Then there were two left in Super Rugby Pacific, with the Chiefs advancing and setting up a trip to Eden Park to face the Blues in the final.
Indeed, there is only one game remaining until the international season begins with the All Blacks facing England in a two-Test series before hosting Fiji in the final game before the Rugby Championship.
In this week’s Razor Watch, we unpack the semi-final performers, look at an injury pressure point and try to wade through all the back-row depth looking at who might start for the All Blacks.
Semi-finals performers
The Blues well and truly arrived in the semi-final, putting the Brumbies away comfortably and several players stood up nicely. Stephen Perofeta had a great game that was much needed after what has been a slightly underwhelming season. His time in the All Blacks camp helps his case as does a good performance in the knockouts. He must back it up again this weekend.
In the pack, Hoskins Sotutu tied Malcolm Marx’s try-scoring record for most by a forward in a single season. His form speaks for itself and he may be strong-arming his way into a starting role. With the second-row looking thin in New Zealand and some legends tipping Sam Darry to be a surprise bolter, the young star produced a fine performance and if he backs it up again in the final there is a chance to get the nod for Scott Robertson.
The second semi-final saw the expert game management of Damian McKenzie which only furthered his push to the All Blacks 10 shirt. His half-back partner Cortez Ratima was at his instinctual best as was the free-running Emoni Narawa who was a serious handful for defenders. However, the best of them all was the powerhouse of Wallace Sititi at number eight who was absolutely rampant. Sititi coming up against Sotutu in the final is a mouth-watering battle.
Despite losing, some of the Hurricanes were good with Ruben Love’s running on show again, while Billy Proctor in the centres showed that there are other options at 13 besides Rieko Ioane for the All Blacks. The midfielder did take a nasty shot to his ribs but no injury update has been issued. Rounding out the semi-final performers is Peter Lakai, who is like a leaner regeneration of Ardie Savea. The balance in his skill-set and maturity in his approach makes him an interesting candidate in the selection push.
Hooker injury
The nature of the game means there are always injuries and unfortunately for powerhouse hooker Samisoni Taukei’aho, he was a victim this week as he limped off the field with a calf/Achilles issue. It is unclear at this stage how bad the injury is, but it could be a big blow for the Chief, who was set to have a straight shootout with Codie Taylor for the All Blacks’ starting role.
Assuming Taukei’aho is ruled out of the mid-year Tests, the next in line would surely be Hurricane Asafo Aumua, who offers a similar game to the Chief in terms of the power offered compared to the dynamic game Taylor has. A third hooker would then be required, with Blues star Ricky Riccitelli a great option and one more of Taylor’s mould.
There are options for Robertson, but losing a 30-cap Test hooker who has been outstanding is always a big loss.
Back-row depth
One area where the All Blacks are certainly not thin is back-row. In fact, there is so much depth that Robertson and forwards coach Jason Ryan can pick and choose between the players according to what they are looking to achieve.
Number eight
There are plenty of combinations they could go with all of which HAVE to include Ardie Savea who may well captain the side. Savea has spent time at number eight for the All Blacks to accommodate Sam Cane in the Ian Foster era but that could change because of the form of Sotutu, who is just about forcing his way into the starting XV.
Robertson may be tempted to move Savea back to openside to open up space for Sotutu who surely is the leading number eight. The Blue is not the only horse in the race as Brayden Iose and Sititi have had great seasons while Luke Jacobson is a veteran in black and doesn’t mind wearing eight. Still, one would think it has to be Savea or Sotutu to start against England at least with maybe something more experimental against Fiji.
‘As good a chance as anybody’ – Coach tips All Blacks hopeful for first call-up after ‘immense’ semi-final performance
Openside flank
Openside is also littered with depth and if Savea isn’t used at number eight he is dead on first choice followed by Dalton Papali’i, who has been in the All Blacks set-up for some time. It would purely depend on what the side is looking to target, but Jacobson is a tackle machine in the seven jumper, while we know Robertson likes Ethan Blackadder from their time together at the Crusaders. Cane is still technically in the mix before his retirement at the end of the year but may not be called on immediately. Then, of course, there is the outside look of the rising star Lakai who could be someone like possibly Sititi or Iose and get a run in the Fiji Tests. It is too soon to say the Hurricane can push to be a starter, but his potential is huge, and he should be in that set-up sooner rather than later. Regardless, it is Savea and Papali’i leading the charge in this position.
Blindside flank
Samipeni Finau is easily the leading blindside and offers the physicality the All Blacks will be looking for from him, although he will need to ensure his tackle accuracy is on point, with too many of his hits this season falling on the dangerous side. The position is thinner than Robertson would like, but he knows Cullen Grace well from Crusaders days, and the back-row could be in the mix for the All Blacks. Scott Barrett has been used here fairly successfully in the past, but with lock being a bit of a pressure point in the squad, one would think his expertise is more valuable there.
Possible back-row combinations
Full strength
8 Hoskins Sotutu, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Samipeni Finau
OR
8 Ardie Savea, 7 Dalton Papali’i, 6 Samipeni Finau
Experimental
8 Brayden Iose, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Cullen Grace
OR
8 Ardie Savea, 7 Peter Lakai, 6 Samipeni Finau
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