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The All Blacks' answer at openside who can cause issues for South Africa and Argentina
By Ben Smith
Crusaders loose forward Ethan Blackadder returned to international action as an openside flanker against Fiji as the All Blacks trialled new combinations.
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The 29-year-old played just his second Test in three years after featuring just once in 2023 at the Rugby World Cup against Uruguay.
Even after just five Super Rugby Pacific games this season, Blackadder was able to produce a starring performance which caught the eye of Sir John Kirwan.
“Ethan Blackadder absolutely impressed me yesterday,” Kirwan told Sky Sport’s The Breakdown, “I haven’t seen a No 7 play like that for a long time.”
The former All Black would like to see a new combination for the Rugby Championship, moving Papali’i to the blindside to accomodate Blackadder on the openside.
“I would play Dalton [Papali’i] at No 6, I’d play Ardie at No 8, and I’d play Blackadder at seven, because he’s also a line out option.”
“I think Dalton’s bringing what a six, a traditional six used to do, but Ethan had everything yesterday, and I want to see that against Argentina and against South Africa.
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“Because if he plays like that, gets wide, makes those passes like that, Dalton will compliment him, because you can’t have three like that.
“Dalton will bash people, get up his line, make his defense, get over the ball, and Ardie will be Ardie, right?”
The backrow combination against England were edged by their counterparts, Chandler Cunningham-South, Sam Underhill and Ben Earl as the All Blacks were unable to get dominance in those position battles.
Blindside specialist Samipeni Finau is currently the number one option at No 6 but Kirwan believed his best will take time.
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“Where does that put Samipeni Finau? I’d like to persist with Samipeni, because some of these players at the next level, are a bit more slow burners,” he said.
“He’ll get better and better, but we’re looking for that aggression.
“And right now I think, wow, that I’d love to see that [Papali’i, Blackadder, Savea] as a combo.”
I’m a fan of Blackadder but that was far from his best against Fiji. Missed half his tackles and poor accuracy at the breakdown. Would love to see ardie at 7, papalii at 6, and sititi get thrown in against Argentina. Doubt i’ll get my wish. Finau is a great prospect but still needs time to refine his game at test level.
No, unless the tackles were fatal like the one Reiko missed on Bundee who scored in RWC23 QF. Not all “missed” tackles are equal. I mean Proctor had a huge game v FIJI but noone is talking about his 3 missed tackles. Can anyone even recall them?
Data is always subject to interpretation.
Most debates around Blackadder are moot because he will be injured by the time the RC starts.
I do not think JK watches the team on defence AT ALL. He is singing the praises of Proctor and Blackadder, both of whom had some very nice touches against a relatively average defence, but missed a number of tackles each and conceded penalties and turnovers. Both very good players with a lot to offer and will deservedly get more chances this year, but it would be good to have at least one pundit who is more of an objective analyst than an ex-player cheerleading their favourites.
It’s no coincidence that Italy were at their absolute worst under JK. His back row only makes sense if you are an Ethan Blackadder fan, rather than think it would be the best back row to take on SA.
It seems like you are trying to redefine what a missed tackle is to suit your view of who you think you should be in the team, despite the evidence. If Sam Cane had missed the exact same tackles I’m sure you would use those statistics to make a case for Blackadder.
He’ll get better. He’s 29, plus He’s nowhere NEAR international quality!
I think Blackadder’s best role may well come from the bench.
That’s why JK never made it as a coach. Whatever you think of Blackadder (and I’m in the not impressed group), putting Dalton at 6 and Ardie at 8 is a ridiculous combination at international level. Who’s your 3rd line out option, JK? Don’t say Blackadder, because he wasn’t the one jumping at the tail against Fiji. That was Jacobson, who is a tough jack of all trades as a loose forward, ideal off the bench perhaps, but not the guy who is going to get ball at the tail against the likes of P-S du Toit, or Ollie Chessum or Olivon or any number of other big blindsides. I must say I was surprised at the Breakdown’s gushing over Blackadder’s performance. Often in- accurate at the clean and on the tackle and rag-dolled on the carry. One brilliant pop pass though.
No greater praise for Blackadder than legendary ABs #8 Murray Mexted, founder & managing director of IRANZ, no less. A good hit out by EB, work-ons yes, will benefit from more rugby.
But yeah, we’re far from settling our top loosies combo yet. Finau looks like a keeper at #6, 6’5” 114kgs, we just need to give Razor & Ryan time to build him. And a fit, bulked up 2.04m Josh Lord at lock will help our aerial game, thus allowing a combo of our shorter 188-191cm loosies like Sititi to become fixtures.
Yes I agree with everything you’ve said here. Particularly the balance in the lineout.
Ethan Blackadder making pop passes etc isn’t a reason to select him at 7 if he can’t execute his core role.
I disagree. I’m a big Ethan Blackadder fan but he was no where near his best against Fiji.
He had some very nice touches, interplay was good, and he made an absolute bitchin’ cleanout at one point.
But he missed almost half his tackles and was always turning up at rucks either a fraction late or just doing nothing when he got there.
In saying that, I’d give him more minutes against Argentina see if we can get him up to scratch against the Boks. I think he’s worth the investment
nice one
What? He missed half his tackles. I’m not a fan but much smarter people seem to rate him. He must be good because there are some very good players sitting at home waiting for him to get another injury
He didn’t miss half his tackles.
If he can stay fit then definitely, fantastic player and a real point of difference.
Agree. Was fantastic. Just what we need at 7. His ball playing in the lead up to Proctor’s try was sublime as was his cleaning out and ball carrying all night. And that’s with him a tad rusty.
Not with his defensive issues
Missing the most amount of tackles against Fiji and the last time he played the big boys he was largely anonymous
What defensive issues? And when anonymous?
Blackadder is a defensive liability. He missed 4 tackles and made a miserly 7 in 80 minutes. Wallace Sititi completed more tackles in 20 minutes than Blackadder did in 80. George Bell (7) and Tamaiti Williams (7) also completed the same amount of tackles in 20 minutes as Blackadder (7). Very lazy from Blackadder. Too busy looking for glory instead of doing the graft that is expected of a 7.
If they want a guy at 7 who is fast, can play wide and has wonderful playmaking skills it should be Savea. Savea has vastly superior ball skills than Blackadder and he’s better running the ball.
If you move Savea to 7 then Sititi can move to 8.
No to Blackadder at 7 and no to Papali’i at 6.
It’s either Papali’i or Savea at 7. Papali’i at least consistently gets through a mountain of defensive work.
Blackadder also still gets ragdolled at breakdowns.
Finau is the only guy that long term will have that lineout ability we need at 6. He must be persisted with.
No, a #7 plays both sides of the ball, not just one way traffic. It’s the #6 who does the physical graft. And the role of subs is to play hard & fast for 20 mins once the starting 15 has munted the opposition for 60. If you look at all of the forward subs, their numbers reflect high energy, high impact, against a tiring Fiji. Teamwork.
Proves why JK never made it as a coach, what terrible selections. Dalton should never be considered a 6. Blackadder at 7 I don’t mind, but we can’t be playing such a small 6 with Ardie at 8.
This article is so right. Ethan Blackadder must be picked again against Argentina. John Kirwan, Justin Marshall etc say so and I agree. He was outstanding on the weekend.
Murray Mexted’s analysis of the loose forwards holds more water for me, & he was equally impressed with Blackadder as a #7. Both sides of the ball. That said, he said it’s not the individual effort that matters, but the combination. And we need that tall, big body, at #6 &/or #8. In sum, all options are still alive.