Ian Foster was going to struggle to narrow down his loose forward selections for the All Blacks’ upcoming test series with Ireland but the loss of Ethan Blackadder to injury will perhaps make the picture a little bit clearer.
Blackadder was one of the country’s biggest movers and shakers last year. While he’d been touted as an All Black in waiting for a number of seasons – but kept finding himself sidelined through injury – it was only in 2021 that the hulking loose forward was finally able to string together some regular performances for the Crusaders and he was appropriately rewarded come July when he received his first call-up to the national side.
Blackadder was not just one of eight loose forwards that clocked up minutes in the black jersey last season, however, he accumulated the fourth-most appearances of any of the squad’s loose forwards, behind only the first-choice trio of Akira Ioane, Dalton Papalii and Ardie Savea. Regardless of which flank he was was asked to fill in on, Blackadder was a strong presence on the park and certainly ended the year with his reputation bolstered.
But a shoulder injury has now robbed Blackadder of the opportunity to back up his strong efforts from last season and potentially opened the door for another All Blacks bolter – or at least helped keep a man in the squad who was potentially facing the axe.
The All Blacks were never going to name eight loose forwards in the next week’s 36-man squad. In all likelihood, we’ll hear just six or seven names read out on Monday afternoon, which would have meant at least two of last year’s brood getting the cut.
The likes of Ioane, Papalii (although he is currently sidelined for the short-term following appendicitis), Savea and captain Sam Cane are all safe, while Blackadder would have almost certainly been retained too, leaving space for one or two more loosies in the squad. Luke Jacobson, Hoskins Sotutu and Shannon Frizell were the other men called upon last season, in order of appearances, and could all slip into the squad for the upcoming test series – but that would be dependant on the All Blacks running with seven loose forwards (as opposed to, for example, five locks) and also not bringing anyone new into the fold.
