All Blacks: Liam Squire could replace fantastic Vaea Fifita; By: Patrick McKendry

Vaea Fifita has had one of the most spectacular starts to an All Black test career in recent memory, but could still make way for Liam Squire for Saturday's test against the Springboks at Albany.

 

Against Argentina, Fifita, 25, and in his first test start, was physical, dominant in the tackle, and showed incredible pace for a blindside flanker.

 

His effort in running around wing Santiago Cordero for his try in the left corner made viewers around the world sit up and take notice. Few loose forwards at this level have the pace and ambition to do that, let alone so early in their career.

 

And yet, Fifita needs careful management and is clearly not the finished product. It seems churlish to point out, but his workrate could improve slightly and there were a couple of defensive mistakes.

 

Expectations might need to be managed too, both Fifita's own, and those building among others, and so Steve Hansen is likely to select Squire in the No6 jersey against the Boks.

 

Squire played well in the first two tests against the Wallabies and his overall game will suit the All Blacks for the challenge South Africa will bring. One of the Boks' best players this season is their blindside flanker Siya Kolisi and Squire could be seen as the man to look after him.

 

There will be plenty of other changes, too.

 

Prop Wyatt Crockett will probably start following Joe Moody's dislocated shoulder in New Plymouth, Sam Whitelock will probably replace Luke Romano at lock, Sam Cane will probably start at openside flanker, and Aaron Smith and Ryan Crotty could return to the backline.

 

One of the most intriguing selections concerns the back three. Rieko Ioane will almost certainly return to the left wing following his excellent two tests against Australia, and Israel Dagg will probably retain his place on the right wing, if fit.

 

Dagg left the Yarrow Stadium pitch after being sent flying when trying to make a tackle in the second half. Given Hansen has already suggested Damian McKenzie will keep his place at fullback, Dagg's ability under the high ball (a work in progress for McKenzie), will be crucial.

Nehe Milner-Skudder didn't do much wrong and finished off McKenzie's break for the All Blacks' first try, but the selectors will be keen to manage him too given the test against the Pumas was his first since the 2015 World Cup final.

 

The All Blacks responded well to Argentina's first-half fightback to win the test 39-22, but clearly retaining their concentration for the entire 80 minutes remains elusive. Their lineout loss near their own line which led to the Pumas try was sloppy and they are overplaying their hand as far as their running game is concerned.

 

Finding a better balance will be crucial against the Boks, who, with two wins against the Pumas and a draw against Australia in Perth, look far better than they did last year.

It will not be a surprise if Fifita is not selected to start & he probably won't make the bench. The reason cited is par for the course for the AB coaches, i.e. they want to give him time to develop.  The stats showed his defense needs work. 4 tackles with one missed tackle.
Sounds like McKenzie will retain his spot at 15 and Ioane will be back on the wing. I'm sticking with my picks as given on another thread.
9. A. Smith 10. Barrett; 12 SBW; 13 Crotty; 14 Dagg (if fit, if not NMS); 11 Ioane; 15. McKenzie (can cover wing & 10 in emergency, plus can kick goals); 21. TJ. 22 ALB; 23; NMS if Dagg can't play. If this article is right and they want to rest NMS then Naholo will come into the mix.

 JW
Your guys continue to win...'Onya!....but there remains lingering doubts about the once formidable AB's. Those doubts surprising as they are started of course with the Lions series. In Hansen you have a smart coach and he's heading in the right direction by experimenting with selections.....his timing is perfect.
It's entirely up to the players but Hansen will have to bring it together a year out from the RWC. The RWC as you know is a different format on foreign soil and has a completely different feel, the AB's will be favourites......confidence will have to eliminate all doubts...time will tell if it has. 2018 Is going to be a most interesting year for the thre e leading SH teams.

 Denny, yeah we know the ABs could lose a match or two. Hansen has to balance winning every game against developing new players & depth and resting older players as the primary goal is to win the RWC. He can't always get the balance right but he does a pretty good job I'd say.
There are now plenty of articles saying Boks know how to beat the ABs, etc. Good for the game, we will see how it goes

 Dream on anyone who thinks the Boks are ready to beat the AB's but that said the AB's are still not settled.....the Boks are work in progress. It's interesting watching the new look Boks evolve, I don't rate their physicality and clearly the AB's are superior to them in that aspect, also unlike the Wallabies the AB's attack from anywhere on the park and have great game breakers. One thing they have not lost is the ability to punish the opposition's mistakes.
Interesting times.

 You are far, far more optimistic than I am...sure you're not a fair dinkum Bok fan?
Erm I have my suspicions 

I think abs are building for the WC. I compare this side to the 2012 side. Post Rwc 2011. They were in a rebuilding phase. I think the lessons they learnt in the Lions series. And now we'll contribute to going far in Japan 2019. Post 2011 they introduced players like A Smith, B Retalluck, J Savea, S Cane etc. Now they are introducing players like Fafita, R Ioane, A Leionart Brown, A Savea, S Barrett, D Mckenzie, J Barrett etc. They are building depth. So yes thy are unsettled. But moving in the right direction. Squire is relatively new too. I like Fafita better personally. He has better ball carries. Squire is too. But he's more rangy. I like Fafitas physicality. And how he runs with straight. I suspect they well go Squire, who prob has the overall game. But wouldent mind Fafita getting another start. Likely team. 1. Wyatt Crockett 2. Dane Coles 3. Nepo Laulala 4. Brodie Retalluck 5. S Whitelock 6. L Squire 7. S Cane 8. Kieran Read (c) 9. A Smith 10. B Barrett 11. R Ioane 12. SBW 13. R Crotty 14. I Dagg 15. D Mckenzie 16. Codie Taylor 17. O Tunga'fasi 18. S Barrett 19. A Savea 20. TJ Peranara 21. L Sopoaga 22. A Leionart Brown 23. Luampe/Skudder I also think Abs by 15.

Nice comment Cloudy...Fifita's outstanding performance underlines the main real key to NZ's successful and winning ways...extreme fitness and to be able to stay the full game.

Notice how the AB's always stay in touch and run riot in the last remain minutes when opposition is nackered, apart from playing positive and balanced game in all phases and all positions...they are more complete than anybody else...I don't really believe that individuals are superior to any other person born in any other country....be it in SA, Australia, England, Eireland or France.

It's their old fashioned fitness that's the key I surmise.