Analysis: The three big selections for All Blacks against Scots

The back-up midfielder is the biggest mystery as the All Blacks attempt to build on Ireland success, writes Patrick McKendry.

Now that the All Blacks have reacquainted themselves with Leicester Fainga’anuku’s destructive ball-carrying ability, the big midfielder or wing appears to be a must have in the starting XV.

Questions remain about why it took so long for Fainga’anuku to break into the starting side after he was plucked from Tasman as an injury replacement during the Rugby Championship.

For example, if it was a lack of match fitness after his return from France, why wasn’t he allowed to build on that in the NPC, rather than be limited to merely training with the All Blacks?

Regardless, he showed in Perth (in the No.11 jersey), and off the bench early in Chicago that there are few better at putting the All Blacks on the front foot.

Once the All Blacks recovered from the departure of second-five Jordie Barrett at Soldier Field, such was the cohesion they found in the final quarter – helped by their superior fitness and a dominant pack – that the selectors are unlikely to tinker with the Quinn Tupaea/Fainga’anuku midfield at Murrayfield.

Assistant coach Jason Holland this week did little to dispel that notion when saying: “You wouldn’t want to be on the other side of that midfield would you? You’ve got two threats coming at you with carrying ability and they both have offloading ability. We saw that at the weekend.

“The importance of having two or three guys who are really dominant in the carry is becoming really important in the international game these days.

“Leicester… is in a great spot.

“Talk about triple threats [run, pass or kick], he’s probably more than a triple threat at the moment.”

Holland also mentioned the excellence of Caleb Clarke on the left wing, which suggests the Blues man will wear the No.11 jersey again.

Josh Lord will almost certainly start alongside Fabian Holland at Murrayfield in the absence of skipper Scott Barrett.

A rough couple of lineouts halted the All Blacks’ momentum at Soldier Field but not all of that should be pinned on Lord, and the Chiefs second-rower did enough to disrupt the Ireland set piece for that area of the game to be shared.

The 2.03m Lord, 24, made his Test debut back in 2001 but a series of ankle and knee injuries have denied him momentum at Super Rugby and international level.

Given an opportunity through the injuries to Tupou Vaa’i and Patrick Tuipulotu, which prevented them from touring, Lord is set for an extended run, providing his fitness holds. Such is his resilience at overcoming adversity, and workrate against Ireland, he deserves it.

Uncapped Blues lock Josh Beehre has been called into the squad from the All Blacks XV as training cover but is not likely to feature ahead of Sam Darry. More on the fellow Blues man and the make-up of the bench below.

Darry, 25, is the same height as Lord and made his All Blacks debut last year but a shoulder injury wrecked his Super Rugby season this year.

Such was his form for Canterbury in the NPC, however, an All Blacks call-up appeared a formality. He will almost certainly be named as a back-up against Scotland and add to his six Tests.

With front-rowers Tamaiti Williams, Samisoni Taukei’aho and Pasilio Tosi performing so well in impact roles in Chicago, it would surprise if there was a change there for Murrayfield.

Wallace Sititi, explosive off the bench at Soldier Field, appears set to reprise that role, with back-up halfback Cortez Ratima similarly placed.

If Damian McKenzie is named as first-five/fullback cover, as expected, probably the biggest selection question of all is: Who will be named as back-up midfielder – Anton Lienert-Brown, Rieko Ioane or Billy Proctor?

Lienert-Brown was superb off the bench during the last World Cup but appears to have slipped behind Ioane in the eyes of the selectors.

Ioane was used off the bench in Perth, where he replaced the excellent Tupaea at centre, and has the added advantage of being able to play on the wing.

Going on past selections, Ioane may get the nod but Lienert-Brown, who has started only one Test this year, appears the most qualified to add impact at either second-five or centre and that should give him an edge in Jordie Barrett’s absence.

Proctor is probably the least likely of the three to be involved.

The All Blacks match-day squad will be named at 9pm today.

Murrayfield, Sunday 4.10am NZT

1. Ethan de Groot, 2. Codie Taylor, 3. Fletcher Newell, 4. Josh Lord, 5. Fabian Holland, 6. Simon Parker, 7. Ardie Savea (c), 8. Peter Lakai, 9. Cam Roigard, 10. Beauden Barrett, 11. Caleb Clarke, 12. Quinn Tupaea, 13. Leicester Fainga'anuku, 14. Leroy Carter, 15. Will Jordan. Reserves: 16. Samisoni Taukei'aho, 17, Tamaiti Williams, 18. Pasilio Tosi, 19. Sam Darry, 20. Wallace Sititi, 21. Cortez Ratima, 22. Anton Lienert-Brown, 23. Damian McKenzie.