Record breakers?
All Blacks team named
Apotential world record-setting game was never going to be the time for the All Blacks to throw caution to the wind with their selections. That can wait. There’s a trip to Europe where the focus will change and the fringe candidates can have their time in the sun. This week is all about one thing — winning an 18th consecutive test and to do that, head coach Steve Hansen has stuck with the bulk of the side that destroyed the Boks in their last encounter.
Julian Savea comes in for Waisake Naholo as the only change to the starting team and one that is replacing like with like. The only other changes are on the bench where Malakai Fekitoa replaces George Moala and Aaron Cruden returns instead of Lima Sopoaga.
And it is the return of Cruden that may prove to be crucial. He has recovered from a niggling groin injury and is ready to re-establish himself.
His presence on the bench gives the All Blacks the potential to significantly change things tactically.
That is important as surely there is going to come a time this season when the All Blacks aren’t able to control the game exactly as they want. It hasn’t happened yet in 2016 — no one they have played has been able to exert pressure for long enough to force the All Blacks into any kind of major tactical or personnel re-think mid-game.
They have been able to use their bench for interest sake rather than as a catalyst to instigate momentum change or claw the game back.
A much-improved Wallabies side that has had two cracks at the All Blacks already, may be able to ask sustained questions that no other team has. Maybe Australia will stay in the game for long enough to put doubt in All Blacks minds and force them to dig deeper than they have and to amend their approach.
If that is the case, then Cruden will become a trump card. What’s easy to forget given the rise and rise of Beauden Barrett is that Cruden is a world class firstfive, too.
He can’t match Barrett for out and out pace, but he’s nevertheless a supremely effective linebreaker and capable of torturing any defence with his running game which is based on his agility and timing.
Even if the All Blacks have the game safely under control, there will be plenty of interest in seeing how much game time Cruden is given.
It was injury that saw him give up the All Blacks No 10 jersey to Barrett in June and injury that has prevented him from mounting a serious bid to take it back.
Now that he’s fit, will the selectors give him a reasonable opportunity to stake a claim that he should have it back? Barrett has had a heavy workload — having played nearly every game for the Hurricanes and mostly every game for the All Blacks and there are still five tests left this year.
On top of all that, Cruden is also fielding offshore offers — most notably from Montpellier in France.
Hansen has told Cruden he remains an integral part of their set-up: that he’s a leader and decision-maker they greatly value. All of that is true, but seeing actions back up those words would go a long way towards influencing Cruden’s ultimate decision.
Julian Savea’s recall to the All Blacks for Saturday’s test against the Wallabies after he sat out the last match against the Springboks is an indication of the team’s mindset as they approach a match with a world record on the line.
Steve Hansen’s team will want to launch a blitzkrieg assault from the first minute at their Eden Park fortress, and in a rested and motivated Savea they have the perfect attacking weapon.
Waisake Naholo makes way for the left wing, the only change to the starting line-up from the 57-15 thrashing of the Boks at Kings Park a fortnight ago.
That was Naholo’s comeback from a hamstring injury suffered in the first victory of the year against the Wallabies in Sydney, and while the Highlanders flier acquitted himself well, Savea fully deserves to reclaim the No 11 jersey he has virtually made his own since his debut in 2012.
Savea has suffered his form issues for the Hurricanes and All Blacks this year, but has played extremely well in his four starts during the Rugby Championship. On the reserves bench for the tournament opener against the Aussies at ANZ Stadium in August, Savea replaced Naholo just before halftime and scored one of the All Blacks’ six tries in the 42-8 hammering.
Since that test Savea scored a try in each of his next three tests against Australia in Wellington, Argentina in Hamilton and South Africa in Christchurch. He now has an extraordinary 43 tries in 48 tests.
As a finisher Savea is virtually without peer, but it is his reliability which really sets him apart now. He struggled under the high ball at times in his first year at this level but is now a safe pair of hands; his ability to tidy up at the back alongside Ben Smith and Israel Dagg makes the All Blacks a formidable defensive unit.
But although Hansen has named an extremely strong lineup as he and the All Blacks chase a record 18th consecutive test win, eyebrows from outside the group might be raised at the selection of Matt Todd in the No 7 jersey ahead of Ardie Savea.
Todd made his starting debut on the openside flank against the Boks at Kings Park and clearly did enough to convince Hansen to leave him there. It is an intriguing selection given Savea’s form since his debut during the Wales series and has clearly been made to combat the threat of the returning David Pocock at the breakdown.
It is a big show of faith, too, in Todd, who has had to show immense patience during the reign of Richie McCaw and then watched as first Sam Cane and then Savea overtook him.
The 28-year-old, preparing to play in his sixth test, doesn’t have the power of Savea, but is an extremely good defender and is quick to latch on to the ball on the ground — crucial attributes for combating Pocock. Savea will be relied upon to drive the pace to a level the Wallabies can’t withstand in the second half.
The impressive Anton LienertBrown retains his place at centre alongside Ryan Crotty, with Aaron Cruden forcing his way on to the reserves bench after recovering from a groin injury, with Malakai Fekitoa also named on the bench.
“Australia will be coming here with a lot more confidence than when we played earlier in the season. They’ve made some significant changes to their game and would like nothing better [than] to end their Southern Hemisphere test season with a win,” Hansen said.
Steve Hansen Australia will be coming here with a lot more confidence.