Steve Hansen is looking at the bigger picture
Steve Hansen’s decision to name eight debutantes in his 23 to face Japan this weekend has raised a few of eyebrows, with pundits claiming a drastic crash in the value of the All Black jersey.
An article in The Guardian alluded to the real All Blacks being thousands of miles away with the current crop of rookies handed ‘confetti caps’.
Hansen has defended his decision and referred to the notion he was gifting test caps as ‘nonsense’, though he probably didn’t need to. This weekend’s test against Japan is the perfect opportunity to both indoctrinate and evaluate the next generation of talent rising through the ranks. Hansen is doing everything right.
The same can be said for Ireland’s Joe Schmidt and Italy’s Conor O’Shea, who are using their Test in Chicago to blood some new players and test different combinations – and are just as wary in terms of preparing their players for tougher fixtures.
Naming a 51-man squad for the upcoming northern tour should be seen as a masterstroke, especially given the context of the scheduling. Why shouldn’t Hansen save his resources for the gruelling four-fixture month ahead? Backing his new charges to deliver when called upon is sure to build a substantial amount of trust within the squad.
It’s also important to recognise that while this squad doesn’t have the usual experience one comes to expect from an All Blacks side, there is still a plethora of frontline talent present. Jordie Barrett was starting against the British and Irish Lions just over one year ago, Nehe Milner-Skudder was the breakout star of the 2015 Rugby World Cup, Waisake Naholo has been one of the form wingers of 2018 and there have been calls all year for more Richie Mo’unga involvement.
READ MORE Steve Hansen names eight new All Blacks for Japan clash
With less than one year until the Rugby World Cup, who can blame Hansen for wanting to try out as many combinations as possible and build as much familiarity with his players as he can before the showpiece tournament.
Who can blame Hansen for picking four first-five eighths to tour after he and Sir Graham Henry were forced to call upon New Zealand’s fourth-choice 10 in a Rugby World Cup final?
He needs to know who he can turn to if and when the All Blacks find themselves in a tough spot, and picking a 51-man squad allows him to get a clearer picture of who fits that criteria. If he’s lucky he’ll unearth a few gems in the process.
While some of the older rookies – for example Hurricanes pair Matt Proctor (26) and Gareth Evans (27) – may not feature in Hansen’s long-term plans, the nature of rugby is unpredictable and, should injury strike, the All Blacks coach will now know exactly what he can get out of his next cabs off the rank.
Picking a 51-man squad not only aids the All Blacks in the short term, it makes things easier in the long run and allows a look into where prospects stand in the national pecking order.
Given that the Rugby World Cup is fast approaching and rumours of another post-Cup All Black exodus are increasing in frequency, getting players like 21-year-old Dalton Papalii and 22-year-old Tyrel Lomax – a pair that may be seen as projects now but shape as All Black mainstays in the long-term – into the environment early will serve Hansen well in preparations for the next cycle.
Of course having the ability to pick 51 players of international quality is a luxury most nations are unable to afford. The depth at Hansen’s disposal is the envy of the rugby world, and he can’t be blamed for using it.
Put simply, picking project players with international upside indicates that Hansen sees the bigger picture – something plenty of other teams are unable to do at present.
Closed-minded fans and pundits that only see the eight asterisks on the team sheet need to take a step back and see what Hansen sees before waxing lyrical about the value of the jersey.
In other news:
Comments on RugbyPass
“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
3 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
2 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
3 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
3 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
3 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
2 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
4 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
22 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
3 Go to commentsBeaches? In Cardiff? Where?
1 Go to commentsHe is right , the Crusaders will be a threat. Scott Barrett, ( particularly), Fergus Burke , Codie Taylor, ( from sabbatical) etc due back soon for the Crusaders. There are others like Zach Gallagher too. People can right the Crusaders off, Top 8 , here we come !!
1 Go to commentsWe will always struggle for money to match the other sides but the least the WRU can do is invest properly in Welsh rugby. Too much has been squandered on vanity projects like the hotel and roof walk amongst others which will never see a massive return. Hanging the 4 pro sides out to dry over the last decade is now coming back to bite the WRU financially as well as on the pitch. You reap what you sow.
1 Go to commentsWhat do you get if you cross a doctor with a fish? A plastic sturgeon
14 Go to commentsWhat happened to feleti Kaitu’u? Hasnt played in a while right?
1 Go to commentsGregor I just can’t agree with you. You are trying to find something that just isn’t there. Jordie Barrett has signed until 2028. By the end of that he would have spent probably 11-12 years on Super Rugby and you say he can’t possibly have one season playing somewhere else. It is absurd. What about this scenario, the NZR play hard ball and he decides to leave and play overseas. How would that affect the competition. There seems to be an agenda by certain journalists to push certain agendas and don’t like it when it’s not to their liking. I fully support the NZR on this. Gregor needs to get a life.
3 Go to commentsHope he stays as believe he can do a great job.
1 Go to comments