandsouth 732 days ago

Neither of these surprising. Jordie went gangbusters last time out at 12 and wasn't available for the only match since. Likewise Samisoni can't start every game. He's also a young Tongan lad on his second ever northern tour and first as numero uno. He's barely played in one of the great cathedrals of 6N rugby and Cardiff can be a unique and intimidating place. Ease him in off the bench and then step him up to start at Murrayfield and Twickenham. Simples

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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 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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