'You've got to see him': The two desperate All Blacks who need to play this week

After another impressive performance against the Wallabies in Melbourne the All Blacks back three combination of Mark Telea, Will Jordan and Beauden Barrett went a step closer to locking down the starting roles.

With time of the essence before the Rugby World Cup, it remains to be seen whether any changes will be made to the side for the final Bledisloe fixture in Dunedin this weekend.

Ex-All Black winger John Kirwan said it would be ‘pretty hard’ to disrupt the in-form trio while the debate around Beauden Barrett’s suitability at No 15 has been silenced.

“When they are playing like that, Will Jordan against the Springboks and Mark Telea this week, for me it’s pretty hard to change,” Kirwan said.

“I think we are not talking about Beauden anymore, we are talking about him just being the fullback.”

The former All Black still wanted to see Crusader Leicester Fainga’anuku with time running out for him to make a World Cup push.

If the back three is to be maintained, Fainga’anuku remains an option on the bench with his versatility at centre.

“We need to see Fainga’anuku, I know he’s been injured. Narawa, apparently he’s got a bit of a niggle injury so,” he said.

“I think Damian McKenzie goes [to the World Cup], but I think it is between those two and possibly Caleb [Clarke]. That’s why I’m asking are we actually going to play some of these guys?

“If you think about it, Caleb’s had an opportunity, the other two wingers have had an opportunity, at least one of them needs to be out there this week.

Points Flow Chart

New Zealand win +31

Time in lead

26

Mins in lead

52

32%

% Of Game In Lead

64%

45%

Possession Last 10 min

55%

0

Points Last 10 min

0

Caleb Clarke has been selected as the bench option for the last Tests which Kirwan described as ‘strange’ as he only covers the left wing.

“I thought it was a strange person to have on the bench and maybe no one else is available, just because like Sekope said, covering different positions, for me that as interesting,” Kirwan said.

“But I don’t expect to see him this week. He’s done everything he can to be selected. He got out there [in Melbourne] and did really well, he’s a different body type, he’s big, he’s strong.”

Sky Sport commentator Tony Johnson expected Leicester Fainga’anuku to be available this weekend with a calf injury due to come right, which could end up being a straight swap with Clarke for the No 23 jersey.

“He could do with a game, he really needs it. I wouldn’t mind seeing Shaun Stevenson out there either,” Johnson said.

“If someone does get injured, he might be one of the first cabs off the rank.”

After tipping a debut for Stevenson last week, Kirwan believed that the Chiefs fullback has to be seen this weekend to be a chance at a World Cup spot.

If he is not able to get on the field then he will stay home for the World Cup.

“I think with Shaun, the interesting thing and the best thing for him is he will be in front of the coaches every day,” Kirwan said.

“There was a discussion about his defence, that’s what I sort of heard they were worried about.

“So he gets into the All Blacks team, he goes and plays well for the Bs, was another good season [with the Chiefs].

“If he’s working on that and he’s in front of their eyes and they’ve got confidence that he is getting better at the stuff they want him to get better at.

“Then, you’ve got to see him. Off the bench or start him, you’ve got to see him otherwise he stays home.”