Rugby: Ioane moves ahead of Luatua in Blues pecking order

Loose forward Akira Ioane has made steady progress. Photo / Getty Images

Akira Ioane has a big chance to cement himself in the Blues loose forward trio after being selected ahead of All Black Steven Luatua for tomorrow's match against the Force at Eden Park.

Coach John Kirwan had no option but to pick the 19-year-old alongside returning captain Jerome Kaino and Brendon O'Connor for a match against the competition's bottom team after Ioane's outstanding performance a week earlier against the Crusaders.

He was one of the few positives in the 29-15 defeat - his ball carrying in space and into contact compared well with top All Blacks Richie McCaw and Kieran Read and in the second half he showed the speed and confidence to run around McCaw in a move which many wings would be proud of.

"I thought he was quite outstanding last week; good in the confrontation, good carrying the ball, so he deserves another crack at it," Kirwan said.

"We've seen what he can do in the sevens - he's transitioned well at this level. He's gone out there and performed straight away so that was a big ask for him last week and I thought he stepped up to it. Especially late in the game, I thought he was really strong for us."

All of which is likely to be cold comfort for Luatua, who recently announced that he would stay on with the Blues and New Zealand Rugby.

Luatua has been named on the bench and while he has struggled with injury this season, he is in the midst of another underwhelming season.

"He's just got to keep working," Kirwan said of Luatua.

"That's what we're trying to create. We're trying to create internal competition that brings out the best in people and I'm sure it will do the same for Steven."

Kaino, who is back at No8, said he was pleased with the development of Ioane and how the team was coping with adversity in general.

"I thought he played really well on the weekend. I know he's got a bright future, it's just a matter of us nurturing that talent and I'm looking forward to seeing what he can do.

"It's an ongoing process when you get back-to-back losses.

"As a leadership group you have to come up with new ways to motivate the guys each week.

"I'm not saying it's easy. We're still trying to find that cure where we get the guys to perform.

"I've been quite proud how the guys have turned up week in week out. Even after some bad defeats they've been on the grind and committed to the club."