Steven Luatua was the first choice for No 6 against South Africa, once Liam Messam was out of the picture.
Steven Luatua will start his first test of the year on Saturday against the Springboks in Wellington and the origins of his promotion can be found in not only Liam Messam’s injury, but also a searingly painful personal training session in Christchurch in June.
That was after Luatua had been told by the All Blacks’ coaches that he wasn’t fit enough, wasn’t offering enough for the Blues in the Super Rugby competition, and wouldn’t hold his place in the match-day 23 for the upcoming tests against England.
NZ Herald
Victor Vito, who like the rest of his teammates averted his gaze as Luatua was put through his paces at the Linwood Rugby Club by trainer Nic Gill and coach Steve Hansen, was selected instead.
Luatua is well and truly back in the fold now after his breakout year in 2013 and subsequent slip. His fitness back up to scratch, he upped his game at the Blues and his first chance to impress for the All Blacks this year was in the Eden Park bloodbath against the Wallabies, where he scored a late try as a substitute to help tick the scoreboard over 50.
The 23-year-old is an athlete of rare talent and size and his physical dimensions are why Hansen has chosen him ahead of Sam Cane for the test against the Boks, one of three changes to the starting XV. Luatua, a major ball winner for the Blues, will provide a greater lineout presence than Cane and also more grunt in the tight stuff in what will be his 13th test.
His selection allows Hansen to field an orthodox blindside flanker, with Richie McCaw remaining as openside flanker.
Jeremy Thrush, who performed well when replacing the injured Sam Whitelock in the win over the Pumas in Napier, will start at lock alongside Brodie Retallick, with Aaron Cruden predictably coming in at first-five for Beauden Barrett. Israel Dagg retains his fullback spot after his strong performance against Argentina.
Like Luatua, Thrush also has a big opportunity against Victor Matfield, a former great on his way down, and Eben Etzebeth, a 22-year-old most definitely on the rise.
Patrick Tuipulotu, back from an ankle injury, is the lock cover for the All Blacks, with Cory Jane, not required in Napier, in for Malakai Fekitoa on the reserves bench, a nod probably to the expected aerial bombardment from the South Africans in what could be more wet conditions at Westpac Stadium.
The selection of 20-year-old Handre Pollard at No 10 over steady veteran Morne Steyn hints at a more attacking mindset, but the visitors will probably revert to type once the pressure is on.
Steyn, who missed touch in the final minutes in Perth last weekend, allowing the Wallabies to launch an attack and a test-winning try through Rob Horne, has been left out of the match-day squad, with Patrick Lambie preferred on the bench.
“This week we have to find a desperation and hunger in our performance because we know that that is something the South Africans will be bringing after their loss to Australia,” Hansen said. “As well, they have already stated they have a desire to get a win against us.
“After two wonderful matches last year, I know our guys are really looking forward to this match.”
When Liam Messam became a confirmed non-starter for the test against South Africa, All Black coach Steve Hansen was asked about the possibility of using Sam Cane in tandem with Richie McCaw.
Would they work as an old fashioned left and right combination – McCaw at blindside, Cane as an openside? It was possible, reckoned Hansen: the selectors would consider it. Give it some thought.
They didn’t give it much. It was unlikely to ever happen – not as a starting combination anyway.
Luatua, for multiple reasons, was always the player they wanted in the No6 jersey to face the Boks. The preference of this panel is to use specialists when specialists are available.
Luatua, despite his ability to play lock and No8, is a natural blindside. That’s where he’s played his test football to date and that is where he is happiest.
Then there is his height. Luatua is up there with Kieran Read as a lineout forward.
The All Blacks want options on the touchline against South Africa – especially with Sam Whitelock not available. Brodie Retallick is in the midst of an outstanding campaign, but he’s not the same lineout weapon as Whitelock.
Victor Matfield can make life excruciating for any team. And while Eben Etzebeth isn’t regularly used to win his own ball he is a threat on opposition ball, having pilfered a competition-leading five.
The lineout, more than the scrum, looms as the critical set-piece on Saturday night. The South Africans are world class at setting up driving mauls from clean ball taken by Matfield.
They are also world leaders at disrupting opposition ball – putting doubt in minds and exerting enough pressure to force mistakes.
There’s one other major reason, though, why Luatua was always going to start this game once Messam was scratched – and it’s because he’s earned that right. He wasn’t fit enough earlier in the year and Hansen told him that.
He picked Luatua in the wider training squad in May and it was at the two camps where the young Blues forward was nearly broken physically. He was packed off to Auckland, his lungs still heaving and his ears ringing with the message that he was to show how much he wanted to be an All Black.
He had to show that hunger with the Blues. He was asked to get involved, to get his hands on the ball, to work harder at getting to his feet and back into the game and to not go missing for minutes at a time. Luatua was a different player in July.
Cane’s pace and instincts will be useful in the final 20-30 minutes, but this was always a game for Luatua.