ABs look ominous for Canada

Seven World Cup rookies and an enthusiasm to cut loose should have Canada on notice.

Such is their strength and depth, this All Blacks team has the potential to threaten their highest winning margin of 66 points from six previous matches against Canada, set in 1995 in Auckland.

Four years earlier, at the 1991 World Cup, Canada got within 16 points of the All Blacks in France, but a better gauge of their current state is their loss to Brazil in February.

Conditions, with rain forecast to hit Oita, may not assist the up tempo attacking brand the All Blacks continue to embrace but their backline has a lethal edge this week.

After long layoffs from the starting team, Rieko Ioane and Jordie Barrett will be hungry for work and keen to impress on the wings. With Beauden Barrett retained alongside them at fullback, chances for the outside backs to strike should abound.

Attacking opportunities will come, too, from the physical midfield pairing of Sonny Bill Williams and Jack Goodhue. Look to the bench, and there appears no let-up for Canada either.

Brad Weber is one of seven players — Atu Moli, Matt Todd, Ioane, Goodhue, Jordie Barrett and Liam Coltman the others — preparing to play his first World Cup match.

The Chiefs halfback will only increase the pace and tempo when his boarding pass arrives, as will Ardie Savea and Codie Taylor.

What a luxury to leave 81-test veteran Ben Smith on the bench for the second time at this tournament.

With so many rookies set to be unleashed and an opposition in Canada who are ranked 22nd in the world, there is perhaps a danger the All Blacks could push for too much too early and get caught up in attempting to play a festival style that leads to more mistakes than magic.

But rather than worry about curbing enthusiasm that comes with taking the field for the first time at the global showpiece, the All Blacks are instead encouraging their rookies, and those such as Ioane and Barrett returning to the starting team, to play their natural game.

“I don’t think you want to put it on too much of a leash,” All Blacks captain Kieran Read said. “You want to see the excitement. A lot of them playing their first World Cup games, it’s exciting for them.

“We want to do our jersey proud and it’s another occasion for that. There’s nothing better than playing in a World Cup and getting that opportunity.

“We’ve got focuses we want to nail in this game and you want to stay in as much structure as possible but if opportunities present themselves hopefully the guys can take them.”

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen echoed the views of his skipper.

“We’ve always had a philosophy to play what’s in front of you, so if it’s on to push it, then we’ll push it, and if it’s not, then we’ll do something else,” Hansen said.

“We had a great reminder about that the other day, didn’t we? If you disrespect the opponent, then you get a punch on the nose, and we did that in Perth, so we can’t afford to do that again. We’ll go out and play the way want to play. We’re confident we’ll get the performance we’re after.”