Five All Blacks who ‘need big games’
Don’t tell Ardie Savea the All Blacks’ test in Yokohama is just a dead rubber Bledisloe Cup revenue earner. The showdown with the Wallabies could prove a watershed in the Wellington back-rower’s bid for a berth in the Rugby World Cup starting lineup.
Savea has – till now – served as second fiddle to Sam Cane, long granted a charmed run as Richie McCaw’s heir apparent.
Sometimes Savea has even been third cab off the black taxi rank – with Matt Todd preferred for the starting seven jumper with Cane on the casualty list.
Todd has been called up from his Japanese club for Saturday’s test in Yokohama.
While it might be to insert the specialist fetcher for a breakdown battle with David Pocock – a sub-plot in itself – that would be harshly unfair on Savea, who excelled in both the No 8 and No 7 roles in the Rugby Championship.
Savea has started just six times in his 31-test career. He deserves another in Yokohama. This northern tour is his chance to really put the heat on Cane for the World Cup.
If Savea can be as aggressive with the ball in hand and abrasive at the breakdown, he might make Steve Hansen think twice about his best back row combination.
Savea kicks off with a daunting assignment – plenty of pilferers have had their pocket picked by Pocock and his partner-in-grime Michael Hooper.
The Hurricanes loose forward is just one of a number of All Blacks who need to make a statement at the start of the tour.
OWEN FRANKS has over 100 tests and has been the All Blacks’ first choice tighthead since the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
Still in his propping prime at 30, Franks hasn’t been playing poorly, by any means, but he knows he cannot rest on his laurels with scrummaging rock Nepo Laulala back in the squad and Ofa Tu’ungafasi having his best year in an All Blacks jersey. Tu’ungafasi has impressed as the impact prop the All Blacks have craved since Charlie Faumuina left for France, but also excelled in a rare test start against the Pumas in Argentina.
Franks still has the inside running, but won’t want to relax his standards against the Wallabies.
SONNY BILL WILLIAMS remains a target for some social media critics, but still rightly retains the faith of the All Blacks coaching staff.
They know his innate power, physicality and offloading ability draws defenders in droves, creating space – rugby’s final frontier – for his team-mates.
But the 33-year-old had a quiet game in Pretoria against the born-again Boks and needs to show that was an aberration in Yokohama.
Hansen was set to start SBW with rookie centre Jack Goodhue against South Africa till Goodhue fell ill on match eve. He needs to trial that combination this tour – and there’s no better time than this weekend against a Wallabies backline missing Reece Hodge.
The All Blacks know what Ryan Crotty and Williams can do – and Crotty and Crusaders chum Goodhue, for that matter.
Could Williams and Goodhue strike the balance Ma’a Nonu and Conrad Smith once added to the All Blacks?
AARON SMITH is still a world-class halfback but 2018 hasn’t been his best year.
Even his fabled fast pass seems to have lost a little zip and he doesn’t seem to be making the same darting runs from the scrum base.
TJ Perenara has always been a damaging defender around the fringes, which could be an asset against teams like England and Ireland, who play forward-based games.
The Hurricanes mainstay has added value in every outing this season and his game-management skills continue to grow.
Smith needs a big one opposite Will Genia this weekend.
WAISAKE NAHOLO has scored 15 tries in 25 tests, including three in six appearances in 2018.
But plenty of drums have been beating for Beauden Barrett to move to fullback due to Richie Mo’unga’s potential as a playmaker and reliability as a goalkicker.
If that were to happen – and it’s not likely at this point – then Ben Smith would shift to the right wing, which would clearly put Naholo’s place at risk with Rieko Ioane rated the best in the world on the left flank.
Naholo is strong with the ball in hand and combative in the tackle, but needs to curb an occasional over-enthusiastic impulse to rush out of the line on defence, which could leave the All Blacks exposed on the edge.
He’ll be primed for a bruising encounter with fellow Fijian Marika Koroibete this weekend.