The big news this week that shocked the rugby world was All Blacks and Blues centre Rieko Ioane’s announcement regarding a move to Irish club Leinster for the 2026 season.
Ioane took a sabbatical option in his New Zealand Rugby contract, and will be back playing for the Blues in 2027.
Ioane will follow in Jordie Barrett’s footsteps, who has spent the 2025 season at Leinster.
With the All Blacks squads for the home series against France and the Rugby Championship fast approaching, there’s growing discussion in New Zealand about whether Jordie Barrett will make the first squad of the year, and if he does, whether he’ll be in Scott Robertson’s starting 15.
Ex-Highlander Joey Wheeler admits that even though Barrett will be in the squad, he doesn’t think that his United Rugby Championship form for Leinster should guarantee starting selection.
“I don’t think you need to lump that sort of pressure on him in terms of starting, but he’d be in the 23 for sure,” Wheeler said on The Breakdown.
“I just think when you talk about guys like Jordie Barrett, he’s in the ilk of a Sam Cane, a Beauden Barrett, where class is permanent. These guys just understand Test match rugby, they know what it takes mentally, physically, to get themselves in a position to perform on the highest stage.
“This guy is world class, there’s no questions about it. He’s in your squad, you’re picking him every day of the week. I don’t think you start him because I like your point about rewarding form in New Zealand.”
23-Test former All Black Stephen Donald believes that the 2024 vice captain of the All Blacks is a lock for the playing 23, but not necessarily in the starting 15.
“Would I pick him? Yes in the squad, of course, he’s the vice captain, but would I start him? Not necessarily because nothing to do with his form, but more of a reward for the boys who have been in Super Rugby and have played well all year.”
Former All Black Jeff Wilson agrees with both Wheeler and Donald, saying that the players in Super Rugby should be rewarded for their form.
“But ultimately, the fact that guys are hardened having gone through a Super Rugby campaign, and they would have come off the back of what’s going to be a challenging playoff series.
“He’ll have to still come back and prove himself once again, and he’s probably a player who would look at his 2024 and go, I’d like to have a bigger impact on the All Blacks in 2025 than I did in that season.”
Another name that is in the midfield mix for this World Cup cycle is Leicester Fainga’anuku, who returns from a 2-year stint in France.
Wheeler explains that Fainga’anuku will need to play NPC before being selected for the All Blacks in 2025, after not being on a New Zealand Rugby contract while being overseas.
“He has to play first class rugby for a team before he’s allowed to be selected, same as TJ Perenara, same as Damian McKenzie. They didn’t pick Damian at all that year, when he came back from Suntory and Japan, so there is a risk that they might do that as well.”
Donald is quick to point out that Fainga’anuku isn’t a guaranteed selection for the All Blacks, and will have to perform in the Bunnings NPC competition to be picked.
“His Crusaders form is brilliant, I’m a big fan of what he does. But also he’s been away for two years, It’s two seasons.
“Fainga’anuku has been in France and I mean we can all say there’s a lot of money in there. But the reality is, there’s about three or four good teams in it, and the rest of it is marginal.
“If you’ve ever watched it, it’s not the same pace as Super Rugby so he’ll play a full NPC.”
