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Watch: Rieko Ioane's schoolboy highlights show he was destined to be a 13 for the Blues

All Black Rieko Ioane is having one of his best seasons for the Blues in 2020 after losing his starting wing position to George Bridge at last year’s World Cup.

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The Auckland-product has flourished at centre in Super Rugby Aotearoa this season and his old schoolboy highlights for Auckland Grammar show that he has had the potential to be a 13 all along.

In 2014, Ioane helped his 1st XV reach the national semi-finals of schoolboy rugby in New Zealand and was selected at centre for the New Zealand schoolboys against Australia.

Ioane has played both midfield positions for the Blues since debuting in 2016 but a busy midfield that has included All Blacks Sonny Bill Williams, George Moala and Ma’a Nonu meant that the star could not get consistent game time there.

Coupled with his devastating performances for the All Blacks on the left wing in 2017 meant that Ioane was an easy selection in the 11 jersey.

Fast forward to 2020 and the Blues seem committed to the switch, which both Blues’ coaches confirmed earlier in the year.

“He’s more than happy to play wherever we need him, because he’s the kind of guy who wants to do what’s best for the Blues,” assistant Dan Halangahu told Stuff in January.

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“But that transition to midfield is something he is excited about. The All Blacks want to see that too. Everyone wants to see what Rieko can do in midfield.

This was a belief also shared by head coach Leon MacDonald, who himself played fullback and centre for the All Blacks.

“We’re committed to giving Rieko a good crack at centre,” McDonald told Stuff.

“It will be up to him whether he becomes the starting centre. Nobody is assured of any position, so he understands that. He made it clear he’ll do whatever is best for the team.

“But I’ve seen him play centre and he’s pretty outstanding there as well.”

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Ioane’s biggest test as an outside centre will come this weekend when the Blues return from the bye to play the Crusaders. He will face off against incumbent test centre Jack Goodhue and Braydon Ennor in a battle the All Black selectors will be keenly watching.

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Fin Smith: Northampton Saints face battle to keep England star

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JW 23 minutes ago
Razor has an about turn on All Blacks eligibility rules

I’m not sure he needs much of an excuse, or an angle, to beat his drum. He seems to be giving Razor credit, or as a proxy of his own, for far too many of the ideas we come up with in his articles.


He’s definitely wrong about Dmac too, yes. Pretty much everything he said, in either the words he used or the way he said, was off in that interview. Said Dmac was a “linebreaker” like what, hello, with his pass? The one question I thought they were close to getting right and actually being worthwhile, other than a few bits to Robinson on the running side, was when they asked about valuing experience and youth in his second year. Really missed the boat there as they got a mundane answer, needed to be more direct and ask how does the balance between selecting experience, the players that have class, and those players that in form change now that you’re into your second year. Would he flat out deny any change, or would there have been some honesty about how little it would be. He’d be proud enough to presume he was perfect last year so he’ll obviously been taking the same ‘perfect’ approach this year! One telling tid bit was when he made up some numbers about new caps going through a World Cup cycle, where he had 10 one year, 5 the next, a couple.. and stated that youve also got to be open to ‘bolters’ so you “don’t shut any doors”.. sounds like some pretty weak innovation incoming.

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