All Blacks forwards looked weak against Ireland. Read is only there on reputation and lineout ability alone because he hasn't played anywhere near amazing for at least two years and lets be honest he looks pretty awful now. While a beast at super level Liam Squire has very little impact at the international level and it seems that both Frizzel and Fafita are more athletes rather than brute talents.
Does the answer to strike fear into international forward backs lay with the two bruising talents of Akira Ioane and Jackson Hemepo.
Akira Ioane is easily the most talented forward in New Zealand rugby. Powerful and dynamic it is almost shaping as the biggest crime story in NZ rugby history and a black mark against Hansen that he has invested no time into him while giving the likes of Whitelock, Frizzel and Fafita extended game time. Ioane has to be there. There are no ifs or buts. I would drop Read and Squire in a heartbeat for Ioane. To not give Ioane game time at this point is disgusting when there is nobody better in the country than him.
Jackson Hemepo is BIG TIME. The guy gives no F's and hits hard, runs hard and storms around the field causing all sorts of carnage. We have to find room for him in the AB's. He has mongrel and fear factor.
Hansen has gone to far wanting to play a fast skills game that the only option left when we flat out fail is for Aaron Smiths pathetic box kicks or Beauden Barretts poke kicks. I dont want to go on but surely Aaron Smiths time in the jersey is about done and Barrett cant remain at 10 anymore.
Time to cut the dead wood?