Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!

Become a member to join in Australia's biggest sporting debate, submit articles, receive updates straight to your inbox and keep up with your favourite teams and authors.

Oops! You must provide an email address to create a Roar account

When using Facebook to create or log in to an account, you need to grant The Roar permission to see your email address

By joining The Roar you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions

Contribute without a Roar account

New to The Roar? Register for an account

Oops! You must provide an email address to create a Roar account

When using Facebook to create or log in to an account, you need to grant The Roar permission to see your email address

Contribute without a Roar account

Anyone can contribute to The Roar and have their work featured alongside some of Australia’s most prominent sports journalists.

Anyone can contribute to The Roar and have their work featured alongside some of Australia’s most prominent sports journalists.

Amongst the dread of New Zealand rugby media following the All Blacks’ latest calamity in the Republic – I thought I’d take a look into a hypothetical future, where the full talent pool of NZ is available, fit, and firing!

Particularly, I’ve considered players who are not currently in the All Blacks squad or covering, but whose skills (when available) could benefit any current/incoming coach’s team, if changes were deemed necessary…

Props Ollie Norris Alex Hodgeman Tamaiti Williams Owen Franks

One of the most valuable aspects of the Irish series, was giving a platform for young guys like Norris and Williams to show their potential upside as raw as the talents may be, with areas to improve.

Hodgeman is another athletic prop who can hold his own at set-piece, although he is untested against some of the bigger teams.

It’s apparent the disappointment of Franks’ omission was shared by many. Mastery of his ‘key’ set pieces, and workrate in tight are his strengths – if that experience could only be harnessed to rub off on more of our young guys.

Owen Franks puts on a step for the Crusaders. (Photo by Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images)

Hookers Kurt Eklund Asafo Aumua Andrew Makalio

This must be a position of concern for any current/future All Blacks coach. Codie Taylor had a below-par series, capped off with a horror first half in the third series test.

The question, though, is WHO can come in to replace him? Aside from the ’raging bull’ that is Samisoni Taukei’aho, and an ageing, injury-prone Dane Coles – NZ is thin on third options. Eklund is perhaps the most like-for-like option for Taylor.

While Aumua is the more dynamic athlete, but still appears to have the odd throwing shocker. Finally, I do personally rate Andrew Makalio as a reliable Super Rugby veteran, who has size and strength to offer in the test arena.

Lock Josh Lord Pari Pari Parkinson Isaia Walker-Leawere Dominic Bird

There are some big men that could become available to the All Blacks engine room in the next year. A cruel injury ruled out Josh Lord this season, although it does allow the youngster the chance to pack on some additional bulk.

Unfortunately, we were unable to sight either Bird or Parkinson on the field for long-term injuries. However, both are as big any locks going around the world.

Bird has already reached AB-status previously, and after experiencing the ‘meat grinder’ of French rugby, could return as a hardened forward.

Meanwhile Parkinson was in menacing form in last year’s NPC – finally, consistently using his size & strength to manhandle opponents, before another injury felled him. Walker-Leawere was noticeable in carrying workrate against the Irish XV for the Maori – and Canes fans will be praying for him & Bird to combine next season.

Loose forward Tom Robinson Luke Jacobson Cullen Grace Ethan Blackadder Peter Gus Sowakula

I actually think the first three guys on this list would have run out as a better-balanced & effective test loose trio, than the one that went out against the Boks.

In Tom Robinson, there is a genuine 197cm lineout workhorse, who is happy to carry, as well as bury himself into any ruck. Jacobson is an all-round talent, who can seamlessly shift between roles across the trio – with Grace a classic no. 8 who’s shown great form in key games this year.

Blackadder appears a similar mould to Jacobson, although needs to use his energy more effectively – while Sowakula is a handy weapon to matchup against some of the bigger packs.

Halfback Brad Weber Bryn Hall TJ Perenara

Brad Weber should be on tour right now, such has been his form for the Chiefs and Māori ABs – and his ability to keep the tempo in the ABs attack. But again, we must defer to the selections of Foster… So along with him, I’d suggest Bryn Hall as an underrated ‘cog’ in the Crusaders machine.

Whether starting or coming from the bench, Hall always appears to play with a clear plan in mind, and keeps his contribution direct/simple.

Thirdly, I think Perenara still has the drive and fitness to fit the role perfectly – but he needs to go back to fundamental work, as his passing accuracy deserts him far too often nowadays.

TJ Perenara (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

Flyhalf Damien McKenzie * Josh Ioane Zarn Sullivan *

Controversial to some, perhaps, but McKenzie is already experienced internationally as a flyhalf, and has shown promise in the playmaker role – and appears better suited to that role, rather than the demands of a test fullback.

Josh Ioane has been a ‘rocks or diamonds’ player of late – but if he could rediscover his consistency, still offers a full skill-set.

And finally, there’s the long-term project. Zarn Sullivan was a highly-touted #10 throughout his junior years – despite gaining the majority of first class experience so far at fullback.

I expect his fate is tied directly to if/when Beauden Barrett decides to move on from the Blues… after which a ‘promotion’ to the primary playmaker role, ala Stephen Larkham, wouldn’t surprise.

Centres Anton Leinart-Brown Thomas Umaga-Jensen Peter Umaga-Jensen Alex Nankiville

Perhaps another concern for any current/potential coach – is the lack of established centre pairings in the country, as well as sheer ‘outstanding’ talents in either centre role.

When healthy, ALB is an incumbent All Black, and has been sorely missed this year -although his absence allowed Nankiville a chance to show his quality. Meanwhile, the Umaga-Jensen twins have both shown glimpses of promise – although I strongly suspect their best Rugby would come from playing together again!

Outside Backs AJ Lam Mark Telea Shaun Stevenson Ruben Love Salesi Rayasi Jona Nareki Connor Garden-Bachop George Bridge Damien McKenzie * Zarn Sullivan *

Lastly, an area of serial production – it can’t be said there isn’t the raw talent currently in NZ to produce a potent back three. Notwithstanding those already on AB duty, there are prototypical, high work-rate athletes, dynamic finishers, and several playmaking fullbacks (* including those who could be seen as options for multiple positions).

All in all I’m still quite optimistic! I see plenty of talent that is potentially available to our national coaches/selectors moving forward. While a sudden, seismic change of coaching personnel may see a call for mass change, there’s only a few among this list I’d imagine would force themselves into a revised squad ASAP.

Instead, I’m hopeful this year’s NPC can at least be seen as a true audition for higher honours, with plenty of contenders – young and old – pushing to usurp any ‘out of form’ All Blacks as the season of horror (and hopefully redemption) continues!

Join experts Brett McKay and Harry Jones and a cast of special guests as they look at the biggest issues in rugby every Wednesday at The Roar.