A reward for form and a nod to consistency has formed the basis of the selection of the All Blacks for the Test against Ireland in Chicago and that can be seen in the retention of centre Quinn Tupaea and No.8 Peter Lakai.
But just as important has been the make-up of the reserves bench as the All Blacks seek to find a finishing power which by and large has deserted them this year.
In prop Tamaiti Williams, back to the bench after the return of Ethan de Groot, loose forward Wallace Sititi and midfielder/wing Leicester Fainga’anuku, the All Blacks have three of the biggest and most dynamic ball carriers in the squad poised to make an impact at Soldier Field on Sunday morning.
Throw in powerful hooker Samisoni Taukei’aho, mobile prop Pasilio Tosi and fleet-footed outside back/first-five Damian McKenzie and the All Blacks appear to have a bench that could trouble Ireland, who have not played a Test since March, late in the game.
Several of those players, and most particularly Fainga’anuku and Sititi, will likely be highly motivated to make an impact due to the sting of non-selection in the starting line-up.
Fainga’anuku was good in the No.11 jersey against the Wallabies in Perth in what was his first Test since the World Cup after returning from France, but has had to make way for Caleb Clarke, who is back from an ankle injury.
And Sititi, World Rugby’s player of the year in 2024, has seen his place in the No.8 jersey usurped by Lakai.
Should Fainga’anuku and Sititi channel their energies in the way the selectors hope, it could be just the boost the All Blacks need as they attempt to make it three in a row against the Irish.
For Tupaea, a standout in the relatively unfamiliar position of centre against the Wallabies in Perth at the start of the month, his selection ahead of Billy Proctor is fully deserved.
It is also a timely reminder about what consistency and impact from the bench can do for one’s future, as assistant coach Jason Ryan said today.
“Sometimes you get opportunities in different ways,” Ryan said. “When you look at Quinn Tupaea and what he’s done off the bench, he’s been tremendous, really - he’s probably been our most consistent All Black off the bench. And then he got an opportunity to start against Australia and he nailed it.
“It’s a tough team to make and it should be. But we pride ourselves on rewarding guys who have performed consistently and Quinn really has. He’s tremendous around his ball-carry ability and we’re looking forward to seeing how he goes against a good Irish team.”
The same goes for Lakai, the Hurricanes loose forward who was given a chance against Australia and impressed with his power and workrate.
“He has an incredible ability to be in the right place at the right time,” Ryan said of Lakai, 22. “We really love his work off the ball. We know what he can do on the ball. He has a tremendous workrate and links well.”
'Both played great footy'
Head coach Scott Robertson said of the pair: “Both played great footy in that last Test and have earned the opportunity to go again.”
It goes without saying that there is a huge amount at stake for the All Blacks in Chicago, nine years after they lost to Ireland on the same field in a defeat which broke the Irish drought against New Zealand.
Not only is it shaping up to be the toughest Test on their Grand Slam tour, the squad and management have pressed the flesh with commercial partners and various members of the American media – mainstream and otherwise – and a defeat would be a sour note at the end of what has appeared to be a positive week.
The All Blacks will also be seeking to put the shock announcement that Jason Holland will not renew his contract at the end of the year behind them, and, finally, a defeat would see Ireland overtake them into No.2 spot on the world rankings.
For Clarke, who was still at school nine years ago when the All Blacks lost to Ireland for the first time, the task is a simple one: “We’re looking forward to re-writing history and righting a few wrongs.”
All Blacks match-day 23 (Test caps in brackets)
1. Ethan de Groot (37), 2. Codie Taylor (103), 3. Fletcher Newell (31), 4. Scott Barrett (86) (Captain), 5. Fabian Holland (9), 6. Simon Parker (5), 7. Ardie Savea (103) (Vice-Captain), 8. Peter Lakai (5), 9. Cam Roigard (14), 10. Beauden Barrett (141) , 11. Caleb Clarke (30), 12. Jordie Barrett (77) (Vice-Captain) , 13. Quinn Tupaea (21), 14. Leroy Carter (3), 15. Will Jordan (50).
Reserves: 16. Samisoni Taukei’aho (39), 17. Tamaiti Williams (23), 18. Pasilio Tosi (12), 19. Josh Lord (8), 20. Wallace Sititi (15), 21. Cortez Ratima (18), 22. Leicester Fainga’anuku (8), 23. Damian McKenzie (70)
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