Aotearoa Rugby Pod
ABs Selection Heats Up: Halfbacks, Centres & Locks Under the Microscope
04 May 2026
Chapter 1: What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
Coming to you from rugby's greatest fortress, New Zealand's national stadium, Eden Park, is the Aotearoa Rugby Park. Kia ora and welcome to the Aotearoa Rugby Pod. Once again, plenty to chat this week.
With only four rounds of the regular season and a few rounds of the playoffs left before Test Footy, let's chat about which of the contentious positions heading into the All Blacks selections from Dave Rennie.
Chapter 2: What key positional battles are shaping the All Blacks selection?
Where could people really make a play over the next seven weeks to get into that team? Gilbert Anoka's return as well is something that we've been asked about via email. What does that mean for the All Blacks? Of course, player retention is always a big topic. We've had a few emails about that and there's been a change in Japan that could well affect New Zealand rugby somewhat as well.
Of course, the Hurricanes got up against the Crusaders. We'll chat all about Super Rugby and what's going on there. And if you want to catch all of our content, please do so at Aotearoa Rugby Pod official channels. You can also go to stuff.co.nz, go to the website, catch clips, catch written articles, the full podcast.
same goes for rugby pass as well we can catch videos on their website plus you can get the full podcast on the app as well and please catch their stats while you're there of course the man off to my right is james parsons jipper big night for you last night it's a big day lakers got up which was good i know we're not a basketball pod but that was a good start blues had a great second half
I fell a little bit short with the Broncos, but two out of three is not too bad.
You know what I find really funny about the Lakers? I feel like every single game is a goat debate. My social media lights up every game because it's like, does this game prove that the Broncos isn't the goat?
Surely it's over. The stats are just ridiculous. But anyway, we won't get into it.
That'll light up the comments section. That'll light up the comments section. Of course, over in Japan, we've got Bryn Hall here in the big screen. Bryn, you were on game day today.
We are. We've got Rico Rams. We're playing them just outside of Tokyo about three, four hours. So a nice bit of travel. Been out in a bit of the rural part of Japan. But yeah, we've got our game today and then we've got Corbin next week and then going into the semi-final stage. So yeah, looking forward to it. Big game against Rico today.
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Chapter 3: How does Gilbert Enoka's return impact the All Blacks management?
We've had actually some good feedback about how you're playing during the week. Secured the win for Kubota. This is last week.
which he must be very, very nice. But no, it was just more of a kind of just back into the game and closing out the game. So, yeah, I can't say I did too much, if I'm being honest, Ross. It was more so just closing out the game in the last couple of minutes. But lovely to see that I've been watched from fans in our podcast here in Japan.
Chapter 4: How is player retention affecting New Zealand rugby?
So, yeah, it's a good way to shut out the game.
It sounds like you're doing a bit of coaching of the refs again, bro.
certainly not jiffy if anything i'm probably at a detriment to my team if i talk to riffs over here and they don't speak a lot of english so no definitely not manipulated or influencing that's for sure brenna that came out of the youtube comments section came from rugby analyst one who had a question regarding the number nines obviously cam roy guard is the top dog but what does it look like who is the best person under pressure to come off the bench and secure games
What does the number nine set up look like right now? What do you think? If you were going to take three guys into a squad, given the form that's happened right now, Bryn, who would you take?
Chapter 5: What performances from Super Rugby Pacific Round 12 are noteworthy?
I think Cam Roygaard is definitely number one.
I really think Noah Hotham in the last couple of weeks, I think has solidified, whether it be number two or number three, I definitely reckon with the way that he is playing and the game style that he is playing with the Crusaders, it definitely marries up, I think, being able to shut out a game, gain game management, kicking game is a big part of that Crusader setup, which you have to think at the international level and closing out a game, you need to have that part.
And I also think, you know, Cortez Latimer. I think he's played some really good footy in the last couple of weeks. Trippers kind of talked around his form at the back end of the year. I think he had Xavier Rowe, who played really well. He's obviously heading overseas. You've had Finlay Christie, who you're able to have there.
He plays well for the Blues, and I think he's an experienced person if they feel like they need that experience.
they can always go to finn but i just think with how noah's played the last couple of weeks you've got cam roy guard who's your number one and then yeah i think you've had cortez at our team who's actually come in really nicely at this part of the time when probably going at that battle with xavier with xavier rowe in the first part of the year but those would be my three that i'd be picking
You look at Noah Hotham's game, you get the sense when he backs himself to run, the rest comes with him. You know, like he scores that try. Obviously, that's some of his better work in terms of reading those, I suppose, the body shape of defenders in and around the rack. But when he gets his confidence in his running game, he almost is a little bit of a mini Roy guard.
the way that he does play so instinctively. I think with how the game is going now, you've got to have a halfback that's able to snipe and keep those heart defenses guessing. And I think the best thing that I think he has is he's very good in his decision making when he does run.
And he's actually powerful enough and very strong, even if he does make the wrong decision, he's able not to get himself into trouble.
i think having that running element it's a massive strength that he does have i think his game management jip has got his kicking especially as his box kicks have been very very efficient this year especially with the crusaders and how they did play even with the with the amount of kicks that they played against the hurricanes but yeah i think you are right his like for like with roy guard i think is something that is uh probably that one two punch i think very similar to how cam does play as well
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Chapter 6: Who are the top contenders for the halfback position in the All Blacks?
But at the same time, you've got to think, you know, if you are a player in that position, you're like, well, maybe my chances are better being somewhere else. So I guess that's a conversation he's got to have within himself. But yeah, he's definitely a fighter.
He's been there for a long time, being able to try and, I guess, get more game time and be the number seven of the Crusaders, or at least being in the loose forward trio more consistently starting.
Could the Crusaders be after Adi? If you think about this, you know, Leicester moving to seven, is there an opportunity that they feel like there's something they need in their game?
If he's up for conversation around signing him, why wouldn't you? He's one of the best players in the world. And again, you're right. You know, having Leicester in that kind of position and putting him at seven, you'd be crazy not to have a conversation. Now, it's whether that arty would want to come down to the Crusaders. You know what I mean?
So there's obviously a lot of history and a lot of battles against the Hurricanes and even Moana when he was there. But yeah, I think if you're the Crusaders, you'd be stupid not to have a conversation or try and get him down there, especially with what you're seeing in the loose forwards at the moment.
Could we see Penns put Artie at centre? And Leicester at seven?
Look, you can put Artie Sevilla anywhere on the field. It doesn't matter if he's seven or 13 or anything. So yeah, maybe a little bit of a harvest, switching them both between the game to keep teams guessing. But no, I don't think they will. At seven, we'll just have a nice if he wants to play seven down at the Crusaders.
With Brad and Enel going, they're probably going to need Whanganuku Centre next year, right?
Surely. I was surprised even with the late change. They didn't move Leicester out into the midfield, keep Dallas McLeod on the wing. But they're all in on the seven train, that's for sure.
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Chapter 7: What factors are influencing the selection of centres for the All Blacks?
You don't get the time to be able to climatise to be in Fiji. You're going over there a week after playing, you know, on a Saturday or Sunday, you're flying out on the Monday, sorry, on the Wednesday or the Thursday, whatever it may be. And
it's just hard like you know we talk around going to south africa when we were playing the being of the high valve yes that's really really difficult but sometimes you actually were able to climatize if you got your schedule right and you weren't playing in pitori or drove a good first week playing in cape town you're going to be okay in that second week but playing in fiji is is tough i like i remember playing
We played the Fiji team when I was with the New Zealand Maldives. And like, we just couldn't move. And that's how difficult it is. You just can't move. You feel like you're in second gear. You know you aren't doing things right. You try and find solutions. You try and get your breath back. You try and have water to be able to try and get back to where you need to.
But it's just a difficult place to play. And unfortunately, the Highlanders on the weekend just were at the brunt and felt that. And, you know,
they don't make that many mistakes especially in the last 20 minutes with what i saw um if it wasn't for the conditions so no excuses that group won't be making his excuses but that's a bloody tough place to play and that's where i just think they fell into the trap being in those conditions in fiji
you can look at it and go oh they're caught between two mines but the mine's just not working at the same pace as like a cam mirror game driver you know like yeah some of the passes just go into ground even outside the 22 there was they broke down the left edge and and it's on like they've compacted the drill defense and the pass goes behind jack taylor and bounces and then someone has to pick it up and cut back in and you've lost momentum and and then you've got to resort to a kick
They just couldn't get the flow going. And to me, it just looked like, and look, I lost to the Sunwolves in Tokyo at a midday kickoff and it was like 44 degrees. And I remember getting up from carries and you'd be reloading, you're literally dizzy. Just because of the heat and the intensity. It probably didn't help I had this thing called Percutane all over my back that heats you up like no man.
A deep heat's just a poor cousin compared to Percutane. But I just, and that's what it looked like, just everything looked laboured and it just felt like there's that brain fog through, I suppose, just exhaustion.
We've talked about it before. They're that almost team. They're always within 10 points. They're always within seven points. And I had a look at some of the stats over the last few years. This is since Super Rugby Pacific started and the iteration it is now. 42% of their 47 losses are by seven or less. I mean, it's just so close all the time.
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