All Blacks set their focus on Samoa, mostly

One test, two ambitions. The All Blacks are doing their level best to give Samoa the respect they deserve ahead of tonight’s Pasifika Challenge clash at Eden Park, but even they acknowledge it ultimately serves as a means to an end.

Of course every test is treated on its merits by these notoriously tunnel-visioned All Blacks. Getting them to think beyond the looming opponent is often as difficult as persuading Donald Trump to admit he’s wrong. More so when it’s a Samoan team many of the players hold familial ties to, and who gave them more than a few anxious moments last time they crossed sapelu.

But the reality is this test is only taking place because the All Blacks needed it. More to the point, they didn’t dare do without it. It is the proverbial entree, whetting the appetite before the main course that is the series against the British and Irish Lions which follows over the next three consecutive Saturdays.

Coach Steve Hansen was making all the right noises when he set the scene yesterday, after announcing a match 23 that he reckoned was missing only Kieran Read from their strongest lineup. He might have added Ryan Crotty (whose sore ribs are nearly healed), but we get his point.

‘‘Samoa are a quality opponent, a well coached team and they have some quality players,’’ added Hansen. ‘‘We want to start the ball rolling and get away to a good start. We know whatever we do on Friday we’ll be able improve on the following week, hence why we’ve asked for the extra test match.

‘‘We try to respect every opponent we play. Whilst the Lions is a dance that’s happening in the background, and we’re watching that with interest of course, there’s a responsibility to the jersey and those who been before us that we go out and take this test match seriously and respect Samoan rugby for what it is.

‘‘They’re a very good rugby team and on their day can cause an upset. We don’t want to be the upset.’’

It’s a fully fledged test match, and these All Blacks have standards to meet, and a new winning streak to get up and running. But at the same time they have boxes to tick, with that larger ambition in mind. They need to have their cake, and eat it too.

So they need that scrum to dispel any notions that they are struggling with the interpretations of French referees. They need the big men to execute at the set piece, the breakdown and around the field, because there is a dangerous beast looming there.

They also need their

combinations to get up to speed fast: Aaron Smith and Beauden Barrett to find their rhythm as the chief playmakers; and the new midfield combination of Sonny Bill

Williams and Anton Lienertbrown to quickly find their collective feet too.

Some individuals face just a modicum of pressure. Codie Taylor

must grasp the starting hooker’s responsibilities; Israel Dagg is coming off a mighty 2016 campaign, but has Waisake Naholo and Rieko Ioane breathing

down his neck for the No 14 jersey; Ardie Savea gets the chance to showcase his versatility at No 8; and Aaron Smith and Williams will both be anxious to launch new

phases of their test careers in the right fashion.

Hansen said Smith got the nod at halfback because of his superior passing game, and acknowledged his back-three options are growing. In essence he will have four wings in action this week, with Naholo having stated a compelling case with the Highlanders, and now Julian Savea, Dagg and (on Saturday with the Maori) Rieko Ioane get their chance to do likewise.

‘‘A win is getting a game of footy, and getting some combinations going,’’ added Hansen on the test’s key objectives.

‘‘If we can get through the game and start to get those connections going again, get back into the All Blacks way, play with a bit of intensity and pace, with some accuracy, it will be good. And obviously keeping an eye on the scoreboard will be handy too.’’