Who will fill ABs’ No 8 spot?

Size. It’s a word that is likely to feature in some All Blacks conversations next year as they go about remodelling their pack in the absence of the departing Kieran Read.

It wasn’t the Rugby World Cup semifinal loss that confirmed the All Blacks’ slip from the summit of world rugby, it was the final.

The ferocity of the decider between England and South Africa showed there were only two true heavyweights in the competition, neither of them wearing black.

While the common narrative is that England didn’t turn up for the final it’s not the whole picture.

For periods they threw everything at the Springboks, only to be repelled by their backrow giants Pieter-Steph du Toit and Duane Vermeulen.

Incoming All Blacks forwards John Plumtree is unlikely to have missed the message. The All Blacks need to go up a size in the forwards to compete at that level.

Hence, the assumption that next year’s All Blacks’ starting back row will be Luke Jacobson, Sam Cane and Ardie Savea might be challenged. There is room for a bigger man to join the party at No 8 or No 6, perhaps even two.

Here are Stuff’s contenders to fill the No 8 role vacated by Kieran Read.

Ardie Savea (Hurricanes): Is there still a sneaking suspicion he is better suited to No 7? Lacks the frame of a Vermeulen or Billy Vunipola, whose pounding runs gave England front-foot ball. The All Blacks’ selection philosophy in 2019 – get your best players on the paddock and make it work – is likely to be examined and if it is ditched Savea could be thrust back into a head-to-head battle against Sam Cane for the openside role. Best position at the Hurricanes may also be at No 7, with the underrated Gareth Evans capable of doing a good job at No 8.

Luke Jacobson (Chiefs): Former Chiefs coach Colin Cooper picked him at No 6 but liked him as a No 7 and also noted he had the skills to play at No 8, where he was a star at under-20 level. With his huge workrate, defensive grit and ability to produce an offload, Jacobson is possibly the most like-for-like replacement for Read in a field that looks a little thin. If he plays at No 8 it also opens the door for an enforcer at No 6.

Shannon Frizell (Highlanders): The southern men haven’t yet settled on a position for Frizell, whom they still regard as a developing player despite his All Blacks status. But after a solid Rugby World Cup campaign the Highlanders expect Frizell to really move up a gear in the No 6 or No 8 jersey. The word in Dunedin is also that Hawke’s Bay No 6/No 8 Marino MikaeleTu’u, all 113kg of him, is looking sharp in pre-season.

Pita Gus Sowakula (Chiefs): Former basketballer has the measurements – 1.95m and 110kg – to succeed at test level and at 25 is improving all the time. Sowakula is the outside bet but his skills and athleticism were on show in Fiji last season when he outplayed Read in the Chiefs v Crusaders game. Don’t count him out.

Akira Ioane (Blues): If anyone stands to benefit from the departure of Steve Hansen it’s the big Aucklander. Ioane’s pace and size remain far too valuable to discount and he is a specialist No 8 with great skills at the back of the scrum. Still, it remains up to him to address the areas of his game that need attention – they will be as evident to Ian Foster as they were to his predecessor.