Fehi Fineanganofo’s fight-or-flight options and the key players putting hands up for All Blacks jersey – Paul Lewis
Prolific try-scorer Fehi Fineanganofo equalled Super Rugby’s 16-tries-in-a-season record against the Blues and, with All Black-in-waiting Caleb Tangitau sadly gone for an extended period, reported moves to retain the wantaway wing with an All Blacks jersey seem well-timed. But will he stay?
Here are the choices Fineanganofo faces in relation to breaking his contract with Newcastle for an All Blacks jersey:
- Overseas clubs may view him as risky if he reneges. However, he is only 23 and has time to look overseas later, maybe with an enhanced price tag as an All Black.
- He cops about $150,000 a year in lost earnings staying here, as reported by Liam Napier.
- This year’s huge All Blacks itinerary guarantees game time but would he start in the tests?
- Tangitau’s absence clears the path more but Fineanganofo may technically still be behind more experienced incumbents Caleb Clarke, Leroy Carter and possibly Will Jordan.
- Clarke is good under the high ball and his power running is an asset, though he all but disappeared against the Hurricanes last weekend. Carter has done well enough this year and last to expect to retain his place. He is also one of the few wings who add that extra dimension, bursting from rucks and mauls in pick-and-go moves that strain defences, rather than remaining on station out on the wing. It’s an art first perfected by Mark Telea, Sevu Reece and Leicester Fainga’anuku and begs the question whether the All Blacks would field two wings who don’t do that.
Fineanganofo has profited from the Hurricanes’ fine season so far, including from the form of the best midfield combination in Super Rugby Pacific: Jordie Barrett and Billy Proctor.
He doesn’t have express pace but has an effective mix of footwork, tackle-busting and offload skills – plus a sharp rugby brain, evidenced by his clever grubber to set up Barrett’s try against the Blues. His decision will be interesting.
Bad time for Beauden
The Chiefs-Blues derby on May 30 looms not only as vital for playoff positioning but also a last-ditch opportunity for Beauden Barrett to show he still deserves top dog spot as the All Blacks’ first five-eighths.
Back in early April, the halfway point of the competition’s 16 rounds, this column selected an All Blacks team based on Super Rugby Pacific form. Barrett was at No 10 after a promising start to his campaign, with the Hurricanes’ Ruben Love on the bench ahead of Damian McKenzie.
That thinking, especially after the Hurricanes’ crushing 47-24 win over the Blues, has changed. It might also have changed the minds of the All Blacks selectors. They never base choices around one match, but Barrett’s fortunes have been trending down since round eight and he was a long second to Love in this weekend’s head-to-head comparison.
His clearing kick was charged down by Warner Dearns for the game’s first try, underlining the growing feeling the 34-year-old seems to need more time these days. His ability to find the gap with ball in hand seems diminished – he chose a wide kick-pass with a try beckoning after a charge by impressive young loose forward Malachi Wrampling. Keeping the ball in hand seemed a higher percentage play. He threw an awful pass with the Blues 21-0 down, though it didn’t prevent Wrampling scoring soon after – the Blues’ first points after 65 minutes, the game largely decided.
To be fair, the Blues play it tight, with Barrett often kicking for position rather than employing his running game. The Hurricanes’ aggressive onslaught left them nowhere to go; his dominated pack gave Barrett little to work with. However, if this was a window on Barrett under pressure, it gave the selectors an uncomfortable view.
In the five derbies the Blues have played against the Chiefs, Crusaders and Hurricanes (allowing direct comparison of Barrett, Love and Damian McKenzie), the Blues have won one (29-13 over the Crusaders where he outplayed Rivez Reihana, controlling matters well), lost four. Barrett didn’t play in the first Chiefs encounter, lost out to Love in both Hurricanes matches, and played an inconclusive half-hour off the bench in the return 36-20 loss to the Crusaders.
That, in games closest to test match intensity, is not a compelling resume, hence the importance of the round 16 Blues-Chiefs encounter. The Chiefs play the Hurricanes only once this year (the Chiefs won, McKenzie overshadowing Love). Much may depend on whether McKenzie (concussed against the Highlanders) can make it back to face Barrett in round 16, potentially to decide an All Blacks starting spot.
Or will both be unlucky in Love?
Hands well and truly up
Among those who emphatically raised hands for All Blacks places last weekend:
- Xavier Numia – the Hurricanes loosehead had an all-action display against the Blues.
- Asafo Aumua – ditto though still faces a challenge from the Crusaders’ George Bell.
- Wallace Sititi – back to his very best against the Highlanders.
- Ethan de Groot – another strong scrummaging/tackling performance, seeing off the Chiefs tighthead by halftime.
- Samisoni Taukei’aho – another power display; Friday’s clash with Codie Taylor could also decide a test starting spot.
Big blindside battle
Simon Parker was buried in the thick of it against the Highlanders; Devan Flanders was among those hitting the Blues with fierce physicality in the breakdowns. Anton Segner played openside but performed outstandingly in a well-beaten Blues, as did 22-year-old Wrampling, clearly one for the future. Peter Lakai shone for the Hurricanes with his perpetual motion. This door remains open.
Pink socks and nail polish
Naitoa Ah Kuoi cut a unique figure as a lock with his pink boots and pink hi-grip socks, turquoise nail polish and he was the only member of the Chiefs to bop along with the music as the teams went into the usually tense huddles before kickoff. He also played his best match ever for the Chiefs and, though he seems to have been around for yonks, is still only 26.