Hansen to keep adding to ABs’ mix
Tasman powered to the top of the Mitre 10 Cup standings after heaping yet more misery on the hapless Southland Stags.
The Mako belted the Stags 45-24 at Lansdowne Park in Blenheim yesterday afternoon, extending Southland’s losing streak to 12 matches.
It’s quickly closing in on two years since the Invercargill-based team won a match, against Northland on October 8, 2016.
But while the Stags sit last in the championship section, Tasman’s bonus point win backed up their 25-17 win against reigning champions Canterbury last week.
Their nine competition points are matched by unbeaten North Harbour, who they play in Auckland on Saturday, but Tasman sit on top due to a superior points differential (+29).
The sight of fullback Will Jordan, a former Christchurch Boys’ High School star, scoring two tries in a man-of-the-match performance will have pleased more than just Tasman coach Leon MacDonald.
Crusaders coach Scott Robertson will no doubt be enthused to see him back playing, given he missed his entire rookie season with the franchise due to concussion.
Jordan’s second try, a scorching 80m effort which included a chip and chase on his own 22m, was easily the pick of the day’s tries.
Boasting eight Super Rugby players in their starting side, Tasman certainly didn’t have it all their way against the plucky Southlanders.
First-year Stags coach Dave The All Blacks remain committed to their Rugby Championship master plan which should see a number of strategic changes initiated for their next outing against Argentina in Nelson on September 8.
That could see heavy-hitters such as Beauden Barrett, Sam Cane, Ben Smith and Brodie Retallick, among others, handed lighter duties in a bid to ensure they are at their best for the clash against the Springboks in Wellington a week later.
Coach Steve Hansen indicated at his post-Bledisloe briefing in Auckland yesterday that Argentina’s upset over the Springboks in Mendoza had not forced a rethink on how they’re going to approach their next hitout as they look to continue a Rugby Championship win streak that has now hit 14 tests since their last defeat in 2015.
The All Blacks took their game to an even higher level than a week earlier in Sydney when they ran in another six tries – four to the on-fire Barrett – to dismantle the Wallabies 40-12 at Eden Park on Saturday night, and continue their remarkable undefeated run at their Auckland fortress and their stranglehold over the Wallabies
The All Blacks are the only undefeated team in the Championship after Mario Ledesma’s Puma’s stunned the Springboks Hewett has no doubt got them showing more spine than in recent years, which was evident by their defence, and the way they combated the hosts at the breakdown, in the first half.
Despite doing a mountain of defending, they took a surprise 12-7 lead 30 minutes into the match, after first-five James Wilson freed his arms in a tackle and 32-19 in Mendoza to avenge their defeat, by the same margin, to the South Africans a week earlier in Durban.
‘‘You’re always flexible in your thinking but we’ve got a plan in place and we’ve just got to trust everybody to do their jobs,’’ Hansen said. ‘‘You can’t get sidetracked by results and you’ve got to understand what you’re trying to do.
‘‘They’re going to be tough. They’ve had a good win this morning and it again put hooker Flynn Thomas in for a nicely worked try.
However, with prop Morgan Mitchell ruled out for the rest of the match with a shoulder injury, their lead quickly went out the window.
First, impressive Chiefs outside back Solomon Alaimalo touched down out wide to knot the game up, before Crusaders highlights how difficult it is to back up a big performance against the same opposition.
‘‘We know they’re a good side, [Ledesma] has got them going well and playing probably a little more fluently than they were. They’re using the Super Rugby style of game and we’d expect them to bring that into the test arena.’’
The All Blacks look to be well placed on the personnel front. HT: 19-12
Flanker Sam Cane was their most serious injury on Saturday night after taking a head knock but Hansen said the loose forward, who shrugged off a sore hip to play the Bledisloe closeout, had passed his HIA and was expected to be available.
In a surprise announcement, the All Blacks coach also confirmed Ryan Crotty should be among those returning to the fold after the pending week off. ‘‘He’s fine. We’re monitoring him but he’ll be available next time we play,’’ Hansen said.
He also expected Rieko Ioane back from his hamstring strain but wasn’t so sure about Sonny Bill Williams’ shoulder.
‘‘We’ll have to wait and see. I don’t know if he is going to be available for the Nelson game.’’
Hansen has enviable depth at first fiveeighth, midfield and in the back three, some young loose forwards hanging out for game-time, Scott Barrett now able to slot capably into the second row and plenty of options among his front-row troops. He’s already indicated he’s charting Nehe Milner-Skudder towards a potential outing.
Asked if they could start Richie Mo’unga at 10 in Nelson, Hansen said: ‘‘We might. I can’t tell the opposition who’s playing just yet.
‘‘We’re very fortunate we’ve got a strong squad and what will make it stronger is giving people game-time from time to time and trusting them.’’