Bronze age the end of an era
Don’t tell the select group of departing All Blacks that Friday’s ‘‘loser’s final’’ at the Rugby World Cup is the match no one wants to play. For them, at least, there is every reason to finish this tournament as winners.
For skipper Kieran Read, back-three utility Ben Smith, midfielders Ryan Crotty and Sonny Bill Williams and loose forward Matt Todd the bronze medal match against Wales at Tokyo Stadium will represent their farewells as All Blacks.
Head coach Steve Hansen made it clear in the wake of Saturday’s 19-7 semifinal defeat to England that we could expect changes to the lineup in the form of those departing All Blacks, amongst others. It’s the least they deserve.
Smith, Crotty and Todd (through injury) did not play in the semifinal implosion against England, while Williams came off the bench.
Read was the only starter but it’s expected he will lead the team one final time to finish his career on an appropriate note. It will be his 127th test and 52nd as captain.
‘‘How important is it to get back on the horse, kick it in the guts and get on with it? It’s massively important,’’ said Hansen earlier this week. ‘‘This team will never be together again . . . it’s an opportunity for us to express things on Friday that we
Ben Smith, Kieran Read, top right, and Ryan Crotty are set to play their final games for the All Blacks on Friday.
find particularly special about being an All Black.’’
Read certainly indicated he had no intention of making the semifinal defeat his final outing as an All Black.
‘‘It’s a chance for us to put on the jersey again and it is going to be my last chance,’’ he said. ‘‘I
want to go out and play well. There are a few things we’ll work through and come Friday we’ll be ready to bounce back.’’
So, how is Hansen manage that?
He will bring in Smith and the lightly used Rieko Ioane to the back three, probably on the wings
likely
to as a straight swap for youngsters Sevu Reece and George Bridge. There might be a temptation to allow Smith one last test at his preferred fullback spot, though that will be balanced by the benefits of keeping Richie Mo’unga and Beauden Barrett as dual playmakers, despite an ineffective
Possible All Blacks lineup: Beauden Barrett, Ben Smith, Ryan Crotty, Sonny Bill Williams, Rieko Ioane, Richie Mo’unga, TJ Perenara; Kieran Read (capt), Sam Cane, Shannon Frizell, Patrick Tuipulotu, Brodie Retallick, Angus Ta’avao, Dane Coles, Atu Moli.
outing against England.
Williams and Crotty could come straight in as a wind-backthe-clock starting midfield for one last start together, while Perenara deserves the start at halfback, in tandem with Brad Weber’s speed off the bench.
The pack will need a refresh after the battering they took at the hands of that well-drilled and physical England unit. Expect a new front row, Patrick Tuipulotu to get a chance to start at lock and either Todd or Shannon Frizell to line up alongside Sam Cane and Read in a loose trio that will be without Ardie Savea to a knee injury.
The sentimental choice in the loose would be to give Todd the start, but he might be better employed off the bench, coming off the shoulder injury that took him out of the mix last week.
Hansen did not want to be drawn on the merits of this playoff between the respective semifinal losers, though did admit it was a fixture the players didn’t care for.
The All Blacks team will be named this afternoon.
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