An important clue as to which players are on All Blacks selectors’ radar at the beginning of this new World Cup cycle was provided by the All Blacks XV team announcement.
With ten All Blacks with caps selected among rising talents like Peter Lakai and Fabian Holland, many names were anticipated. But after looking through the 29-man roster, the names of several absentees quickly sprang to mind.
With players like recent ABXV grads Ruben Love and Billy Proctor not playing in the Rugby Championship, we may anticipate that a few All Blacks from the Northern Tour group will play in the XV during their two games in Ireland and France.
It’s interesting to note that only six of the 2023 All Blacks XV members return in 2024; this lack of continuity is due to a number of player exits and selection changes.
Following their participation in the 2023 All Blacks XV tour to Japan, Oli Jager, Billy Harmon, Akira Ioane, Pita Gus Sowakula, Brad Weber, Jack Goodhue, and Alex Nankivell have all stated that they intend to play abroad.
While several players will be looking to upset the development squad’s selections after missing out this season, All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson will be hoping for some more continuity going forward.
The 2024 All Blacks XV team has five notable exclusions.
Given Samisoni Taukei’aho’s injury, many were taken aback when the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific champion was left off of the first All Blacks roster of the year. Even more unexpected was the hooker’s exclusion from this group.
Riccitelli was a vital part of the Blues’ hard-hitting forward game, which helped them win the championship this season, and he oversaw one of Super Rugby’s most effective lineouts.
The hooker, who has the second-most tries (eight) in this year’s NPC season, has also been in excellent form.
With the selection of 32-year-old Blues understudy Kurt Eklund, the reasons behind this absence is puzzling. The 29-year-old provides tough, yet disciplined, work around the breakdown.
You might argue that none of the current crop of All Blacks fullback prospects, with the exception of Beauden Barrett, offer the classic fullback service that Sullivan does, despite the fact that they all have a lot of attacking skill sets.
The 24-year-old can place his clearing on a dime and has one of Super Rugby Pacific’s largest boots. Sullivan, who grew up wearing the No. 10 jersey, is a high-IQ game manager who can control the backfield and territory game to a level appropriate for the Test venue and relieve pressure on his first five-eighth.
Many were shocked that Sullivan was left off of the All Blacks’ larger roster when the team most recently needed depth at fullback, and the inclusion of Chay Fihaki led to further charges of Crusaders favoritism among the national selectors.
Sullivan’s bad discipline decisions, as the 24-year-old is no stranger to a yellow card, are working against him.
After his first season with the Highlanders, the Fijian has been tearing up the NPC, avoiding tackles with ease and establishing himself as one of the top jacklers in the league. He plays on the wing, but he also gets some time at center.
The 26-year-old is in line with the All Blacks XV selections’ age range and undoubtedly makes a difference.
In place of Tavatavanawai, the All Blacks XV selectors chose Kini Naholo, the brother of former All Black Waisake, as their physical winger. Naholo’s performance for Taranaki has been devastating; he has recorded 45 tackles, which is the third-highest total this NPC. However, Tavatavanawai, the most evasive player in the league, has recorded 58 tackles this season.
Both established and up-and-coming halfback talent abound in New Zealand. You couldn’t have imagined Fakatava doing anything other than vying for the black No. 9 shirt two years ago. However, he is currently positioned to become the next candidate to change his allegiance to Tonga, his natal country.
Even if TJ Perenara will soon be leaving, the skill pool is simply too strong. At just 24, it’s a remarkable turnaround for a young player with so much rugby still in him.
Fakatava’s ability to add speed to a game by running the ball off the base of the ruck, offering a contemporary halfback service, and adding lots of X-factor won him two All Blacks caps in 2022.
In Hawkes Bay’s quarterfinal loss to Bay of Plenty over the weekend, the Highlander replaced Ere Enari on the bench. He added some tempo to the match, but it’s not where he should be playing at the NPC level.
Fakatava is under even more pressure as the South is generating some excellent players in his position, namely Dylan Pledger, a New Zealand U20 star who is anticipated to soon enter Super Rugby.
Ardie Savea’s sabbatical gave the 26-year-old his chance at a starting position in the Hurricanes in 2024, and rather than the team suffering from the loss of the current World Rugby Player of the Year, they flourished.
The club was dominant and even took home the top seed in the competition going into the playoffs because to Iose’s strong carry game, which ignited a strong young Hurricanes offense.
Iose’s breakthrough season got underway early, as seen by their incredibly strong preseason performances. Only a few weeks later, the ongoing performance was generating talk about the All Blacks selection.
Iose, however, continues to be on the outside looking in at a position as full of potential as the loose forwards and with Scott Robertson and colleagues placing a strong emphasis on defensive work rate.
To appreciate how high the bar is for this next chapter of All Blacks rugby, we simply need to look to Hoskins Sotutu, the year’s biggest omission story. B group included