Du'Plessis Kirifi was a workhorse for the Hurricanes this season. Photo / Photosport
Du'Plessis Kirifi was a workhorse for the Hurricanes this season. Photo / Photosport
The North v South may have been postponed for a week, but there were still plenty of talking points after the two squads were named. Who was unlucky to miss out? Christopher Reive highlights five unlucky exclusions.
Du'Plessis Kirifi – Hurricanes
Du'Plessis Kirifi was a workhorse for the Hurricanes this season. Photo / Photosport
Kirifi finds himself the unlucky exclusion in a Northsquad full of form loose forwards. No one is going to argue the selections of Dalton Papalii, Akira Ioane, Lachlan Boshier, Hoskins Sotutu and Ardie Savea, but at the same time no one would argue had Kirifi been selected ahead of one of them. The young Hurricanes No 7 was damaging this season, making 95 tackles in the campaign – second only to Highlanders and South pairing Dillon Hunt (100) and Shannon Frizell (98). He also showed his ability to get over the ball and secure turnovers, and showed plenty of skill on attack. At 23 years old, he has plenty of rugby left in him and his time at the next level will surely come.
Marino Mikaele Tu'u was among the best attacking forwards in Super Rugby Aotearoa. Photo / Photosport
Mikaele Tu'u is in the same boat as Kirifi. The barnstorming No 8 turned a lot of heads during the Super Rugby Aotearoa campaign with his mobility, strength and workrate. He was among the top 10 in metres carried (351) - the top forward in that category - took the third-most carries in the competition (94), had 11 clean breaks and led the competition in offloads (11). But, playing his provincial rugby for Hawke's Bay and being eligible for the North Island in the North v South clash, Mikaele Tu'u is a victim of the island's depth in his position.
Mitchell Brown – Chiefs
Mitchell Brown led Super Rugby Aotearoa in lineouts won. Photo / Photosport
Given the lack of depth in the locking department in New Zealand, it's a surprise to Brown missing out on a spot in the North squad. The selectors saw the match as an opportunity to get Super Rugby rookie Tupou Vaa'i into the camp for some experience instead, and you can understand the reasoning as they look to blood the next generation. However, Brown's play in Super Rugby Aotearoa was worthy of recognition with selection; highlighted by the 27-year-old finishing the season as the competition's top lineout target, bringing in 29 throws.
Otere Black – Blues
Otere Black was reliable in the No10 jersey for the Blues. Photo / Photosport
Like Brown, Black might be a victim of circumstance. The North squad has just one first five-eighth – Black's Blues teammate Beauden Barrett. Barrett spent most of his season at fullback playing alongside Black, however All Blacks coach Ian Foster has said he sees Barrett as a first five-eighth and is using the opportunity if the North v South game to give Barrett a good run at No 10. Black was a reliable presence for the Blues during their strong Super Rugby Aotearoa campaign and came into his own as a leader on the field. But with Foster wanting to see Barrett at No 10 and saying it's a two-horse race between him and Richie Mo'unga, selecting another No 10 in the North would be somewhat redundant.
Luke Jacobson – Chiefs
Luke Jacobson had an unfortunate run of injuries in 2020. Photo / Photosport
Yes, Jacobson missed pretty much all possible rugby he could have played with the Chiefs this season – both pre and post-Covid-19 – due to various injuries. However, given he was fit enough to be selected it was somewhat surprising to not see him included in the North squad even if just for the benefits that come with being in that sort of environment given the next All Blacks squad will likely come from it. One of the country's best, most damaging tacklers when fit, Jacobson will have to force his way back into the conversation while turning out for Waikato in the Mitre 10 Cup.
NORTH SQUAD
Hookers: Asafo Aumua (Wellington), Ash Dixon (Hawke's Bay) and Kurt Eklund (Auckland).
