Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

'Who's going to be that Jerome Kaino': The All Black who 'must' start at blindside

Shannon Frizell of the All Blacks runs through drills during a New Zealand All Blacks training session at Mount Smart Stadium on September 22, 2022 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

Rugby World Cup winner Israel Dagg believes Shannon Frizell could be the new Jerome Kaino for the All Blacks, and explained why the Test regular “must” start at blindside flanker.

ADVERTISEMENT

Frizell has been given regular minutes and opportunities throughout an up and down international season for the All Blacks, and has for the most part done the black jersey justice.

The Highlanders enforcer has become a mainstay of the All Blacks’ matchday squads, and has started four of the last six Tests in the No. 6 jersey.

Video Spacer

Video Spacer

While the All Blacks are always under some degree of pressure and scrutiny, New Zealanders were undoubtedly eager to see the men in black put on show in Cardiff last weekend.

And that’s exactly that they did.

While a number of players stood out in the 55-23 win, including record-breaking scrum half Aaron Smith, the new-look loose forward trio has been a popular topic of discussion.

Running out alongside Frizell was Dalton Papali’i at openside flanker, who replaced the injured Sam Cane, and world class Number Eight Ardie Savea.

All players appeared to play their roles to an elite level, which had former All Black Dagg comparing Frizell to an all-time great.

ADVERTISEMENT

“Shannon at six, he is a must,” Dagg said on SENZ Mornings.

“We’ve been looking for, ‘who’s going to be that Jerome Kaino that comes in and adds that real oomph at the six position?’ He is our guy.

“He does all the hard work, he carries extremely well, he defends really (well), he’s another lineout option, he’s a big man so he’s a genuine lineout option there for Sammy Whitelock and Scotty Barrett.”

Captain Sam Cane will miss the rest of the Northern Tour after fracturing his cheekbone against Japan in Tokyo.

But the All Blacks have found a more than suitable replacement in Papali’i, who was one of the standout performers during the dominant win at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium.

ADVERTISEMENT

While the Blues flanker potentially has an opportunity during these final two Test matches to stake his claim for that coveted No. 7 jersey, Dagg believes the All Blacks have found their “top loose forward trio.”

“With Sammy Cane’s absence, and we never want an injury to play that part, but Dalton Papali’i really showcased his importance to this team,” he said.

“Not only over the ball and his defensive prowess, but his ability with the ball. Look at him when he made that big break.

“He’s got gas, he’s an actual, genuine ball player and that’s what you want from you loosies, not to be one dimension (but) to add something different.

“I think we’ve really cemented our probably top loose forward trio. Ardie Savea, just so, so good, don’t even need to talk about him anymore.

“But Dalton Papali’i really had his best performance in the black jersey.”

The All Blacks are on a five-Test winning streak at the moment, and will be looking to keep their unbeaten run alive when they visit Murrayfield to take on Scotland this weekend.

New Zealand will then finish their international season with a blockbuster against England at Twickenham, less than a year out from the Rugby World Cup.

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

3 Comments
G
Graeme 727 days ago

He's a hell of specimen but I don't think he has Jerome's temperament yet for pressure games. Ardie is the enforcer now.

A
Andrew 728 days ago

Now play this trio week after week to get their combination gelled. Sadly, Foster will still tinker and thus the Scots game will probably be a stinker.

M
Mike 728 days ago

Agree with this, this trio has the balance of skill and power missing for the past few years.

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

E
Easy_Duzz-it 23 minutes ago
Are the All Blacks doomed to a 70% flatline?

The world never caught up the All Blacks just went backwards . After 2015 they had a plan to build the team around 2 players . Sam Cane and Beauden Barrett , Cane was hailed as the next Mccaw and Barrett the next carter . Unfortunately Cane sustained too many injures and Barrett despite being a great ball runner didn't have a high enough conversion rate or the game management skills to control the team and the game . Then to make matters worst , the selections were so bad year after year the forward pack became shockingly weak .

New Zealand had so much talent wasted betwen 2016 - 2023 . Laumape , elliot dixon , ben tamefuna , pita gus , ben lam , vaea fifita and so many other in form players that never got a look or the time to develop into great All Blacks .


Then you have the dual playmaker system that never worked , but they kept using it . why ? cause some men cant admit when they're wrong . thats the All Blacks between 2016-2023 . wrong coaches with the wrong vision , going in the wrong direction . now it appears the world caught up . but like I said the world never caught up . then you add the obvious flawed referee calls that happen to go against us more often then for us now . the worst of which that never gets called is when the opposition use rush defence but have players offside . this has been going for years , but who cares ? .


anyway its almost 10 and i need to get some shut eye .

Go the might All Blacks !!!!

14 Go to comments
TRENDING
TRENDING Marcus Smith on that substitution and his England plea Marcus Smith on that substitution and his England plea
Search