All Blacks team winners and losers as 'uncompromising' Sam Cane ...
Scott Robertson has named his matchday 23 for the final All Blacks match in New Zealand of the year as they front up against the Wallabies.
The All Blacks boss has made some enforced changes to his squad while he has also rewarded stalwarts of the black jersey with TJ Perenara featuring in his final home Test while Sam Cane celebrates a special milestone.
Australia gave the All Blacks a mighty scare with a marvellous comeback in Bledisloe I but ultimately fell short and Robertson will hope his charges don’t fall into the same trap as they look to end their Wellington hoodoo, as they are currently on a five-match winless streak at the ground.
Ahead of the All Blacks’ final game in New Zealand for 2024, we pick out the winners and losers from Robertson’s selections.
Winners
Sam CaneEarning 100 Test caps for any nation is a stunning achievement and a true testament to a player’s work ethic, professionalism and quality, but doing so for the All Blacks is even more impressive.
On Saturday, Cane will join the illustrious list of legends who have donned the iconic black jersey 100 times in a Test match and he is thoroughly deserving of the honour.
He follows in the footsteps of Richie McCaw, Keven Mealamu, Beauden Barrett, Kieran Read, Aaron Smith, Tony Woodcock, Dan Carter, Brodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Owen Franks, Ma’a Nonu and Mils Muliana, becoming the 13th All Blacks centurion. Although he has had his critics in the past, he has served his country with real distinction.
Filling the gigantic void McCaw left in the All Blacks number seven jumper was never going to be an easy task but Cane took it in his stride and for much of his career, has thrived. Even after a horrific neck injury that threatened not only his career but his ability to walk, Cane fought back and returned to the highest level. An uncompromising competitor on the pitch and a leader of men, Cane hangs up his Test boots this year but is fittingly given the opportunity – which he has more than earned – to celebrate a significant milestone and etch his name into New Zealand Rugby’s history books.
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TJ PerenaraJoining Cane in making his final home appearance in the black jersey is Wellington man Perenara, who bows out earning his 87th Test cap for his country.
Like Cane, Perenara has shown immense fortitude to work his way back from a career-threatening injury to not only become Super Rugby’s all-time leading try scorer but also the Hurricanes’ most capped player.
For the veteran scrum-half, there could hardly be a more fitting end to his All Blacks career in New Zealand as he starts alongside his long-time half-back partner Beauden Barrett, who he ripped through Super Rugby and international defences with for several years. He also bows out at his home ground and in front of fans who have adored the mouthy half-back since his ‘Canes debut in 2010.
Beauden BarrettIt’s been somewhat of a rollercoaster year for Beauden Barrett in the All Blacks jumper as he shone in the England series off the bench before being promoted to the starting XV for the opening matches of the Rugby Championship.
He was dropped to the bench in an attempt to get the All Blacks firing in the latter stages of the Test against the Springboks in Cape Town but ultimately failed to do so. Last week, he was primed to return to the starting XV at full-back before illness struck.
However, on Saturday he gets a well-deserved opportunity in his more natural position at fly-half for the first time in 2024. Barrett remains a world-class playmaker and general and will look to stamp his mark on the jersey before the November internationals roll around.
It will be key for the veteran to not only get the backline firing but also be accurate off the tee – something that he has struggled with in the past – particularly with brother Jordie missing the clash through injury.
Barrett does have a knack for saving his best performances for the Wallabies, highlighted by the fact that he currently holds the records for the most tries scored in a match against Australia (four in 2018), most conversions (seven in 2017) and most points scored (30 in 2018).
Are we about to witness another Beauden Barrett masterclass?
Wallace SititiFrom the vastly experienced to the exciting youth, Wallace Sititi has been a revelation for the All Blacks in the Rugby Championship after his blockbuster outing against the Springboks in Cape Town. He backed up that performance with another starring role in the victory over the Wallabies last time out where he was arguably the best forward and possibly the standout player on the park.
The All Blacks have struggled to find a long-term star to don the number six jumper since Jerome Kaino’s retirement and while players like Vaea Fifita, Liam Squire and Shannon Frizell have made a good fist of it previously, none have stuck around long enough for New Zealand.
Sititi is seen as more of a number eight but right now, his quality at such a young age on the side of the scrum could see him nail down the position long-term, particularly with Ardie Savea likely to remain the go-to option at the back of the scrum. It’s worth noting that Ethan Blackadder was not listed as an injury concern for the All Blacks, meaning the rookie has seemingly leapfrogged the in-form Crusader in the pecking order and rightly so. This looks to be the start of a special career in the black jersey.
Anton Lienert-BrownAnton Lienert-Brown has been rather consistent for the All Blacks in 2024 but has rarely been given a starting role in the side with Jordie Barrett and Rieko Ioane favoured.
However, an injury to the former has opened the selection door for the experienced midfielder to stake a claim for more starting minutes going forward. He will face the imposing challenge of Hunter Paisami in the opposition 12 shirt and a strong outing against the Wallabies could do his chances of a start in November the world of good.
David HaviliIt’s been a difficult year for David Havili on the injury front but having worked with the versatile back for several years at the Crusaders, Robertson has seen the value he can add to a squad.
Havili’s versatility is a huge asset with his ability to cover full-back, centre and at a stretch, fly-half. The 29-year-old has been in the All Blacks squad throughout the Rugby Championship and will finally earn his first cap of the year off the bench on Saturday.
Havili has shown his quality in the black jersey previously but injuries have hampered his availability. He will hope to finally put those woes behind him and book his spot on the plane for the Northern Tour.
Patrick TuipulotuAfter a superb Super Rugby Pacific season, Patrick Tuipulotu looked on track to solidify a regular starting role with the All Blacks following the retirements of Whitelock and Retallick. However, it was not to be as injury struck after he featured in both the Tests against England, missing the next six games for the All Blacks.
Tupou Vaa’i has thrived in the starting role since but Tuipulotu’s return on Saturday provides the 45 Test cap lock the chance to force his way back up the pecking order.
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Losers
Damian McKenzieAfter seven straight starts in the number 10 jumper, Damian McKenzie drops down to the bench for the All Blacks with Beauden Barrett taking his place in the starting XV.
It’s been a real mixed bag for the Chiefs star in 2024, often thriving in the role but having far too many soft moments, particularly last time out where he bombed three try-scoring opportunities, notably one where he tried the spectacular only for the ball to find grass rather than hand.
McKenzie’s quality and brilliance on attack is undeniable but his seven caps this year show that he still has much work to do in order to become a world-class number 10. He returns to a rather familiar role on the bench where he has shone previously for the All Blacks and considering the team’s lack of points in the final quarter of Tests, he may just be the injection of energy and pace they require.
Ethan BlackadderAt the start of the Rugby Championship, Blackadder was arguably one of the best All Blacks on the park, shining in the defeat to Argentina and the victory over the Pumas a week later. At Ellis Park, he produced a blinder but that came at a cost as injury reared its ugly head once again to stop the rampaging Crusader in his tracks.
In his place, Sititi has taken his opportunity with both hands and some meaning that although Blackadder is fit for this week’s game, he misses out on the matchday 23 altogether. Robertson clearly rates the all-action back-rower incredibly highly and will surely include him in the touring squad to the Northern Hemisphere. Hopefully, he is able to stay fit for it.
Jordie BarrettAn untimely injury has ended Jordie Barrett’s Rugby Championship campaign and depending on his rehabilitation progress, his chances of featuring for the All Blacks during the end-of-year tour.
The brilliant All Blacks back was really starting to click with Ioane as the combination has had its struggles this year and his injury is a setback not only from an individual perspective but a team one too as Robertson would have loved for the pair to get another crack.
Sam DarryDropping from the matchday 23 entirely to accommodate the return of Tuipulotu, Sam Darry is rather unfortunate in the sense that he has performed rather well for the All Blacks and arguably has not fittingly been rewarded for his efforts.
At 24 years of age, he still has plenty of time to cement his place in the squad but he would have loved another crack in the matchday 23 for the final home game of the year.
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Ruben LoveCalled into the squad as injury cover, Ruben Love is still biding his time as he awaits his All Blacks debut. However, he may have to wait even longer with the team release accompanied by bad news for the Hurricanes star who has sustained a quadriceps injury.
A really exciting and talented youngster, Love is bound to pull on the black jersey eventually.
Overlooked duoFinally, Billy Proctor and Noah Hotham will both end the Rugby Championship with the same number of Test caps that they started the tournament with, one apiece.
Unfortunately for Proctor, Jordie Barrett’s injury will have more than likely ended any chance of him featuring against the Wallabies with Robertson less inclined to make a double switch in the midfield. The Hurricanes star impressed against Fiji in July but clearly not enough to warrant a second cap particularly when the All Blacks were stunned by Argentina in their competition opener.
The same is true for Hotham as Cortez Ratima has been sensational for the All Blacks whenever he was given the opportunity while Perenara has been solid and deserves his final hurray on home soil.
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