Sevu Reece was back to his best against Fiji. Photo / Photosport
Sevu Reece was back to his best against Fiji. Photo / Photosport
OPINION:
The All Blacks' second test victory in Dunedin proved to be a useful voyage of discovery despite the performance being one that was slow to develop and not one which appeared to produce obvious heroes.
But it seemingly delivered key findings about various personnel, as from saying after thedefeat of Tonga that he couldn't remember a time when All Blacks selection had been so open, coach Ian Foster said he is now closing in on his preferred XV.
There were a few players, perhaps not emphatically or definitively, who advanced their cause against Fiji.
Top of that list was Sevu Reece, who provided a timely reminder that he is a player with an incredible ability to beat the first defender and open a defensive line with electric footwork.
It's an invaluable skill because he doesn't need acres of space in which to wind up and even against the tightest rush defence, Reece has that potential to wriggle free and spark a meaningful surge.
What's also maybe been missed is that Reece has enjoyed a strong year, with Foster making reference to that before the clash in Dunedin.
Sevu Reece was back to his best against Fiji. Photo / Photosport
Last year wasn't a great one for Reece, but he came back to Super Rugby in 2021 with more confidence, a higher work rate and a touch more patience and maturity to ensure that he's not now trying to make miracles happen every time he gets the ball.
David Havili was another climber, shrugging off a nervous opening where he fell over his own feet and threw a perfect pass to his Fijian opposite, to finish the game with key questions answered.
He showed the requisite physical directness Foster is after in his No 12 and made a few strong decisions about when to back himself and when to distribute.
Brodie Retallick didn't have to prove himself so much as give an indication of how far away he might be from delivering his best.
He probably surpassed expectations by firstly managing to get through a full 80 minutes and secondly, by producing a performance that made him recognisable as Brodie Retallick.
If he can get through another 60-minutes plus in Hamilton, he should have provided enough evidence he's ready to start against the Wallabies in early August.
While those three took a step forward, there were others who maybe cleaned up the picture forming in Foster's head about his top side, by taking a step backwards, or at least not doing enough to press their claim.
Hoskins Sotutu fends off Mesulame Kunavula. Photo / Photosport
Hoskins Sotutu struggled to impose himself, something which has been the story of his year. So impressive and involved last year with the Blues, Sotutu has found it harder in 2021 to be the same influential figure.
Increasingly, it feels like he's the sort of No 8 who will excel off the bench in a fast and loose Bledisloe test, but may not have the right skill-set for a bruising, grinding encounter against the Boks.
Shannon Frizell was anonymous for much of the game and while that may have been because he hasn't seen action in several weeks due to injury, it may also be a continuation of a pattern where he excels in Super Rugby but can't replicate that intensity in the test arena.
George Bridge, in his second game back after a long injury lay-off, didn't look much, if any sharper than he did the week before, while both Jordie and Beauden Barrett were guilty of kicking too much ball away and not taking a strong enough tactical grip on the game.
Based on what has been seen in the first two tests of the year, it would be difficult to justify Jordie starting ahead of Damian McKenzie at fullback and Beauden being picked at No 10 instead of Richie Mo'unga.
Beauden, in particular, having spent the club season in Japan while Mo'unga was again superb for the Crusaders, needed to produce something more compelling than he did.
There was a reticence about him at times: a willingness to facilitate the movement of others, rather than back himself which he so brilliantly does when he's confident.
He's an astonishingly gifted footballer and a world class No 10, but at the moment, Mo'unga has the more deserving case to start.
This Saturday's test in Hamilton could yet sway the thinking in a number of areas – with the probable return of Anton Lienert-Brown and Ardie Savea likely to significantly shape Foster's thinking on his preferred loose trio and midfield combination.
