Midfield remains work in progress
It echoed across Westpac Stadium like a rifle shot.
Two human skulls, belonging to rival centres Malakai Fekitoa and Jamie Roberts, clashed sickeningly inside the first two minutes of the second test. This modern game is a brutal one and this was a regulation first carry. It was one of several turn away and wince moments on the night for the packed house of 35,907. Fekitoa was in a bad way; Roberts was cut too but continued on.
Limping badly, towel clutched to his bloodied head, Fekitoa was assisted off Westpac Stadium and the hulking 1.89m, 108kg Seta Tamanivalu trotted on much sooner than expected.
Aside from the alarm over Fekitoa, this was an early test for the All Blacks. The midfield has been a cause for worry, post Ma’a Nonu and Conrad Smith. Charlie Ngatai’s ongoing concussion issues are a big concern and he hasn’t been sighted; Sonny Bill Williams is re-signed but in Olympic sevens mode.
Ryan Crotty showed some nice touches and produced one monster tackle on Liam Williams but is just keeping the No 12 jersey warm for SBW. Is there room for two midfield monsters in this All Blacks team?
Tamanivalu looked even bigger on the field but was also slightly lost. It’s barely five years since he arrived from Fiji to board in Auckland, homesick and leaving behind five older sisters. Now he was on in minute two of an All Blacks test, a massive step up from his Super Rugby breakout with the Chiefs.
The 23-year-old was a mixed bag. Twice he tackled players who rolled then slipped clear again and was burned on the outside by Jonathan Davies. Defence is an issue.
But Tamanivalu’s bulk, speed and matchwinning qualities were clear too. He stuck one giant arm through a gap and offloaded to a team-mate on the bounce. He grabbed a loose ball in one mitt and pushed it expertly to Kieran Read.
The thought of SBW and Seta T combining for the All Blacks is terrifying for opponents and tantalising for fans. It would be the biggest, baddest one-two punch in All Blacks midfield history but also one that would be used sparingly by coach Steve Hansen. Still, it’s a nice thought.
Fekitoa was back after just 12 minutes away but struggled. He chased hard and tackled well and caught a wonderful Aaron Smith wide ball then offloaded for Israel Dagg’s opening try. But he needed constant medical attention and a mop to the head, and by halftime he was gone.
By that stage there was even greater concern around Aaron Cruden who was folded up by Wales lock Luke Charteris in what looked an innocuous tackle. Everyone held their breath and, at the sight of Cruden, terribly unlucky with injuries, lying prone as seven people assisted him onto the medicab in a neck brace. It seemed his skipper like forever, an awful few minutes before the little pivot was taken to hospital for precautionary x-rays.
That brought Beauden Barrett on, like Tamanivalu arriving much earlier than planned. The pair were meant to be adding the punch in the final 20 minutes but they ran out after halftime with things tense at 10-10. Barrett kicked out on the full. The All Blacks were rattled after an error-ridden opening 40 minutes. But the Hurricanes’ first five-eighth just reverted to type, as he has done on the Wellington turf so often.
Two moments of magic within three minutes and the test was the All Blacks’. Barrett ghosted through tiring Welsh defence and the floodgates opened as Roberts, Sam Warburton and Toby Faletau felt the impact of three big games in eight days, almost unheard of in international rugby. Job done. More players like Tamanivalu, who was tidy in the second half, introduced to this test cauldron and depth still, seemingly not a issue as the All Blacks soaked up the impact and kicked again to seal another test victory. Back to his best. Superb long pass cut out multiple defenders and set up Dagg’s try. Kicking game improved. Marshalled troops relentlessly. Made one break and had the vision to put in perfect long kick. All round on point.
8
Two weeks in a row one of the best players on the park. Superb offload off the back of the scrum set up Naholo’s try. Prominent with ball in hand and on defence. Generally led from the front.
7
Doesn’t get enough credit for some of the tight work he does. Nabbed one steal in the first half with good timing at the breakdown and put in some crunching cleanouts and hits. Solid again.
6
Loses one mark for being caught out on Liam Williams’ late try but otherwise can’t be faulted. Exceptional offload made Ardie Savea’s try. Like Read, Kaino has been at his bruising and combative best in the past two weeks.