Former All Black Liam Messam believes blindside flanker Akira Ioane has become the perfect addition to the side’s loose forward trio.
The 27-year-old earned his first cap for the national team in 2020 after a strong season of Super Rugby with the Blues, and having worked on his fitness in recent years, has become a staple in the All Blacks lineup.
Messam has been “impressed” with Ioane’s growth across the 2022 season, believing he has answered the side's calls for a competent No.6 after years of struggling with consistency in the role.
“What I like about Akira is that he’s growing into that role,” Messam said on SENZ’s The Run Home.
“He’s got something that nobody else has, but we’ve all seen in Super Rugby and in 7’s what he can do with the ball.
“What’s impressed me this year about Akira is his off-the-ball stuff, his physicality, the things that people don’t get to see that he’s obviously gone away and worked hard at.
“Every year we’re sort of pressed in that position … (but) it’s good to see Shannon Frizell back in there too.
“I quite like Scott Barrett in there too; big, tough Taranaki man flying into things.”
While the All Blacks failed to ignite anything special across their recent match against South Africa, Ioane provided crucial cover in defence several times, boasting a 100 per cent tackle rate across his 55-minute appearance.
The loose forward is likely to start once again this weekend as the All Blacks take on South Africa for the final time at Ellis Park on Saturday night (Sunday morning NZST).