ABs to stay on ringing change
In their quest to uncover the best World Cup combinations, the All Blacks have used more players this year than any of their Rugby Championship counterparts.
Each of the three southern hemisphere heavyweights are employing trial- and- error tactics in their five tests before ruthless culls are made later this month for the World Cup.
The Sunday Star- Times can reveal the All Blacks have made four times as many changes to their starting side in the same three- test period than the Springboks.
The All Blacks boast the most depth and therefore it is little surprise they’ve made 12 starting adjustments in their wins over Samoa, Argentina and South Africa.
In comparison, Steve Hansen made half as many front- line changes in their first three tests against England last year.
Richie McCaw, Kieran Read, Owen Franks, Tony Woodcock, Charles Piutau and Israel Dagg are the only players to start all three tests for the All Blacks this season. Most, if not all, are expected to be rested from one of the two Bledisloe Cup tests in Sydney (August 8) and Auckland (August 15) over the next two weeks.
Likewise, those who haven’t featured – Sam Cane, uncapped utility Nehe Milner-Skudder and halfback Tawera Kerr-Barlow – are certain to get a run.
There is precious little time before all three nations must trim their squads to 31 for the World Cup. The Springboks named an extended 49-man squad in June; the Wallabies are carrying 40 players, while the All Blacks have 41.
Leaving Sonny Bill Williams and Dan Carter home from South Africa offered the chance to see how rookie first five-eighth Lima Sopoaga, surrounded by a core of veterans, coped in Ellis Park’s intimidating atmosphere.
Such experimentation probably wouldn’t be made any other year and All Blacks assistant coach Ian Foster believes the acceptance of these changes represents a maturing of the New Zealand rugby public.
It’s certainly a far cry from the outrage around the 2007 rest and rotation policy.
‘‘A lot has changed in the last eight years,’’ Foster said. ‘‘Super Rugby is longer and there’s less down- time. People understand there’s a need for players to be freshened up.
‘‘First and foremost we want to make sure we pick the right 31 and we give guys opportunity to get into the World Cup squad.
‘‘It’s also a chance to make sure the 10 players that miss out from that squad at least have an idea of what we are doing so if they get called into the World Cup – and history tells you some of them will – they’re further ahead than if we didn’t play them.
‘‘The best way to grow the team is not making wholesale changes but tweaking around the edges. We’ve been able to do that.
‘‘This year we’ve probably made two or three more per test than we have the last three years but people can see it’s part of a bigger plan to ensure we’ve got as many players prepared for the World Cup as we can.’’
Hamstrung by injuries to leading figures, the Springboks have made just three starting tweaks in the same number of matches this year. Boks veterans Fourie du Preez, Frans Steyn, Jean de Villiers and Willem Alberts are expected to come back into the mix.
The Wallabies made seven frontline changes in back-to-back wins over the Boks and Pumas. James Slipper, Will Skelton, Rob Simmons, Israel Folau, Tevita Kuridrani, Adam Ashley- Cooper, Stephen Moore and Scott Fardy have been their constants.
Argentina swapped seven players in the week between losing to the All Blacks and Wallabies.
Rotation has also allowed the All Blacks to manage workloads and mitigate injuries.
Ultimately, the goal is to have at least two players in each position, while juggling the unrelenting belief they must win every test.
‘‘It’s going to be a massive test in Sydney. It’s nice to have a game that’s shaping as a final for the Rugby Championship.
‘‘There will be pressure on their confidence.
‘‘It’ll be a big test for whoever we put out on the park but, clearly, we’ll still proceed with making sure we’ve got a squad of 41 that’s ready for the World Cup.’’
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