Ready, set, let’s go
The All Blacks won’t be holding anything back in their World Cup opener against South Africa.
Kieran Read has been given the nod to delve deep into the All Blacks’ playbook on Saturday night.
While defeat to the Springboks in their first World Cup pool game in Yokohama wouldn’t be catastrophic – the All Blacks could still secure a quarterfinal berth if they beat Canada, Namibia and Italy in the remaining games – captain and No 8 Read and his team-mates can’t allow themselves to think about entering the sudden-death phase through the back door.
The All Blacks are out to dominate their pool, it’s as simple as that; the defending champions want to send a message to their rivals that they are in Japan to conquer all who cross their path.
If that means exposing some fresh moves ahead of the playoffs, then so be it.
Coach Steve Hansen said there was no point trying to be clever by keeping something tucked away for later in the tournament.
‘‘You don’t want to be sitting in the changing shed thinking ‘oh, we should have done that’,’’ Hansen said. ‘‘You have just got to go out and play what is in front of you.’’
In the 2011 final against France in Auckland the All Blacks produced one of their most memorable moves off a lineout called ‘‘Teabag’’, which resulted in loosehead prop Tony Woodcock
bursting over for a try to help set up the famous 8-7 win.
All teams practise set-piece moves, but many never get used.
Still, it’s comfortable to know the menu is stacked with options.
A captain only has a few seconds to give the green light to
a plan that has been cooked up at trainings; it’s one thing to do it in a practice exercise, when there’s no risk of an error allowing the
opposition to wriggle off the hook, or pounce on a loose ball and score at the other end of the field.
It requires courage, and trust in his fellow players, for a leader to call a move – or endorse one that has been suggested to him by one of his lieutenants.
‘‘You don’t want to get too clever, either.
‘‘Rugby games are won just by people doing their own job, and doing it really, really well.
‘‘Hopefully you don’t have to pull something out of your back pocket. The job is done because you have done your role well,’’ said Hansen, who will reveal his team this afternoon.
Retaining Beauden Barrett at fullback to allow Richie Mo’unga to remain at first-five will, again, give the All Blacks playmaker options either side of the ruck.
Sonny Bill Williams may be paired with Jack Goodhue, who has recovered from a hamstring strain, in the midfield. The inform Anton Lienert-brown could be asked to sit on the bench.
Sam Cane and Ardie Savea are likely to be paired as flanker as the New Zealanders continue to establish their up-tempo style.