Ex-All Black offers ‘world-class’ alternative following Rieko Ioane ‘frustration’ but slams critics who ‘relish getting into’ the centre
Rieko Ioane in action for the All Blacks and the centre alongside former hooker James Parsons.
Former All Blacks forward James Parsons has defended the form of Blues star Rieko Ioane, but believes that there is someone playing well enough to take his Test spot.
The 28-year-old speedster has come under fire over the past few months for his performance at both club and international level.
New Zealand’s attack struggled to produce in 2024 and some blamed Ioane for their issues in dealing with the blitz defence.
He has since struggled at the start of the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific campaign, although the centre has not been helped by playing in a struggling Blues team.
Chiefs’ form and Anton Lienert-Brown
In contrast, North Island rivals the Chiefs have impressed with Anton Lienert-Brown, who has generally been used as a bench option by the All Blacks over the past few years, among their star performances.
“Anton’s in career-best form. His relationship at the moment with Quinn [Tupaea], those two look world-class in the way they’re operating,” Parsons said on the Aotearoa Rugby Pod.
“If there was to be a form centre, he would definitely have that spot.”
Parsons believes that Ioane is being judged far too harshly, however, and reckons that he is still playing well in an underperforming team.
“It’s quite a hard argument to have. Even if you look at the stats, David Havili crushed it the other night, everyone will say that, but there were still errors in that performance,” he said.
“There are a lot of people out there who seem to relish getting into Rieko. I just think if you look at the stats alone, he is still world-class.
“He’s making stuff out of nothing, he’s the one that’s sprinting from the other side of the field to get across to tackle Will Jordan and dislodge that ball over the line. All those sorts of things people miss because they’re looking for the three turnovers.
“Yes, they were at crucial times and yes, for his standards and previous to that game, he will admit that was too high.
“I don’t mind seeing him be a little bit more ambitious, I really liked his performance on the weekend because he made line breaks.
“Yes, the errors are there but that maybe needs to happen just to release the shackles and let him become the attacking weapon we know he can be.”
Ioane’s move from the wing
Ioane started his career on the wing before beginning his transition to centre after the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
Parsons reckons that Ian Foster’s decision to shift him is a factor in the excessive criticism of the 28-year-old, while the ex-hooker also explained why All Blacks coaches continue to select him.
“He hit the ground running at wing and then not everyone liked him moving from the wing to centre because everyone wanted him on the wing, so there is that element of frustration for some people,” he said.
“You look at the All Blacks coaching staff and the language they’ve used. If we use Wallace Sititi for example, they said it’s the work he’s done on both sides of the ball is why he got in, and that theory proved right and why he was a duck to water for international rugby.
“It’s no different with what they’re seeing with Rieko in terms of that off the ball stuff and those are the things that matter most within defensive systems.
“You are going to be broken but what do you do when that break happens? He comes to life, he looks to make a play. He doesn’t hide, he doesn’t become a passenger, he lights up.
“So often there’s that frustration of some players only lighting up on attack, but both sides of the ball Rieko lights up and he tries to get in a position where he can make a play.
“I think that is why multiple All Blacks coaches and selectors continue to see him as a strong candidate to start in that 13 jersey at international level.”
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