The primary unknowns for the All Blacks ahead of the Rugby Championship.
With a decisive series triumph over England and a convincing win over Fiji in America, the Scott Robertson era is off to a great start.
With two games against Argentina at home to start the Rugby Championship, the All Blacks are off to a strong start as well. The All Blacks are anticipated to win both games prior to the important journey to South Africa, despite Argentina having predicted two huge upsets against New Zealand in recent years.
Before the All Blacks compete in the Rugby Championship in 2024, these are the main unanswered questions. Concerns about halfbacks persist. Halfback is still a difficult position to play because of injuries. During the England series, the All Blacks were compelled to call up Noah Hotham, their fifth string No 9. Hotham had to play significant minutes against Fiji as rookie Cortez Ratima was substituted off in the 35th minute of the first test. With his strong running style that threatened in and around the ruck, the Crusaders halfback provided some energy.
After missing the concussion procedures, Ratima will undoubtedly recover, but it’s safe to say that the All Blacks cannot afford to lose any more halfbacks.
Although Ratima and Hotham have shown promise, the All Blacks’ efforts to establish an offense capable of competing with France and South Africa will not be helped by volatility at the position in the medium run. They require a starter who can establish a rhythm with Damian McKenzie and string together a few victories. Will Jordan is a difficult choice for a fullback. Many anticipate that Will Jordan, who played under Robertson at the Crusaders, will be able to fit into the All Blacks at fullback after recovering fully from shoulder surgery by the time the Rugby Championship kicks off. It’s not so simple for the prolific try scorer, who has 31 in 30 Tests.
In the first place, Jordan hasn’t played rugby this year. He missed the entire Crusaders Super Rugby Pacific season and has no form going into the international calendar. In his first start in the No. 15 jersey against the Wallabies in Dunedin last year, Jordan looked dangerous with the ball in hand, but at the Test level, it’s not just about the explosive carries. Beauden Barrett, for example, offers better backfield coverage, a more consistent kicking game, better distribution, and a higher standard of play. Just watch the tape from the final thirty minutes at Eden Park to see what I mean.
Barrett is the best fullback in the nation at opening up space in the back, which is exactly what you need in a backup. He can kick with both feet, punt with good purchase (a skill Perofeta lacked), and maintain his speed. Not only can he diffuse, but he can also sense when to counter. Jordan had his poorest performance in a black jersey in the World Cup final, and it was on the wing. This is something that is rarely discussed. In the long term, he will benefit from the experience. When playing South Africa, Ireland, or France, the All Blacks cannot afford to have a fullback have that kind of night. Jordan is a player who is too good to remain off the field, but at his best
Against Argentina, Backrow needs to establish some dominance. Throughout the two Test matches, England most likely had the upper hand against the All Blacks in the backrow. Despite being a world-class player, Ardie Savea did not perform as well as normal in the second Test at Eden Park. He just managed nine run meters from 11 carries as England’s defense held him in check. Mark Tele’a had his best play of the evening, a trademark power run, just before his try. Two turnovers lost and 0 turnovers won completed an uncommon night for the superstar 0 8. He bounced back against Fiji with a terrific performance, although almost everyone had a Hollywood-like appearance.
Wallace Sititi, who is eager to get a run, was chosen over Hoskins Sotutu. Sititi may get the opportunity to start against the Pumas. The All Blacks must decide on their best lineup against Argentina because South Africa is rapidly approaching. That will be difficult because Pablo Matera and Marcos Kremer are constant physical challenges. Proctor merits a retry at position 13. Billy Proctor, a midfielder with the Hurricanes, had the best debut of his career. Proctor gave an example of what he can do for the All Blacks on a memorable evening in San Diego.
The 25-year-old has been a part of the Super Rugby scene for a while, waiting patiently for his chance. In his first stint in the black jersey, Proctor—who is fundamentally a strong defender—displayed an outstanding offensive ability. Since Argentina will be a more formidable opponent than Ioane, it will be interesting to see if he can duplicate San Diego’s performance. His style is different from Ioane’s. Proctor will be comfortable starting with Jordie Barrett in Wellington since, in addition to being his hometown, the two Canes players have clearly played together frequently in recent years. Before leaving for South Africa, Proctor is worth taking another look at as a starter.