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Aotearoa Rugby Pod

SHORT: All Blacks Back 3 SOLVED? Clarke, Tangitau & Jordan

05 May 2026

Transcription

Chapter 1: What are the current debates surrounding the All Blacks back three?

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So if you look at those outsides, Brynner, where do you feel they're likely to go given the form that you've seen? If you look at the incumbents, you have to think, you know, your Caleb Clarks and your Leroy Carters would probably be definitely two people that would be there. Then you've got, I think Caleb Tangitao has to be there with his performances and the way that he's been playing.

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I think he's a like for like for Caleb in that kind of left power winger. You've got a Leroy Carter that's there. You've got probably a Leicester, fits into that style. Now that's probably three left wingers. Your right hand side wingers, you know, as Rico, I know he plays more on the left, but you've got Rico, you've got Tom Weflow.

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It's hard for me to probably just pick their right winger, because there's so many left wingers that are playing really well at the moment. A Leroy Carter maybe would be on their right winger, but... Do you put a Will Jordan, who's very good on that right wing with his skillset that he does have, and you have a Damian McKenzie or a Bowden Barrett, that's that fullback.

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Richard Moran comes back, and whatever they decide with the number 10s. It's probably the right winger I'm struggling a little bit, because you've got a Reuben Love, who played there against Japan and played very well in his debut. That's only maybe the number 14 winger. It's hard for me to pick right now.

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Chapter 2: Who are the top contenders for the All Blacks wing positions?

67.43 - 87.357 Caleb Tangitau

I think Caleb Tangetail's been smart. Either Jamie Joel or himself, putting himself on the right wing. His natural fit is probably left. They may be making space for Ngaruhi, because Ngaruhi's really strong on that left edge, but he's purposely played right winger. He's looked great under the high ball. He's busy in the backfield.

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87.677 - 110.481 Caleb Tangitau

He has something you cannot coach and it's explosive pace over 20 metres. He's there and he's gone. I think Morby's a genuine option. I really like the right winger. We've got a history of right wingers being fullbacks. And I think Morby's in that conversation. I'm a big fan of Ratamata Vicky-Netkins. I think he could be a fantastic international right winger.

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110.461 - 114.653 Caleb Tangitau

Again, someone with pace, someone with ability in the air.

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Chapter 3: How does Caleb Tangitau's performance impact team selection?

114.673 - 135.547 Caleb Tangitau

So options are plenty. Leroy Carter is an interesting one. I think he could potentially do both, but probably similar to Nareke is more in that left winger. sort of explosive power winger role and you sort of get the sense that Caleb Clarke's probably the incumbent there, but not necessarily meaning there's not opportunity.

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135.567 - 155.245 Caleb Tangitau

I think Tava Tava Ngawai could be, you know, if Leicester's going to play this 23 role and cover midfield and wing, Tava Tava Nawa is another one, I think he can play that explosive left wing role. And then for the right, I'm still a big fan of trying to get Ruben Love on the field. I think his maturity of his game, he's ready for international pressure.

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156.026 - 183.28 Caleb Tangitau

Again, I say again, good under the high ball, there's no escorts anymore. It is one of the areas that is just challenged so often. So options are plenty, but I would say probably the only lock is Will Jordan. He's somewhere. Lock at fullback, in my opinion, I think he's probably the lock there at fifth band. And then it's, I know I go to it every year, but I think finals...

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183.26 - 195.394 Caleb Tangitau

performances and this is where you know Tangitao's done his best they're probably not going to play finals footy they know what he can do the others are trying to put their hand up to say hey I'm actually a better option.

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Chapter 4: What roles do Caleb Clarke and Will Jordan play in the back three?

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If Will Jordan is fit and judging on the form of Caleb Clark and Caleb Tangitao would you think that first test that that could be a trio Brennan? Yeah, I definitely think it could.

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I think having Tangi Tao in the way that he has played and to what Drupal's point, the Highlanders have put him in that number 14 role, whether that's deliberately or not, to be able to stake his claims to be in the All Blacks. But cheers up. That's a hell of a back three.

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If you're going to select Caleb Clarke, Caleb Tangitao, you're talking around getting over the advantage line and explosiveness with those two wingers. I think it'd be a great way.

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And I think Mike Blair did talk around when we talked about him earlier in the year, that X factor and being able to use the ball, having those two, that excites me to be able to have those guys if that ends up the way they do go. And you have a Will Jordan at fullback who compliments them really nice with a different skill set.

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around his kicking game, his speed, his explosiveness, his creativity and his game knowledge. I think it'd be very exciting, I think, if he had those two on the wing to start, for sure. The reason I feel that could work is because we saw last year Jordy Barrett being played at the back often to cover high balls. So you've got strength there.

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Then if you look at all of those 10 options that you've got, they're all good under the high ball, whether it's Richie Moe or Bowdoin Barrett or Damian McKenzie, all of them are good under the high ball. So I feel like you can make some sacrifices on the right wing and have two power wingers considering that strength if you manipulate your backfield a little bit.

Chapter 5: How does aerial ability influence winger selection for the All Blacks?

282.569 - 305.877 Caleb Tangitau

Yeah, 100%. But I think Tangi Teo is great under the high ball. Caleb Clarke's aerial ability came from sevens. Tangi Teo's aerial ability comes from sevens. It's not a place they're uncomfortable because they never have escorts. It's just the way of the game. And yes, there's not box kicks as such, but if you look at the kickoffs, it's basically a box kick. Yeah.

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305.857 - 316.206 Caleb Tangitau

They kick them off and you've got to catch it above your head like AFL style. So if I was to pick it now, I just don't see how you leave Tangi Tau out of the starting 15.

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Yeah. Yeah.

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320.237 - 330.094 Caleb Tangitau

It's just like I said, Dave Rennie, Mike Blair, clearly like instinct. Play on instinct, see the option, take the option, back yourself, back your skill set.

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Chapter 6: What strategies can be used to maximize the strengths of the All Blacks back three?

331.175 - 355.064 Caleb Tangitau

He couldn't have advertised himself any better. Some of the tries he's scored from the backfield are just ridiculous. Against quality teams, too. We're not talking against Moana Pacifica, with all due respect, or a Waratahs defence, or a Force defence. We're talking the Blues, Crusaders, Hurricanes. destroying that defensive systems, which are really strong.

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And you've got to pick them while they're hot, right? Like, Brent, you've got to pick a winger when he's hot because it's not always going to last. Yeah, take them while they're hot, Ross. Yeah, I think with the life expectancy of wingers, I think, yeah, you do want to pick them while they're hot.

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Chapter 7: Why is it important to select wingers while they are in form?

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Yeah, I think Caleb Tangitao, the way that he has played Caleb Clark, I think with his skill set as well when it comes to the international game, around the high ball and with what is coming, you'd have to think he's not a lock-in, but it would be definitely in the conversation to be on their left wing. But yeah, start them while they're hot, Ross. Start them while they're hot.

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So Tangitao is definitely hot right now.

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