Analysis: In naming only four outside backs in his squad, Scott Robertson may need Rieko Ioane to play on the left wing against France, writes Patrick McKendry.
Even before he named six midfielders and only four outside backs in his squad of 33 players for next month’s Tests against France, All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson stressed the need for his men to be versatile and capable of playing more than one position.
And more than anyone, this may apply to Rieko Ioane, the incumbent centre and former left wing, who — like it or not — may find himself back in the No.11 jersey at some point over the three Tests or at least moving from the midfield to the left in Dunedin, Wellington or Hamilton to accommodate a replacement.
Caleb Clarke is the only specialist left wing in the squad, with Sevu Reece the only right wing apart from fullback Will Jordan, who of course began his career there but is far more effective at the back these days.
Fullback Ruben Love, who will also cover first-five, is the only other outside back named in the squad.
Robertson says he named only 33 players, rather than the 35 offered by New Zealand Rugby, so he could give every player in the squad game time over the next three Tests.
If that is truly the case, he must be one of the first international coaches in history to turn down the chance to select a full squad. One would have thought he could have found a place for 25-year-old Chiefs wing Emoni Narawa, who is in the squad only as injury back-up to midfielder Anton Lienert-Brown; or Leroy Carter, the former sevens international and Narawa’s franchise teammate.
Carter, 26, or any of the other promising young outside backs in the country such as Macca Springer, Chay Fihaki or Caleb Tangitau would have presumably benefited hugely from the experience of training with the All Blacks two years out from the next World Cup — even without playing a Test.
One must wonder, too, whether Reece, 28, will remain the first-choice No.14 all the way to the next World Cup. It seems unlikely.
There is no other way of putting it — the shortage of outside backs (four for three positions) and multitude of midfielders (six for two) is odd, and the only way Robertson and his assistants can make the numbers add up is by leaning on players such as Ioane to be flexible.
Potential debutant Timoci Tavatavanawai began his career on the wing before becoming a hit in the midfield for the Highlanders, but, given his inexperience, he will likely be introduced from the bench at some point next month.
There are still many who believe that Ioane’s best position is left wing – it’s where he burst on to the scene as a 19-year-old and he quickly became regarded as one of the best in the world there due to his pace, power and attacking instincts.
Now 28 and with 81 Tests behind him, Ioane has become an excellent defender at all levels but the lack of space in the middle of the park has not been as kind to his attacking game.
Looking at his recent form, he performed superbly under a huge amount of scrutiny during the All Blacks’ victory over Ireland in Dublin in November (after leading the haka) but his offensive opportunities at the Blues — who began firing only in the second half of this season — were limited.
Ioane may not like having to move from his preferred position to the left to allow Billy Proctor to partner either Jordie Barrett or Quinn Tupaea in the midfield but it may be best for the team and, indeed, a lack of other options may make it an easier sell for Robertson and company.
Finally, it is possible that, with Mark Tele'a moving to Japan, Robertson believes none of the young crop of wings are ready for the next level and he is keeping his proverbial powder dry for the return of Leicester Fainga'anuku, the powerful former Crusaders and All Blacks wing (and midfielder), who has just finished two excellent seasons with French club Toulon.
Elsewhere, the squad looks a little light at loose forward – Robertson named only five; Ardie Savea, Wallace Sititi, Samipeni Finau, Luke Jacobson and newcomer Du’Plessis Kirifi, rather than six.
If Crusaders captain David Havili was the unluckiest back to miss out, then his red-and-black teammate Ethan Blackadder must be the unluckiest forward just ahead of Crusaders loosehead prop George Bower, who enjoyed a brilliant finish to the season.
Did Razor and company make up their minds before the Super Rugby semifinals? Havili, Blackadder and Bower were outstanding in the final two matches for the 2025 champions.
There will be those wondering too about Crusaders hooker Ioane Moananu, who lost out to Chiefs player Brodie McAlister for the third spot behind Codie Taylor and Samisoni Taukei’aho.
Something else Robertson has said over the past few days is the need for his side to go through the opposition as well as around them.
Putting aside the fact that every All Blacks team in history (if not every rugby team ever) has had this aim, the 24-year-old Moananu, who is also a turnover expert, has more than enough power and pace to be able to do both.
All Blacks squad
(age, franchise, province, caps)
Hookers: Codie Taylor (34, Crusaders / Canterbury, 96), Samisoni Taukei’aho (27, Chiefs / Waikato, 30), Brodie McAlister (28, Chiefs / Canterbury,*)
Props: Ethan de Groot (26, Highlanders / Southland, 29), Tamaiti Williams (24, Crusaders / Canterbury, 18), Ollie Norris (25, Chiefs / Waikato, *), Tyrel Lomax (29, Hurricanes / Tasman, 44), Fletcher Newell (25, Crusaders / Canterbury, 22), Pasilio Tosi (26, Hurricanes / Bay of Plenty, 7)
Locks: Scott Barrett (31, Crusaders / Taranaki, 80) (Captain), Patrick Tuipulotu (32, Blues / Auckland, 51), Tupou Vaa’i (25, Chiefs / Taranaki, 38), Fabian Holland (22, Highlanders / Otago, *)
Loose forwards: Samipeni Finau (26, Chiefs / Waikato, 8), Ardie Savea (31, Moana Pasifika / Wellington, 94) (Vice-Captain), Du’Plessis Kirifi (28, Hurricanes / Wellington, *), Wallace Sititi (22, Chiefs / North Harbour, 10), Luke Jacobson (28, Chiefs / Waikato, 24)
Halfbacks: Cameron Roigard (24, Hurricanes / Counties Manukau, 10), Cortez Ratima (24, Chiefs / Waikato, 11), Noah Hotham (22, Crusaders / Tasman, 1)
First-five eighths: Beauden Barrett (34, Blues / Taranaki, 134), Damian McKenzie (30, Chiefs / Waikato, 61)
Midfielders: Anton Lienert-Brown (30, Chiefs / Waikato, 84), Jordie Barrett (28, Hurricanes / Taranaki, 68) (Vice-Captain), Rieko Ioane (28, Blues / Auckland, 81), Quinn Tupaea (26, Chiefs / Waikato, 14), Billy Proctor (26, Hurricanes / Wellington, 2), Timoci Tavatavanawai (27, Highlanders / Tasman, *)
Outside backs: Caleb Clarke (26, Blues / Auckland, 29), Sevu Reece (28, Crusaders / Southland, 32), Will Jordan (27, Crusaders / Tasman, 41), Ruben Love (24, Hurricanes / Wellington, 1)
Injury cover - The following players have been named as injury cover: Christian Lio-Willie (26, Crusaders / Otago, *) for Luke Jacobson, Emoni Narawa (25, Chiefs / Bay of Plenty, 2) for Anton Lienert-Brown.
Unavailable due to injury: Asafo Aumua; Ofa Tu’ungafasi; Sam Darry; Peter Lakai; Stephen Perofeta.
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