All Black fan Tim Cronin from rugbyshirts.net fears the famous assembly line, while mostly strong, may be a little light in some areas.
The year directly following a World Cup is traditionally rife with retirements and players moving off-shore to chase lucrative contracts, but thanks to some forward thinking by the NZRFU the All Blacks, in general, are looking in great shape. But while there are some areas where the depth is better than it has ever been, there are other areas which should be of concern as the coaching and management staff look to the future.
In the front-row the All Blacks have unprecedented depth. In Owen Franks and Tony Woodcock they have two of the world’s very best props, while Ben Franks and scrummaging machine Wyatt Crockett are also more than capable of holding their own at international level. Factor in youngsters like Charlie Faumuina and Ben Tameifuna and the propping stocks look particularly healthy.
While they could do with developing some more young talent to accompany Hika Elliot at hooker they are blessed by the fact that their hooking main-stays, namely Keven Mealamu and Andrew Hore, have stuck by New Zealand rugby, as his the injury-prone Corey Flynn, so there is plenty of experience floating around at number 2.
In the second row there is a great mix of youth and experience. Sam Whitelock has firmly cemented his standing as the countries’ number one second rower, and both Brodie Retallick and Luke Romano showed they are more than capable of mixing it with the big boys when they made their test debuts this year. With Ali Williams still in the mix to help with the transition, and other hard-grafting locks like the Chiefs’ Craig Clarke waiting in the wings, the tight-five looks to be in good hands.
Loose-forward, on the other hand, doesn’t look so rosy. In a position where the All Blacks have traditionally be particularly strong, they really only have two world-class loose-forwards, in Richie McCaw and Keiran Read. With Jerome Kaino plying his trade off-shore there is a definite gap at blindside flanker, not to mention on the bench, should McCaw or Read suffer a long-term injury.
And let’s be honest, Richie McCaw’s not getting any younger, nor are the physical demands he places on his body week-in, week-out getting any less. No doubt the powers-that-be have recognised this, and I am sure the search for a genuine openside is well underway.
For a couple of years it looked like Canterbury’s Matt Todd (lead photo) would be the successor to McCaw’s throne. In fact, had McCaw succumbed to the injuries that threatened his world cup campaign we could well have seen Todd in the black jersey for that all important tournament.
But he seems to have dropped off the radar this year, with Waikato’s Sam Cane being introduced in to the squad, and performed well against Ireland. But Cane failed to secure a starting spot in the Chiefs side which went on to win the Super XV, and the young tearaway has a long way to go, both with his game-play, but more importantly with his physical development, before he can be considered for a full-time role at seven in the New Zealand side.
And number 6 remains an issue. While Liam Messam has come-of-age this season the fact that it took him so long to take ownership of the black jersey suggests that this current form may be a rare aberration, rather than a genuine realisation of his true ability. But both Victor Vito and Adam Thompson failed to make the jersey their own when they had their opportunities, and were it not for the fact that McCaw and Read are so very good I am sure we would be bemoaning our lack of quality blindside flankers.
The halves are just the opposite, with things looking just as sound there as they are in the tight-forwards. Aaron Smith has had a stunning year, and is now unquestionably the number one halfback in the country. Should his form continue, and his game develop as it has been, he has a long and illustrious international career ahead of him.
And behind him he has the vastly experienced Peri Weepu, not to mention Andy Ellis, both of whom have proved they have plenty to offer at the top level. Gazing towards the future, both TJ Peranara and Tawera Kerr-Barlow had break-out seasons this year, and should both wear the black jersey at some stage in the next few years.
Dan Carter is the greatest number ten New Zealand has ever had, and, dare I say it, probably the best the world has ever seen, and there really hasn’t been anyone nipping at his heels and challenging for his jersey – until now. Such was Aaron Cruden’s form during the Chiefs’ history-making Super XV campaign that he really is a genuine option at first-five now.
For years I’m sure the popular perception has been that Carter would be an automatic starter at ten for the All Blacks until the day he retired, or succumbed to injury. But if Cruden’s form continues to be so compelling, then Carter will have to work hard to stave off the challenge of the diminutive five-eighth.
Adding further depth is the Hurricane’s Beauden Barrett, who has that dependable style of play that any side would cherish, and the desperately unlucky Colin Slade, who continues to be ravaged by serious injuries.
Midfield is the other position of real concern in the immediate future. In Ma’a Nonu and Conrad Smith there is a top-quality midfield, perhaps the best in the world, although I daresay the South African’s might have something to say about that. But outside those two, and with Sonny Bill Williams traipsing around the globe chasing his next pay day, there really are very few options. Of the experienced campaigners, the Highlanders Tamati Ellison had a great season, but is a solid ‘fill-in’ at best, while both Isea Toeava and Rene Ranger have failed to demonstrate any sort of consistency at the top level.
Ryan Crotty’s name was bandied about before SBW announced his availability for the opening rounds of the Rugby Championship, but like Ellison he is solid without being spectacular. Robbie Freuan has X-factor, but his defensive fallibilities, and his ongoing battle with his fitness, due to a serious heart condition, mean he is unlikely to be given the responsibility of an All Black role any time soon.
If Richard Kahui could stay fit he would be a genuine option at centre, but he really is an unknown quantity – he obviously has talent in abundance, but he plays so rarely that we simply don’t know whether he can perform week-in, week-out at the top level or not.
While it’s doom and gloom in the midfield, particularly if Nonu or Smith were to be injured, the outside backs are in fine shape. Israel Dagg remains the first choice at fullback, while Corey Jane and Hosea Gear got the nod for the opening games of the Championship. Ben Smith, a versatile player who can cover all three back positions, was preferred on the bench, which left the likes of Zac Guildford and Julian Savea right out of it. Then there’s the Hurricanes’ Andre Taylor, who was on scintillating form during the Super XV, and some breath-taking talent starting to move through the Auckland system. And all these players are young, with long futures in the New Zealand system ahead of them.
All in all, there is more depth in New Zealand rugby than there ever has been, and the NZRFU seems to be able to retain more of them than they have in the past 15 years. As long as some depth can be nurtured in the loose and the midfield, New Zealand’s reign as the best team in the world could be a long one.
Tim Cronin is a Rugby fan and full time writer based in the rubble of the Canterbury Crusaders’ home town, Christchurch. Tim is a part of the Pukeko Sports team, where his role is watching, writing, and complaining about all things rugby.
