The pool may not be as deep as it was when the New Zealand Under-20s were dominating all and sundry, but it remains, nevertheless. Fortunately for the selectors, perhaps, this year’s Super Rugby Pacific competition has again highlighted the depth of talent in this country. Summary: a lack of forward grunt and backline penetration. Let’s hope the selectors are brave and take risks because it has been well documented how deficient the All Blacks were last year in their defeats to South Africa, Ireland and France. Significant because it’s self-evident there will be clues to the selectors’ World Cup thinking in the line-up because, well, perhaps Abraham Lincoln said it best: “The best way to predict the future is to create it”. (Source: Getty)Īnother significant stepping stone to that formidable challenge comes next Monday in Auckland when Ian Foster’s squad for the Ireland series is announced. Uncapped All Blacks hopefuls, from left, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Marino Mikaele-Tu'u and Folau Fakatava. In just over 450 days the All Blacks will play their first World Cup 2023 match in Paris, a Test that will be a frenzied red-white-and-blue extravaganza against the hosts, the result of which will (more than likely) dictate whether the visitors play Ireland or South Africa in their quarter-final.

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