Hames gets shock ABs start
Big-time risk or calculated move? Either way, we are about to get a cast-iron indication whether Tasman prop Kane Hames is as good as Steve Hansen suspects he is.
Life is about to get suddenly very real for Hames, who not so very long ago did not even merit a full Super Rugby contract and now will run out for his first test start at loosehead prop for the All Blacks. Against the Springboks, no less.
The 29-year-old late bloomer, who can play both sides, has been whistled up from the provincial fields of Mitre 10 Cup rugby straight into the All Blacks’ starting XV in the one major surprise in Hansen’s match-day 23 to face the Springboks in Saturday night’s Rugby Championship clash in Albany.
All told there are eight changes from the XV that ran on to start the 39-22 victory over Argentina in New Plymouth last Saturday, with Hansen pretty much returning to his best available lineup for the first test of the year against the Boks.
But the decision to start Hames is one few would have seen coming. The injury replacement for Joe Moody (dislocated shoulder) has played two previous tests (both off the bench) in similar circumstances, against the Wallabies in Sydney in 2016, and the same opponents just a few weeks back in Dunedin when he came in to cover for Wyatt Crockett’s head knock.
Most expected veteran backup man Crockett to be promoted to starting duties and Hames to be introduced off the bench in the impact role in the second half against the Boks.
But Hansen backs Hames to get the job done from the start, and has left the 34-year-old Crockett in the supersub spot that he has now made his own. He likes the balance of the 23 in this form.
It will be a huge test for Hames, who is not a renowned scrummager. Going against the Wallabies is one thing, but that gnarly Boks front row is sure to ask a few hard questions.
That is likely part of Hansen’s motivation for throwing him straight in. They are going to know a lot more about his capabilities in the test arena after Saturday night at QBE Stadium.
Assistant coach Ian Foster said earlier in the week they were about to find a lot out about their depth at prop, with both regular starting front-rowers Owen Franks and Moody done for the season, and experienced backup Charlie Faumuina departed for overseas pastures.
‘‘We probably need a little more depth in that position, and there’s no better way to get it than to back someone, stick them in and let them go,’’ said Foster.
The rest of the starting XV is relatively predictable, with the other notable call seeing Nehe Milner-Skudder getting a second straight start on the wing, this time slotting in on the right side for Israel Dagg who continues to be bothered by his knee problems.
The in-form Rieko Ioane returns in the No 11 jersey, while a fit-again Ryan Crotty comes in for Anton Lienert-Brown at centre and Aaron Smith regains the No 9 jersey after sitting out the Pumas match.
Up front, Sam Cane is back at No 7, with Ardie Savea dropping into his more comfortable impact role off the bench, Liam Squire gets the nod at No 6, and Sam Whitelock returns to the second row to partner Brodie Retallick.
Squire won the hotly contested battle for the No 6 jersey over Vaea Fifita, though the latter’s shoulder
injury that kept him out of training on Tuesday contributed to that.
Both have made big impressions stepping in for veteran two-time World Cup-winner Jerome Kaino, Squire producing a standout performance in the first Bledisloe in Sydney and Fifita dazzling in New Plymouth last Saturday as he showcased his speed in a virtuoso display.
It’s likely Hansen would have gone for Squire’s experience and physical impact for this test anyway, but Fifita’s knock from the Pumas clash probably removed the debate.
‘‘Our big focus this week has been about continual improvement, growing ourselves as a team, growing our game and how we want to play it,’’ said Hansen. ‘‘We need the games we are getting. We’ve had a bit of adversity, and that will only make us better.’’
Hansen said South Africa would be a dangerous beast. ‘‘They scrummage well, they attack well and their defence is getting better. There’s a long-standing rivalry, we enjoy playing them, they play hard and it’s always competitive.’’
Skipper Kieran Read will play his 104th test to overtake Ma’a Nonu as the fifth most capped All Black of all time.
The All Blacks have won nine of their last 10 tests against South Africa and seven on the bounce at home. It will be the New Zealanders’ first test in Albany since their 2005 romp over Fiji.
New Zealand sits top of the Rugby championship with 14 points, while South Africa is the only side with a hope of catching them on 11 points.