A cut Caleb
Caleb Tangitau has added beef this season – he looks more muscled. But if his try against the Crusaders, where he skinned two defenders on the outside, is any guide the beef hasn’t dimmed his speed. With Sevu Reece out of favour and off overseas, there could be an All Blacks spot for Tangitau this year.
Highlanders winger Caleb Tangitau scores a try against the Crusaders at Forsyth Barr Stadium on Friday. Photo / Photosport
The Joseph factor
Tangitau’s case would be especially helped if Jamie Joseph, as everyone now expects, is named All Blacks coach. There could be more: Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens had a fine season last year and played skilfully well against the Crusaders; he has Ruben Love ahead of him right now but the latter is injured.
Tavatavanawai’s midfield charge
Timoci Tavatavanawai stood out in the Highlanders’ win over the Crusaders. His turnovers are hugely valuable and could add to the All Blacks’ arsenal. But does he have the pace and distribution skills for the next level up and who of Jordie Barrett, Quinn Tupaea, Anton Lienert-Brown, Billy Proctor and Leicester Fainga’anuku might he oust? The latter had an unusually quiet match against the Highlanders and was perceived as a midfielder by the last All Blacks management team. Will Joseph feel the same way?
Bench battles
The tactic of having the heavy mobs on the bench and letting them loose in the second half was only half successful. Three current front row All Blacks in Codie Taylor, Fletcher Newell and George Bower didn’t have the impact of opposites Ethan de Groot (tackled everything) and Angus Ta’avao (debut try), who were also injected from the waiting room.
Hotham v Ratima
The battle for halfback back-up to Cam Roigard commenced in earnest. The Crusaders’ Noah Hotham showed his sniper’s eye with a well-taken halfback’s try while Cortez Ratima demonstrated his excellent support play, scoring the winning try against the Blues. Hotham’s variation running round the rucks and mauls wins out for me so far but this will be a season-long tussle.
Throwing concern
The riddle of Samisoni Taukei’aho continues, as does the battle for the hooker spots in the national team. Codie Taylor is a potential All Blacks captain this year and Taukei’aho seems ideal off the bench, his drive in general play and try-scoring ability displayed against the Blues – big benefits for the All Blacks. However, he still has lineout throwing wobbles and that can turn a game in the dying stages. Surely, coaching can cure that. Asafo Aumua has also yet to show his credentials, though he has been gunning it for the Hurricanes pre-season.
Blues battle
The Blues failed to put away a much-weakened Chiefs side but, in truth, did little wrong in the round’s tightest game, with few line breaks. The difference? Tupou Vaa’i scored a try and won a threatening Blues lineout to shut the game down.
Chiefs lock Tupou Vaa’i celebrates after scoring against the Blues, at Eden Park. Photo / SmartFrame
Average Aussies
The Australian sides, except for the Brumbies, looked off the pace, especially the Reds who had many influential players crocked; their creativity suffered. The Force surprisingly crumbled when the Brumbies changed gear in the second half while the Waratahs benefited from the return of athletic No 8 Charlie Cale and a more aggressive display from big lock Miles Amatosero.
Max-imum ability
Meanwhile, Waratahs and Wallaby wing Max Jorgensen, still only 21, showed last year’s ascension to world-class was no fluke; his first try against the Reds was that of a quality finisher.
Top Tupou
Talking of quality, Vaa’i’s display was the best all-round individual performance of the round. The big Chiefs lock is highly mobile and skilled with ball in hand – and it is hard to forget he only gained his chance from the last All Blacks’ conservative selection regime because of injury. He could become one of the greats – and stands already as an example of the benefits of giving youth its head.
Miracle indeed
Chiefs man Vaa’i heads off Moana Pasifika skipper Miracle Fai’ilagi whose three tries against the Drua underlined the progress he has made. If Fai’ilagi had thrown his hat in the All Blacks’ ring, who’s to say he would not be the incumbent No 6 right now?
New rules rule
The opening round brought the arrival of the new rules and they seemed to increase the pace of the matches, providing more attacking opportunities (when the errors weren’t flowing). You can see how the extra pace of the game may influence earlier timing of replacements. However, almost all the first-round matches showcased kicking – there were more than 80 in the Highlanders-Crusaders clash alone, most of them tediously unprofitable. League fans used to taunt rugby as the “kick and clap” game. Now there is little clapping involved.
Paul Lewis writes about rugby, cricket, league, football, yachting, golf, the Olympics and Commonwealth Games.