Tasman’s Havili set for All Blacks debut
Nothing to blow your socks off.
Sonny Bill Williams and Kane Hames are starting again, there have been recalls for Vaea Fifita, Waisake Naholo and Matt Todd, while David Havili will make his test debut off the bench. Otherwise the composition of this All Blacks team to meet Argentina in Buenos Aires on Sunday morning (NZT) was fairly obvious once five regulars were left at home.
Halfback’s probably a little interesting too, with Aaron Smith getting the nod. TJ Perenara had that job the last time New Zealand met the Pumas, in New Plymouth, where the visitors were able to get up and be disruptive on defence.
Smith’s service is swifter, although All Blacks head coach Steve Hansen didn’t suggest passing had swayed the selection vote.
‘‘I thought TJ played pretty good. It’s more a reflection on how we want our leaders on the park. We’ve left a few at home so we went the best people that we can get out there on the park,’’ Hansen said.
‘‘What the Argentinians did last time was, when they were in trouble, they sent someone to attack the ball-carrier. A lot of the time that was our first receiver, which is either the guy on the blindside getting the ball or Beauden [first five-eighth Beauden Barrett].’’
So things like depth and alignment - not the speed of the ball - are what New Zealand will be concentrating on.
And it won’t just be Barrett. There’s every indication fullback Damian McKenzie will finish the game at first-five, to allow Havili to come on and play at the back. McKenzie’s long been earmarked for that spot and Hansen’s sure he’ll be ready.
‘‘He don’t have any choice does he? It’s either him or you or me and I’m definitely no good at it,’’ said Hansen.
‘‘He’s fine, he’s done a lot of work at first-receiver in training and in our game he’s one of the drivers on the short side of the Damian McKenzie, Waisake Naholo, Anton Lienert-Brown, Sonny Bill Williams, Rieko Ioane, Beauden Barrett, Aaron Smith, Kieran Read (c), Matt Todd, Vaea Fifita, Scott Barrett, Luke Romano, Nepo Laulala, Dane Coles, Kane Hames. Res: Codie Taylor, Wyatt Crockett, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Patrick Tuipulotu, Ardie Savea, TJ Perenara, Ngani Laumape, David Havili. breakdown.’’
As for Havili, its time to see what the 22-year-old Tasman and Crusaders utility can do.
‘‘The big thing is he’s grown into being an All Black,’’ Hansen said.
‘‘That sounds a bit weird I s’pose, but it’s overwhelming when you first come in; there’s a lot of pressure, a lot of scrutiny, there’s a lot of things you’ve got to learn - because it’s al new and you don’t have a lot of time to do it - so as he’s got more comfortable with what we’re asking him to and he’s getting a better understanding of his role you can see the real David coming out.’’
Naholo takes the right wing spot previously occupied by Nehe Milner-Skudder, who was fit if required.
‘‘Wise [Naholo] hasn’t had a game and [I] just wanted to give him a game. There’s not a lot between the two of them and once you pick Rieko [left wing Rieko Ioane] there’s only one spot left,’’ said Hansen.
There had been some clamour to see Ngani Laumape at second five-eighth, but he’ll bide his time on the bench with Williams another of those whose experience has been favoured in the absence of Ryan Crotty, Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Sam Cane and Liam Squire.
Then there’s Hames. Hansen said Wyatt Crockett is the team’s best available loosehead prop and of most value off the bench, therefore Hames starts.