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Following Paul Wassell’s article on England’s unprecedented (that’s how you spell it, Donald) squad depth, we take a look at the only team in the way of Eddie Jones’ marauding men: the All Blacks.
How does their player depth measure up heading into 2017?
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Loosehead Props
1. Joe Moody
2. Wyatt Crockett
3. Ofa Tu’ungafasi
Bubbling under: Daniel Lienert-Brown, Reg Goodes, Atu Moli, Brendon Edmonds
Rating: Healthy stocks
There’s an excellent mix of real experience in Crockett and young developing talent in this engine room position. Daniel Lienert-Brown is the older brother of Anton, if you were wondering.
Watch out for 127kg Atu Moli in this year’s Chiefs team in the Super 18, earmarked for big things after captaining the All Black junior side to World Cup success.
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Hookers
1. Dane Coles
2. Cody Taylor
3. Nathan Harris
Bubbling under: Ash Dixon, James Parsons, Motu Matu’u, Ricky Riccitelli
Rating: The Ferrari and the Volvos
The distance between Dane Coles and the rest is cavernous, but then again that would also go for most other first choice international hookers and Coles.
A potential worry for Hansen if Coles was injured.
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Tighthead Props:
1. Owen Franks
2. Charlie Faumuina
3. Kane Hames
Bubbling under: Nepo Laulala, Pauliasi Manu, Ben May
Rating: Healthy stocks
Franks is the cornerstone of the All Black scrum and Faumuina has performed his bench role with aplomb.
Hames and Laulala are two to watch with their explosive running games and both already capped for the All Blacks.
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Second Rows:
1. Brodie Retallick
2. Scott Barrett
3. Luke Romano
1. Sam Whitelock
2. Patrick Tuipulotu
3. Michael Fatialofa
Bubbling under: Vaea Fifita, Taleni Seu, Dominic Bird, Joe Wheeler
Rating: The Ferraris and the Volvos
Again, the gap in class and experience between Retallick and Whitelock and the understudies is huge, and significant, as both were absent in the only All Blacks loss of 2016 against Ireland.
Fatialofa and Fifita had huge seasons in the championship-winning Hurricanes team and we can expect both to push for places in the end-of-year northern tour.
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Blindside flankers:
1. Jerome Kaino
2. Liam Squire
3. Steven Luatua
Bubbling under: Blade Thomsen, Jordan Taufua, Vaea Fifita, Akira Ioane
Rating: Average stocks
Some strong understudies here behind warhorse Kaino, and Hansen will need to blood more of them as Kaino will undoubtedly need a sabbatical if he is to go for his third World Cup in Japan in 2019.
Squire has established himself as a clear second but the others tell a tale of talent not yet fulfilled.
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Openside flankers:
1. Sam Cane
2. Ardie Savea
3. Matt Todd
Bubbling under: Kara Pryor, Tom Sanders, Mitchell Karpik, Shane Christie
Rating: Healthy stocks
No shortage of depth and talent in the most venerated position in New Zealand rugby.
Watch out for Cane, Sanders and Karpik to star for the Chiefs in the Super 18.
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Number 8:
1. Kieran Read
2. Liam Squire
3. Elliot Dixon
Bubbling under: Steven Luatua, Akira Ioane, Luke Whitelock.
Rating: Worrying
Read is by far the most experienced No. 8 and behind Squire, who prefers blindside, there is a dearth of test experience.
Hansen needs to take on a player as a long-term project. That player could be the outrageously talented but slightly inconsistent Akira Ioane.
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Halfback:
1. Aaron Smith
2. TJ Perenara
3. Tawera Kerr-Barlow
Bubbling under: Augustine Pulu, Brad Weber, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Jameson Gibson-Park, Mitchell Drummond
Rating: Super stocks
Excellent spread of athletic, skilful and pacy halfbacks. Smith finished behind TJ Perenara but expect him to regain his top spot in 2017. Some real depth developing below the top three at provincial level.
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First five eight/ Flyhalf:
1. Beauden Barrett
2. Aaron Cruden
3. Richie Mo’unga
Bubbling Under: Lima Sopoaga, Damian McKenzie, Ihaia West, Otere Black.
Rating: Super stocks
High class coverage in this position, led by World Rugby Player of the Year Barrett. Some exciting young talent bubbling under in Mo’unga and McKenzie, who starred in the Super 18 last year with McKenzie gaining All Black caps and Mo’unga being selected for the Barbarians.
Mo’unga could be the big mover this year, especially if Cruden decides to go to Europe.
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Second five eight/inside centre:
1. Anton Lienert-Brown
2. Sonny Bill Williams
3. George Moala
Bubbling Under: Jordie Barrett, Richard Buckman, Vince Aso, David Havili
Rating: Healthy stocks
A potentially exciting area of development for the All Blacks, as high class challengers SBW and Richard Buckman will return from injury to compete for black jerseys in 2017.
Anton Lienert Brown deserves his status as incumbent, but the big match plays of SBW may mean he moves out a place to outside centre.
Look out for 19-year-old Jordie Barrett, who will team up with brother Beauden at the Hurricanes in the Super 18 this year.
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Outside Centre:
1. Ryan Crotty
2. Malakai Fekitoa
3. Rieko Ioane
Bubbling under: Seta Tamanivalu, Charlie Ngatai, Jack Goodhue, George Moala, Matt Proctor
Rating: Healthy stocks
Some strong, consistent talent developing well in this position. Midfield will be a closely contested area and there are any number of dangerous combinations Hansen could select. Jack Goodhue is a real prospect to watch out for at the Crusaders and all fingers are crossed that the talented Charlie Ngatai can return safely from long-term concussion issues.
Young wunderkind Rieko Ioane is the one player who could dominate the position if he gets opportunities to gain a foothold this year.
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Wings:
1. Julian Savea
2. Israel Dagg
3. Rieko Ioane
1. Israel Dagg
2. Nehe Milner-Skudder
3. Waisake Naholo
Bubbling under: James Lowe, Tevita Li, George Moala, Patrick Osborne
Rating: Healthy stocks
Some real weapons here and the return of the freakish skills and footwork of Nehe Milner-Skudder will make sure the competition for wing positions will be fierce.
With Dagg’s versatility, the pressure for places could move to Julian Savea’s wing. James Lowe has been an excellent Super 18 player, who deserves a chance to impress at a higher level.
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Fullback:
1. Ben Smith
2. Israel Dagg
3. Damian McKenzie
Bubbling under: Melani Nanai, Lolagi Visinia, Jordie Barrett
Rating: Super stocks (pending two re-signed contracts)
Steve Hansen could potentially lose his two best fullbacks to cash-laden European clubs and will be desperate to use the increased All Black-retaining budget to secure Smith and Dagg.
The understudies are highly talented but very inexperienced for such an integral backline position.
Kaal Kaczmarek, Pundit Arena
