Japan s Brave Blossoms show their mettle but fall short on their drive after the final hooter, having to settle for a 38-31 loss in their rugby test with New Zealand s All Blacks.
All Blacks coach Ian Foster says he is working behind the scenes to achieve change in the All Blacks, although he has still kept Sam Cane as captain for the Rugby Championship. Watch his media conference here.
RICHARD KNOWLER Sam Whitelock would get the captain’s wings and take charge of the first All Blacks team named for 2021. With regular skipper Sam Cane, who earlier this month had surgery to fix a pectoral injury and could be unavailable for up to 6 months, it wouldn’t be right to deny Whitelock. Lock Whitelock has played 122 tests, and guided the Crusaders to 3 titles between 2017 and 2019. He deserves to replace Cane. Injuries and playing sabbaticals to Japan have reduced the options after 8 rounds of Super Rugby Aotearoa. Lock Brodie Retallock, first five-eighth/fullback Beauden Barrett and halfback TJ Perenara haven’t been considered because they‘re earning some extra coin and sampling the ramens in Japan.
Photo: Photosport
After spending much of last season s Super Rugby Aotearoa campaign recovering from a thumb injury, he returns to some tough competition in the fullback position at the 10-time Super Rugby champions.
Will Jordan is looking to build on his breakout 2020 season which helped the Crusaders to the Super Rugby Aotearoa title and resulted in selection to the All Blacks.
With Brayden Ennor out for the season with an ACL injury, Havili s previous experience in the centres will give coach Scott Robertson another option.
However, 26 year old Havili has made it clear that he is gunning for the fullback position in 2021.