Whitelock is the obvious captain Loose forward mix full of possibilities

Sam Whitelock would get the captain’s wings and take charge of the first All Blacks team named for 2021. With regular skipper Sam Cane, who this month had surgery to fix a pectoral injury and could be unavailable for up to six months, it wouldn’t be right to deny Whitelock.

Lock Whitelock has played 122 tests, and guided the Crusaders to three championships from 2017 to 2019. He deserves to replace Cane.

Injuries and playing sabbaticals to Japan have reduced the options after eight rounds of Super Rugby Aotearoa.

Lock Brodie Retallick, first fiveeighth/fullback Beauden Barrett and halfback TJ Perenara haven’t been considered because they‘re earning some extra coin and sampling the ramens in Japan.

This team won’t thrill everyone, and that’s the point.

Selections should be disputed, scorned or celebrated. You can never please everyone.

The midfielders named in this runon team could cause some heartburn.

The options to fill the No 12 and 13 spots have been reduced because of injuries to All Blacks Jack Goodhue (gone for the year) and Braydon Ennor (due back soon).

But it’s not as if the talent pool has been drained. There’s no crisis.

All Blacks get injured. That, unfortunately, is the reality.

The relentless nature of SRA means the casualty ward is never empty, but it also erases the rough edges off the next wave of talent coming through.

PLAYING XV

Fullback: Jordie Barrett

His long-range kicking off the tee earns him this spot ahead of the inform Damian McKenzie. By a whisker. Right wing: Will Jordan Has been slow to hit top gear but you don’t stop mining for gold when you know it’s there. Centre: Anton Lienert-Brown

Experience matters in the midfield. ALB offers that, and more, now that Jack Goodhue is injured. Second-five: David Havili

Made his third, and most recent, test appearance in 2017. Deserves a recall. His long passing game, reliable defence and versatility force the unlucky Ngani Laumape out of the frame.

Left wing:

Caleb

Clarke

Got busy with the Blues against the Highlanders last weekend. Overdue. But it emphasised how powerful he can be.

First-five: Richie Mo’unga Unchallenged. Beauden Barrett’s decision to chase the yen in Japan makes this an easy call.

Halfback: Aaron Smith Highlanders coach Tony Brown is getting the best out of Smith in SRA. What a treat it has been.

No 8: Luke Jacobson

Has been sidelined by concussion but when fit, he brings plenty of heat with or without the ball. Could be a sensation in future years. Ardie Savea not considered due to injury. Openside flanker: Dalton Papalii Fine turnover merchant, and can also carry effectively. With Cane injured, Papalii can start.

Blindside flanker: Shannon Frizell Has been in great form for the Highlanders. In better nick than Akira Ioane, the man he lost his All Blacks’ No 6 jersey to late last year.

Lock: Sam

Whitelock

(captain)

More than just an experienced grafter. Still a lineout ace and isn’t a shirker.

Lock: Scott Barrett

Possibly burdened by Crusaders’ captaincy job but still combative. Patrick Tuipulotu’s recent injury lay-off counts against the Blues skipper. Tighthead prop: Nepo Laulala Remains one of the premier No 3s in the land.

Hooker: Codie Taylor

Has been a machine for the Crusaders. Like an extra loose forward in terms of workrate.

Loosehead prop: Karl Tu’inukuafe A serious foot injury rules Joe Moody out. Tu’inukuafe gets his chance to work the first 50 minutes or so.

RESERVES

Dane Coles: The veteran hooker is a good man to bring on for the final quarter.

Alex Hodgman Another Blues prop, at loosehead, is next cab off the rank. Ofa Tuungafasi: A tighthead prop who can tickle-up the opposition with his set-piece work and carries. Tupou Vaa’i: The lock has been an integral part of the resurgent Chiefs. Should keep getting better. Lachlan Boshier: Why not? With Tom Christie (Crusaders) and fellow Chief Cane injured, the uncapped Boshier can offer his jackal skills in the rucks. Du’Plessis Kirifi lucks out. Brad Weber: Does everything that’s expected of him. His leadership skills are a bonus.

Rieko Ioane: Covers centre and wing. Unquestionable potential. Damian McKenzie: Perhaps should be starting at No 15 ahead of Jordie Barrett. A close call. Can also cover No 10.

The loose trio shapes as the most interesting selection when looking at a form All Blacks lineup to open the 2021 campaign with.

With skipper Sam Cane and arguably the world’s premier loosie Ardie Savea both facing long stints on the sidelines, it’s likely Ian Foster has to look at a total remake of his trio for the July tests. Given it’s Italy and Fiji, it shapes as the ideal time to look at a few backup options anyway.

It’s why I haven’t considered Beauden Barrett either after his Japan sabbatical. No need to. Ease him back when the time is right.

Presuming Savea and Cane are both out of the mix, Foster will need a new starting No 7 and No 8, and faces another tough call at No 6 between Shannon Frizell and Akira Ioane, with Luke Jacobson also a contender.

There are also some interesting decisions to make in midfield, at fullback and maybe at loosehead prop, depending on how serious Joe Moody’s foot problem is. This lineup presumes he’s out.

Skipper shapes as a no-brainer with big Sam Whitelock able to slot in without losing a moment’s sleep.

PLAYING XV

Fullback: Jordie Barrett

It’s a close race but Jordie Barrett has the form, the supplementary qualities (that booming boot) and, most importantly, deserves this crack in his best position.

Right wing: Will Jordan

Looks to be finding form at the right time and you just have to find a spot for this game-breaker in your lineup. Centre: Rieko

Ioane

New Zealand’s best and most dangerous centre.

Deserves another crack on form.

Second-five:

Anton Lienert-Brown

A must-have in any top All Blacks lineup. Playing well, dripping with experience and makes everyone around him better.

Left wing: Caleb Clarke

Has been slow to find his best stuff in 2021, but brings qualities that are a must-have at test level.

First-five: Richie Mo’unga A no-brainer here. When he gets the go-forward, there is no one better pulling the strings.

Halfback: Aaron

Smith

An ageless wonder who continues to perform at the highest level.

Playing as well as he ever has.

No 8: Hoskins

Sotutu

It’s tight here on form between the Blues metre-eater and Luke Jacobson.

But I’d give Sotutu a crack on the back of some extremely promising stuff last campaign.

Openside flanker: Dalton Papalii We’re down to third choice now, so why not go with the form man of SRA? Good chance to have an extended look at this turnover merchant. Lachlan Boshier needs more footy.

Blindside flanker:

Shannon Frizell

Deserves this crack after some strong showings for the

Highlanders.

Akira Ioane has been short of his best too.

Lock: Sam Whitelock (captain)

Still a quality performer who takes care of all the important stuff in the tight. And steps in as a stop-gap captain with ease.

Lock: Scott Barrett

Still a work in progress, but with Patrick Tuipulotu’s injury issues and Pari Pari Parkinson striving for consistency, remains a worthy starter. Tighthead prop: Ofa Tuungafasi Not a lot between him and Nepo Laulala, but worth giving the starter’s minutes to the more dynamic performer.

Hooker: Codie

Taylor

In the form of his life, scoring tries, winning turnovers, carrying well and still hitting his core tasks.

Loosehead prop:

Karl Tu’inukuafe.

If Moody’s foot injury ruled him out, the burly Blues loosehead would step in and do the job just fine.

RESERVES

Dane Coles: Still playing very, very well and worthy of a spot in any All Blacks 23.

Aidan Ross: For this exercise, we’ve left Moody out, so maybe it’s time to have a look at the Chiefs No 1. Alex Hodgman’s red card counts against him.

Nepo Laulala: You bring this powerhouse on and you lose nothing at scrum time, or around the ruck. Patrick Tuipulotu: Should be back playing in plenty of time and still brings statement physicality and experience.

Lachlan Boshier: They will need someone to cover 7 and this extraordinary turnover merchant deserves a crack, so long as he can keep off the injured list.

Brad Weber: With Folau Fokatava out injured, the dynamic Chiefs No 9 is comfortably the premier option behind Smith.

Damian McKenzie: Covers 10 and 15. Deserves to be the he mix.

Ngani Laumape: Misses out on midfield ina tight three-way contest, so comes off the bench to bring his game-changing ability late-match.