Laumape a multi-skilled talent
"We have been very impressed with his support play and workrate to get to where he needs to get, and his bouncing out on defence." All Blacks assistant coach Ngani Laumape on Ian Foster
Much like the legend his game so resembles, there’s a little more to All Blacks bolter Ngani Laumape than meets the eye.
That’s what has the national coaches so excited to get their hands on him in camp in Auckland this week as the All Blacks launch preparations for Friday’s pre-lions hitout against Samoa at Eden Park.
The 24-year-old Laumape and his Hurricanes team-mate Jordie Barrett, 20, are the two new faces in an otherwise familiar 33-strong squad that assembled in Auckland on Sunday. That group is bolstered by a handful of additions to cover for injuries to Dane Coles (concussion), Scott Barrett (knee and ankle), Kieran Read (thumb), Jerome Kaino (knee), Liam Squire (thumb) and Ryan Crotty (ribs).
It is not known yet whether the knee injury picked up by Chiefs first five Aaron Cruden on Friday night in Wellington will require further reinforcements.
Midfield was a tight selection area for the squad, with previous All Blacks Malakai Fekitoa and George Moala missing out, and rising young Crusaders star Jack Goodhue leapfrogging them to come in and provide cover for Crotty.
It’s unlikely Laumape will be pressed into starting duty against the Lions, with the experienced Sonny Bill Williams always going to start at No 12, and either Crotty, if fit, or 2016 revelation Anton Lienert-brown his partner at No 13. Rieko Ioane looks the likely bench man, covering centre and wing.
But if something happened to Williams (always a possibility with his fine-tuned 31-year-old body), Laumape could find himself suddenly thrust into the mix – a scenario which would excite rather than concern the All Blacks brains trust.
They recognise the similarities to All Blacks legend Ma’a Nonu in the Laumape game. Like Nonu, he’s a compact, muscular footballer who brings power and tackle-breaking ability to the midfield channels. He’s also a heck of a try-scorer, with a competitionleading 14 to his name in Super Rugby in 2017.
‘‘We can all see his ability to bust tackles and break the line,’’ said All Blacks assistant coach Ian Foster. ‘‘But we have been very impressed with his support play and workrate to get to where he needs to get, and his bouncing out on defence. There are a lot of little things that have impressed us.’’
Most importantly, Foster believes Laumape makes the midfield a more well-rounded group in 2017.
‘‘We’ve been able to take a player who’s got a bit of a point of difference to the others,’’ added Foster. ‘‘Everyone has slightly different skillsets. When it comes to mixing and matching, we think we’ve now got some better options.’’
National selector and All Blacks legend Grant Fox said Laumape’s Nonu-like characteristics were a massive positive.
‘‘The comment was made more than once among the three of us, he’s similar to a guy who became an All Black great.
‘‘Ma’a started as a big, bruising, ball-carrying No 12 or wing, and developed his skills from there to a very good passing game, a smart kicking game and strong defender.
‘‘You’ve seen the way we’ve picked the team the last five years, we do like a certain athlete profile at 12: someone who does that channel hard and keeps people honest.’’
Fox said with Crotty capable of playing both midfield spots, but Lienert-brown preferred as a centre, ‘‘we need a specialist 12 and Ngani fits that bill, and is in good form’’.
Foster said the selectors did not need the spectacular all-round game Williams produced last Wednesday to inspire the Blues to their victory over the Lions as much as some others possibly did.
‘‘He didn’t reassure us. He just did what we think he can do. He carried the ball 10 times, and got a 60 percent gainline. That might not sound a lot but that’s his bread and butter. He does what you want out of a midfielder, and gets his roles right.
‘‘I think he only had two offloads [against the Lions], though they’re what everyone was talking about. It wasn’t like he tries to be extra special, he just did his job really well. He doesn’t get a lot of credit for the regular things he does, and he did quite a few of them.’’
And the Lions? Has their tour turned on that 12-3 victory over the Crusaders on Saturday night?
‘‘We always prepare to play a team at their best because that’s our job to do that,’’ said Foster. ‘‘By the first test they’ll be ready. We know that.
‘‘They’ve got a lot experience there and this will mean everything to them, just like it has to for us.’’