Editorial: The All Blacks’ centre dilemma: How pressure could make or break Rieko Ioane

Rieko Ioane re-signed with New Zealand Rugby, but only until the end of 2023. Photo / Photosport

EDITORIAL

The recent series against England highlighted the challenges the All Blacks face against well-drilled northern hemisphere defences. The rush defence of Ireland in 2022 almost cost coach Ian Foster his job, while France and England have used similar tactics to good effect against the men in black in recent seasons.

Under head coach Scott Robertson, the All Blacks’ ambition has been crystal clear – to forge a team that possesses an attacking portfolio that can get the better of any defensive system it encounters. This ambitious goal has proven elusive. Against England, Robertson’s men faced a defensive juggernaut that exposed weaknesses in their attacking armour.

One position in particular has long been at the heart of both attack and defence. The centre – the player in the No 13 jersey – must be both a fulcrum for a team on the attack and a key organiser in defensive patterns. The distribution skills of All Blacks legends such as Frank Bunce and Joe Stanley was matched by the calm ferocity of their tackling.

Today, the laws of the game and the way they are interpreted are often thought to favour the defensive side at the breakdown. But defending in the midfield, where players find themselves in both close-quarter action and scrambling in wider spaces requires a special mixture of awareness and physicality. Knowing when and where to commit themselves to the defensive hit is a key part of the centre’s arsenal.

On attack, while every cog in the machine must work in unison, the centre’s ability to make split-second decisions and execute with precision is crucial.

Rieko Ioane, the All Blacks’ incumbent No 13, has long been a formidable presence with his powerful runs. Since his move from the wing to the midfield in recent years, he has tailored his defensive game to the demands of the position. Yet, the series against England exposed a critical flaw: Ioane relied heavily on brute strength but was occasionally exposed when nuanced decision-making was required. Despite his natural talent and physical prowess, Ioane’s decision-making in key moments revealed a troubling lack of variety.

Enter Billy Proctor, the Hurricanes star whose selection at centre against Fiji brought a new element into the selection debate. Proctor impressed throughout the Super Rugby Pacific season, for much of which his Hurricanes side topped the table. He is an astute decision-maker noted for accurate passing and with a knack for reading the play.

The emergence of Proctor presents the All Blacks selectors with a pivotal opportunity and puts healthy pressure on Ioane. Competition within the squad has always brought out the best among the All Blacks.

Between the physicality and experience of Ioane and the vision of Proctor, the All Blacks are at a crossroads with an opportunity to develop the side’s defensive patterns for the challenges ahead.

Editor’s note: AI was used in the original production of this column. It was edited on July 31 to provide more journalistic oversight. You can read about our use of AI here.