Analysis: All Blacks are building depth but still light in one area

Analysis: Scott Barrett's injury in Dunedin highlighted a concerning lack of depth at second row for Scott Robertson, writes Patrick McKendry.

A successful Test series and promising injury reports for Wallace Sititi, Tupou Vaa’i and Barrett brothers Beauden and Scott suggest the All Blacks are placed well heading into the Rugby Championship.

While there is no question that Scott Robertson built depth against France this month and, additionally, brought his best starting line-up more sharply into focus — there is little doubt about where improvements can be made.

The All Blacks head coach has made no secret of his desire for players to be versatile and having four men compete for a position to build for a fourth World Cup victory.

He is well on his way in terms of the front row, loose forwards, halfbacks and midfielders.

But the recent Test in Hamilton put into sharp relief where the main weakness is: Depth at lock.

As soon as Scott Barrett was ruled out of the last two Tests when tearing a calf in Dunedin, a huge amount of pressure went on 22-year-old Fabian Holland to not only get through two more 80-minute matches, but also deliver.

Fortunately, Holland ticked all the boxes and appears a young man with a bright future, and, while Blues skipper Patrick Tuipulotu performed admirably in Wellington and Hamilton, the 32-year-old’s body is clearly creaking.

With Vaa’i, the lock-turned-blindside flanker, unavailable for the final Test due to concussion after performing extremely well in the No.6 jersey in the first two, the shortage of depth at second row was noticeable.

It is still a mystery why Robertson selected two loose forwards on the bench at Waikato Stadium in Dalton Papali’i and Christian Lio-Willie – the latter a very late injury change due to No.8 Luke Jacobson’s quadriceps injury in the warm-up – rather than go for a specialist lock in Naitoa Ah Kuoi.

Perhaps Ah Kuoi’s inexperience was a factor given the already experimental look to the line-up, and Robertson’s caution was probably vindicated by the way the French defended and how hard the All Blacks had to dig in the final quarter, but it still strikes as an opportunity missed.

Another point to note is that with two Tests against the Pumas in Argentina; two against the world champion Springboks in Auckland and Wellington; and two against a Wallabies side battle-hardened after the British and Irish Lions tour; plus a tough northern tour to look forward to, there will be no more opportunities for experimentation this year.

Robertson named only four locks in his initial squad – Holland, Tuipulotu, Vaa’i and Scott Barrett, with Ah Kuoi brought in as injury cover.

Potential Test quality locks are relatively scarce in New Zealand, although Sam Darry — the Blues player who made his Test debut last year before being ruled out of this year’s Super Rugby Pacific season due to shoulder surgery — will be in the frame when fit again.

Chiefs lock Josh Lord, 24, who has played seven Tests but has been troubled by a variety of leg issues, including a serious knee injury, would also be in the mix if his body allowed.

Elsewhere, the pack is shaping as a powerful one providing Crusaders prop Tamaiti Williams returns as expected from a knee problem suffered at the end of Super Rugby.

Tighthead prop Tyrel Lomax injured a thumb during his comeback game in Hamilton but will presumably also be named in Robertson’s squad of 36 on August 4, as will Sititi, the outstanding No.8 who did not play this month due to an ankle problem.

Questions remain about Jordie Barrett’s midfield partner, although Billy Proctor probably did enough to earn an extended run at centre, with Leicester Fainga’anuku’s return boosting Robertson’s wing stocks.

Fainga’anuku will also be in the running to play centre after earning valuable experience there during his two-year sabbatical at Toulon.

Brodie McAlister appears to have the ability and temperament to be a back-up hooker, with replacement halfback Noah Hotham also impressive at Waikato Stadium.

Emoni Narawa will likely be disappointed to not get a chance beyond a start on the right wing in Wellington, with Caleb Clarke desperately unlucky to be ruled out of that Test due to an ankle injury.

15. Will Jordan, 14. Leicester Fainga’anuku, 13. Billy Proctor, 12. Jordie Barrett, 11. Rieko Ioane, 10. Beauden Barrett, 9. Cam Roigard, 8. Wallace Sititi, 7. Ardie Savea, 6. Tupou Vaa’i, 5. Fabian Holland, 4. Scott Barrett ©, 3. Tyrel Lomax, 2. Codie Taylor, 1. Tamaiti Williams.

Reserves: 16. Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17. Ethan de Groot, 18. Fletcher Newell, 19. Patrick Tuipulotu, 20. Du’Plessi Kirifi, 21. Cortez Ratima, 22. Quinn Tupaea, 23. Damian McKenzie.