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Watch: Rieko Ioane proves his value as midfielder to set up stunning Matt Duffie try against Chiefs

(Photo by Anthony Au-Yeung/Getty Images)

The logjam of midfielders vying for a place in Ian Foster’s 35-man All Blacks squad next month makes for tight competition among those contending for selection.

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Jack Goodhue, Anton Lienert-Brown, Braydon Ennor, Ngani Laumape and Rieko Ioane have all staked claims to make the national side that is set to be named on August 30, the day after the North vs South clash.

Goodhue and Lienert-Brown are expected to be named thanks to their experience, versatility and jack-of-all-trades style of play, but it’s anyones guess as to who could accompany them.

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Laumape is in undeniably good form, but could be ruled out with a suspected broken wrist, while Ennor’s pace and acceleration is hard to ignore.

The development of Ioane’s game in his transition from wing to centre, though, could make him a leading candidate to star in Foster’s midfield, with his distribution arguably the most improved aspect of his game.

Everyone already knows how good of a ball runner and how lethal of an attacking threat the 23-year-old can be with ball in hand, but, while playing against Lienert-Brown and the Chiefs on Sunday, he proved there’s more to his game than just that.

In fact, it only took a few minutes for the 2017 World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year to prove his worth as a ball-playing centre.

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Handed a scrum inside the Chiefs’ half, Ioane was fed the ball by Beauden Barrett while running a line that made it seem he was set to crash the ball up.

Instead, he deceived the opposition defence with a swift, deceptive wipers pass to allow Blues fullback Matt Duffie to puncture the Chiefs’ defensive line and stroll on through for the first try of the match untouched.

Of course, the well-judged running line made by Duffie was crucial to the try being scored, but the deft distribution of Ioane – a part of his game that has, until now, often gone unheralded – highlights his value and development as a midfielder.

How Foster will interpret Ioane as a midfielder remains to be seen, but what is clear to see that he stands as a viable option to don the black jersey at No. 13 should he be called upon.

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J
JW 9 minutes ago
'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Where? I remember saying "unders"? The LNR was formed by the FFR, if I said that in a way that meant the 'pro' side of the game didn't have an equal representation/say as the 'amateur' side (FFR remit) that was not my intent.


But also, as it is the governing body, it also has more responsibility. As long as WR looks at FFR as the running body for rugby in France, that 'power' will remain. If the LNR refuses to govern their clubs use of players to enable a request by FFR (from WR) to ensure it's players are able to compete in International rugby takes place they will simply remove their participation. If the players complain to the France's body, either of their health and safety concerns (through playing too many 'minutes' etc) or that they are not allowed to be part in matches of national interest, my understanding is action can be taken against the LNR like it could be any other body/business. I see where you're coming from now re EPCR and the shake up they gave it, yes, that wasn't meant to be a separate statement to say that FFR can threaten them with EPCR expulsion by itself, simply that it would be a strong repercussion for those teams to be removed (no one would want them after the above).


You keep bringing up these other things I cannot understand why. Again, do you think if the LNR were not acting responsibly they would be able to get away with whatever they want (the attitude of these posters saying "they pay the players")? You may deem what theyre doing currently as being irresponsible but most do not. Countries like New Zealand have not even complained about it because they've never had it different, never got things like windfall TV contracts from France, so they can't complain because theyre not missing out on anything. Sure, if the French kept doing things like withholding million dollar game payments, or causing millions of dollars of devaluation in rights, they these things I'm outlining would be taking place. That's not the case currently however, no one here really cares what the French do. It's upto them to sort themselves out if they're not happy. Now, that said, if they did make it obvious to World Rugby that they were never going to send the French side away (like they possibly did stating their intent to exclude 20 targeted players) in July, well then they would simply be given XV fixtures against tier 2 sides during that window and the FFR would need to do things like the 50/50 revenue split to get big teams visiting in Nov.

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