The point of difference that could keep Rieko Ioane in the All Blacks this weekend

Much has been made of Rieko Ioane’s now infamous drop ball on the try line in the 48 hours following the opening clash of the Bledisloe Cup in Wellington.

The reaction to the missed opportunity to score a try, which would almost certainly have seen the All Blacks emerge victorious from the 16-tie, has been widespread on both social and traditional media, as well as among fans.

Some have asked for Ioane’s head, the Herald of New Zealand he called the gaffe, which was due to his signature one-handed jump that caused the spill in the act of scoring, as “unforgivable” directly after the game.

Rieko Ioane’s first test as a center for the All Blacks shows that he can go to 13

There has also been no shortage of public comment, many of whom expressed outrage on social media at brandishing the cough that occurred at halftime as a “brain blast.”

Others, however, have taken a softer stance on the matter, with All Blacks head coach Ian Foster refusing to blame Ioane for his team’s failure to clinch victory in his first test as head coach. from New Zealand.

One of Ioane’s teammates, as well as a former teammate, have also expressed their support for the 23-year-old winger, who was starting his first test at the center after having previously played all of his international rugby on the wing.

Speaking in the New Zealand rugby podJames Parsons, Ioane’s teammate on the Blues and a former All Blacks hooker, supported the 30-proof star, praising his performance in a game played in steamy conditions at Sky Stadium.

In fact, Parsons, who played twice for the All Blacks between 2014 and 2016, said he was surprised that Ioane was taken off the field before the hour mark, and believed the hit overshadowed what was a good performance in the first test of the year.

“I thought it was good. Seriously, I was surprised they replaced him. That is what I told the television. I was like, ‘Shit, is he leaving?’ ”Parsons said.

The Blues veteran rake revealed that the reason he was surprised Ioane was substituted midway through the second half was because of how much he had shown he can deliver defensively through his speed.

Renowned for his attacking ability, Ioane’s defensive side of the game hasn’t been as advertised, but Parsons said his fast pace is something the All Blacks could use ahead of the second round of the Bledisloe Cup at Eden Park in Auckland East. Weekend.

Wallabies hooker Folau Fainga’a will thank Rieko Ioane for not blushing after the All Blacks midfielder turned red in the final stages of the first half. Https://t.co/N0AxAhq3yL

– RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 11, 2020

Parsons admitted that while Ioane was exposed on defense in the run-up to Marika Koroibete’s try for the Wallabies two days ago, he blamed that on a lack of cohesion on a backline that saw Ioane team up with Damian McKenzie and Jordie Barrett.

“They went through it a little defensively on that lineout maul where Koroibete scored in the corner,” Parsons said.

“They reviewed him, but you look at his work to get back out and it actually ends up reaching his man.

“Damian McKenzie or Jordie [Barrett] I needed to push first, but they didn’t think I could get there, so they stayed outside.

“I thought McKenzie did a great job tackling and almost eliminating him, but it wasn’t just Rieko on that. I felt it was a question of connection.

“Yes, they checked it, but it came out again, and since it’s so fast, it has this ability, because it’s so fast, it can give a bad defensive reading and it saves it.

“Maybe just because they haven’t played much together, Damian didn’t really know it, and he waited a second too long and couldn’t see Rieko coming because they were backing off.

“But, I thought Rieko was great. I really do. He is another like Caleb [Clarke], which has a point of difference. You can change a game. “

Parsons added that while Anton Lienert-Brown, Ioane’s replacement in the match, and Jack Goodhue offer a reliable defensive partnership together, the value of Ioane’s physical attributes should not be ignored.

“Our defense kept us in that game yesterday [Sunday] with 39 percent of the ball, and I can see why Anton stuck with Jack and he’s a really solid defensive wall there and safe, and our defense put us in position to win the test match, but I think Rieko is good enough. to be 80 minutes out there. “

All Blacks coach Ian Foster is bitterly disappointed with the tie in the first Bledisloe Cup test, but refused to blame the result on Rieko Ioane dropping the ball over the line. #BledisloeCup #NZLvAUS https://t.co/ITwEV99kHy

– RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 12, 2020

Ioane’s former Blues teammate and current Crusaders running back Bryn Hall redoubled Parsons’ sentiments and lightly made his own mistake by scoring attempts during Super Rugby Aotearoa earlier this year.

Hall missed a golden opportunity to score when the Crusaders defeated the Highlanders in the penultimate round of the competition when wing Josh McKay chased after him and knocked the ball out of reach as he lunged toward the goal line.

“It is regrettable to try. 99 times out of 100 he’s scoring a try like that. I also know I can’t try, ”Hall joked.

“I know it’s difficult, but Rieko could take a little heat off me now.”

On a more serious note, Hall agreed with Parsons on the speed Ioane can deliver, noting the attacking threat he poses as he gains more time in jersey number 13.

“You talk about the great combinations we have had in the past with [Ma’a] Nonu and [Conrad] Smith and all those kinds of combinations, it doesn’t happen overnight, ”Hall said.

“I think he deserves another start and like you said Jip, you can’t substitute for speed. Seriously, you can’t substitute it.

“You spoke defensively, being able to save his ass a bit but with his speed, but in attack, if you can put that guy in a ball out and be able to manipulate the defense when he’s trying to get outside.” one by one, nine times out of 10 with the speed, he will put people in or go himself.

“It will be interesting, because I thought Anton came in and played well, but I think Rieko, because of his form, and I thought he was pretty good on the weekend, it’s unfortunate that that incident highlighted his performance, but I think he should be good in the future. “

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