Omission of Ioane a big risk
George Bridge and Sevu Reece were too busy training to hear their names feature in the All Blacks squad for the World Cup.
Sitting down in front of a television to watch New Zealand Rugby chairman Brent Impey read out the 31-man squad in Auckland yesterday afternoon could wait.
After all, the All Blacks wings, and first five-eighth Richie Mo’unga, weren’t done with the running drill they were in the middle of at the Crusaders Christchurch base.
‘‘We thought we’d be able to finish in time for the announcement but Sevu was running on Fiji time so we were a bit late,’’ Bridge said.
However, it was quickly apparent they’d made the cut when they walked into the staff room at Rugby Park and were applauded by the staff at the St Albans facility.
And so the two Crusaders fliers, who were so impressive in Bledisloe II against the Wallabies last weekend, had cracked the five-strong outside backs group.
Bridge’s North Island-based parents, having watched it live, already knew and a quick glance at his phone showed it had already been buzzing furiously.
As for Reece, it took a few attempts to get through to his parents in Fiji.
‘‘My mum was asleep, so I had to ring her a couple of times. My dad, cause my mum was sleeping, was the first one to find out. He got so emotional. Obviously a big achievement, not just for me, but my whole family in Fiji,’’ Reece said.
It’s been a whirlwind year for Reece and Bridge, who combined to score 19 tries for the Crusaders during their run to a thirdstraight Super Rugby title.
Both have faced adversity over off-field incidents, Reece for a well-documented incident involving his girlfriend which resulted in him being discharged without conviction, while Bridge was accused of homophobic behaviour while on tour in South Africa, which he was cleared of.
Every step Reece has taken since his contract with Connacht was shredded last year has come with questions and detractors, starting with the Crusaders’ decision to sign him as an injury replacement last December.
‘‘Definitely not. I didn’t think I’d come this far . . . but I’m just really glad with how things have turned out for me,’’ Reece said when reflecting on his bumpy journey.
Having scored a super try against the Wallabies at Eden Park, the X-factor-laden Reece is likely to start on the right-wing in the All Blacks’ tournament opener against South Africa next month.
Whether or not Bridge joins him on the left-wing, or if Rieko Ioane is preferred, is not so clear cut.
The 24-year-old isn’t losing sleep over it. He’d taking some time to soak up the satisfaction of knowing he’s achieved a longterm goal – making the All Blacks squad for a World Cup.
Rewind to the halfway mark of Super Rugby and the Gisborne product’s name wasn’t so hot, given he’d spent a chunk of the season battling leg injuries and hadn’t reached the lofty heights of 2018, when he ran in 15 tries for the red and blacks.
‘‘It’s been all go. It’s been quite tough. The injuries were quite frustrating at the start of the season because my body wasn’t quite performing how I wanted it to,’’ Bridge said.
‘‘But I’ve been happy with how the last couple of months have gone, the back end of Super Rugby coming into a bit of form. Being in camp with the All Blacks and stuff.
‘‘It’s been good fun and I think it’s been bringing out the best in me.’’
There were hard luck stories and there were surprises when New Zealand Rugby chairman Brent Impey read out the All Blacks squad for the World Cup.
Ngani Laumape could do no more over the past two years but when Ryan Crotty came off the bench and saved the All Blacks at Twickenham last year the Hurricanes midfielder was always up against it.
As for Owen Franks, what can you say? Don’t buy into the argument that he was only ever a scrummager.
When the All Blacks started putting tight five forwards into the middle of paddock and asked them to be ball players and carriers, Franks did it. But he has emptied the tank and no longer gets around like he used to.
But there was also a risk: the All Blacks appear committed to a dual playmaker system but have left the country’s third-best No 10, Josh Ioane, at home.
But over the past two Rugby World Cups the All Blacks have used seven No 10s and won both tournaments. Ioane’s omission stands out for that reason alone.
It should be noted that all World Cup coaches are being forced into taking risks due to the squad sizes.
In the concussion era 31-man squads are too small. Every nation is being forced into decisions that could backfire.
The threat to the All Blacks is an injury to Richie Mo’unga or Beauden Barrett before the Springboks pool stage game or from the quarterfinals onwards.
If that injury is not serious enough to rule them out of the tournament, Ioane can’t be called up on a temporary basis. The All Blacks will have to turn to others.
Yesterday, coach Steve Hansen nominated Jordie Barrett, TJ Perenara and Crotty as those most likely to play first-five if needed. That would be fine against Namibia, Canada or even Italy in the pool stages but not against the big boys.
Ioane might get a chance to win his first All Blacks cap against Tonga in Hamilton in a fortnight, as Hansen did not sound like he was in the mood to take risks with Mo’unga’s health when he discussed his possible availability for that game.
But if Mo’unga does miss that game it only accentuates the risk of not taking Ioane.
The solution here would have been to take the Otago man at the expense of the younger Barrett, whose error rate continues to alarm and is probably only the third or fourth choice fullback option on form (behind Beauden Barrett, Ben Smith and possibly even George Bridge).
Perhaps Mo’unga and Beauden Barrett will sail through the tournament unscathed. But if they do not the call to leave out Ioane – an excellent goalkicker and distributor – could come back to haunt the All Blacks squad that otherwise has most bases covered.