Naholo the All Blacks outside back with most to prove
Of the All Blacks’ outside backs who will start against the Wallabies, wing Waisake Naholo arguably has the most to prove.
If Nehe Milner-Skudder was being primed to play in Bledisloe I tonight, he would nick top spot in that category.
But Milner-Skudder isn’t in Sydney, despite being named in the 33-man squad for the Rugby Championship.
Instead of travelling with the All Blacks squad to Australia he has remained at home, and will start on the left wing for Manawatu against Waikato in a Mitre 10 Cup game in Palmerston North a few hours before the Sydney test.
The reason for Milner-Skudder being left in New Zealand is that the All Blacks are only permitted to have 32 men in their travelling group, and with injured hooker Dane Coles invited to cross the Tasman to maintain his fitness levels, the squad was at capacity.
Naholo has been listed on the right wing to play the Wallabies, in his second test appearance of 2018. Not required for the first two tests against France in June, he started the third match in Dunedin.
Prior to the Highlanders losing the Super Rugby quarterfinal to the Waratahs in Sydney, when he was yellow carded for two high tackles in quick succession on Sekope Kepu and then watched his team’s stretched defensive wall leak three tries in six minutes, Naholo had been in decent form.
However, his long-term future in the squad could hinge on a number of things. Injuries and form – both his and that of those desperate to steal his spot – will play a part in this.
Whether the All Blacks selectors want to keep Ben Smith at fullback, where he will start in Sydney, or return him to the wing could also have some bearing on how Naholo fits into the puzzle.
Given Jordie Barrett can use his height to hoover up the high ball at fullback, the position he filled in the first two tests against France while Rieko Ioane and Smith started on the wings, the selectors clearly have options.
Naholo’s powerful running style and acceleration can embarrass defenders, but being a specialist could also be a drawback. MilnerSkudder, Smith and Ioane can all play several positions, with the latter able to cover the midfield if necessary. Milner-Skudder and Smith can both operate at fullback.
And although wing Julian Savea has been released to play for the Toulon club in France, and fullback/wing Israel Dagg has accepted a short-term deal to work in Japan before returning to the Crusaders next season, the talent pool hasn’t been diluted to an alarming extent.
Hurricanes wing Ben Lam and Crusaders wing/fullback George Bridge scored 16 and 15 tries respectively to be the top tryscorers in Super Rugby this season, and could be a chance for the All Blacks’ northern tour later in the year.
Although unable to replicate the form that earned him three tests last year, Crusaders fullback David Havili, who can also play second five-eighth, is another player worth watching.
This is a numbers game. Smith, Ioane and Barrett are a mixture of the experience for the now, and talent for the future. If MilnerSkudder, who may get a run against the likes of Argentina in Nelson, can get his A-game going it will heap the pressure on everyone.
Naholo can certainly play, we all know that. Sydney would be a good place to issue a timely reminder of how talented he can be.
Stokes has already missed six test matches, including last week’s against India at Lord’s, which clashed with his court case, and 11 limited-overs fixtures for England, as a result of the drunken brawl in Bristol.
Stokes and England batsman Alex Hales, who was present during the fracas in the Bristol street, will be subject to a cricket discipline commission hearing to decide whether any further penalty is appropriate from the ECB.
‘‘It’s good to have him back around the squad,’’ Bayliss said. ‘‘I’m happy for Ben and glad it’s all over. There’s nothing automatic about selections, we’ll see how he is mentally as well as physically. He’s not played for a couple of weeks. It’s a difficult decision to make.’’
Bayliss said team management had worked on team behaviour since the incident involving Stokes and some minor issues during the tour of Australia.
‘‘In the past all the other teams I’ve been involved with and this one, when I arrived, would treat teams like adults and they [players] will respond like it.
‘‘There were a couple of small indiscretions in Australia after that incident and I think the players have finally woken up,’’ he said. ‘‘They’ve learned their lesson and the way they go about their profession has been top class.’’