Scott Robertson will have selection issues to manage ahead of the Rugby Championship. Photo \/ SmartFrame<\/p>\n
Reader question: What do you make of the depth at hooker? Codie Taylor is getting on, and Brodie McAlister struggled at the lineout in Hamilton. Should Jason Ryan be worried? \u2013 G Pathori<\/p>\n
Liam replies: Samisoni Taukei\u2019aho is there and Asafo Aumua, who stepped up in Taylor\u2019s absence last year, will return from injury soon. But we saw last weekend that the drop-off from Taylor to the rest is significant. The same is true at halfback without Cam Roigard. The All Blacks have been blessed with a golden generation of hookers in Dane Coles, Keven Mealamu and Taylor. The next crop aren\u2019t at that level yet.<\/p>\n
Reader question: Do you think there is still a place in the team for a small No 7 like Du\u2019Plessis Kirifi? While he does punch above his weight, you can\u2019t help but wonder if he would be effective enough to hold a spot against some of the opposition we will be facing. \u2013 Mike C<\/p>\n
Liam replies: It\u2019s a fair question. Du\u2019Plessis Kirifi<\/a> certainly earned his chance with compelling Super Rugby form but he\u2019s adjusting to where he can bring impact in the land of the giants. While Dalton Papali\u2019i was on the fringe of the July squad, Hurricanes teammate Peter Lakai is among Kirifi\u2019s looming competition as he offers a noted ball-carrying presence.<\/p>\n AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.<\/a><\/p>\n Reader question: Hi Liam. Two quick ones: What did you think about the standard of officiating in the series (and so far in the Lions series)? What are the most critical rule changes you would like to see? \u2013 Floyd R<\/p>\n Liam replies: Don\u2019t have too many gripes with the overall officiating but the breakdown was a bit of a mess in Hamilton. I like the general theme of speeding up the game and minimising stoppages. Fake injuries need to be outlawed somehow. The TMO needs to take a serious chill pill. That\u2019s becoming the biggest blight on the game. The intentional knockdown can be managed with much more common sense. And I reckon you could lessen the importance of the maul.<\/p>\n Reader question: Do you think Ethan Blackadder has a future with the ABs? \u2013 Neil B<\/p>\n Liam replies: Wouldn\u2019t rule him out at this stage. He has a big engine on defence, but he\u2019s very injury prone and lacks punch with the ball in hand. The All Blacks want their blindside to be physically dominant on both sides of the ball.<\/p>\n Discover more<\/p>\n Reader question: We had zero punch in the loose forwards starting with the two smalls, Du\u2019Plessis Kirifi and Ardie Savea, before the French tired. I thought we had dust-binned this failed experiment. Why didn\u2019t Scott Robertson limit the changes by keeping Ardie at No 7 and playing Dalton Papali\u2019i at No 8. What are your thoughts on Kirifi given he\u2019s so small at this level and only a No 7? \u2013 Kelvin P<\/p>\n Liam replies: That combination as a starting trio does look undersized. I think we\u2019ve seen that opportunities for Du\u2019Plessis Kirifi, and others, to gain turnovers for the All Blacks compared to in Super Rugby are much more limited. Kirifi has brought impact off the bench but he\u2019s still adjusting to test rugby. I don\u2019t like the idea of Dalton at 8 but the All Blacks were left exposed after selecting two openside flankers on their bench.<\/p>\n Reader question: There\u2019s so much talk about bringing Richie Mo\u2019unga back from Japan, but should we do the same for Shannon Frizell to answer the question at No 6? \u2013 J Bransen<\/p>\n Liam replies: I\u2019m sure the All Blacks would love to have Shannon Frizell<\/a> back. Last I heard, Frizell signed for one more season with Japanese club Toshiba (same team as Richie Mo\u2019unga) and will then look to come home to chase another Rugby World Cup.<\/p>\n Reader question: Hi Liam. Did anyone play themselves out of the next squad? If so, who will replace them and who are the three new faces you\u2019d like to see added? \u2013 Dave K<\/p>\n Liam replies: I don\u2019t envisage big changes. Adding three extra players for the Rugby Championship gives the All Blacks more freedom, if anything. Six midfielders seems too many, though, so there could be changes there with more wingers added.<\/p>\n AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.<\/a><\/p>\n Noah Hotham is injured and may also need to be replaced by another halfback. Changes could come when Asafo Aumua, Wallace Sititi, Tamaiti Williams and Peter Lakai return from injuries and, at some stage, the All Blacks could also look at Chiefs loose forward Simon Parker, too.<\/p>\n Reader question: Have outsiders like Dalton Papalii done enough to remain in the squad over those who became injured? \u2013 Tom R<\/p>\n Liam replies: Don\u2019t know if a brief cameo off the bench in the third test is enough to propel Dalton Papali\u2019i into the squad, but injuries to guys like Luke Jacobson could potentially see him retained.<\/p>\n Reader question: Could we see Ruben Love<\/a> start at fullback in big Rugby Championship games with Will Jordan at 14? \u2013 Bart D<\/p>\n Liam replies: It\u2019s a possibility, but Will Jordan is the All Blacks\u2019 first-choice fullback. After he shifted to the wing in the first minute of the first test they could have left him there for the series but the fact they pushed him straight back to 15 tells you that\u2019s where he\u2019s most effective and where they want him to be.<\/p>\n Reader question: Is Fletcher Newell a better tighthead than Tyrel Lomax? \u2013 J B<\/p>\n AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.<\/a><\/p>\n Liam replies: They\u2019re probably on par from a scrummaging perspective but Tyrel Lomax offers much more around the field. Unfortunately, Lomax has been injured for most of this year \u2013 we\u2019re awaiting the result from an X-ray on his thumb after his return in the third test against France. When he\u2019s fit, though, he\u2019s among the world\u2019s leading props partly due to his mobility and ball skills.<\/p>\n Reader question: Do you think Leicester Fainga\u2019anuku will get fast-tracked back into the ABs? \u2013 Carl M<\/p>\n Liam replies: He\u2019s going to play for Tasman in the NPC first, so possibly not available until the northern tour \u2013 but great to have him back.<\/p>\n Reader question: Why don\u2019t the All Blacks have their names on their backs like the French? Cheers, Harvey White<\/p>\n Liam replies: It\u2019s an interesting debate to be had. The Wallabies brought this in for their series with the British & Irish Lions too. While it appeals to a younger audience it clashes with tradition so I can\u2019t see the All Blacks doing it any time soon.<\/p>\n Reader question: Could Jordie Barrett be the answer at No 13? He has so many similar traits skill-wise to Conrad Smith, wouldn\u2019t he be better suited out wider and use a Timoci Tavatavanawai-type battering ram at No 12 to create space similar to Ma\u2019a Nonu\/Conrad Smith combo? \u2013 Arthur S<\/p>\n AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.<\/a><\/p>\n Liam replies: Could be something worth considering, but I\u2019m not sure how much experience Jordie Barrett has at No 13 \u2013 and it\u2019s a very specialised role, particularly on defence. He could probably pull it off, given he\u2019s played wing, fullback and first five-eighths for the All Blacks, but I like his robust presence at No 12. He\u2019s looked very good there since returning from Ireland. The more pressing issue is finding a complementary midfield partner. Billy Proctor could be the guy, but he needs more time at test level.<\/p>\n Reader question: Apart from Beauden Barrett, where are our world-class first five-eighths? \u2013 Ian U<\/p>\n Liam replies: Takes time to develop a world-class first five-eighths. Ruben Love has the potential to lead the All Blacks from No 10. Stephen Perofeta has battled injuries. But you\u2019re right, depth at first five-eighths is a long-term issue that needs addressing. The Highlanders and, to a lesser extent the Hurricanes, are clear examples of that.<\/p>\n Reader question: Is it now clear that Ardie Savea is primarily an openside flanker, Tupoi Vaa\u2019i a blindside flanker and Wallace Sititi our likely first-choice No 8? \u2013 Rory H<\/p>\n Liam replies: Ardie\u2019s best position was always openside \u2013 it frees him up more than No 8. But he was world player of the year there in 2023, so he\u2019s clearly adept at both. That\u2019s probably the All Blacks\u2019 first-choice loose-forward trio at this stage, but I\u2019m not totally convinced about Tupou at blindside yet. We need to see it against better opposition. Samipeni Finau was arguably the All Blacks\u2019 best player in Hamilton and Shannon Frizell is expected to return home for the next World Cup, too.<\/p>\n Reader question: What confidence can we take from the French series into the Rugby Championship and do we risk underestimating Argentina in Argentina given our marquee tests against the Springboks at home? \u2013 Neville M<\/p>\n AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.<\/a><\/p>\n Liam replies: Mixed confidence I would suggest, given the calibre of talent the French left at home. The All Blacks will be pleased to have given their full squad a run, but only one of the three performances matched expectations. But after losing to the Pumas in Wellington last year, there\u2019s no way the All Blacks will underestimate the challenge of playing them in Argentina.<\/p>\n Reader question: When is Richie Mo\u2019unga available for All Blacks? \u2013 Neville B<\/p>\n Liam replies: He\u2019s expected to return home from Japan next year, once his three-season contract with Toshiba finishes. So he could be available for the All Blacks from July 2026.<\/p>\n Reader question: Liam, I think the biggest area of uncertainty is the wing position. I think we keep Billy Proctor at centre, so who goes on the wings? I don\u2019t think Sevu Reece should be there at all. After last Saturday, I am tempted to have Ruben Love at fullback and then Jordan and Clarke on the wings. I would also be bringing in Caleb Tangitau and the Chiefs\u2019 winger Emoni Narawa. Your thoughts? \u2013 Bruce G<\/p>\n Liam replies: I agree that\u2019s one area that needs big improvement. It\u2019s a shame we didn\u2019t get to see Caleb Clarke (he\u2019s sidelined for up to two months with an ankle injury) as he is the best winger in the air. Jordan is exceptional wherever he plays. The All Blacks don\u2019t seem to have much faith in Narawa but both wings are highly contestable. Caleb Tangitau, Leroy Carter and Chay Fihaki, among others, will push hard for inclusion in coming years.<\/p>\n Reader question: I watched the third test in a sports bar in the UK. What struck me was the vast difference of the player assessments from those of some NZ journalists.<\/p>\n AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.<\/a><\/p>\n In particular, the patrons, and later some British commentators, were fulsome in their praise of Damien McKenzie for tactical kicking (leading to one try), positional play and speed with rocket wide passes. And yet one NZ journalist rated him \u201c4\u201d.<\/p>\n I think we should grateful that we have both BB and DMac. Neither are perfect, but both are world-class. \u2013 Roger L<\/p>\n Liam replies: Interesting observation. Depth at first five-eighths isn\u2019t great in New Zealand at the moment, so I\u2019m sure the All Blacks are grateful to have both those guys in their squad. While McKenzie wasn\u2019t at his best, it\u2019s easy to forget he led the All Blacks from No 10 to their upset victory over Ireland that snapped the hosts\u2019 19-match unbeaten run in Dublin, last year.<\/p>\n Liam Napier<\/a> is a senior sports journalist and rugby correspondent for the New Zealand Herald. He is a co-host of the Rugby Direct podcast<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Scott Robertson will have selection issues to manage ahead of the Rugby Championship. Photo \/ SmartFrame Reader question:…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":12200,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[567],"tags":[9490,3265,14013,64,63,9658,14012,14015,14014,760,9672,85,9677,9673],"class_list":["post-12199","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-rugby","tag-after","tag-all","tag-analysed","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-blacks","tag-depth","tag-facts","tag-french","tag-rugby","tag-series","tag-sports","tag-squad","tag-sweep"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12199","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12199"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12199\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12200"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12199"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12199"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12199"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Leicester Fainga’anuku is on track to return to rugby in New Zealand. Photo \/ photosport.nz<\/p>\n
Ruben Love on the run for the All Blacks against France, in Hamilton. Photo \/ Dean Purcell<\/p>\n