All Blacks return from injury to give Razor options for Boks' clash

The return of Caleb Clarke and Anton Lienert-Brown for Auckland and Waikato respectively this weekend suddenly gives the All Blacks options for a rejigged backline for the first Test against the Springboks.

Wing Clarke, back from an ankle injury suffered during the week of the second Test against France in Wellington last month, should come into the frame for the clash against South Africa at Eden Park a week on Saturday as head coach Scott Robertson wrestles with a misfiring attack.

Midfielder Lienert-Brown, who suffered a concussion injury after coming off the reserves bench during the All Blacks’ victory over Argentina in Cordoba, will also be in the mix for Robertson.

Beauden Barrett appears set to retain the No.10 jersey for one of the most anticipated Tests of the year at the All Blacks’ fortress, with brother Jordie likely to be named alongside him at second-five, but few other backline positions are as predictable.

Finlay Christie was one of his team’s best defensive players in the defeat to the Pumas in Buenos Aires after coming off the bench for the injured Cortez Ratima and, provided Ratima has not recovered from his chest injury, the Blues man will probably start against the Boks.

But, with the All Blacks struggling for line breaks during last weekend’s 29-23 defeat – they made only one during the entire Test – and the visitors badly losing the aerial and defensive battles, centre Billy Proctor, wings Rieko Ioane and Sevu Reece, and fullback Will Jordan will all be under scrutiny.

Anton Lienert-Brown, pictured training with the All Blacks last month, has recovered from his concussion problem. (Source: Photosport)

Jordan is almost certain to start at either fullback or the right wing and it would be a departure for Robertson to move one of the best No.15s in the world from his preferred position even with his struggles under the high ball – but there will be no guarantees for Proctor, Ioane or Reece.

The most likely scenario would move Ioane back to centre and start Clarke on the left wing, with Reece potentially making way for Emoni Narawa and Jordan retaining his place at the back.

Proctor has struggled to make the transition to the top level, with Ioane and Reece both poor under the high ball in Argentina.

Clarke, meanwhile, is excellent when receiving or chasing high kicks, including re-starts.

Ruben Love, 24, is an option for fullback but, with the Boks almost certain to kick a large percentage of their possession into the air in what could be slippery conditions, sending such an inexperienced player into the predicted barrage would be risky, even with his self confidence.

Lienert-Brown is a possibility as a straight swap for Proctor. The Chiefs midfielder would bring a more subtle approach than Ioane and could therefore create a better synergy with the hard-charging Jordie Barrett, but he is more likely to be used as an impact player.

Sixteen All Blacks will play for their provincial teams this weekend, including Luke Jacobson who has played no rugby since suffering a quadriceps injury while warming up for the third Test against France at Waikato Stadium last month.

Waikato have four All Blacks playing against Southland in Hamilton on Sunday – Lienert-Brown, Jacobson, loose forward Samipeni Finau and prop Ollie Norris.

Wellington also have four available to play Auckland in Porirua earlier in the day – Love, halfback Kyle Preston, a possibility for bench cover against the Boks, loose forward Peter Lakai and hooker Asafo Aumua.

Canterbury lock Sam Darry, left, celebrates a try against Bay of Plenty with teammate Braydon Ennor. (Source: Photosport)

Jacobson’s return to fitness raises the question of what the All Blacks coaches will do with lock Josh Lord, who travelled to Argentina as injury cover for Jacobson and was named on the bench last weekend following Patrick Tuipulotu’s head injury in Cordoba, for which the Blues' skipper has received successful surgery.

Like the majority of his teammates, Lord did not have an easy time of it after replacing Fabian Holland for the final 11 minutes, including during the set piece.

Sam Darry, who made his All Blacks debut last year but was ruled out of the entire Super Rugby Pacific season due to a shoulder injury, has been sensational in the engine room for an unbeaten Canterbury this season and may come into the frame as a more like-for-like swap for the bruising Tuipulotu.

One would assume that Tupou Vaa’i would remain at blindside flanker, but the Chiefs player is an option to partner Scott Barrett in the second row which would demote Fabian Holland to the bench and allow Robertson to pick Simon Parker, Wallace Sititi and Ardie Savea as his loose forwards against the Boks.

All Blacks in the provinces

Friday

North Harbour v Bay of Plenty – North Harbour Stadium, 7.05pm

Bay of Plenty: Emoni Narawa; Leroy Carter, Tevita Mafileo

Saturday

Canterbury v Manawatū – Rangiora Showground Oval, 2.05pm

Canterbury: Brodie McAlister

Counties Manukau v Taranaki – Navigation Homes Stadium, Pukekohe, 2.05pm

Taranaki: Josh Lord

Tasman v Otago – Trafalgar Park, Nelson, 7.05pm

Tasman: Timoci Tavatavanawai

Otago: George Bower

Sunday

Wellington v Auckland – Porirua Park, 2.05pm

Wellington: Kyle Preston; Peter Lakai; Ruben Love; Asafo Aumua

Auckland: Caleb Clarke

All Blacks return from injury to give Razor options for Boks' clash