Stephen Donald claims that the All Blacks’ second-row combination could become the best around despite the concerns they had in 2024.
Between 2012 and 2023, New Zealand had an elite duo in the form of Brodie Retallick and Sam Whitelock, who will go down as one of the great partnerships in the sport’s history.
However, both players departed after the World Cup final defeat to the Springboks, potentially leaving them exposed in that position.
New head coach Scott Robertson had a readymade replacement at tighthead lock in the form of Scott Barrett, who was subsequently named captain, but there were doubts around the other slot, both in terms of personnel and whether a balanced partnership could be found.
Breakthrough year for Vaa’i
Robertson initially picked Patrick Tuipulotu alongside Barrett, but Tupou Vaa’i emerged during the Rugby Championship and became a key player for the All Blacks.
Vaa’i had earned plenty of caps going into last season but it wasn’t until 2024 when he really established himself at Test level.
It therefore makes the call remarkably easy as to who should be in the second-row this year, according to Donald.
“Barrett and Vaa’i start, and then obviously big Paddy (Tuipulotu) coming off the bench,” he said, before making a big claim about the quality of that combination.
“With Vaa’i and Barrett, you’ve potentially got the best locking partnership in the world, with how Vaa’i has gone this year, and obviously we know the quality of Scott Barrett,” Donald added.
“What they can do, I’m pretty excited about what you’ve got there.”
There was also a discussion about who else could be in the mix and fellow former All Blacks fly-half Aaron Cruden has been impressed by youngster Fabian Holland at the Highlanders.
“If I could throw, not a bolter but a fourth name, in there, and with an eye to develop, Fabian Holland for me would have to be there or thereabouts,” he said.
Jeff Wilson agreed with Cruden and believes that Holland is one of a few younger locks who could well be in the mix, providing Robertson is able to give them a chance.
‘Like the cut of his jib’
“I don’t think you can argue with his form but I think that comes back to this debate around giving guys an opportunity,” Wilson said.
“The fourth lock quite often is the hardest one when you’re in the big games, but it’s such a pivotal position. I like the cut of his (Holland’s) jib, the way that he plays the game.
“There’s another guy in Sam Darry who is actually going to be back in the NPC, so all of a sudden he might get a run. There’s Josh Lord as well.
“Lock is a position we weren’t sure about when he lost Brodie Retallick and Sam Whitelock, but are you comfortable where we sit at lock now?”
Mils Muliaina then chimed in and is content with where they stand on the locking front considering the concerns that followed the departure of Retallick and Whitelock.
“I’m comfortable in that position because you’ve just named those guys. You’ve got Lord, Holland, you’ve got Darry coming back, even a [Jamie] Hannah down in Canterbury as well,” Muliaina said.
“That was an area where we were very thin two years ago but we’ve now got some really good stock.”
Src: Planetrugby.com - https://www.planetrugby.com/news/stephen-donald-makes-bold-best-in-the-world-claim-for-all-blacks-position-which-used-to-be-very-thin
