Last chance saloon for some All Blacks as Bledisloe Cup goes on the line in Auckland
The All Blacks know what is required of them come Saturday night when they face the Wallabies at Eden Park.
Win, and they retain the Bledisloe Cup for yet another year. Lose, and the gigantic trophy will be back in Australian hands for the first time since 2002.
It’s a predicament they find themselves in after a dismal showing in Perth four nights ago, when they shipped a record number of points and lost by an equal-record margin in their 47-26 defeat at Optus Stadium.
The well-documented red card to Scott Barrett undoubtedly hindered the New Zealanders’ output in Western Australia, but his dismissal doesn’t hide the fact that the Kiwis missed a whopping 37 tackles and were generally poor throughout.
Their severe defensive lapses weren’t their only woes, as subpar ball retention and costly handling errors came back to bite the All Blacks, who faced a Wallabies side which was in unexpectedly clinical form.
Since then, All Blacks hooker Dane Coles has admitted his side was too complacent in the lead-up to the loss, meaning a significant mental change is required for this week’s match.
“It could have been that we took it a bit for granted, if we’re being honest. We spoke about that,” Coles revealed earlier in the week.
“As an All Black, that’s pretty tough to take but we’re lucky enough we get another opportunity to prove to everyone in New Zealand how much this means to us.
“The best way to describe [the post-match review] was just raw and honest. A lot of it was about our attitude, which was the hurtful thing.
“They brought a real hunger and they’re pretty desperate to get the Bledisloe Cup. We need to embrace and find what it means to be an All Black.”
A switch in mental attitude and a desire to front up physically are both important changes that the players need to make to reverse last week’s result, but what will be particularly interesting will be the changes made by the selectors on Thursday morning.
That’s when the All Blacks’ match day squad for the Bledisloe Cup decider is announced, and although Hansen described last week’s side as the strongest possible team he could have fielded, some changes should be made following the capitulation in Perth.
Don’t expect too many new faces in the front row, though.
Joe Moody and Owen Franks are by far the most experienced props in the squad, which is a trait that should prove to be vital as the All Blacks look to extend their prolonged winning run.
Hansen has previously spoken of his desire to have mobile props within his ranks, which was ultimately the reason behind the omission of fan favourite Karl Tu’inukuafe, so the inclusion of Franks has stumped some fans.
He’s incredibly physical on defence, at the breakdown and in the scrum, but lugging his 1.85m, 117kg frame around the park with ball in hand isn’t exactly a strength of his.
However, with 108 caps to his name, he is 69 tests clear of Moody, who is New Zealand’s second-most capped prop by a fair distance.
So, even though Franks doesn’t entirely fit Hansen’s criteria of what’s expected from a big man, his decade-long foray in international rugby should serve the All Blacks well, while the anticipated return of the industrious Nepo Laulala on the bench should counterbalance Franks’ skillset.
Ofa Tu’ungafasi should also come back into the reserves after missing out last week, as Atu Moli’s brief but underwhelming display won’t have pleased Hansen and co.
Who starts at hooker out of Dane Coles and Codie Taylor is a mystery to all those bar the selectors, but one thing that is certain is that a fixture of this magnitude should be enough to keep Liam Coltman out of action until the Tonga test in just over three weeks’ time.
The 29-year-old hasn’t featured since the 20-16 win over Argentina nearly a month ago so is in need of game time.
In saying that, his position as the squad’s third-choice hooker is secure following the culling of Asafo Aumua, so the All Blacks can afford to hold off on thrusting him into action until their final pre-World Cup warm-up match in Hamilton.
Scott Barrett’s three-week ban means he will join the injured Brodie Retallick in being unavailable this week, leaving a slot open in the starting side for one of either Jackson Hemopo or Patrick Tuipulotu.
The latter started against Argentina, and was then named on the bench last week, indicating that he is the preferred option ahead of Hemopo in the national set-up.
That could change, though, as Tuipulotu was virtually non-existent in Buenos Aires, and didn’t do a whole lot better when given another chance off the pine last week.
With only 23 minutes to his name in test rugby this year and still very much in the race for a spot in the World Cup squad, Hemopo needs to be included and handed some substantial game time to prove his worth.
He hasn’t been granted the same opportunities that Tuipulotu has had over the past few weeks, but seeing how the Blues second-rower has squandered his chances, now seems the right time to see what Hemopo can muster when called upon in the last audition before the final World Cup squad is named.
The potentially dynamite loose forward trio of Ardie Savea, Sam Cane and Kieran Read wasn’t given a fair run last week in its debut appearance at test level due to Barrett’s red card, so it would make sense for Hansen to give it another run this week.
If fit, Luke Jacobson should be given a license to wreak havoc off the bench as he did against the Pumas in his test debut.
Not selected against South Africa and then ruled out of the first Australia clash due to concussion, the 22-year-old hasn’t had much of a look in despite his promising 23-minute performance in South America, where he gobbled up tackles at will.
Matt Todd was instead utilised as the loose forward replacement in those two games, but with his place in the World Cup squad assured, that spot should be vacated for someone, such as Jacobson, who is still pushing his case to travel to Japan.
The same can be said of Vaea Fifita, who, like Tuipulotu, hasn’t made the most of his chances in the Rugby Championship, but remains in the squad due to his athletic prowess and versatility at lock and blindside flanker.
It could be either him or Tuipulotu who occupies the No 19 jersey this week, and whichever of the pair makes the cut in the match day squad should be a nod as to who has the inside running for the World Cup.
In the backs, Aaron Smith is still by far the best halfback in the country thanks to his wicked pass which the All Blacks springboard their attacking play off.
So effective is his passing that there was a noticeable change in the pace of the game when he and TJ Perenara subbed out for each other against the Springboks and Wallabies.
For all that Perenara offers defensively and as a ball runner, his core role of passing as a halfback isn’t up to the standard that Smith sets, which might be enough to tempt Hansen into giving the livewire Brad Weber a run in the second half.
He was in inspired form for the Chiefs throughout Super Rugby, and has only had 12 minutes of game time against Argentina this year.
Similarly to Coltman, his spot in the squad as the third-choice option in his position is safe, but if the All Blacks want their attack to thrive off front-foot ball like it has done under the guidance of Smith, then it wouldn’t be a bad choice to chuck Weber into the mix.
Who plays directly outside of Smith has been a point of debate recently, and that’s unlikely to change this week.
All Blacks assistant coach Ian Foster said on Tuesday that he believed Beauden Barrett was one of the best players on the park from fullback last week as the Richie Mo’unga-Beauden Barrett dual playmaking experiment failed to register its first victory from two outings.
It was a surprising claim given that the likes of Savea, Read and Anton Lienert-Brown were the standouts for the All Blacks in that match, but more notably, it alluded that the selectors will continue to persist with that 10-15 trial.
Therefore, it’s unlikely that Hansen will revert Barrett back to his favoured first-five position this week.
However, with Ben Smith failing to find his feet with the All Blacks so far after playing two of his three tests on the wing, it may be a necessity to make that change against Hansen’s will.
Smith is one of the most important and influential figures in the All Blacks’ set-up, and if he isn’t playing well, it often means the All Blacks are doing poorly as well.
The easiest way to solve that dilemma would be to push him back into the No 15 jersey, where he is so potent on attack and under the high ball, which would prompt the move of Barrett back to first-five, as well as the demotion of Mo’unga to the bench.
Either George Bridge, Sevu Reece or Braydon Ennor would take Smith’s role on the wing, but with just a shared outing between them at Estadio Jose Amalfitani, one would think that Reece and Ennor would both be considered ahead of Bridge, who has played the last two tests.
Just as inexperienced yet talented as each other, it wouldn’t matter who started out of the Crusaders duo, although Ennor’s ability to cover the midfield could come into consideration.
That, combined with the fact that Reece has been used strictly as a wing in the professional ranks, means it’s more likely for him to start ahead of Ennor, who can plug more positional holes from the bench later in the contest.
On the other wing, Rieko Ioane needs to remain in the No 11 jersey, as he looms as a key cog in the All Blacks’ attack for the World Cup.
He may be struggling for form and confidence since coming back into the national side, but the only way to remedy that is to give him more game time, and with the talent that he possesses, it would be crazy to drop him so close to the tournament.
The imminent return of Sonny Bill Williams means punters should expect the 52-test veteran to slot straight back into the starting second-five position ahead of Ngani Laumape, who impressed from off the bench on Saturday.
The battle between those two for a place at the World Cup could depend on how Williams performs in this match, or if he even comes away from it unscathed, so a massive shift is needed from the 34-year-old in Auckland.
Injuries to Ryan Crotty and Jack Goodhue pave the way for Lienert-Brown to take the No 13 jersey and build on his increasingly prosperous outings since the beginning of the season in February.
Alex McLeod’s All Blacks side to face the Wallabies in the Bledisloe Cup decider:
1. Joe Moody, 2. Dane Coles, 3. Owen Franks, 4. Jackson Hemopo, 5. Sam Whitelock, 6. Ardie Savea, 7. Sam Cane, 8. Kieran Read, 9. Aaron Smith, 10. Beauden Barrett, 11. Rieko Ioane, 12. Sonny Bill Williams, 13. Anton Lienert-Brown, 14. Sevu Reece, 15. Ben Smith.
Reserves:
16. Codie Taylor, 17. Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 18. Nepo Laulala, 19. Vaea Fifita, 20. Luke Jacobson, 21. Brad Weber, 22. Richie Mo’unga, 23. Braydon Ennor.
In other news:
Comments on RugbyPass
Big 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 …
30 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
1 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!😭😭😭 !!!
30 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
30 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 commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
30 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
30 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to comments