Centre of contention
All Black Rieko Ioane’s quest to be a serious contender for the No 13 test jersey could go two ways.
Listed as a midfielder in the North squad for the inter-island match on Saturday, along with Anton Lienert-Brown and Peter Umaga-Jensen, Ioane has been granted permission by the All Blacks selectors to justify why his desire to be considered a centre of international standard should become a reality.
It isn’t fresh news. Ioane, who has played all but two of his 29 tests on the wing since his debut against Italy at 19 years of age in late 2016, has previously made it clear he would prefer to play centre at the highest level.
He was picked in the midfield at Auckland Grammar school, but when rewarded with his first cap as a replacement in Rome he was told to stand on the right channel. His next appearance was as a substitute at second five-eighth against France in Paris, a fortnight later.
In 2017 Ioane was given a new job in the backline – again. Just days before the first test against the British and Irish Lions, All Blacks coach Steve Hansen asked backs coach Ian Foster during a training session in west Auckland to transfer Ioane to the left wing and push Julian Savea to the unfamiliar right wing.
Foster wasn’t impressed. The Amazon Prime Video documentary All or Nothing: New Zealand All Blacks revealed all.
‘‘It’s a dumb call today . . . I think it’s a ridiculous idea,’’ Foster retorted.
Hansen persisted, telling Foster to be ‘‘open’’ to the suggestion and that if it didn’t work he could go back to Plan A.
Ioane started on the left wing. Savea was dropped, with Israel Dagg preferred in the No 14 jersey. The All Blacks won 30-15 with Ioane scoring two tries.
In 2018 Ioane signed a contract with NZ Rugby, believed to be worth around $1 million a season, through to 2022. It was a bold investment, but given his talent
NZ Rugby reckoned he was worth the cost.
A reality check was in the mail, however. It arrived last year.
The World Cup tournament in Japan signalled the end of Ioane’s two-year tenure in the No 11 jersey; George Bridge’s compelling performances for the Crusaders saw him emerge as an option on the left wing, with Super Rugby team-mate Sevu Reece picked on the other flank.
At times it’s difficult to comprehend Ioane is still only 23; his 24 test tries, and appearances for the NZ sevens team at the Rio Olympics in 2016, the Blues and the All Blacks have nudged him into the spotlight.
He has time on his side as he attempts to shift into a different role for the All Blacks, as he has done for the Blues.
All Blacks selector Grant Fox has made some encouraging noises: ‘‘It is his long-term position,’’ Fox said when the squads were announced on August 18. ‘‘It’s the position he grew up playing. He has got the skills to play there.’’
Ioane is about to wander further down the new fork in the road when the North team meets the South at Sky Stadium in Wellington; but the exit of seasoned former All Blacks Sonny Bill Williams and Ryan Crotty has done nothing to ease the pressure.
Jack Goodhue and Anton Lienert-Brown are capable of playing internationals in either midfield position, and one-test All Black Braydon Ennor is also a talented No 13.
Umaga-Jensen, one of the stars
of the Hurricanes backline this year, can also be a handful.
Had his team-mate Ngani Laumape not broken his arm in Super Rugby Aotearoa, the scramble for employment at No 12 and 13 would be more intense.
Lurking in the shadows is Savea. The 30-year-old’s 54th and final appearance for the All Blacks was in the third test against the Lions in 2017.
Back in New Zealand after severing ties with the Toulon club in France, Savea wants to reignite his career here as a midfielder. That starts with Wellington in the Mitre 10 Cup.
For now, though, the focus will be the North v South midfield contest.
A number of players will have a point to prove, Ioane as much as anyone.