All Blacks to make major changes for third France Test
All Blacks will ring the changes for final French test, double down on Highlanders, and hand starting test debuts to Shannon Frizell and Jack Goodhue, and potential test debuts to Jackson Hemopo and Richie Mo’unga.
After a muddling effort in the second test in Wellington, the All Blacks look set for a heady dose of rotation for the dead rubber at Dunedin’s Forsyth Barr Stadium this weekend with six changes expected in the starting fifteen and five more on the bench.
Of major interest will be the starting debut of Tasman and Highlanders loose forward Shannon Frizell who was the noted bolter in the squad when it was named earlier in the month. Frizell looks likely to take the number 6 jersey for the match in place of the injured Liam Squire.
It is a rapid promotion for Frizell who tells the story that when he called his family to tell them he had made the All Blacks squad, they all thought he was joking. It will be no joke this Saturday, though, when he runs out on his home Super Rugby pitch for his first Test start.
He will have plenty of firepower in front of him, with the front five expected to be unchanged from the first two Tests. That means the all-Crusader pack of Joe Moody, Codie Taylor, Owen Franks, Sam Whitelock – the captain – and Scott Barrett. Barrett has been a workhorse for the team over the first two Tests of the series while Codie Taylor did not enjoy the freedom last week that he most certainly did at Eden Park.
? "We weren't satisfied with the result" All Blacks Assistant Coach Ian Foster says the #AllBlacks are ready to finish the #SteinlagerSeries on a high against France.
?? Limited tickets are still available to the third Test in Dunedin here: https://t.co/CwLLq4LXHf pic.twitter.com/kERpv1qjaY
— All Blacks (@AllBlacks) June 19, 2018
Another Highlander, Luke Whitelock, will provide Frizell with some much-needed familiarity when he once again starts at number 8, while Ardie Savea gets a rare test start on the openside, in the same week his brother Julian has confirmed his departure to France. It is understood Ardie Savea is also fielding offers from French clubs, notably Pau, and may well look to take a deal at the conclusion of the next Super Rugby season.
There was plenty of debate about the best position for Damian McKenzie after last week’s first start at first five, but the All Blacks selectors have kept their faith in the diminutive Chief and he will once again line up alongside Aaron Smith in the halves. Interestingly, he will have specialist back-up on the bench with Richie Mo’unga in line to get a first Test cap. The Crusaders pivot has played just one game for the All Blacks – a 28-23 win over a French XV on last year’s November tour.
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The midfield will be an all-new combination with Ryan Crotty and Anton Lienert-Brown expected to be replaced by the returning Sonny Bill Williams and the impressive Jack Goodhue. Williams has recovered sooner than expected from keyhole surgery while Goodhue has once again been a rock for the Crusaders at both second five and centre.
Changes, too, in the back three with another Highlander, Waisake Naholo set to return to the Test match arena on the right wing allowing Ben Smith to shift back to fullback. A horses for courses combination if ever there was one, Naholo and Smith have a proven track record at Forsyth Barr and a great understanding of each other’s positional strengths. Rieko Ioane again will start on the left wing.
As for the bench, Karl Tu’inukuafe and Ofa Tu’ungafasi cover the prop forward positions, while Liam Coltman seems the preferred option as replacement hooker. His selection and that of Maori All Black Jackson Hemopo as a potential debutant brings the total number of home town heroes in the match day squad to seven.
Rounding out the bench will be veterans Matt Todd and TJ Perenara, with Jordie Barrett set to make an impact from the pine after back-to-back starts.
Injuries have obviously had an impact on a number of selection decisions but with the series already won, there is a willingness here to give the wider squad some valuable minutes before the Rugby Championship begins. It will be interesting to see how the rejigged line-up fares after the team’s motivation came in for some internal questioning during the week.
The debutants will need no motivation under the roof, and nor will the Highlanders in the side. Perhaps that is just what the selectors are banking on as they look to sweep the series on Saturday.
Comments on RugbyPass
Oh wow… “But as La Rochelle proved in winning in Cape Town this season, a cross-continental away assignment need not spell the end of days.” La Rochelle actually proved quite the opposite. After traveling to Cape town and back they (back-to-back and current champs) got mercilessly thumped the next week. If travel is not the reason, why else would a full-strength powerhouse like La Rochelle get dumped on their @r$e$ one week later?
26 Go to commentsYou know he can land a winning conversion after the full time siren is up. (Even if it takes two attempts.)
5 Go to commentsA very insightful article from Jake. I would love to know how South African’s feel about their move to Europe. Do you prefer playing in Europe or want to go back to Super Rugby?
2 Go to commentspure fire
1 Go to commentsA very well thought out summary of all the relevant complications…agree with your ”refer the Cricket Test versus 20/20 comparison”. More also definitely doesn't necessarily mean better!
2 Go to commentsMust be something when you are only 19 y.o and both NZ and France want you. Btw he wasn’t the only new caledonian in french U20 as Robin Couly also lived in Noumea until 17. Hope he’s successful wherever he chooses to play.
7 Go to comments“Several key players in the Stade Rochelais squad are in their thirties” South Africans are going to hate the implications of that comment!
5 Go to commentsI know Leinster did a job on La Roche but shortly after HT Leinster were 30-13 ahead of them and at a similar time Toulouse were trailing Exeter. At 60 mins Leinster were 27 ahead but after 67 mins Toulouse were only 19 ahead before Exeter collapsed. That’s heavier scoring by Leinster against the Champions. I think people are looking at Toulouses total a little too much. I also think Northhampton are in with a real chance, albeit I’d put Leinster as favourites. If Leinster make the final I expect them to win by more than ten and with control.
5 Go to commentsHey Nick, your match analysis is decent but the top and tail not so much, a bit more random. For a start there’s a seismic difference in regenerating any club side over a test team. EJ pretty much had to urinate with the appendage he’d been given at test level whereas club success is impacted hugely by the budget. Look no further than Boudjellal’s Toulon project for a perfect example. The set ups at La Rochelle and Leinster are like chalk and cheese and you are correct that Leinster are ahead. Leinster are not just slightly ahead though, they are light years ahead on their plans, with the next gen champions cup team already blooded, seasoned and developing at speed from their time manning the fort in the URC while the cream play CC and tests. They have engineered a strong talent conveyor belt into their system, supported by private money funnelled into a couple of Leinster private schools. The really smart move from Leinster and the IRFU however is maximising the Irish Revenue tax breaks (tax relief on the best 10 years earnings refunded at retirement) to help keep all of their stars in Ireland and happy, while simultaneously funding marquee players consistently. And of course Barrett is the latest example. But in no way is he a “replacement for Henshaw”, he’s only there for one season!!! As for Rob Baxter, the best advice you can give him is to start lobbying Parliament and HMRC for a similar state subsidy, but don’t hold your breath… One thing Cullen has been very smart with is his coaching team. Very quickly he realised his need to supplement his skills, there was talk of him exiting after his first couple of years but he was extremely shrewd bringing in Lancaster and now Nienaber. That has worked superbly and added a layer that really has made a tangible difference. Apart from that you were bang on the money… 😉😂
5 Go to commentsNot sure exactly what went wrong for him at Glasgow but it’s pretty clear he ain’t Franco’s cup of tea. Suspect he would have been better served heading out of Scotland around the same time as Finn, Hoggy and Jonny!
1 Go to commentsBulls disrespected the Northampton supporters and the competition. Decide quickly, fully in or out.
26 Go to commentsI wonder if Parling was ever on England’s radar as a coach? Obviously Borthwick is a great lineout coach, but I do worry he might be taking on too much as both head coach and forwards coach.
1 Go to commentsJason Jenkins has one cap. When Etzebeth was his age he had over 80 caps. Experience matters. He will never amount to what Etzebeth has because he hasn’t been developed as an international player.
2 Go to commentsSays much about the player picking this gig over the easier and bigger rewards offered to him in Japan. Also says a lot about the state sanctioned tax benefits the Irish Revenue offers pro rugby players, with their ten highest earning years subject to an additional 40% tax relief and paid as a lump sum, in cash, at retirement. Certainly helps Leinster line up the financial ducks in a row to fund marquee signings like this!!! No other union anywhere in world rugby benefits from this kind of lucrative financial sponsorship from their government…
5 Go to commentsTrue Jordie could earn a lot more in Japan. But by choosing Leinster he’ll be playing with 1 of the best clubs in the world and can win a champions cup and URC…..
6 Go to commentsThanks for that Marshy, noticed you didn't say who is gonna win it. We know who ain't gonna win it - your Crusaders outfit. They've gone from having arguably the best Super Rugby first five ever, to having a clutch of rookies. Hurricanes all the way!
1 Go to commentsGeez you really have to question the NRLs ability to produce players of quality. Its pathetic. Dont the 25mil in Aus produce enough quality womens players. Sad.
1 Go to commentsBulls fan here, and agree 100% with the conclusion (and little else) of this article. SA sides should absolutely f-off from the champs cup until we get fair scheduling, equal support for travel arrangements and home semis. You know, like all the european teams get.
26 Go to commentsI’m yet to see why Grace would be an ABs contender. He’s pedestrian and lacks the dominance required of a top flight 8.
11 Go to commentsGee my Highlanders were terrible. They have gone backwards since the start of the season. The trouble began when we left Millar behind to prep as the 10 against the Brumbies and he was disconnected from the team that came back from Aussie. We rested Patchell for that game and we blew an avalanche of ball in good attacking positions in the 1st half. Against the Rebels we seem to of gone into a pod system with forwards hanging off from the breakdown leaving Fakatava to secure our ball!
80 Go to comments