Call it what it is: an ABs trial
Last time the traditional North Island versus South Island rugby match was revived, in 2012, born and bred Southlander Robbie Robinson played fullback for the North.
‘‘It will be pretty weird,’’ he said in the leadup.
And it got weirder. Robinson scored two tries in the North’s 32-24 win at Forsyth Barr Stadium, a fundraiser for the financially troubled Otago Rugby Union with the sides picked along Super Rugby lines (Robinson debuted for the Chiefs that year).
Now, with the latest reincarnation locked in for Auckland’s Eden Park on August 29, another gifted footballer who’s as Southland as the cheese roll – Damian McKenzie – will play for the North.
He’s a little uneasy, too, although was hardly going to let rip on Sky TV’s Breakdown show which announced the coaches and attempted to whip up some North v South rivalry. A rivalry that only flimsily existed anyway, and is now a relic of a bygone rugby era.
‘‘Obviously growing up in Southland, that’s where my roots are, and going to school in Christchurch [Christ’s College], it’d be nice to be eligible for the South Island squad but obviously first province game was for
Waikato . . . if I was to play for either team I’m happy but it looks like my hand will be up for the North Island team,’’ McKenzie told the Breakdown.
If the criteria was more authentic such as where a player grew up, or went to school, Codie Taylor (Horowhenua-Kapiti), Sam Whitelock (Manawatu¯ ) and Scott and Jordie Barett (Taranaki) would be eligible for the North, and McKenzie and Anton Lienert-Brown (Canterbury) for the South.
A learned colleague also pointed out the bizarre situation with Highlanders first five-eighth Mitch Hunt: born and schooled in Nelson, and now plays for Tasman, but was lured to Auckland and made his senior provincial debut for them in 2015. North for him, if selected.
All Blacks coach Ian Foster said this eligibility scenario of a player’s first senior province, which was the start of their move into pro rugby, was ‘‘the best criteria’’.
Why bother? Let’s forget any geographical links and call this what it is: an All Blacks trial. A very worthy one, too, to confirm some thoughts in Foster’s mind and help build anticipation for a Bledisloe Cup series hopefully kicking off on October 10.
Contrived interisland tribalism – which barely exists anyway – does little for the occasion. Invent a catchy line for this allstar game if needed, but the matchups and duels for the black jersey should be enough to sell tickets to this post-Covid moneymaking venture. Pick Dan Carter or some other former All Blacks on the bench to add star power, if needed.
Dollar signs – and every one counts these days – is why they’ve picked the country’s biggest stadium instead of Blenheim, Rotorua, New Plymouth and
O¯ amaru, the most recent hosts of the annual amateur fixture which ran until 1986.
The coach announcement on pay television also had one glaring omission: Scott Robertson. Remember him? Imagine it, the champion Canterbury and Crusaders coach taking charge of one side against Foster, who beat him to the job in a very public duel.
What about Crusaders versus The Rest, coached by Foster? That holds more appeal from a marketing perspective. But NZ Rugby would never allow the All Blacks coach to potentially be shown up by the runner-up.
No, it’s not an All Blacks trial but the North will be coached by John Plumtree and Scott McLeod, and the South by Brad Mooar and Greg Feek – all part of Foster’s impressive staff lineup.
That’s fine, as is the idea of a trial. Plenty of potential duels spring to mind: battle of the Barretts at fullback (yes, keep Beauden at 15); ‘Nua’ lads Codie Taylor and Dane Coles clunking heads; the outstanding Sevu Reece against rising star Caleb Clarke on the wing and Ardie Savea and Sam Cane clattering into each other at the breakdown.
You’d imagine hordes would pay to watch all that. Just lose the North v South charade, it’s unnecessary and in some cases inaccurate, especially when the pride of Southland ends up playing for the North.