Top five All Blacks storylines
Stuff rugby writer Marc Hinton peers into his crystal ball for the season ahead.
"You're always looking for guys to continue to grow their game understanding and bring things to their core roles." Steve Hansen
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen always pays more attention to the back end of Super Rugby than the opening salvos as he assesses the readiness of New Zealand’s elite talent to take the step up to the test match arena.
It’s part of a proven rationale: when the Super competition gets to the pointy end, the level of intensity more approximates the test game. Early on, as players shake off rust, teams build cohesiveness, and summer conditions encourage helter-skelter footy, the gap is somewhat larger.
But the World Cup-winning coach has plenty to think about as the south’s flagship franchise competition kicks off en masse this weekend, with some key positions to fill after one or two departures (actioned or imminent), and a swag of experienced types returning from long-term injury.
‘‘You’re always looking for guys to continue to grow their game understanding and bring things to their core roles,’’ he says. ‘‘You understand sometimes due to niggles carried over some are slower starters than other. And some bounce out.
‘‘It’s important for them to work hard and smart, and deliver what their franchise coaches are after.
‘‘We’ve definitely got an open mind, and you’re always looking for younger guys to come through. Invariably the younger guys go well earlier in the season, but what you want to see is when the pressure comes on in the playoffs, how do they cope with that? That’s a little bit closer to test rugby and gives us a feel for what their mental fortitude is like.’’
Here then is a top-five All Blacks storylines to follow as Super Rugby kicks into action.
Who emerges to claim the backup No 10 spot behind Beauden Barrett?
With Lima Sopoaga’s imminent departure, there is a vacancy to fill. And logic suggests it’s a twohorse race between Damian McKenzie of the Chiefs and Richie Mo’unga of the Crusaders.
Hansen nominates it as one of his chief focuses. ‘‘The position we need to accelerate the understanding and delivery of performance is first-five,’’ he says, before nominating McKenzie and Mo’unga as the main contenders.
Mo’unga is the more pure No 10, with a skillset that seems tailormade for test rugby but McKenzie has the advantage of being part of the All Blacks group for a couple of seasons now. He’s been viewed primarily as a fullback, but is set for a full season at first-five for the Chiefs.
The reality is there will be room for both in an expanded All Blacks squad. But if you’re looking for a bench specialist behind Barrett, McKenzie’s versatility clearly gives him the edge.
Who will be the right wing to partner Rieko Ioane through to the World Cup?
This one is an absolute peach, and might be the most compelling subplot of the 2018 season from a Kiwi perspective.
Let’s accept that Rieko Ioane is now an automatic selection on the left wing for the All Blacks. That leaves just one starting spot, and maybe one backup position, available for the speed merchants of our game.
And consider the contenders: Waisake Naholo is the incumbent on the back of an outstanding November tour. Then you have a rejuvenated Julian Savea thirsting to get back into the national setup. Throw in two returning class acts in Israel Dagg and Nehe MilnerSkudder and an emerging force in Matt Duffie, and you have yourself a heck of a race within a race.
Is it any wonder Seta Tamanivalu has seen the writing on the wall?
This one is hard to predict without knowing how effectively Dagg and Milner-Skudder return from their injuries. If I was setting a betting market I’d have Naholo
favourite, followed by MilnerSkudder and Savea. But it’s a wide open race.
Who replaces Tawera KerrBarlow as No 3 in the halfback pecking order?
Hansen is up front about this. Behind Aaron Smith and TJ Perenara, ‘‘there are plenty of candidates, just which one we take is the key’’.
Chief Brad Weber, the Crusaders’ Mitch Drummond and Bryn Hall and Blues skip Augustine Pulu look the main contenders. Though others could emerge. Super Rugby form will ultimately decide it.
If Weber can get back to his dynamic pre-leg break form he appeals, but this one is too close to call at this stage.
Which hooker will step up and take his chance in Dane Coles’ absence?
This looked to be a tailor-made opening for Wellington phenom Asafo Aumua until it emerged last week that he had had a less than productive off-season and was being left behind by the Hurricanes to work on his fitness while they open their season on the road.
This is a setback, but not an insurmountable one for a talented young man. How he responds could dictate whether Hansen retains him in the national squad. Meantime Ricky Riccitelli gets first crack at the Canes to underline his growing value. The Highlanders’ Liam Coltman needs to step up his contribution to be considered, while hard-nosed sorts like Ash Dixon and James Parsons should not be written off. Codie Taylor and Nathan Harris are the incumbents, and selection certainties, if fit.
Do we have a successor up our sleeve if Kieran Read’s back doesn’t come right?
Heaven forbid this should impact his test season, but let’s be realistic here. Hansen at least needs a backup plan, and must also be conscious now of not overloading his skipper as he works through to the 2019 World Cup.
The alternatives are not exactly leaping out of the woodwork. Luke Whitelock filled the role in Wales when Read couldn’t go and Landers team-mate Liam Squire also has some appeal (though he’s right now the incumbent No 6). The Blues’ Akira Ioane shapes as the logical successor/alternative, but he has yet to meet some of the challenges he has been set around work rate and consistency.
It’s moments like this that Brad Shields’ decision to head to England hurts. Another one Hansen will be watching with a beady eye.