Stephen Donald claims that the All Blacks\u2019 second-row combination could become the best around despite the concerns they had in 2024.<\/b><\/p>\n
Between 2012 and 2023, New Zealand had an elite duo in the form of Brodie Retallick and Sam Whitelock, who will go down as one of the great partnerships in the sport\u2019s history.<\/p>\n
However, both players departed after the World Cup final defeat to the Springboks, potentially leaving them exposed in that position.<\/p>\n
New head coach Scott Robertson<\/a> had a readymade replacement at tighthead lock in the form of Scott Barrett, who was subsequently named captain, but there were doubts around the other slot, both in terms of personnel and whether a balanced partnership could be found.<\/p>\n Breakthrough year for Vaa\u2019i<\/p>\n Robertson initially picked Patrick Tuipulotu alongside Barrett, but Tupou Vaa\u2019i emerged during the Rugby Championship and became a key player for the All Blacks<\/a>.<\/p>\n Vaa\u2019i had earned plenty of caps going into last season but it wasn\u2019t until 2024 when he really established himself at Test<\/a> level.<\/p>\n It therefore makes the call remarkably easy as to who should be in the second-row this year, according to Donald.<\/p>\n \u201cBarrett and Vaa\u2019i start, and then obviously big Paddy (Tuipulotu) coming off the bench,\u201d he said, before making a big claim about the quality of that combination.<\/p>\n \u201cWith Vaa\u2019i and Barrett, you\u2019ve potentially got the best locking partnership in the world, with how Vaa\u2019i has gone this year, and obviously we know the quality of Scott Barrett,\u201d Donald added.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat they can do, I\u2019m pretty excited about what you\u2019ve got there.\u201d<\/p>\n There was also a discussion about who else could be in the mix and fellow former All Blacks fly-half Aaron Cruden has been impressed by youngster Fabian Holland at the Highlanders.<\/p>\n \u201cIf I could throw, not a bolter but a fourth name, in there, and with an eye to develop, Fabian Holland for me would have to be there or thereabouts,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n