Rome has fallen, now for Dublin
Now it’s time to get serious.
The 68-10 win over Italy at Stadio Olimpico was a lot of fun.
It allowed the All Blacks selectors to see how the uncapped Rieko Ioane and Liam Coltman coped with the excitement and tension of making their test debuts while also giving the inexperienced Damian Mckenzie, Elliot Dixon and Scott Barrett more exposure to test footy.
Revitalising the career of Steven Luatua was also worth a gold star in the book of achievements during the northern tour, but soon after the match you could sense the established squad members had their minds fixed on a certain encounter in Dublin next Sunday (NZT).
Draw a line under the Italian job, because Ireland are miles ahead of them. Ever since Ireland beat the All Blacks 40-29 in Chicago on November 6, the date of that rematch has been in everyone’s diaries.
Ireland had a bunny of their own to take care of in Dublin at the weekend, scoring eight tries in the 52-21 win over Canada.
Their coach Joe Schmidt won’t have solely been concentrating on beating Canada last week.
He will also have held preliminary discussions, albeit well away from the players so they wouldn’t be distracted, about how to prepare for the match against the All Blacks.
The good news for the All Blacks, who ran in 10 tries against Italy and didn’t suffer any major injuries to their second-string players, is the squad’s mood should be buoyant as they fly across the Irish Sea before setting-up base on a golf resort near Dublin.
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen would only say ‘‘yes’’, when asked whether the players involved in Sunday morning’s (NZT) game had given the selectors cause to discuss whether they should be considered to play Ireland.
Captain Sam Cane, in charge because regular skipper and No 8 Kieran Read was being rested, said the emphatic win in Rome helped them forget that defeat in Chicago.
‘‘We needed to bounce back after what was a bit disappointing by All Blacks standards last week,’’ Cane noted.
Hansen was satisfied to blood Ioane and Coltman, who both took the field in the second half. The overall performance of the team gave him selection options, he said.
‘‘It bodes well for next week. We have got a lot of people in form for selection.’’
Given Brodie Retallick got some valuable minutes in the second half, in his comeback game from concussion, there is optimism the All Blacks will field their celebrated second row against the Irish.
Sam Whitelock, who suffered a sprained ankle against Australia on October 22, was still walking with a slight limp this week but there is confidence he will be cleared to start alongside Retallick.
There is potential for seven changes to the forward pack, with Cane the sole survivor.
The backline could feature four changes, depending on how the selectors want to configure their back three; Aaron Smith and Beauden Barrett are likely to return as the playmakers, while Ben Smith is at short odds to be at fullback.
The midfield of Anton Lienertbrown and Malakai Fekitoa - admittedly against hopelessly outgunned opposition - have to be the leading option to start in the midfield again, given the lack of personnel.
The unluckiest member could be first five-eighth Aaron Cruden. His performance was largely complete, but Beauden Barrett is expected to be retained in Ireland.