The All Blacks should throw a 'C' team out at Twickenham
The All Blacks‘ undefeated streak extended to 11 when they claimed a 23-20 victory over the Wallabies via a long range penalty goal from Richie Mo’unga’s boot in Dunedin.
If they continue that run and beat the Springboks at Twickenham in their last warm-up game, they will likely have to continue their undefeated streak to 19 to win the Rugby World Cup.
The 25-all draw with England last year might be a blessing, as it rules out having to set a new winning streak record for a for tier one teams, which currently stands at 18.
The record for an undefeated streak of tier one Test matches is 23, achieved by New Zealand over 1987-90, which would not be under threat this year.
Whilst beating France in the opening pool game is not a pre-requisite to progressing, a loss in Paris to start pool play would be an undesired way to start a World Cup campaign. A loss significantly dents the chances of winning the tournament as history shows.
If there was a perfect time to take a loss, it would be now against the Springboks, in a meaningless exhibition match on the eve of the Rugby World Cup to reset mentally and start the campaign fresh on zero.
Filling Twickenham will fill the coffers but nothing else. There is nothing to be gained in this match from a competitive stand point. Losing one or more central players to serious injury or suspension would be senseless.
Consider England, who will surely lose their captain and figurehead Owen Farrell to suspension after a red card in a warm-up fixture which will likely see him miss pool stage games.
What did he need to warm-up for? Are the pool stage games not adequate enough for a 100-Test veteran to find some form?
The irony now is, should he be suspended for the entirety of the pool stages, he will walk into a crunch quarter-final completely ‘cold’ having seen no game time for over a month.
Ardie Savea, all three Barrett brothers, Sam Whitelock, Rieko Ioane, Richie Mo’unga, Aaron Smith, Will Jordan, Brodie Retallick should all be in stands in their number ones for the Twickenham fixture.
That list could be extended too many more undervalued players like Samisoni Taukei’aho, Tyrel Lomax, Shannon Frizell who have immense value in specific roles.
There are very few top line starters that need game time to find form, with those that could do with the opportunity in the World Cup squad are slim.
There are returning players from injury who could do with starts, namely Crusaders Fletcher Newell and David Havili.
Then there are those that haven’t seen a lot of action like Anton Lienert-Brown, Cam Roigard and Luke Jacobson.
But that list is short.
The players who will have the most to gain from the Test are the ones left in New Zealand.
The chance to represent the All Blacks will mean more for them, with hunger to wear the black jersey and the freedom mentally knowing they are not participating at the World Cup.
Some of the All Blacks XV players should be flown over to London for that game to fill the necessary gaps. It is a win-win situation for the All Blacks if they do.
If they lose, it will end the streak and reset the squad mentally while if a ‘C’ team does surprise and carve up the Boks, it would be two birds with one stone.
They will have preserved the front line All Blacks while demoralising the Springboks.
To be humiliated in front of the English by an experimental team would effectively kill South Africa’s World Cup hopes before they even touch down in France.
There is no quick remedy for the psychological damage that will be done if they are laughed off the pitch by the Twickenham crowd.
Tortured souls do not go on to achieve greatness in the midst of despair, and subjecting any of their World Cup squad to that would come with disastrous consequences.
The All Blacks could very well play their best side and come away unscathed, but the outcome doesn’t minimise the foolish risk taken.
There is nothing to gain from the fixture from a playing perspective and as such appropriate measures should be taken.
Experimental All Black ‘C’ side:
1. Ofa Tu’ungafasi
2. Dane Coles
3. Fletcher Newell
4. Josh Lord
5. Tupou Vaa’i
6. Samipeni Finau
7. Du’Plessis Kirifi*
8. Luke Jacobson
9. Cam Roigard
10. Stephen Perofeta
11. Etene Nanai-Seturo*
12. David Havili
13. Anton Lienert-Brown (c)
14. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
15. Shaun Stevenson
Reserves
16. Ricky Riccitelli*
17. Ollie Norris*
18. Nepo Laulala
19. Quinten Strange*
20. Akira Ioane
21. Brad Weber
22. Fergus Burke*
23. Ruben Love*
*Debut
Comments on RugbyPass
Fiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
1 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
31 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
31 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
31 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to comments