Tonga first, World Cup later for ABS
One last chance before the big dance.
That is the way both the All Blacks and Tonga go into their test in Hamilton this afternoon – a final precursor before the bigger fish await their frying in Japan.
It’s a test with nothing on the line, but at the same time it’s one for each unit to gain from as they enter World Cup mode.
It will be one-way traffic, however. The scoreboard attendants at FMG Stadium Waikato may as well be made redundant this weekend, as coaches and players alike will be searching deeper than that.
What lies ahead over the next couple of months is why the All Blacks have made the point to their squad this week that there is indeed a purpose to this occasion.
The fixture was put on the calendar to ensure there wasn’t a repeat
‘‘We’re right here, right now, and concentrating on what we’re doing.’’ All Blacks coach Steve Hansen
of the five-week break in 2015 between their big Bledisloe Cupsealing win over the Wallabies in Auckland, and their scratchy, illdisciplined World Cup opener against Argentina at Wembley.
This time around ensures just a two-week gap for most of the squad, before the important opening pool game against South Africa in Yokohama on September 21.
‘‘You can sense excitement in all of them, and a little bit of nervousness too, because it’s only human nature that they think about what’s coming next,’’ All Blacks coach Steve Hansen said.
‘‘That’s why the message has been really important that we are where our feet are, and we’re right here, right now, and concentrating on what we’re doing. And then we get this job out of the way, then we can get really excited.’’
While injury niggles to Dane Coles, Sam Cane, Richie Mo’unga, Jack Goodhue, Sonny Bill Williams and Rieko Ioane have thrown a spanner in the works, there are opportunities for some others.
Chiefly in that category is veteran outside back Ben Smith, who Hansen admitted had lost his selfconfidence in a form slump that saw him demoted from the wing for the team’s last outing.
PLAYER TO WATCH... GEORGE BRIDGE
So good against the Wallabies in Bledisloe II, Bridge could further lock down the left-wing spot with another blinder. That’s bad news for Rieko Ioane, but the Crusader deserves to go into the World Cup as the first-choice No 11 on the back of recent form. Angus Gardner (Aus) All Blacks Ben Smith Sevu Reece Anton Lienert-brown Ryan Crotty George Bridge Beauden Barrett TJ Perenara Kieran Read (c) Matt Todd Ardie Savea Sam Whitelock Patrick Tuipulotu Nepo Laulala Codie Taylor Joe Moody Damon Murphy (Aus), Jordan Way (Aus) James Leckie (Aus)
Tonga David Halaifonua Cooper Vuna Malietoa Hingano Siale Piutau (c) Viliami Lolohea Kurt Morath Sonatane Takulua Maama Vaipulu Fotu Lokotui Sione Kalamafoni Leva Fifita Sam Lousi Siua Halanukonuka Siua Maile Siegfried Fisiihoi
PLAYER TO WATCH... KURT MORATH
Let’s see what the 34-year-old first-five eighth has got left in his legs. Morath, a former New Zealand under-21 representative, is on the cusp of representing Tonga at a third consecutive World Cup.