Strong start from Ioane key to future
One of the takeaways from the opening round Super Rugby smorgasbord was the form of Blues No 8 Akira Ioane.
His defensive power and rampaging speed bent the Crusaders out of shape and sent a strong message to the All Blacks selectors.
The national coaches admired the No 8's menacing skills in the past but wanted him to bulk up his mental toughness by packing sustained fitness around his natural ability.
Those demands and the potential did not get in sync as the All Blacks looked for the best backup for captain Kieran Read.
That search took them to the steady Luke Whitelock and the more explosive Ardie Savea whose duties may increase depending on Sam Cane's recovery from his serious neck injury. Vacancies in the All Blacks are not plentiful but there will be rewards for those who strike consistently.
Round one of Super Rugby was time for a new statement of intent from Ioane. The kind of striking performance he delivered at Eden Park to provoke renewed hope 2019 will be his season.
His defensive strength behind a fractured pack, his work to get across the gain-line, the support lines with the speed and power for his try were all signs of concentrated efforts.
In a sport where defensive lines are tough to bend, big athletic ball carriers such as Billy Vunipola and Duane Vermeulen create problems and Ioane is the physical equal or better. When his mind and frame are going in the same direction, his impact is significant and when those issues and the All Blacks are in unison they have a much stronger squad.
More of the same from Ioane against the Sharks in Durban this weekend will raise the interest in his progress. The hosts will send their muscle at the Blues No 8, looking to get some advantage by rattling his fiery temperament and distracting him from his duties.
One of the multiple challenges for coach Leon MacDonald and assistant Tom Coventry in this Blues campaign is to get their players to push harder and concentrate longer. Ioane is a standout example — all the talent but an uncertain dedication — but one to be nurtured and watched.