Winners and losers from the All Blacks team to tackle the Springboks

Jared Wright
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All Blacks coach Ian Foster and Sam Whitelock after the win over the Springboks in the Rugby Championship plus images of Beauden Barrett and Will Jordan.

All Blacks coach Ian Foster, lock Sam Whitelock and outside backs Beauden Barrett and Will Jordan.

Ian Foster has named his All Blacks matchday squad to face the Springboks in the Rugby Championship decider on Saturday in Auckland.

Saturday’s clash marks the 104th Test match between the two sides, with the All Blacks holding the advantage with 61 victories and four draws.

Foster has made a few surprising inclusions and exclusions in his squad, and we run through those decisions and pick out our winners and losers.

Winners

Will Jordan

This is a win for everyone except for the Springboks. Will Jordan is an exceptional talent, and after missing the majority of last year’s Test season, he marks his return to the international arena against the All Blacks’ fiercest rivals.

A return straight to the starting XV highlights how highly he is regarded by the selectors and how much faith they have in him. 

The 25-year-old missed most of the Crusaders season this year due to migraine-related symptoms but returned during the tail end of their campaign, which was a massive boost for club and country.

The debate whether he should be at fullback or wing will still rage on, but just to have the young superstar back on the pitch is a win for all, and credit to the Crusaders and New Zealand Rugby for the prolonged period they gave the outside back to recover and get back to full fitness.

Caleb Clarke

After a quiet performance offensively against Argentina, where he also missed several tackles on defence, Caleb Clarke drops to the bench against the Springboks. But quite frankly, Clarke is lucky to be in the team at all.

Foster’s decision to name him among the replacements is surprising as he only covers the wing – a position centre Braydon Ennor can also fill. 

Shaun Stevenson and Damian McKenzie provide more versatile options, as does uncapped Crusaders star Dallas McLeod.

Clarke is clearly on the bench to add more grunt and size to the All Blacks’ backline in the latter stage of the Springboks as they attempt to fight fire with fire against South Africa’s ‘Bomb Squad’. 

The winger will also earn his 100th first-class appearance if he comes off the bench against the Springboks.

Tamaiti Williams 

The Crusaders prop is set to become the heaviest All Blacks player in the modern era after his performances throughout the season.

Williams has thoroughly deserves his first Test cap and has the ideal opportunity to prove his worth against the imposing Springboks pack.

He could front up against both Frans Malherbe and Vincent Koch, depending on the timing of his introduction to international rugby; it doesn’t get much more difficult than that – the ultimate baptism of fire.

Beauden Barrett

The All Blacks centurion somewhat silenced his doubters with a fine outing against Argentina, but the competition for his jersey is rife, and he will need to back it up.

Barrett has Damian McKenzie breathing down his neck while calls for Jordan to fill the number 15 jersey won’t be silenced just yet. 

The veteran deserves another shot in the starting lineup, especially against the All Blacks arch-rivals, and Saturday’s game gives him the opportunity to throw down the gauntlet.

His class is still undeniable but pressure remains on Barrett to prove his form and consistently perform after an underwhelming Super Rugby season.

Mark Telea 

Like Jordon, Mark Telea returns to full fitness and goes straight into the starting lineup.

The talented Blues’ flyer is rewarded for his outstanding Super Rugby Pacific form as he replaces Narawa in the starting team. He impressed last year in the Black jersey, dotting down twice on debut against Scotland with a strong outing against England too.

The All Blacks selectors are looking for Sevu Reece’s replacement for the World Cup, and Telea is given the perfect opportunity to prove himself against the simply world-class Cheslin Kolbe.

Losers

Sam Whitelock

The veteran All Blacks lock took the gamble with his fitness to win one final Super Rugby title with the Crusaders before heading to Pau after the World Cup.

 

That decision has cost Whitelock one final chance to play the Springboks on New Zealand soil. 

The 34-year-old has played the Boks on 22 occasions in the past, but for a competitor of his standard, he will be gutted not to make it 23.

His omission is not just a blow for him, as the All Blacks lineout is immediately poorer without him in the starting lineup – even though Scott Barrett and Brodie Retallick are world-class in their own right.

Damian McKenzie

After a stellar performance at flyhalf in round one, Damian McKenzie’s omission is a crushing blow for the talented playmaker.

He assisted three of the seven tries against Argentina and was simply outstanding throughout his 80-minute shift – even when moving to fullback.

While Barrett, Richie Mo’unga and McKenzie can’t all make the starting lineup, McKenzie’s addition on the bench would have added more balance and firepower to the replacements.

It’s a harsh blow for the Chiefs star, who will hope another opportunity comes his way in the two Bledisloe Cup Tests.

Dane Coles

Like Whitelock, this was Dane Coles’ last chance to tackle the Springboks on New Zealand soil.

The veteran hooker is always up for the nitty gritty and abrasive challenge the South Africans pose; unfortunately, there is no time for sentiment as the All Blacks get back on track for the Rugby World Cup. 

Coles looked sharp and accurate against Argentina, but Boks provide a different kind of challenge than Los Pumas did, while Codie Taylor and Samisoni Taukei’aho are arguably in better form. 

Emoni Narawa

After starting and scoring on debut against Argentina, Emoni Narawa joins McKenzie in being dropped entirely from the team.

He ticked all the key boxes on debut in Buenos Aires, impressing defensively, in the air and with ball in hand. It’s a tough call on the speedster, but considering the two experienced wingers he would have faced – it’s probably a safe call in building his confidence as an international outside back.

We will see him back in the black jersey this year.

READ MORE: Winners and losers from the Springboks team to face the All Blacks

Features Caleb Clarke Damian McKenzie Emoni Narawa Mark Telea Tamaiti Williams Will Jordan

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