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All Blacks fans wondering if XV versus Wales would have beaten England

By Josh Raisey
Brad Weber, Ryan Crotty and Rieko Ioane of the All Blacks sing the national anthem before the quarter final win over Ireland (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

Steve Hansen has named his All Blacks team for their final match at the World Cup – the bronze final against Wales this Friday – and it sees a number of players set to play their final match for their country. 

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Captain Kieran Read starts his 127th and last Test and he is joined in the starting XV by Sonny Bill Williams, Ryan Crotty and Ben Smith, with Matt Todd on the bench. All are playing their final New Zealand game. 

Williams was on the bench against England and while Crotty and Smith have barely featured at RWC, the three of them add 187 caps to the starting XV and form a vastly more experienced backline alongside the returning Reiko Ioane. 

Hansen has preferred to select on form throughout this RWC, with George Bridge and Sevu Reece largely starting on the wings, and Anton Lienert-Brown and Jack Goodhue starting in the centres (although it would be unfair to say Lienert-Brown is inexperienced with 42 caps). 

But with the likes of Dane Coles and Sam Cane also starting this week in the pack after being on the bench for the semi-final loss go England, this is a much more experienced team. 

(Continue reading below…)

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Barring a few players, this has roughly been the group that Hansen has looked to over the past four years and while many have not been starters this RWC, fans on social media are questioning whether this team would have performed better against the English last Saturday. 

This is the eternal question as to whether coaches should pick players based on form or experience. While this is purely hypothetical, the players with more caps under their belt may have known how to overcome an insatiable England side. 

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Of course, hindsight is a wonderful thing and it would be fair to say that some of these players in the XV versus Wales went to Japan purely on reputation rather than anything they have shown for the All Blacks this year. 

But it has not stopped fans from wondering ‘what if’. This is what has been said: 

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A strong riposte is expected this Friday from a wounded New Zealand team and with the added emotion of it being the final match for Hansen and a number of his players, an injury-plagued Wales will need to be on top form. 

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Trevor 1 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

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Bull Shark 5 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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