Aisle be Back: End of year tour, the NPC quarter-finals and Australian rugby

• By Kevin McCarthy

Shock and horror, The All Blacks are taking Sam Cane and TJ Perenara on the Northern tour.

They’ll probably play three games each – maybe less.

That means two young players will miss out on international experience. Well, quite probably – just ask Billy Proctor – will get to spend a month in the All Black environment and sit on the bench.

No doubt at the next world cup, we’ll look back and say, well, if only we’d built just a bit more experience in a couple of positions. If only a couple of players had played games two and a bit years earlier against Japan and Italy.

So, the critics are labelling this an ultra-conservative selection. As if taking on the three seriously difficult opponents in three weeks is some experimental lab.

If Robertson had taken half a dozen bolters, would it be instead bold? There’s a fault line in New Zealand fans where people are looking for that miracle newcomer to change the narrative.

Already you can see guestimates of what win-loss ratio is acceptable. Where will the critics be if a young player muffs it in the last 10 of a cliffhanger.

I’ll tell you one team which is mixing new guys in – over time -yet isn’t under the blowtorch for keeping veterans ticking along. You may have heard of South Africa.

One bloke who seems to be always there, coming off the bench as a closer, is Handre Pollard.  He debuted in 2014, when the All Blacks playmaker was Aaron Cruden. The nearest equivalent to Pollard’s longevity would be Beauden Barrett – and people still can’t figure out if he’s a 10 or a 15.

Youth will have its day – in the 30 or so tests before the world cup – but building the squad also means winning now. As Jason Ryan said this week, the All Blacks aren’t a development team.

Beauden Barrett congratulates Sam Cane on his 100th match for the All Blacks. 

All Blacks XV squad for the 2024 Northern Tour 🔥#AllBlacksXV pic.twitter.com/VyN2mxK16x

— All Blacks (@AllBlacks) October 8, 2024

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The crowd numbers may say different – but the NPC has had an excellent season, as we move into the quarters, starting with  the Lions hosting Counties Manukau tonight.

Regular season has seen some cracking matches – spiced by the Shield changing hands several times – and a few upsets.

And looking at the playoffs, none of the four games would appear lopsided match-ups.

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Australian rugby is turning into a bigger soap opera than Neighbours.

The former directors of the defunct Rebels are suing Rugby Australia.

The national body is countersuing. I’d suspect their case might be stronger.

Just the sort of fighting over a corpse that any sport needs to flourish.

Besides the entertainment value, once again New Zealand needs a stronger Australia, so these sorts of shenanigans are hurting us somewhere down the track.

🚨 Melbourne Rebels sue Rugby Australia for $30m in damages, accusing RA of breaching the Corporations Act and unfair treatment. ⚖️ Could this hurt the sport further? 🤔#BRUGBY #RugbyNews #RebelsRugby #MelbourneRebels #RugbyAustralia pic.twitter.com/SnKxGz2UHC

— BRUGBY (@brugbyofficial) October 9, 2024