In the build-up to a significant Bledisloe Cup encounter, former All Blacks captain Kieran Read has pinpointed Peter Lakai as the cornerstone around which New Zealand should construct their back-row. This endorsement comes just in time for the clash against Australia at Eden Park in Auckland. With the opener followed by a match at Sydney's Accor Stadium on October 17, the All Blacks are looking to recalibrate and extend their 53-game unbeaten streak at their fortress, Eden Park.
With key players like Ardie Savea and Luke Jacobson out with injuries, New Zealand's back-row faces a reshuffle. Lakai, initially a flanker, stepped up as number eight in recent tests, showing his versatility. "Our loose forwards aren’t a general weakness for us. It’s potentially where we’re at as a team right now," Read explained in The Good, The Bad, & Rugby Australia & New Zealand podcast.
“We don’t quite know our best team and that’s probably a symptom of maybe the guys haven’t quite stepped up but also, they’re not quite getting long enough time to kind of nail their position and go, ‘This is how we play, it’s my role in the team and that’s what we do’.”
Despite the uncertainty in the loose forwards, Read believes in the potential of the current mix, which includes Shannon Frizell, Simon Parker, Anton Segner, Ethan Blackadder, and Wallace Sititi, with Tupou Vaa’i offering an additional option from the second row.
Read highlighted the contrast with Australia's back-row, led by Harry Wilson with flankers Fraser McReight and Rob Valetini, which he describes as more settled. "I feel our loose forwards have the ability to be a better loose forward trio and better players potentially when you look at them individually but sometimes it’s putting that combination together which is the most important thing, so it will be really interesting to see what they do," Read added.
Read emphasized the pivotal role of Lakai, advocating for his assignment at number eight around which the trio should revolve. He also acknowledged the return of Segner from injury, noting his impressive performances prior to his setback. "For me, Lakai is the guy who starts at number eight and we probably build our loose forward trio around him," he professed.
Read's insights not only shed light on the strategic considerations for the All Blacks but also underline the critical nature of team dynamics and player readiness, crucial for New Zealand as they aim to maintain their dominance at Eden Park against their trans-Tasman rivals.
