No panic in All Blacks’ ranks
– The world champion All Blacks admitted yesterday to being uncomfortable with their patchy performances so far this year, but rejected talk of panic in their camp.
Going into their Rugby Championship Test against arch-rivals South Africa in Albany tomorrow, New Zealand have played seven Tests in 2017, with five wins, one loss and one draw.
Coach Steve Hansen (below) admitted that the scrambling nature of some of those victories had caused public disquiet in rugby-obsessed New Zealand.
“If we’d won that (British and Irish Lions) series rather than drawn it probably people wouldn’t be so down in the mouth,” he said.
“It would appear this is a year we’re finding out about ourselves.”
The last time the All Blacks had a misfiring season was in the lead-up to their successful World Cup defence two years ago which was explained then as fine-tuning strategies.
But Hansen said the situation was different this time as the All Blacks grappled with shifts in defensive patterns, season-ending injuries to Owen Franks, Joe Moody and Jordie Barrett, a suspected long-term injury to Israel Dagg and Ben Smith’s sabbatical.
Tomorrow’s back three of Damian McKenzie, Nehe Milner-Skudder and Rieko Ioane have only 20 Tests between them while Kane Hames and Nepo Lualala have played in a combined eight Tests.
“At the World Cup we had a team that was primed ... this group is in the infancy of that at this stage,” Hansen said.
“It’s another two-and-a-half years before we get to that point and if we keep growing and learning as I would like us to then we’ll be a far stronger side than we are at the moment.”
Hansen said players brought into the squad this year may lack international experience but “we just can’t panic”.
“We’ve got to back them and believe in them.” – AFP
Rank outsiders the Springboks have added even more strength by naming four locks in their match-day squad for the Rugby Championship clash against the All Blacks in Albany tomorrow.
Bok coach Allister Coetzee, who named three changes yesterday, restored lock Franco Mostert to the starting line-up despite Pieter-Steph du Toit’s Man-of-theMatch performance against Australia last weekend in Perth.
Mostert will join captain Eben Etzebeth in the middle row, while Du Toit has been named on the bench where he will be joined by another lock in Lood de Jager.
“Pieter-Steph did very well when he stepped in for Franco last weekend in a rotational switch,” said Coetzee.
“Franco had five superb matches before he was rested last week, he is refreshed again and I expect another strong performance from him as his high work rate is much needed.”
In the other two changes, Ruan Dreyer starts at tighthead and Jean-Luc du Preez at blindside flank. Both are injury-related, replacing Coenie Oosthuizen and Jaco Kriel respectively.
Coetzee said the reason why he decided not to start with Trevor Nyakane was because the impact role the player performs from the bench has become all-important.
“Ruan did well when he replaced Frans Malherbe against a powerful French front row in June,” said Coetzee.
“And he will start on Saturday because we want to persist with Trevor Nyakane and Steven Kitshoff as a combination off the bench to make an impact in the second half.”
The QBE Stadium where the Test will take place is located in Albany, 15km northwest of the Auckland city centre, and this will be the first Bok Test against the All Blacks at this venue.
The capacity is just 25 000 but has been expanded to make room for 30 000 spectators.
“The rivalry between the two sides is filled with rich history, and on Saturday we get an opportunity to be part of that,” said Coetzee.
“They are always at their best when playing the Springboks and we are expecting another huge battle.”
Significantly, the referee tomorrow, Nigel Owens of Wales, was also in charge during South Africa’s last win (32-29) in New Zealand in Hamilton eight years ago.
Springboks: Andries Coetzee, Raymond Rhule, Jesse Kriel, Jan Serfontein, Courtnall Skosan, Elton Jantjies, Ross Cronje, Uzair Cassiem, Jean-Luc du Preez, Siya Kolisi, Franco Mostert, Eben Etzebeth (capt), Ruan Dreyer, Malcolm Marx, Tendai Mtawarira. Bench: Bongi Mbonambi, Steven Kitshoff, Trevor Nyakane, Lood de Jager, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Francois Hougaard, Handre Pollard, Damian de Allende.
All Blacks: Damian McKenzie, Nehe Milner-Skudder, Ryan Crotty, Sonny Bill Williams, Rieko Ioane, Beauden Barrett, Aaron Smith, Kieran Read (capt), Sam Cane, Liam Square, Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Nepo Laulala, Dane Coles, Kane Hames. Bench: Codie Taylor, Wyatt Crockett, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Scott Barrett, Ardie Savea, TJ Perenara, Lima Sopoaga, Anton Lienert-Brown.