Razor: Peter Lakai has 'everything that's required to be an All Black'

With three All Blacks loose forwards injured and expected to miss games on the Northern Tour, the time has come for Peter Lakai’s All Blacks opportunity.

Slated for international success for a couple of years now, the 21-year-old joined the New Zealand team as a wider training squad member for the Steinlager Series against England at the start of the All Blacks’ international season before returning to Wellington for NPC duties throughout The Rugby Championship.

Throughout another impressive NPC campaign with the Lions, Lakai contributed the most carries in the competition (138) and also completed the fifth-most tackles (144).

The flanker frequently registered double-digit carries and tackles in his second Super Rugby Pacific campaign with the Hurricanes this season, pressing his claim for higher honours just a year after co-captaining the New Zealand U20 team in South Africa.

All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson was asked by media on Wednesday what inspired selectors to choose the young gun as the next man up when injury cover was deemed necessary.

“Peter can play all three (positions), a hell of a seven or eight,” he replied. “He’s a young kid that’s taken all his opportunities, playing great NPC, had a great Super Rugby, high minutes and he gets to come away with us, with the All Blacks.

“He’s pretty humble, answering the phone and you can tell he’s got everything that’s required to be an All Black. I’m looking forward to seeing him go.”

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Robertson revealed last week when naming the Northern Tour squad that a handful of All Blacks XV players would join the All Blacks in Tokyo to train ahead of the Japan Test, meaning Lakai was always likey to be with the squad at that interval.

However, with Dalton Papali’i suffering a hamstring injury, Luke Jacobson fracturing his thumb and Ethan Blackadder straining his calf, Lakai looks in for an extended run with the team. The trio of injuries have forced a rethink from All Blacks selectors, who will name another injury replacement in the coming week.

“The last week’s been interesting, just looking at the dynamics,” Robertson added. “That’s why we’ve just paused, pumped the brakes a little bit on bringing somebody else in after the conversations the last few days with Hoskins (Sotutu).

“Just to have a look, obviously we’ve got a couple of guys coming up to provide training cover from the All Blacks XV. That tour’s been great, having them, so that they can come in, they’re over there so you can call someone straight in.

“But, they need footy as well. It gives us, like I said, those training bodies before a few of the crew go head up to England early.”

Robertson expanded on his plan for personnel movement over the opening week of the tour, saying: “We’re going to send a crew that’ll go a little bit earlier, getting nice and fresh for England. So, preparation in the Japan week and they’ll head over on the Friday.”

With the injury concerns looming over the loose forward unit in both the All Blacks and All Blacks XV, the presence of new All Black centurion Sam Cane in the top team is proving a wise call after questions over the veteran’s purpose to the squad given his impending international retirement.

“Well it’s ideal, and it was for these reasons – also he was playing good footy. He knows his way around the north, he’s done it a few times. So, it’s good that he can be a part of us, we’re pleased.”