1
John Kirwan names his first choice All Black team 'cleaning house' of Crusaders players
By Sam Smith
Former All Black wing John Kirwan has shared his first choice All Blacks lineup for 2022 which includes a number of changes for the side that lost to France in Paris last November.
ADVERTISEMENT
Speaking on Sky Sport NZ’s The Breakdown, Kirwan offered up his team for discussion based on early Super Rugby Pacific form.
Kirwan made sweeping changes and removed all but one Crusaders player out of the All Black backline, with Richie Mo’unga, David Havili, George Bridge and Sevu Reece all missing out. Of the omissions, only Havili was able to secure a bench spot.
Video Player is loading.
This is a modal window.
The Video Cloud video was not found.
Error Code: VIDEO_CLOUD_ERR_VIDEO_NOT_FOUND
Session ID: 2025-06-04:a33d8a75f6c8a9837cc00c51 Player Element ID: brightcove-embedded-video
Only one Crusader, the in-form Will Jordan, found a place on the right wing while the Blues combination of Beauden Barrett, Caleb Clarke, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Rieko Ioane took the 10-11-12-13 roles.
Aaron Smith starts at halfback while Hurricanes second five-slash-fullback Jordie Barrett retained his place in the 15 jersey.
Finlay Christie was selected to back up Smith on the bench, while Damian McKenzie returned to play a utility role along with Havili.
Despite Joe Moody’s season-ending injury being confirmed today, Kirwan already made the decision to go with his Crusaders teammate George Bower as the starting loosehead prop alongside Codie Taylor and Ofa Tuungafasi in the front row.
ADVERTISEMENT
The established pair of Sam Whitelock and Brodie Retallick were unsurprisingly selected to pack down at lock but in a big omission, Scott Barrett was unable to secure a position on the bench. Instead, Ethan Blackadder and Tupou Vaa’i are to provide loose forward/lock cover.
In the loose forwards, Blues captain Dalton Papalii was named to start at blindside in the 6 jersey, joining Sam Cane at 7 and Ardie Savea No 8 respectively. Moving Papalii to 6 put three opensides across the All Black back row.
“Let’s start with the Dalton Papalii one,” panelist Jeff Wilson said.
“You have been forever not wanting to play guys out of position, he’s an openside flanker.
“So why in the world have you taken a guy that you’ve already said is always a seven and you’ve decided to move him to 6?
ADVERTISEMENT
“Are we looking for specialists or can Dalton Papalii be an international six?”
Former All Black No 8 Stephen Bates backed Papalii to give the role a crack, but said that he is currently the best New Zealand has at openside, based on his form with the Blues this year.
“I think he can be an international seven, he’s the best seven in the country at the moment, playing the best rugby,” Bates responded.
“I think Dalton can play 6 at a pinch, great bench player as well, but I think he’s best position is 7.”
Kirwan’s thinking around Papalii at six centred around having an enforcer in the role like former All Black Jerome Kaino but that would put pressure on the All Blacks set piece.
“For the last 257 days of doing this show we’ve been saying we need a Jerome Kaino, we need a 6 that is going to smash people,” Kirwan said.
“Someone who is going to work really hard and carry the ball hard.”
Wilson highlighted that having Papalii at blindside would make things difficult for the All Blacks at lineout time, to which Bates agreed.
“I will go with Jeff here, the one thing you are doing there is putting a lot of pressure on Sam Whitelock and Brodie Retallick to win lineouts. I know Ardie jumps occasionally, Sam Cane jumped a little bit this week, and Dalton jumps occasionally,” he said.
“But a lot of blindside flankers these days in international rugby, remember who won the World Cup, are big tall men.”
John Kirwan’s early 2022 All Blacks side:
1. George Bower
2. Codie Taylor
3. Ofa Tuungafasi
4. Brodie Retallick
5. Sam Whitelock
6. Dalton Papalii
7. Sam Cane
8. Ardie Savea
9. Aaron Smith
10. Beauden Barrett
11. Caleb Clarke
12. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
13. Rieko Ioane
14. Will Jordan
15. Jordie Barrett
Reserves
16. Samisoni Taukei’aho
17. Angus Ta’avao
18. TBA
19. Ethan Blackadder
20. Tupou Vaa’i
21. Findlay Christie
22. David Havili
23. Damian McKenzie
The worst coach in world rugby history who destroyed Japan, destroyed Italy, and turned the Auckland Blues into a laughing stock but he has the arrogance to publish his ongoing incompetency with this selection disaster.
The guy is an arrogant clown who never learnt to STFU.
John Kirwan admitted on Breakdown a few months ago that he was a terrible coach for the Blues, so his AB picks could be taken with a pinch of salt, I suspect that most of The Breakdown panel would be just as successful as the AB selectors are right now if they had the job of national team selection, but they wont be putting their jobs on the line.
Worst Coach the Blues ever had. Clueless...
Tom Robinson at 6, great lineout jumper as well, can slot into lock.
Sevu Reece without doubt on wing
T J before Christie, he earns alot of ball out of the refs
Ekland before Taylor
It's a good thing a JK selected ABs will never take the field. Sam Kane though could be the surprise omission at some point. With his propensity for injury & the compelling form of others could force a change.
I have said it before, John Kirwin always favours north island players, predominantly those from the Blues. It is probably a relief that he is not the ABs coach.
No No No! We need desperately to have big bodies in our pack. I would try Tupou Vaii at 6 as well as Arika Ioane. Cullen Grace at 8 with perhaps Scott Barrett covering 8/lock on the bench. Dalton Papalii plays the first half at 7 and Ardie Savea plays the second half at 7…not 8! Reiko Ioane and jake Goodhue in the centres. No to Damian MacKenzie.
That team jk has selected will get smashed with eaze
Wtf is Kirwan smoking he attacking like blues backs are killing everyone they not and it's the all blacks not the blues lol 🤣 ,Kirwan stop S***ING blues d*** lol ,
Kirwan was useless as a coach and he is heading down the same track with his selections, he cannot see past the blues and chiefs. I dare say he would even have a problem picking his nose. Thank god he is not a selector although he an Foster would probably stuff up the divisional selecting as well.
1. George Bower
2. Codie Taylor
3. Nepo Laulala
4. Brodie Retallick
5. Samuel Whitelock
6. Ethan Blackadder
7. Dalton Papalili
8. Ardie Savea
9. Aaron Smith
10. Beauden Barrett
11. Caleb Clarke
12. David Havili
13. Reiko Ioane
14. Leicester Fainga'anuku??
15. Will Jordan (he attacks in fullback better, he is beginning to get a good kick and he is good on defence)
16. Samisoni Taukei'aho
17. Aiden Ross??
18. Tamati Williams??
19. Scott Barrett
20. Sam Cane
21. Folau Fakatava??
22. Jack Goodhue
23. Jordie Barrett
Bring it on JK - Ireland win series 3-0
Some serious doubt about some of those selections. TVS is nowhere near international level. Watch a replay of the Fiji game.
My 2022 Starting 23
1. Ethan de Groot
2. Samisoni Taukeiaho
3. Ofa Tuungafasi
4. Brodie Retallick
5. Sam Whitelock (c)
6. Akira Ioane
7. Ardie Savea
8. Dalton Papali'i
9. Aaron Smith
10. Beauden Barrett
11. Caleb Clarke
12. Jordie Barrett
13. Rieko Ioane
14. Julian Savea
15. Will Jordan
16. Codie Taylor
17. Karl Tuinukuafe
18. George Bower
19. Josh Lord
20. Tupou Vaai
21. Finlay Christie
22. Richie Mounga
23. Josh Ioane
julian savea,you gotts to be kidding m8,your a joke maybe stick to selecting the u11 thames valley team🥸
Wow...so says the man who didnt want the all blacks to play fiji last year and after the first test changed tune to wanting to include fiji in the rugby championship..lol...a real chameleon
Clearly a blues man....how can u pick rts who hasn't even announced himself??
JK's selections are questionable and given his performance as a coach I wouldnt bet anything on them
With 18 games left before the RWC23, Fozzie has to develop and beddown a stable team.
1. De Groot
2. TauKei'aho
3. Tuungafasi
4. Retallick
5. Vaa’i
6. Ioane
7. Papalli
8. Savea
9. Webber
10. Barrett
11. Clarke
12. Barrett
13. Ioane
14. Reece
15. Jordan
16. Norris
17. Aumua
18. Williams
19. Lord
20. Jacobson
21. Blackadder
22. Smith A
23. DMAc
Where Whitelock??????
Everyone picking Clarke, or TVS need to throw away their pipes. Not even going to say much about JKs “form” 15. At least if he signed off JK we could all just assume he was “just kidding” because it’s a joke
What about Julian Savea??
what about him🥸
1.George bower
2.Codie Taylor
3.Ofa tuugafasi
4.Scott barrett
5.Sam whitelock
6.Ethan Blackadder
7.Dalton Papalii
8.Ardie savea
9.Arron smith
10.Richie mounga
11.Clarke
12.Tuivasa-sheck
13.Faiganuku
14.Sevu recce
15.Will Jordan
Reserve
16.dan Coles
17.Nepo laulala
18.Angus taavao
19. Akira ioane
20.hosikin sotutu
21.tj
22.Beauden Barrett
23.julian savea
Who's Tba
Tony Baloney-Adams. He's a great tight head from Stewart Island.
1.Nepo Laulala
2.codie Taylor
3.ofa tuugafasi
4.brody retail
5.sam whitelock
6.akira ioane
7.dalton papalii
8.ardie savea
9.arron smith
10.beauden barrett
11.caleb clark
12.roger tuivasa sheck
13.reiko ioane
14.will jordan
15.jordie Barrett
16.asafo aumua
17.george bower
18.angust taavao
19.scott barrett
20.sam cane
21.brad webber
22.richie mounga
23.Damian makenzie
Agree there needs to be a clean out. Some young hungry blood, balanced with some old grizzly old fellas. Players in position where at all possible.
1. DeCroot
2. Taukei’aho
3. Tu’unagfasi
4. Retallick
5. Whitelock
6. Ioane
7. Papaili
8. Savea - should be playing 7 but we got no better 8
9. Smith
10. Barrett
11. Clark
12. Goodhue
13. Fainga’anuku
14. Ioane
15. Jordan
16. Taylor
17. Karl
18. Newell
19. S. Barrett
20. Cane
21. Christie
22. Mo’unga
23. J. Barrett
Sowakula at 8??
Stick to the Breakdown J K you don't have a good record for coaching or selecting
Hahaha well said, thankfully he's not on the selection panel, he puts his mouth into action before he engages his brain.
1 ethan de groot
2 samisoni taukeiaho
3 ofa tuungafasi
4 brodie reatalick
5 sam whitelock
6 akira ioane/ tupou vaai
7 dalton papalli
8 ardie savea
9 arron smith
10 beauden barrett
11 sevu reece
12 leicester fainga'anuku
13 reiko ioane
14 will jordan
15 jordie barrett
Reserves
Falou fakatava
Richie mounga
Fletcher newell/tamati williams??
Sam cane/tom christie/Luke jacobson??
Alex nankivell
Asafo amua
Pita gus sowakula
Kurt Eklund/oli jagger,jermaine ainsley??
This is my rougly my squad that would picked n be much more powerful then last years squad,obviouly these are players that derserve it and are in form though the season to now
Thats got to be the worst backline i have seen named unfortunately,leicester fainga'anuku is one of the most standout and has top form,let alone his ball carrying breaking n bending defences something thats been missing since nonu and laumape left,also alex nankivell is playing better then havilli,hes so over rated as also caleb clarke,rts not ready just yet,dmk can stay in japan also,no way he derseves to be included
Yes, the time is right for a change. Do not hesitate the FRENCH are waiting, it is time.
We need a realistic appraisal based on a balance between experience and talent at the All Black level.
Certainly can't go with JK's backline based on individual performances so far. For example, BB needs to have at least an 85% game for 80 minutes.
Let's drop the fan clubs and be a bit more objective in making selections.
Exactly, if we do that Mounga doesn’t play!
Jk I think we need a good head in the backs and communicator to help his 1st 5, so Jack Goodhue at 2nd Reiko at 13 Beaudi at 10 Jordi at 11 Reece at 14 and the man with an open license Will Jordan who has also got a g8 rugby brain at 15. Forwards. Specialists in specialist positions. Ardie at 7 a mean no.6 and a monster at 8. Dalton on the bench as cover and huge impact. S.C ain't cutting it. Keep guys in their true positions and they will give you 110% because they are not out of position.
Sorry JK your history of fronting a winning Blues team failed miserably they never won a game, that can only be as a result of poor selection and/or combinations. Maybe stick to commentating its more your style
You may have forgotten that he was one of our best wingers.. And we all know, good players don't always make good coaches.. But he had a crack at it.. And before Macca arrived... It was many moons since any coach had tasted glory... I live in Auckland if you hadn't guessed.. 😁🇸🇻😁
Sorry JK, you were a great player but as a coach and selector you leave a lot to be desired. RTS is not ready, the fascination with DMK must end. CC is hugely overrated ( one good test against OZ and he was the new Jonah remember. Mounga has got to be there along with Goodhue. Sevu goes looking for work but there is nothing wrong with that. The forwards look quite solid.
Mounga has to be there?? The guy is a flat track bully. He’s never had a single dominant game for the ABs against a top team. He goes missing as soon as his forward pack is not dominant. When the tough gets going, Mounga goes missing😂
Really? DH is 10x TVS at the moment and actually needs internationals to progress. He looks bored. Fins up. What if . . .Tasman had their own super team? Spank Auckland all day... all day.
yeah - he's not too far off. Whitlock needs to find form or shift aside; the same for Taylor. TVS isn't ready (and is probably too small) and his defence seems suspect. Weber is a better hb than Christie (who is #3 at present) and I'm not convinced about Ta’avao; either DeGroot or a youngster