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'Fine-tuning those instinctive moments': Rieko Ioane outlines his work ons
By Ned Lester
An All Blacks debut at just 19 years of age was the beginning of something special for Rieko Ioane, who has racked up over 60 caps in the seven years since.
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The speedster of course started out on the wing but having played centre in high school, Ioane was keen to get back into the midfield and did just that in 2020.
The transition hasn’t always been smooth sailing but with players like Ma’a Nonu, Tana Umaga and Sonny Bill Williams on hand to mentor him, Ioane soon settled into his new home in the No 13 jersey.
“I’ve had the GOATs of the midfield to work with,” Ioane told the Aotearoa Rugby Pod. “Those three in particular for a 13 who’s trying to establish himself, those three you can’t look past and they’ve helped me each in their own special way.”
Ioane has indeed established himself as the premier centre in the New Zealand setup, owning the 13 jersey under head coach Ian Foster.
The growing pains have been evident but the 26-year-old’s distribution skills have taken huge leaps over recent seasons and the voices of doubt over his transition have gradually faded away.
The work has been paying off and Ioane revealed just what that work looks like ahead of the Rugby World Cup.
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“Obviously, there’s always areas you can get better at. Defensive tendencies are a big one and when you get into big moments or fatigue moments, that’s where your habits need to come into it.
“So it’s more that stuff, it’s not too many big things – although there is big parts of my game that I probably could work on – for me, it’s about fine-tuning those instinctive moments.
“So it’s not to tuck and carry now, it’s to draw and pass. It’s to slide and push in defence rather than just rush up and jam, and it’s getting more of those moments correct than not.
“That’s the way I see it, it’s those little moments becoming free-flowing because the centres that have gone before me, they’ve helped the game flow and their impact, although it might not be runaway tries or whatever, they’ve helped linking, they’ve made all their tackles, they’ve done all their core roles really well.
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“I want to be able to do that with the flavour I bring to it.”
That flavour is characterised by explosive speed and X-factor, something that the All Blacks failed to unlock in their recent pummeling at the hands of the Springboks.
The backline got limited opportunities against rapid and well-executed line speed pressure from the South Africans.
The defence shut down the combination that has promised to be the future of the All Blacks midfield in Ioane and Jordie Barrett. Barett is also transitioning from being predominantly an outside back.
“I’ve had a couple of games now on the trot with Jordie, seeing what he brings and him bringing his best game to the backline and me also bringing mine is what we’ve probably struggled with.
“We both want the ball, both of our natural instincts are to carry and now it’s how we compliment the backline which is in a really nice spot and those selfless acts, they’re huge.”
JJJ. Jealous Jilted Jo. So disrespectful of our best midfielder and your mate's son.
hmmmm.... I played with Davids Dad, Bill and Davids Mako coach is my nephew so not sure how "Davids coaches overlooked me?" ..... Aaahh thats right more of Daveys 'arm-chair' expert analysis thats woefully over-cooked and far-stretched, again.
Look Dave you're just full of shit. You dont like a player so 'manufacture' shit up about his play that is subjective and not based in fact. My first post tried to provide you insight but your ego got the better of you and has remained your constant. Dont like being wrong huh? You assert shit about his play based on your 'thinking'. Thinking that has no positional nor experience reference. Play not only the AB's coaches disagree with you on but so too do every ex-AB that played in his position since Bunce. So are you right and they're wrong Davey? The ego still telling yourself that Maa and Conrad dont know what they're talking about?
You're just an arm-chair expert Dave. Own it.
I was going to refer to you as MMMM. The
Mighty Marlborough Mako Man. In jest, obviously. Now it's much easier. JJ. Jilted Jo. The little centre who thought he could but couldn't. I couldn't work out why you were so dogged in talking up average Ioane. But now it's so crystal clear. It's ok champ. At least you gave it your all. 🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️
And there we go! Boom!!!!! You're not MMM, you're bitter Jo who couldn't make it past Havili and Aumua. Genius. Now it all makes sense. It's patently obvious you rate yourself but clearly the coaches didn't. They rated David and Levi but not you. That's why you're hurting so much. Even talking up an average AB like Ioane to try and throw shade on Levi. So transparent. This is like an awakening Jo. And OMG it's going to cut you to the core when Razor makes Dave AB's vice captain. And gives Levi the shot you believe you deserved. This has made my night. Champ.
The only 'legend' in this exchange champ is the one who needs hacks and (other) arm-chair experts to validate his coaching creds.
Havilli and Aumua the next AB's midfield FFS! 🤣 🤣 🤣
I'm surprised that a self proclaimed legend of the midfield like you Jo has such thin skin. Why bother arguing with me? I haven't got the mighty credentials of the mighty Marlborough Man. I just think your opinion on this subject is manifestly wrong. No need to take it personally old timer.
So says Mr 'Arm Chair' watching Reiko run out this Saturday wearing 13 wondering in what 'reality' he is not playing.
🤣
You keep believing that Jo. I'll stick to reality.
I just know more than you champ. Stick to your 'Fantasy Rugby'
Ah. So Graham Henry is a hack eh? Pretty sure he never played at an elite level. But he didn't do too bad as a coach. You keep believing you know more Jo. I suspect Razor will veto Rangi. He hasn't managed to turn Reiko into a centre in three years. I don't think Scott will cut him the same slack.
...and time is already 'told' champ.
He's our No 1 midfielder unless you contact Foster and share your opinion. Lol
No, you're the only 'expert' Dave.
'Hacks' who havent played the game before to any decent level to appreciate time and space under pressure....with an opinion fall into your expert panel Dave.
Ex AB's including the next AB's attack coach (Leon Mac) poignantly have polar opposite opinions to your very illustriously considered expert opinions.
Not just me Jo. I think pretty much every journalist and rugby fan has the same insights about Reiko. I suspect Robertson will have them too. Time will tell.
Hell Dave you need to get into coaching. Your LazyBoy gives you insights AB's cant see.
Sorry coach. He doesn't play like a natural. He plays like a guy learning or relearning the role.
Your ‘experience’ again telling you he needs to ‘learn’ 13? Cause your experience see’s a defensive shape evolving better than him? 🤣
You do know he’s a natural centre?
Deep. No. He should pass when it sets up the outside man to progress further than him. There were numerous occasions this season when he neglected to pass when there was an opportunity for the player outside to score. RTS on his left for the Blues with an open line being an obvious one. Experience tells me that he's still learning centre and needs a tonne of improvement in his distribution skills to hit the potential his size and speed suggest.
Again, experience tells me why he chooses to straighten our attack and not pass and when he chooses to pass. But to the ignorant watching from the couch - "if he has a man outside him he should just pass him the ball every single time aye"
Jordie Barrett is extremely tall and is the most skilled midfield back in world rugby. But he still does not have the ideal power to be the primary midfield crashball runner as Nonu and SBW were (same issue as David Havili).
What NZ needed was to have developed hard running, hard hitting line breaking centers, like Leicester Fainga’anuka or Levi Aumua, play outside of a playmaking 12 (or vice versa).
In the next RWC cycle, NZ Super franchises and All Blacks need to get together with a central plan at U20, NPC, and Super Rugby to select and develop bigger, heavier, more powerful loose forwards and midfielders. And their needs to be a greater emphasis at Super Rugby level to play more forward oriented rugby now that South African franchises have been booted out.
I would like to see L Aumua at 12 and J Barrett at 13, with R Ioane at 11. But maybe J Barrett doesn't have the explosive pace for 13?
I agree with some of your points Scott, but I'd contend that Havili is our most skilled midfielder. But you're 100% correct, he's no basher so does need a power runner to complement him. I think Robertson will have a different view to both Foster and the author as to what our future midfield looks like. He is a massive Havili fan and with Levi Aumua joining the Crusaders we have the power back you mention alongside him.
Ioane could have been the greatest wing in All Black history and NZ’s top try scorer of All-time. But due to his big ego and his national and franchises coaches unwillingness to say “no”, he has and will always be an average international center who every once in awhile makes a brilliant highlight reel play due to his incredible pace.
What a waste.
Agree. Plus doesn't work hard enough off the ball when the going gets tough.
Is he saying JB is too greedy?
I think so. I think he's acknowledging that they both are. Hence why Foster has given Talea and Jordan license to roam. Because they won't get the ball passed to them by the midfield.