All Blacks team: Five takeaways as Dave Rennie’s ‘power-packed’ selection results in ‘gulf in class’ against Sharks
Cam Roigard will provide impact off the bench while Luke Jacobson skippers the All Blacks against the Sharks.
Following the announcement of the All Blacks side that will take on the Sharks in their Greatest Rivalry tour clash, here are our five takeaways from Dave Rennie’s selection.
The top line
Rennie has called in a whole host of first team stars for the second fixture of the tour of South Africa, while two players are set to make their debuts off the bench.
Seven players from the 23 that faced the Stormers – Sam Darry, Kyle Preston, Asafo Aumua, Caleb Clarke, Ollie Norris, Pasilio Tosi and Ethan Blackadder – get a second chance to impress. Darry, Preston, Aumua and Clarke, who all came off the bench in Cape Town, will start against the Sharks while the latter trio take up bench places.
This tour, of course, is a balancing act of rotation and timing in terms of minutes and form, and this is again juggled by Rennie, with all roads leading to the series.
That results in several big guns returning to the fold after missing the Stormers game, with Damian McKenzie, Jordie Barrett, Quinn Tupaea, Ruben Love, Luke Jacobson, Tupou Vaa’i, Fletcher Newell and Ethan de Groot just some of the starters in what is a solid team that is likely to make a statement against an under-strength Sharks.
Worry for Sharks
Indeed, the gulf in class on paper seems apparent as the Sharks are missing a clutch of Springboks who are currently on their way back to South Africa from Argentina.
It’s a largely second-string side from JP Pietersen, with the big talking point being Ma’a Nonu’s inclusion on the bench – what a sublot that will be late in the game.
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Put simply, New Zealand should have far too much class for the Durbanites this Tuesday as we expect a handsome victory, with the backline especially set to cut loose.
One hopes that is not the case for the sake of the spectacle, but it is hard to shake the concern for the hosts ahead of kick-off as New Zealand unleash their weapons.
Captain Luke
What a special moment it will be for Jacobson as he is handed the All Blacks captaincy for the first time, with his purple patch in the team moving to taller heights.
The Chiefs stalwart has very much been a feature in Rennie’s XVs since the head coach began his tenure and certainly has warranted his spot, putting in mighty shifts.
“Luke is the obvious choice to captain the team. He’s highly respected, has a great feel for the game and will lead through his actions,” said Rennie on his decision.
It certainly is a feather in the cap of Jacobson, who packs down at openside in Durban in a power-packed back-row that includes Vaa’i and number eight Wallace Sititi.
Power-packed 23
As mentioned, this is an impressive side named by Rennie, as several of the team that featured in the impressive Nations Championship campaign will trot out in Durban.
There is a lot to like about combinations and box office talent, with the aforementioned back-row and a solid midfield pairing of Barrett and Tupaea catching the eye.
Love’s return at 10 will be a fascinating watch as he and the backline spine looks to build on the solid foundations it laid in July. Also keep an eye out for deadly Fehi Fineanganofo as he looks to translate his Super Rugby Pacific try-scoring form to the international stage, as one of the Test wing jerseys remains up for grabs.
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It’s not just the XV that should strike fear into Sharks supporters, as having prop Tosi, flanker Blackadder, scrum-half Cam Roigard, centre Timoci Tavatavanawai and wing Emoni Narawa in reserve ready to be unleashed will provide a serious injection of pace and power for the All Blacks, who should cut loose in the closing stages.
Keeping Cam in cotton wool
It’s wise from Rennie to give Preston a start here over Roigard as the former has waited patiently to get decent minutes under his belt. Some have argued the Crusaders nine is unlucky to find himself behind Cortez Ratima in the All Blacks pecking order and Tuesday is an ideal opportunity to press his case for a Test shirt.
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Perhaps more importantly, it keeps Roigard in cotton wool, to a degree, as he’s only likely to feature in the closing 20-25 minutes when spaces open up.
There is no doubt Roigard is a special talent and crucial to New Zealand’s hopes of a Greatest Rivalry series victory, and with news today breaking that Billy Proctor is ruled out of the tour due to an injury, that is perhaps a timely reminder for Rennie that managing minutes and replacing stars when possible has to be considered.
