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BBC Rugby Union: All Blacks Selection Coming into Focus as Super Rugby Pacific Reveals Players’ Ambitions
With the Super Rugby Pacific season nearing its climactic finale, the spotlight now shifts to the looming international stage. As the club rugby season makes way for the international fixtures, the All Blacks coaching staff, led by new assistant coach Jason Ryan, are meticulously sifting through the talent pool to assemble the first national squad of the year.
Ryan, now in his third season with the New Zealand setup, underscored the significance of the selection process, which has taken on a more collaborative approach. “It’s a bit of a change-up in the sense that all the coaches have a say,” he revealed in the latest All Blacks Podcast. The forwards guru, tasked with overseeing the tight five and loose forwards, emphasized the robust discussions taking place among the coaching panel, including Razor (Scott Robertson), Scotty Hansen, Jason Holland, and Leon MacDonald.
“We had a crack at the team about a month ago for the first time in Christchurch; we said righto boys, grab the pen and chuck your names up and why and let’s have a debate,” Ryan explained. “It’s a real good, robust discussion and a good change-up. It’s a bit fresher in the sense that we all get a chance to have a say.”
The competition for spots in the coveted All Blacks back row is particularly intense, with seasoned internationals like Ardie Savea, Dalton Papali’i, Luke Jacobson, and Sam Cane vying for selection alongside the resurgent Hoskins Sotutu, the promising Samipeni Finau, the returning Ethan Blackadder, and the emerging Peter Lakai. “There are genuinely some players who have been really consistent in Super and there are genuinely some guys who are putting their hand up in this final series as well, which I know they will,” Ryan acknowledged.
With a packed international calendar ahead, including the England series, the Rugby Championship, and the Northern Tour, the All Blacks selectors are tasked with building depth in each position. “The reality is we pick three All Black teams this year; the England series, the Rugby Championship and the Northern Tour. So, we know we’re going to have a few more players than usual with the Test calendar we’ve got,” Ryan said.
As the final round of the Super Rugby Pacific competition unfolds, the All Blacks coaching staff will be keeping a keen eye on the performances of the players vying for national team selection. The upcoming announcement of the first All Blacks squad of the year promises to be a highly anticipated moment for rugby union enthusiasts.
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