Charles Piutau is set to be recalled to the All Blacks for the Rugby Championship
Dan Carter and Charles Piutau will be named in the All Blacks’Rugby Championship squad on Monday, but their return to fitness has provided the selectors with some tough decisions.
Who to leave out of the 31-player squad in order to include them? The most vulnerable might be two Crusaders who will be playing alongside Carter in the Super Rugby semifinal against the Sharks in Christchurch today – Colin Slade and Ryan Crotty. Both have been consistent performers this year.
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Slade’s versatility – he can play first-five, wing or fullback – saw him included in the extended squad to play England in June. Midfielder Crotty came on as a substitute in the third test against England.
Piutau’s inclusion will strengthen the already powerful All Blacks’ back three options. He will probably join Cory Jane, Israel Dagg, Ben Smith and Julian Savea as contenders for the wing and fullback positions, and, like Carter, also has the ability to play in the midfield.
Malakai Fekitoa who starred for the Highlanders this season and performed well for the All Blacks in June, including starting at No13 in Hamilton, has jumped ahead of Crotty in the pecking order for the midfield, which also includes Ma’a Nonu and Conrad Smith.
While Carter, the world’s best No10, will slot straight back into that position ahead of Aaron Cruden for the first Rugby Championship test against Australia in Sydney on August 16, fitness permitting, it is understood the All Black coaches are happy to see him playing at No12 outside Slade for the Crusaders. Carter is apparently in the best physical condition he has been in for years.
Not everyone within the All Blacks frame is in the same shape, however.
Prop Tony Woodcock’s shoulder injury, which forced him out of the final Blues game of the season – the loss to the Chiefs at Eden Park a fortnight ago – will see him on light duties for the near future.
Likewise, Hurricanes loose forward Victor Vito remains under a cloud with his calf problem, which could strengthen Steven Luatua’s case for inclusion. Blues loose forward Luatua was dropped for the England series, earning a reprieve only due to Kieran Read’s concussion issues.
Coach Steve Hansen and his assistants will be at AMI Stadium in Christchurch for tonight’s semifinal and will be hoping all of the men in the All Blacks sphere come through without injury.
A defeat for the Crusaders will mean Carter, Richie McCaw, Kieran Read et al, will join the wider squad in Auckland next week for a two-day training camp. A victory will preclude them from that camp and will place Hansen and his assistants on tenterhooks for one more week.
In the meantime, the coaches are celebrating good news on the player retention front, with nine players re-committing to New Zealand rugby.
Aaron Smith, TJ Perenara, Jeff Toomaga-Allen, Beauden Barrett, Dominic Bird and Matt Todd have re-committed until the end of 2016 and Woodcock, Charlie Faumuina and Tom Taylor have re-signed until the end of next year.