All Blacks coach: No precedent set
Matt Todd’s selection for the upcoming northern tour doesn’t set a dangerous precedent, All Blacks coach Steven Hansen insists.
The 30-year-old was one of 51 players named by New Zealand Rugby (NZR) chairman Brent Impey yesterday, despite playing for Japanese club Panasonic.
While South Africa allows players to represent foreign clubs and still play for their country, NZR requires players to remain in the country to be eligible for the All Blacks.
However, Todd’s name was the 27th called at the Prebbleton clubrooms near Christchurch, joining fellow openside flankers Ardie Savea and uncapped Dalton Papalii in the 32-man squad to play the bulk of the tour.
Todd’s contract with the Robbie Deans coached Panasonic outfit didn’t include a clause which catered for a short-term release to the All Blacks, but Sam Cane’s serious neck injury prompted the All Blacks to approach the NZR board, Todd and Panasonic.
Hansen said no compensation was paid to Panasonic, and picking Todd was about having the best players on deck less than a year out from the World Cup in Japan.
‘‘No, I don’t think so,’’ Hansen said when asked if picking Todd set a precedent.
‘‘The big thing that swung it in our minds, and for the board, is that he’s contracted [to NZR and the Crusaders] next year. We just really saw him as being on a holiday, and we’ve asked him to come back from holiday.’’
Todd, who was not named in the All Blacks initial squad for the June test series, signed a short-term deal with Panasonic the same month, and joined the
side after helping the Crusaders win their ninth title in August.
He will be available to play Australia, England and Ireland, before skipping the final match of the tour – against Italy – and returning to Japan to finish his contract with Panasonic.
After Cane fractured his neck, Savea came on and scored the matchwinning try in the All Blacks’ comefrom-behind win against South Africa in Pretoria this month.
Savea is expected to form a loose forward trio with captain and No 8 Kieran Read, and blindside flanker Liam Squire, when the All Blacks tackle the Wallabies in Tokyo on Saturday week.
Todd, who has played 14 tests, is likely to be named on the bench over Papalii, Hansen indicated.
‘‘The reason we’ve gone for Matty is because we need some serious experience to back Ardie up in the three big tests, against Australia, Ireland and England. Some people may disagree with it, but I think most people will see he’s worthy of being there.’’
While Hansen and his coaching staff discussed letting Todd be in Japan and relying on someone like Dillon Hunt, James Lentjes or Gareth Evans as cover, they quickly realised they needed experience.
‘‘It wasn’t something we did without a lot of thought,’’ Hansen said. ‘‘At the end of the day, he’s a big contender for the World Cup. With Sammy injured, Ardie is going to have a big workload. We need another seasoned, experienced guy to be able to do that.
‘‘It’s not a job for a young pup, so to speak. Matty is your man, so happy to go there.’’
Todd’s Crusaders team-mate, loose forward Jordan Taufua, who broke his arm in the Super Rugby semifinal against the Hurricanes in July, wasn’t considered for selection because he would only have been available for the last couple of matches.
Highlanders loose forward Shannon Frizell has a shoulder injury, which doesn’t require surgery, and will also remain at home.
‘‘He needs two or three weeks to rest,’’ Hansen said. ‘‘He’s a young athlete, we just feel a bit of rest will be better for him. Give him a good off-season and come back through the Highlanders.’’