Two months out from the start of New Zealand rugby's so-called Greatest Rivalry tour against South Africa, the depth chart in front of new All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie is the strongest it has been in years. That, at least, is the verdict of former World Cup-winning fly-half Stephen 'Beaver' Donald on the latest episode of The Aftermatch.
The regular season run-in to the All Black squad announcement is six weeks away. Asked for a state-of-the-nation, Donald did not hedge.
"I don't think we've been in such a strong position for a long, long time," he said. "We've got our All Black coach settled now. We know exactly who's going to be helping him, and I think we generally know what sort of attitude and mindset the All Blacks are going to play with. It's going to be at a higher pace and a higher speed level. When you start to look across Super and you start to name contenders, there's not many holes."
Donald walked through the pack first. The locks, he argued, are no longer a worry: "In the past, it was, oh, what happens when Brodie and Sam go? Well, you've got locks absolutely falling off the trees at the moment." He listed loose-forward depth across the Hurricanes, Crusaders and Chiefs and singled out the Hurricanes' Warner Dearns as transformational. "He is giving the Hurricanes a part of that type-five which I don't think they've ever had," Donald said. "And he is going to cause absolute havoc for the opposition lineout. A lot of locks will tell you, you can't teach height — and that's what he's got."
The biggest point of difference under Rennie, Donald suggested, will be tempo. He explicitly warned against trying to mirror the Springboks' bomb-squad and hybrid-back blueprint. "I saw some quotes from the great Sir Steve during the week, and he was talking about how South Africa is out there at the moment but it doesn't mean you have to copycat everything," Donald said. "We all have our different strengths as nations. Last year and the year before, we probably fell into thinking that's how you win Test rugby. If Dave Rennie brings something back to this All Black team, it'll be speed and tempo."
The addition of Ruben Love, Donald argued, has unlocked a long-overdue four-name fly-half conversation. "The emergence of Ruben Love has added a fourth name, a genuine name, to the big three that we already have in Richie and Beauden and Damian," he said.
Co-host Cursed pressed Donald to predict which Super Rugby franchise contributes the most All Blacks come squad announcement. After a lengthy run through every roster, Donald landed on the Chiefs and Crusaders edging the Hurricanes — but the most striking line was directed across the Tasman.
Asked about the shape of the Wallabies' fly-half debate, Donald named Western Force playmaker Ben Donaldson as the form Australian No. 10 — and used him to make a wider point about the Wallabies' finals threat. "They might not make the six," Donald said of the Force, "but I think if they did, they would be of more value to the finals than a couple of their compatriots, because I think they could be a problem. They've got a big experienced forward pack now who aren't going to shy away from anything. And currently, you'd have to say by head and shoulders, they've got Australia's best 10. Donaldson is playing so well at the moment. I don't think he's got any scars from the past, and I just think he has to be well and truly front and centre of the Wallabies' 10 chat."
Donald reserved special praise for Crusaders centre David Havili, who has just clocked up 150 Super Rugby caps. "What a beacon he's been for Crusaders," he said. "For a tough year — well, tough years — he was still out there fronting up, probably playing injured. He puts himself through absolute hell physically and just soldiers on. He could have easily taken offers to go elsewhere around the world but he stayed loyal as a Crusader, stayed loyal to New Zealand rugby. There might still be some time in the black jersey left for him because he's an incredible footballer."
Donald's bottom line was unusually buoyant for a former All Black previewing a Springbok tour. "State of the nation, four months out, we're looking good," he said. "I think we're in as good a spot as I think anyone could have imagined, really. I don't see any glaring issues."
