Ian Foster and Samuel Whitelock during an All Blacks training session. Photo / Photosport
Ian Foster and Samuel Whitelock during an All Blacks training session. Photo / Photosport
The ink had barely dried on Ian Foster's contract extension before several more major challenges emerged. This time they come in the form of three holes in his preferred All Blacks starting team.
Beauden Barrett, Scott Barrett and the choice between Brad Weber and TJ Perenara have been thrust intothe spotlight for the third Bledisloe Cup showdown in Perth next week.
The All Blacks will confirm their travelling squad – expected to be around 35 players initially – on Thursday before departing for next week's rescheduled test against the Wallabies at a sold-out Optus Stadium.
The backdrop to that test, which doubles as the Rugby Championship second round, was already tense following the emotive fallout from the decision to delay the All Blacks' departure last weekend.
While Foster's two-year contract extension garnered most attention on Tuesday, news that stand-in captain Sam Whitelock, Aaron Smith and Richie Mo'unga won't travel to Perth due to the imminent arrival of babies is arguably more significant in the short term.
Through five tests this year that trio are the All Blacks' leading lights.
In Sam Cane's absence Whitelock's leadership has come to the fore – his decision to down turn a shot at goal and kick for the corner just before half time in the opening Bledisloe that paid off with Sevu Reece scoring but one example.
Ian Foster and Samuel Whitelock during an All Blacks training session. Photo / Photosport
In the second test against Fiji in Hamilton, following another frantic, error-riddled start from the All Blacks, Whitelock gathered his troops on halfway and delivered instructions that ultimately paved the way for their 60-13 victory.
After locking away the Bledisloe with the record 57-22 win over the Wallabies at Eden Park, Foster and All Blacks forwards coach John Plumtree lauded Whitelock's leadership, detailing how he was instrumental in keeping the squad focused amid the swirling scheduling uncertainty and the looming prospect of 14 weeks away from home.
In this leadership capacity, let alone his influence reading opposition lineout cues, Whitelock's calming presence is irreplaceable for the All Blacks.
Whoever Foster hands the captaincy to next week – Ardie Savea, Codie Taylor and Beauden Barrett are leading candidates – they have big shoes to fill.
Aaron Smith's influence, likewise, remains peerless from a halfback perspective. Consider the killer blow he delivered in the second test against the Wallabies.
With the All Blacks down a man following Savea's sin binning, and leading by a slender six-point margin, Smith's dart down the blindside, his dummy to Will Jordan and inside ball to send Taylor in, singlehandedly broke Wallaby hearts after half time.
Mo'unga, too, has stepped up in a big way this season. After a dire first 30 minutes from both teams Mo'unga's 80-metre second half intercept in the first Bledisloe sparked the All Blacks into life. This season the Crusaders magician appears more settled, comfortable, in the test arena, despite being pitted in a head-to-head battle for the No 10 jersey with Beauden Barrett.
Losing the All Blacks' three best performers this season is a significant blow – not only for the next test against the Wallabies, either. As it stands, Queensland's hard quarantine stipulations will force any player who joins the All Blacks there to spend two-weeks in hotel quarantine, effectively taking them out of contention for the Pumas tests to follow.
It's not solely that time in isolation but the additional week needed following release from quarantine to rebuild a frame in order to be ready for test rugby.
Foster will maintain faith in his supreme depth but without Whitelock, Smith and Mo'unga, the All Blacks' task is infinitely tougher in the coming weeks.
Beauden Barrett will have a chance to start for the All Blacks. Photo / Photosport
Much of the focus will fall on Beauden Barrett's ability to fill the void and drive the team with authority. With clear runway between now and the Bledisloe III, this is his chance to step up and own what promises to be a hostile occasion.
To this point at least, Barrett's return from his lucrative sabbatical stint with Suntory in the Japanese Top League could be categorised as tentative. He's enjoyed one start at No 10 – his third in the past two years for the All Blacks after largely featuring at fullback – against Fiji in Dunedin where the All Blacks forwards failed to lay the desired platform.
Barrett has otherwise come off the bench in the four other tests for cameo appearances, as he did at the start of his career.
For the All Blacks to withstands the inevitable Wallabies onslaught, it's imperative Barrett thrives.
Whitelock's absence raises expectations for Brodie Retallick to further increase his physical presence that has grown with every outing. Scott Barrett will be favoured to partner Retallick in the second-row, with Patrick Tuipulotu likely to be injected off the bench.
The halfback decision will also be pivotal to shaping how the All Blacks will approach the Perth test. Brad Weber deserves a start after serving the Chiefs well this season, and his speed to the base suits the All Blacks up-tempo style more so than Perenara's combative nature.
Yet the All Blacks sprung a surprise last time out against the Wallabies by promoting Perenara ahead of Weber on the pine, despite the Hurricanes halfback featuring in club rugby on his return from Japan.
Perenara and Barrett know each other well, having guided the Hurricanes to their only title in 2016, and this may factor into selection. Of his 10 tests, Weber has only been handed one start against Tonga last month.
Blues halfback Finlay Christie is working his way back from a shoulder injury and is therefore unlikely to travel.
These selection headaches suggest Foster's first test since securing his contract extension will be a serious examination.
