Read rested, Hansen recalls Cardiff horror
Leaving Kieran Read behind to skip the Argentina test is the least of Steve Hansen’s worries.
Game management, or the recent lack thereof, is the No 1 concern as his All Blacks jet to Buenos Aires.
Hansen confirmed just prior to yesterday’s departure for the Rugby Championship road double against the Pumas and Springboks that skipper Read would join the team only in South Africa as part of a plan to spare him the long-haul travel load on a back that is still reasonably fresh from spinal surgery last December.
The 32-year-old returned to firstclass rugby with the Crusaders following the All Blacks’ June tests against France, and resumed the captaincy from Sam Whitelock for the Rugby Championship tests.
Wellington utility forward Vaea Fifita comes in to replace Read for the week in Buenos Aires, with the experienced Luke Whitelock likely to slot in at No 8 against the Pumas. Older brother Sam will reassume the captaincy.
‘‘We don’t want to have him sitting in a plane too long,’’ explained Hansen at Auckland airport. ‘‘So the smart play is to leave him at home and send him straight to Africa.’’
And, for the record, Hansen won’t be losing any sleep in business class en route to South America over the prospect of sending out two new loose forwards in his starting XV to face the resurgent Argentines. He all but tipped his hat that Shannon Frizell will fill in for the injured Liam Squire at No 6.
Of much more concern for Hansen is the game management deficiencies that shone through in last weekend’s 36-34 defeat to the Springboks in Wellington.
In a clear message to his players, Hansen blasted the All Blacks’ shortcomings in this crucial aspect, labelling it the worst he had seen since the 2007 World Cup quarterfinal debacle in Cardiff. He also took on his share of the responsibility.
‘‘Our game management was next to zero. There has been a lot of talk about our defence coach and Wayne Smith being missed. Our defence coach [Scott McLeod] is going to be one of the best coaches in the world given time. We let in five tries but two were from attack, and one a driving maul.
‘‘Our game management was the biggest problem. It’s partly the leadership, and it’s partly my fault because I haven’t given them enough understanding of what to do. No-one is going to get hung out to dry because of a loss. We’ve all got to learn from it, and move on.’’
Asked if first five-eighth Beauden Barrett, who had a poor night in Wellington with the boot, would be better for the experience, Hansen said they all would be, and
‘‘This team hasn’t had much adversity. When you say Beauden will learn, I think we all will. I’m meant to be the teacher and they’re meant to be the students, so I’ve now got a classroom of students who want to listen.’’ Steve Hansen
harked back to that 2007 defeat to France in Cardiff. ‘‘That’s the last time I can remember a game that was so poorly managed, and it was because of the pressure of the scoreboard and the event.
‘‘This time the same thing happened and we got too individualistic. All we had do was take a big breath, maybe take a shot at goal in the 66th minute, then score a try, and that gives you the eight points you need to get in front.
‘‘A dropped goal wouldn’t be bad either, would it,’’ added Hansen, echoing the thoughts of his nation. ‘‘We couldn’t do one of those in ’07 either because it’s not the thing that the five-eighth at that time was used to doing. It’s not one Beauden has done . . . those things they stay with you because this time it really hurt.’’
‘‘This team hasn’t had much adversity. When you say Beauden will learn, I think we all will. I’m meant to be the teacher and they’re meant to be the students, so I’ve now got a classroom of students who want to listen.’’
Hansen, through injury, form and travel demands, is likely to make a few judicious changes for Argentina. Sonny Bill Williams, who has not played since late June, travels after a bout of of tonsillitis in Wellington, and will likely be introduced off the bench.
Midfielder Ngani Laumape, injury cover earlier in the championship, stays in New Zealand, as do Dane Coles, Joe Moody, Brodie Retallick and Liam Squire to continue their injury rehabilitation.
‘‘This team hasn’t had much adversity. When you say Beauden will learn, I think we all will. I’m meant to be the teacher and they’re meant to be the students, so I’ve now got a classroom of students who want to listen.’’
Hopefully.
Hansen, through injury, form and travel demands, is likely to make a few judicious changes for Argentina. The back three and midfield should see some shuffling, while the loose trio will be fresh by necessity. Sonny Bill Williams, who has not played since late June, travels after a bout of of tonsillitis in Wellington, and will likely be introduced off the bench.
All Blacks squad for Argentina and South Africa: Forwards: Liam Coltman, Nathan