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OPINION: All Blacks No. 6 Akira Ioane could have slapped Marcos Kremer on the cheek in Newcastle on Saturday night.
It did not. Nothing happened. It was a promising sign.
Cameron Spencer / Getty Images
Akira Ioane was one of the most prominent of the All Blacks during the 38-0 win over the Pumas in Newcastle.
When Pumas wide end Kremer, a guy who looks like he could bench press 100kg with his chin, lifted a giant fin and shoved All Blacks running back Aaron Smith in the chest, he could only wondering what was next on the agenda.
It could have gotten ugly, especially when Ioane came so fast to introduce himself.
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That, for obvious reasons, was fantastic for Smith. It could have been bad news for the All Blacks.
For much of his career, whether in Auckland or in the Blues, Ioane has enjoyed adding gunpowder to tough situations by taunting opponents with shirt grabs, shoves, and choice words.
Not this time. He looked at Kremer, who shrugged in return. Then he went back to business.
Ioane did a lot more during the All Blacks’ 38-0 win than just showcasing the maturity his game previously lacked.
Cameron Spencer / Getty Images
All Blacks captain Sam Cane of the All Blacks leaves behind a number 10 jersey in memory of Diego Maradona ahead of the Three Nations game against the Pumas in Newcastle on Saturday night.
Promoted to start on the blind side flank after Shannon Frizell failed to fire during the surprising 25-15 loss to the Cougars in Sydney a fortnight earlier, Ioane joined fellow All Blacks to cast vengeance in the Newcastle heat. .
Ioane had made his testing debut 3 weeks earlier, in the loss to the Wallabies in Brisbane, but that ended in disappointment when he was replaced in the first half after a specialist close-head prop was required because Ofa Tu’ungafasi had been expelled.
He has had to deal with frustrations, some self-inflicted, since joining the All Blacks tour of the Northern Hemisphere in 2017.
Not wanted by the World Cup team last year and reprimanded by then-coach Sir Steve Hansen just in case, Ioane admitted that he gained weight and contemplated leaving the sport.
Convincing All Blacks coach Ian Foster that he deserved a retirement was going to be tough. And its chances seemed remote during Super Rugby, before it closed in mid-March due to Covid-19.
Brendon Thorne / Getty Images
The All Blacks celebrate a Will Jordan try at Newcastle’s McDonald Jones Stadium on Saturday night.
When the Blues flew to South Africa, Ioane stayed in New Zealand; With Tom Robinson and Hoskins Sotutu doing a good job at Nos. 6 and 8, Ioane was not invited to join the touring team.
Super Rugby Aotearoa, the national competition that was so successful when New Zealand came out of lockdown, changed everything.
Robinson and Sotutu suffered injuries, but Ioane did not. He prospered. And when Foster appointed an expanded team for the Bledisloe Cup and Tri Nations events, he came back from the cold.
The final test of 2020 was essential. That was not negotiable.
The All Blacks ‘breakout work improved tremendously, there was more intent on the tackles, plenty of energy chasing kicks, and playmakers Richie Mo’unga and Beauden Barrett varied their tactical punts to undermine the Los Angeles’ strong defensive line. Cougars.
Ioane was at the center of it all. He made 8 tackles which, along with midfielder Jack Goodhue, topped the All Blacks tally and contributed 7 runs in attack.
He also kept his head under pressure: “Akira should be really proud of his game, I thought,” Foster said. “I thought it showed that he really wants to be here.”
Start. Stop. Start. That has been the story, so far, of Ioane’s All Blacks career. At 25, you have time on your side.
It would be a shame if you take it for granted.
