Taufua can give All Blacks a much-needed shakeup

The biggest surprise in the All Blacks squad is Jordan Taufua, not Shannon Frizell. It is true that Frizell has only started a handful of games for the Highlanders, but physically he fits the All Blacks’ No 6 bill so perfectly he was always bound to show up on their radar.

Taufua is different. The Crusader has forced the selectors to change their minds.

His selection represents two things: first, the introduction of new energy and second, a sign of flexibility in the selection panel.

Frankly, the All Blacks needed it, because last year was not a vintage year (and those are Ian Jones’ words, not just mine). There were too many mistakes, discipline was poor and there was a lack of sustained punch from the bench.

It’s the latter area where Taufua can stake a claim, because having waited so long to get the callup he won’t be there to hold tackle bags: he will go into Beast Mode.

He is someone who, in the modern game, can be used to cover all three loose forward positions.

Of course, he is not a renowned fetcher but that No 7 role has changed so much over recent years.

Look at Blues No 7 Dalton Papali’is performance against the Crusaders last weekend.

He was stunning, but five years ago we would have been making comparisons to a young Richie McCaw.

Clearly, you wouldn’t want to lose Sam Cane early in a game and force Taufua into that role but he has enough multipurpose talents to be a bench option.

What do you gain in return? Some real destructive potential. He’s a bit like a Samoan Sean O’Brien: the power, the leg drive.

The All Blacks replacement forwards did not frighten many last year, but rolling Taufua onto the field for the last 20 minutes or so could change that.

If his selection is a sign of some self-critical thinking from the All Blacks it’s a good sign.

The other area where there might be change coming is at No 10. Surely it is now time Beauden Barrett gets the keys to the car from the first minute to the last.

He’s either a No 10 or a No 15 – and if he’s going to be a No 10 then play him like a No 10. And if he’s not a No 10 we’ll find out soon enough.

There are still issues with Barrett’s game – selector Grant Fox said as much – but his goalkicking continues to impress and there is clearly a huge appetite from within the player to improve.

This is a good All Blacks squad but it was never going to be anything else.

The real question that needed to be asked is whether it showed some new thinking and an honest examination of the areas where they could improve.

Taufua’s selection says yes to both.