ABs rule out Barrett, Fifita
Let’s start with Beauden Barrett and Vaea Fifita being rubbed out, and then make some educated guesses after that.
All Blacks assistant coach Ian Foster confirmed talented first five-eighth Barrett and reserve loose forward/lock Fifita, who suffered head knocks during the unconvincing 26-13 win over France in Wellington last weekend, won’t be considered for the third test in Dunedin on Saturday night.
Blindside flanker Liam Squire, who hurt his shoulder in Wellington, has been tossed into the ‘‘unlikely’’ basket so there’s another position to be filled.
So now the cat-and-mouse games begin. Who goes where? It’s a conversation likely to be held around numerous bar leaners and kitchen tables prior to the All Blacks releasing their team tomorrow.
‘‘It’s not that easy answering all your questions and not giving you the answers you want,’’ Foster said in his usual deadpan fashion yesterday.
‘‘Was it [the conversation around selections] lively? Yes, it was. But we go in with a rough sketch as a selection group and we basically have an idea of where we are going.’’
In other words, when the coaches sat down at the start of the series they documented when certain players might be integrated into the campaign barring injuries, or a desire to fast-track a newcomer.
In the recently released Amazon Prime Video documentary head coach Steve Hansen described his relationship with Foster like this: ‘‘Fozzie’s the yin to my yang, I suppose. He is very thoughtful, whereas at times I can be a little impulsive.’’
Given Hansen and Foster have been coaching together since 2012, you would expect they have a decent handle on how to read each other’s emotions; and with the All Blacks already 2-0 up, changes for the final fixture are inevitable regardless of injuries.
It is now a matter of trying to determine just how adventurous the coaches want to be.
Given that underwhelming effort