All Blacks: Coach Ian Foster must reassure the youth as rebuilding begins after RWC

OPINIONAs Ian Foster prepares to reboot the All Blacks by naming a 35-man team, the question is whether he can afford to overlook Caleb Clarke, Hoskins Sotutu and Will Jordan.

All Blacks coach Foster will finally have a chance to name his 2020 first team on Sunday when he pulls the covers off to reveal the group of men he believes can erase the bitter memories of World Cup failure. from last year.

In addition to former captain and number 8 of 127 events, Kieran Read, who is retiring from international rugby, Foster also has to fill the gaps left by seasoned running backs Sonny Bill Williams, Ben Smith and Ryan Crotty.

Between them they had 190 test caps. Active in the field, they injected professionalism and leadership. Tighthead mainstay Owen Franks, now in England, was controversially abandoned for the World Cup trip, but not having a man boasting more than 100 tryout appearances adds to the loss of talent.

But the most significant gap is created by 81-proof padlock Brodie Retallick, who remains signed by the Japanese club Kobe until the middle of next year; the All Blacks are marked as a forbidden zone.

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Foster has already listed wide wing Sam Cane as his captain. With the foundation stone in place, you must form a team around it.

Now the clock is ticking, and for what? It is a waiting game due to Covid-19. Foster, however, cannot hesitate.

Selecting your squad before the Bledisloe Cup and Rugby Championship tryouts, should they go ahead, allows you to build depth and spread your rugby gospel as you go about your work.

NEWLY ARRIVED TO EVERYTHING

This is the time for Foster to attack. Inserting new blood into your program is a must.

Although he has a contract with NZ Rugby only until the end of 2021, he wants to be in charge at the 2023 World Cup in France. And you don’t want to be conservative – giving promising players a taste of their best is key.

Blues wing Clarke and Crusaders winger / winger Will Jordan deserve a call-up. They are both exciting ball runners, even if they have their rough edges.

Number 8 Hoskins Sotutu deserves an invite, given his impact for the Blues before being cut off by injury at Super Rugby Aotearoa.

DEPTH OF THE BUILDING IN LOCK

Without Retallick’s great figure casting a shadow over opponents, the All Blacks front pack will not be the same.

At his best, Retallick is unmatched. Foster doesn’t need to be reminded how lucky he is to have Sam Whitelock, but there is only one Retallick. Patrick Tuipulotu will start alongside Whitelock.

Then the light of day. Imagine how cool it would be to call someone like Jackson Hemopo right now. Instead, he’s signed to play in Japan.

The foot injury that Crusaders captain Scott Barrett suffered before SRA means he won’t be available until early November, further narrowing the talent pool.

While the selectors know New Zealand is replete with hard-working second rowers, there is a dearth of big athletic locks with soft hands that can hit the ball off a first or second receiver.

Foster may be tempted to name at least three more locks. Mitchell Dunshea and Tupou Vaa’i were named to the South and North teams, respectively.

Cullen Grace, Quinten Strange, Pari Pari Parkinson, and Vaea Fifita can also play in the second row, although the latter is more familiar with No. 6 in testing.

FIRST FIVE EIGHTH

The decision to name Beauden Barrett at No. 10 for the North was significant.

Shifted to fullback for the World Cup, Barrett would certainly seize the opportunity to start in the top five in testing, but if the decision was based on form, there is no way he can beat Richie Mo’unga.

Foster is expected to name another top five, and Josh Ioane surely fills the space. Outside of these three All Blacks, there is a drop in experience and standards, although Otere Black was very good for the Blues.

RETURN CASE

Blues teammates Karl Tu’inukuafe and Akira Ioane probably weren’t overly concerned when 2019 disappeared.

Lazy prop Tu’inukuafe and lazy forward Ioane were not invited to the World Cup, with the latter also receiving a verbal slap on the hand from former All Blacks coach Steve Hansen.

While getting a horse into the water was easy, Hansen said, making it drink could be problematic. Hansen didn’t miss that shot.

With Luke Jacobson instructed to use the 10 Miter Cup to register some K’s on his odometer, and Read retired from the test set, there is room to fill in the loose advance department. Ioane could come back.

Tu’inukuafe could have a chance to redeem himself, given that Atu Moli will be out the year following hip surgery.

OPEN AND CLOSE THE HOUSING

There’s a factory somewhere in New Zealand that spits out quality media and has a big number 9 in the mailbox: Aaron Smith, TJ Perenara, Brad Weber, Finlay Christie, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Mitchell Drummond; the list goes on.

And in midfield, Williams and Crotty are gone, but Foster cannot complain that his arsenal of midfielders has been decimated.

Second fifth Ngani Laumape will be out with a broken arm until early November, but even if he was fit, he would have a hard time reaching the first lineup.

World Cup holders Anton Lienert-Brown and Jack Goodhue may not have been in dynamite form during the SRA, but past efforts in the black should count.

Rieko Ioane’s shift to the center adds to the riches. Peter Umaga-Jensen is a rookie on the rise.

Possible squad of the All Blacks:

Whores: Dane Coles, Codie Taylor, Asafo Aumua. accessories: Nepo Laulala, Joe Moody, Ofa Tuungafasi, Angus Ta’avao, Karl Tu’inukuafe. Locks: Sam Whitelock, Patrick Tuipulotu, Mitchell Dunshea, Cullen Grace, Tupou Vaa’i. Loose forwards: Sam Cane, Ardie Savea, Shannon Frizell, Hoskins Sotutu, Akira Ioane. Halfbacks: Aaron Smith, TJ Perenara, Brad Weber. First five eighths: Beauden Barrett, Richie Mo’unga, Josh Ioane. Midfielders: Jack Goodhue, Anton Lienert-Brown, Rieko Ioane, Braydon Ennor, Peter Umaga-Jensen. Outer backs: Sevu Reece, George Bridge, Caleb Clarke, Jordie Barrett, Will Jordan, Damian McKenzie.