Selection headache after rout
New Zealand’s convincing win on Tuesday night over Scotland did not greatly impress coach Chris Boyd but he admits there will be looming selection headaches ahead of Sunday’s unexpected Junior World Championship semifinal appearance.
The 54-7 victory, the most convincing display of the day in slippery conditions, only rated a “five or six out of 10” for Boyd, given the quality of the opposition and his rotation policy for the match.
“We made 12 changes, so everyone’s had a gallop now and we’ve got a few selection headaches looking ahead to South Africa. We did what we needed to do to win, so I was very pleased with that,” he said. “There’ll be five of six discussions around positional changes. That’s how we like it.”
Among those to put their hand up were the loose trio of Tom Sanders, Mitch Jacobson and Kyle Harris who scored tries, made tackles and pulled down lineout ball, and halfback Josh Renton, who picked up a brace.
The midfield combination of Kaveinga Finau and TJ Faiane asked questions of Scotland, the latter scoring a try and the former setting one up.
Tevita Li was his usual handful on the wing, while Damian McKenzie scored a nice try off the bench.
In the wet conditions, New Zealand’s set-piece looked far sounder, despite Scotland’s scrum prowess, but Boyd was realistic in stating that more work was needed in this area to trouble South Africa.
Renton, who made nine appearances for Otago last season, relished his first start of the Junior World Championship.
“It was good to get the opportunity. I thought the boys got a bit of goforward, and we looked good when we hung onto the ball,” said Renton, whose first try came when he latched onto a loose Scotland lineout tapback to scoot 20m for the try and the second was even more opportunistic, after some footwork by his teammates on a breakout. He was happy to be in the right place at the right time.
New Zealand were in full control into the second spell, when the weather was at its best, and, after two scratchy second halves in the first two games, the brains trust will be more content at this area.
Captain Simon Hickey limped off with injuries to both his ankles, though he should have come off earlier.
Today will give a clearer picture as to his availability for Sunday’s showdown. There were no other injuries to report.
The two sides are staying in the same central Auckland hotel, and while Boyd said that the respective managements got on well together, he joked there may be some “frosty” encounters in the lobby or lift over the next few days.