All Blacks developing nicely ‘The team gets The big mover 6.5, maybe 7, out of 10.’
It has been a good couple of weeks for Matt Todd.
Not too many All Blacks have been to Buenos Aires and Cape Town and not performed to expectations, but it would be hard to say any enhanced their reputation or standing in the 36-10 and 25-24 wins to the degree Todd did.
The openside wasn’t exactly summoned from obscurity to play these test matches against Argentina and South Africa. But he’s hardly been a second, let alone, first-choice All Black during his career, but came in and played significant minutes in both games.
Particularly in Hurricanes country, there’s often been talk that Ardie Savea should be getting a game ahead of Sam Cane in the All Blacks’ No 7 jersey. Cane’s well ensconced, so the point’s moot anyway, but it’s hard to deny Todd hasn’t made ground on this tour. He’s not the only one. The All Blacks need loosehead prop Kane Hames to play well. With Joe Moody gone for the year, options aren’t plentiful, so it’s encouraging that, after a nervous outing against South Africa at Albany, Hames has performed so well.
Blindside flanker is maybe a spot to watch, too. Vaea Fifita (Argentina) and Liam Squire (South Africa) each did reasonably in their appearances, without doing anything to suggest they must be picked most weeks.
Squire has the inside running, although lock Scott Barrett could probably do a decent job there too once Brodie Retallick is ready to return to the side. In the meantime, Barrett has been adding plenty of value at lock, while Luke Romano was good in that position against the Pumas too.
In the backs, Aaron Smith has been outstanding and Beauden Barrett pretty good as well. Ryan Crotty added a bit in Cape Town and he and Sonny Bill Williams could develop into a nicely balanced midfield combination. Ngani Laumape’s development will be another thing to watch over the next season or so.
Needs are more pressing on the right wing, where Nehe MilnerSkudder looks as if he’s played his last rugby for a while. He dislo-