Frizell poised for ABs callup
assuming the selectors go with seven loosies again like June. It could even be less if they add a fourth lock, for instance.
‘‘You probably wouldn’t put him [Taufua] ahead of those other guys,’’ Kirkpatrick said of his preferred starting combination of Read, Sam Cane and Liam Squire, and backup crew of Luke Whitelock, Ardie Savea, Vaea Fifita and Frizell.
Breaking it down, Kirkpatrick suggested Read and Cane basically pick themselves, while he’s backing Squire to continue the No 6 role he’s taken on since the retirement of Jerome Kaino.
‘‘There’s so much of that closequarter ball-carry stuff, and he’s big and he’s good at that, and he tackles,’’ Kirkpatrick said.
As for Cane’s dip in form at the back-end of Super Rugby, Kirkpatrick is confident he’ll rise to the occasion. He would have had no issue starting Savea if he was playing like a couple of years ago, but he would have preferred Matt Todd as the back-up openside, if not for him heading to Japan next month.
Kirkpatrick feels Savea can do a good job at No 8 late in a game if Read’s forced off, but would like the specialist cover of Whitelock in the squad, he having performed strongly in Read’s absence against France.
‘‘I rate him highly, he’s got to be in there somewhere,’’ he said. ‘‘You just can’t go past him in some ways, his defence is outstanding.’’ Then, with Fifita picked for his dynamism, ability to cover lock, and tad extra experience, it came down to Frizell and Taufua battling for the seventh spot.
"I’d probably go with Frizell,’’ Kirkpatrick said.
‘‘Just his athleticism, really. Taufua’s a work-horse and everything’s 100 [per cent]. It depends on what their role is and what’s required.
‘‘I’ve got no worries about Taufua if it gets harder [the game gets more physical]. But Frizell, he will only get better.’’
That also means Kirkpatrick wasn’t able to find room for Akira Ioane, who was a training partner in June.
‘‘If he gets the ball with a bit of momentum he’d probably be as good a ball runner as we’ve got.
‘‘He’s big and he’s quick and he’s agile, skilful. But it’s more than that [required] now though. He’s still really got to show that his workrate’s up there.’’