Ioane will stay on wing for Blues, says coach

Rieko Ioane is “the world’s best winger” and will play for the Auckland Blues next year after some targeted recruitment should prevent the need for his being deployed in midfield, coach Tana Umaga said.

Ioane became the All Blacks’ first-choice winger after he supplanted Julian Savea ahead of last year’s British and Irish Lions series, and has amassed 22 tries in 21 Tests.

Injuries to the Blues’ playing stocks this season, however, forced Umaga to select him in the midfield for several games.

While the 21-year-old has said several times over the past two years that he saw his longterm future in the midfield and that he “enjoyed everything about centre”, Umaga said on Wednesday that he would remain on the wing next season.

“He’s the world’s best wing,” Umaga told the Blues’ YouTube channel after naming next season’s Super Rugby squad.

“We have committed to Rieko about him playing on the wing and that’s what will happen,” the former All Blacks capThe tain said. Umaga also started his international career on the wing before making the transition to midfield.

He said the desire to retain Ioane on the flank had led to the recruitment of his former Wellington Hurricanes and All Blacks midfield partner Ma’a Nonu from Toulon for the 2019 season.

The 103-Test cap inside centre would provide some stability in the midfield for the Blues, who had to resort to using Ioane as a stop-gap measure this year with two-time World Cup winner Sonny Bill Williams injured for much of the 2018 season.

“We are a better side when we have experience on the field,” Umaga said.

The Blues have been the worst-performing New Zealand Super Rugby side for the past four years.

Umaga said the duo would be expected to mentor younger players like Levi Aumua, Tanielu Tele’a and Auckland provincial captain TJ Faiane. –