Ex-All Blacks number eight Murray Mexted believes that Dave Rennie has built plenty of depth in the back five, with the exception of his former position.
New Zealand have tried several combinations in the back three of the pack with a number of players impressing since the 62-year-old Rennie’s arrival as head coach.
Ardie Savea and Luke Jacobson locked down the number eight and openside flanker positions early on this season, but injuries to that duo have opened the door for others.
Rennie went Wallace Sititi and Peter Lakai in the Bledisloe Cup opener which the All Blacks won 50-19 and they have retained their places for this Saturday’s rematch in Sydney.
However, Mexted is not convinced by either Sititi or Lakai, who has often featured at number eight at Test level, at the base of the scrum.
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“I haven’t formed my opinion yet on what is the best loose forward trio but there’s a distinct difference between a number six and an eight and a seven. The significant difference is opportunity, so the core role requires a certain player,” he said on the DSPN Rugby podcast with Martin Devlin.
“Lakai has obviously played in the number eight role and in the number six role, and he’s now playing at seven, and he’s doing pretty well. He’s a contender for the seven position now, so that’s been clarified. The other thing that’s been clarified for me is if you’re a six or an eight you’ve got to be able to win some ball.
“When you’re playing against the best, like South Africa, you’ve got to be able to win some ball in the lineout and in the air, and that’s an area the selectors have now become aware of.
“Sitting in the wings we’ve got [Shannon] Frizell and [Simon] Parker. Both of those players are tall, they’re 6ft 5in, which is pretty healthy. The other thing that I saw which maybe others will disagree with is Sititi clarified his best position to me and it’s blindside flanker. In my opinion, Sititi is a six and not an eight.”
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Most would state that Sititi’s long-term position for the All Blacks would be at number eight, but Mexted explained why he thought the Chiefs star would make a better blindside at Test level.
Not effective enough in defence
“You’ve got to be good at attack and defence… according to the stats he didn’t make a tackle (editor’s note: Sititi made eight tackles and missed two against Australia). Your number eight’s got to be making tackles,” he said.
“He’s very, very good with the ball in his hands, he’s dangerous and he will score tries, and he’s powerful, so I reckon they will be looking at him as a six now not as an eight.
“If Ardie Savea’s not available through injury, who’s your other number eight? The only other number eight we’ve got there is Frizell and perhaps Parker. Parker has been playing number eight in the NPC, that’s been suggested to him by Dave Rennie or somebody.”
As for Lakai, Mexted is firm in his belief that the 23-year-old does not have the tools to be a consistent presence at the base of the All Blacks scrum, instead seeing his future at openside.
“He’s not big enough to play eight because he’s not going to be able to win his own ball. Lakai’s simply not big enough to win opposition ball when it comes to an aerial contest so Lakai’s position is openside flanker,” he added.
“He played really well last weekend and that’s where he’s good at. That’s his position now and you’ve got to say, ‘who are the other openside flankers and how will he compete?’
“There’s real competition for the openside position, there are about three or four players that can play there, and that’s really good, really healthy.”