The big test before the big show
Desperate times require desperate measures.
Steve Hansen has played his part with a major selection shakeup; now it remains to be seen whether the All Blacks can recover their poise, form and identity in time to save the Bledisloe Cup, and maybe the World Cup while they’re at it.
Tonight’s Bledisloe redemption mission at a sold-out Eden Park has become a litmus test of sorts for the faltering All Blacks. Fresh off a pummelling from the Wallabies in Perth, where they were embarrassed 47-26, Hansen’s men must answer the bell in this potentially pivotal international.
The 80 minutes that unfold tonight will have no direct correlation on how the All Blacks fare in their tilt for a hat-trick of Webb Ellis Cups in Japan soon. But it will likely tell us much in terms of their ability to negotiate what shapes as the toughest field of contenders at the sport’s showpiece event.
The world champions were awful seven days ago in Perth. Their discipline, defence, handling, physicality, commitment, organisation and wherewithal all let them down. The Wallabies bullied them at the breakdown, won the physical battle hands down and ran away with the match.
But the truth is this All Blacks team has been in a form funk for a year. They were lucky to split their 2018 Rugby Championship tests with the Boks; could have lost to England as well as Ireland on tour; and then opened 2019 with a stodgy win in Argentina, an unimpressive draw with South Africa and then a record defeat to the Wallabies.
What the heck has happened to our All Blacks? The 2016 and ‘17 swagger has turned to a stagger, and the sight of the forwards getting sat on their proverbial backsides last weekend in Perth was perhaps the final straw. It’s been a full year since we’ve seen the world champions in their pomp.
If you believe Hansen’s rhetoric this week, it’s an ideal launching point. Out of the ashes of a Bledisloe bashing he hopes to launch his phoenix. ‘‘I’m loving it,’’ declared the coach ahead of his 100th test with the All Blacks. ‘‘This is the best challenge we could get prior to a World Cup.’’
Hansen has sent his own message with a selectorial shakeup. There are six new faces in the All
1. The case of the dropped wings.
It’s your call if you want to believe Steve Hansen’s claim he would have started Crusaders wings George Bridge and Sevu Reece for Rieko Ioane and Ben Smith, even if the All Blacks had the Bledisloe Cup in the bag. While it’s feasible that’s the case with Smith, Ioane simply had to be dumped. The 22-year-old has done little since scoring four tries against the Sunwolves early in the Super Rugby season. His lack of hunger is a real concern, and isn’t new. Codie Taylor, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Angus Ta’avao, Jackson Hemopo, Matt Todd, TJ Perenara, Ngani Laumape, Jordie Barrett.
2. Mo’unga and Barrett it is.
It appears Steve Hansen has all but made up his mind – Richie Mo’unga will play first-five and Beauden Barrett will trot out at fullback in Japan. Sticking with the muchdebated ploy for a third straight match says it all, particularly when the All Blacks have only 160 minutes of rugby before the World Cup kicks off. It’s too late to keep chopping and changing, particularly when the team needs to generate cohesion ahead of their tilt at a three-peat. Folau Fainga’a, James Slipper, Taniela Tupou, Rob Simmons, Liam Wright, Will Genia, Matt To’omua, Adam Ashley-Cooper. 3. It’s time to get physical.
You have to drill awfully deep to recall another occasion when the All Blacks’ forwards were chewed up and spat out as they were in Perth last weekend. The All Blacks’ pack must have been beyond red-faced when they reviewed footage of the Wallabies pulverising them, and it goes without saying the Kiwis must roll up their sleeves and rebuff the opposition ball runners at Eden Park, a week after they ran amok for 703 metres. 4. SBW is back.
Another week, another midfield combination. Sonny Bill Williams is back after turning out for Counties Manukau the past fortnight, meaning the All Blacks will field the fourth different midfield pairing in as many tests to start the year. The veteran second-five eighth will partner Anton Lienert-Brown tonight. With Ryan Crotty (thumb) still sidelined, we still don’t what Steve Hansen’s preferred midfield partnership is.
5. The All Blacks’ demise.
Whether it’s been All Blacks fans reaching for the panic button, or overseas media outlets condemning the All Blacks as has-beens, there has been no shortage of gun-jumping. Make no mistake, the All Blacks have been poor, but talk of their demise is premature. That said, it won’t be if they get beaten at Eden Park, where they haven’t lost to the Wallabies in 33 years. Bookies have the Wallabies as $5.00 outsiders to topple the All Blacks ($1.15).