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Lima Sopoaga delivers selection criticism for 'head scratching' All Blacks performances
By Ned Lester
Ian Foster’s selection tactics have again been called into question, this time by ex-All Black Lima Sopoaga.
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While Foster was set on growing combinations and providing consistency in selection throughout The Rugby Championship, his philosophy for the End of Year Tour shifted entirely in an effort to build experience throughout his 36-man roster.
While the All Blacks emerged from the tour unbeaten through the four matches, the inconsistency in performance throughout the games has only proved mildly comforting for fans, including Sopoaga.
The 16-cap-All Black was primarily concerned with the continuity his fellow flyhalf Richie Mo’unga was seeing throughout the Test season.
“I mean, DC (Dan Carter) had (Ma’a) Nonu and Conrad (Smith) for how long? It rarely ever changed,” Sopoaga told SENZ Afternoons.
“Sometimes you’d get Sonny (Bill Williams) for the odd Test, but we sort of knew what we were doing.
“At the moment, I’m not really too sure if we know our identity of our attack or how we want to attack to be fair.”
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The frontrunners for Mo’unga’s midfield running mates come World Cup time look to be Jordie Barrett and Rieko Ioane, a well-rounded pairing but one that has only started three Tests outside Mo’unga to date.
Barrett’s start at 12 made him the ninth player to fill the jersey during Mo’unga’s time with the All Blacks.
“I really like the looks of Jordie Barrett at 12 and for me personally, I think we’ve just got to sort of put our foot down and say this is it,” Sopoaga added.
“We can’t keep chopping and changing, we (need to) pick our 10 and we pick our 12 and whatever else around it.
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“But at the moment, all of that chopping and changing probably doesn’t help the consistency and the continuity between building some pretty lethal combinations.
“We do have some talent there, it’s just one week it’s one guy, the next week it’s another guy and another 13 and it chops and changes.
“It is hard to build that trust and stuff but hopefully come the New Year, selectors and coaches have figured that out and I just think they (need to) just make a plan and stick to it and back it 100 per cent and go through with it.
“Not having that consistency and fluidity in building combinations (is difficult),”
Despite moving to France in 2017, Sopoaga’s ties to the New Zealand team still run deep, which only make the season’s results all the more frustrating.
“Obviously a couple of tough losses here and there was just a bit head-scratching for me and it was hard to watch, I’ve got some good mates in there that have played some outstanding rugby in that black jersey all year.
“But it just didn’t look as fluid as it normally would and didn’t look as free and I guess that’s down to maybe also the pressure, get a couple bad results, it got pretty ugly down under, the expectation is to always win and with that comes a lot of pressure.”
Sopoaga also had a word of warning for the Kiwi side ahead of the World Cup being held in his new home of France, having been taken back by the passion the French fans have for the game and observing how the international landscape has changed.
“It’s going to be tough coming here to France and trying to get the job done with everything that’s going on and how strong the teams are, everybody’s sort of caught up so I’m sure they’ve got a couple plans up their sleeves come 2023 and we’ve just got to be patient.”
People have at long last woken up to the fact Recko is best suited as a winger, Beaudin on the bench, Mounga is our best permaent first five, Jordy at 2nd five, Alb Brown at center, fullback not Beaudin, foster needs to wake up and stop playing players out of position, build the combination and that builds confidence, foster is entrenched in Hansen's tactics which fell apart in 2019 semi against England and Foster is not able to see the obvious.
Agree totally Garth, apart from just waking up most of us knew something was wrong last cup. The rugby board should be sacked and suck up media needs to decide weather access is more important than credibility.
Reiko is the biggest problem in backline, he gets caught out all the time, he tackles well on the line because he doesn't have to think. We need a center who sets up his out sides not die with it,just like his brother not good enough.
I totally agree about the Ioane Bros
Hansen : Foster made the same mistake in RWC19 - went into the England game with very inexperienced combos in the backline and force fitting the dual play maker concept that failed to really ignite
Foster is doing the same BS earlier in the season he failed to recognize Jordie at 12 if you remember, reluctantly tried it - saw it succeeded so promptly dropped him back to 15 to allow Beauden at 10 for Scotland (where he again failed to ignite backline)
They need to put ALB at centre and Reiko on the left wing, where there is a serious defensive weakness which will otherwise be exploited, as England did.
England scored 2 tries down a flank where we were missing a defender sitting on his arse on the sideline for dumb-ass play. Thats not poor defence by NZ but good execution of the numerical advantage by England. Furthermore ALB who came on in that last 10 minutes is not a speedster with his lack of gas and game-time telling. England had too much time and space early in their try build ups. Reiko needed to remain at centre and plonk ALB on the wing. One of those tries would have been nixed earlier in the lead up back in the English own half if he was. Instead Reiko had to shadow the English last man down the sideline while watching ALB and Savea trying to get to the ball runner in space. I think Telea finally arrived from the opposite side but by that stage England were right in the corner AGAIN and demanding quick ball and from that ruck the prop crashed over. That ball runner keeping Reiko checked to the last man to be fair was not Savea's to cover - he'd just played 70 minutes - should have been ALB's but he was just too slow.
The learning has to be to have a Reece or Ennor on the bench with either Havilli or ALB (not two midfielders on the bench) and leave Reiko at centre the entire match. Late in games when they open up the fresh legs injection needs to have gas not a focus on 'experience'
He is a better winger A centre needs to be able to pass the ball
Not sure about defensive weaknesses given that Reiko has saved a number of tries this year - he needs more experience at test level that’s all - remember this was only his first full season at 13