Hansen gambles on uncapped Lienert-Brown

WELLINGTON: All Black coach Steve Hansen’s longterm planning will again come into focus tomorrow when they face Australia in the Rugby Championship, with his mantra of “raising the bar” also likely to be tested.

Hansen’s goal this year has been about “refreshing” the team with an eye on becoming the first side to win three successive World Cups when Japan hosts the tournament in 2019, consistently improving the team’s standard of play along the way.

The inclusion of uncapped midfield back Anton LienertBrown for the clash at Wellington is the latest selection gamble Hansen has made on young players.

The 21-year-old, who will be the seventh debutant this season, had been on the selectors’ radar since he was a student at Christchurch Boy’s High, Hansen said.

“All of us knew who he was... and that’s why he’s here,” Hansen said yesterday. “He’s good enough to be here, and now he gets an opportunity. We’re very confident that he’ll go out and do the job.”

Hansen’s planning was not only evident with LienertBrown’s selection, but also his decision to return Ben Smith to fullback and move Israel Dagg to the right wing for the clash.

Hansen said one reason was tactical – he expected the Wallabies to kick for territory more often, which would allow Smith to have more impact on the game.

The other was simply to test out the combination.

The biggest challenge for the World Cup winners may be simply to meet Hansen’s expectations of continually raising the standard of play.

Even Hansen would struggle to find much to grumble about from last week’s 42-8 victory over the Wallabies.

Lack of depth has forced Australia coach Michael Cheika to stick with largely the same side as last week, while injuries have necessitated a recall for flyhalf Quade Cooper with Bernard Foley shunted to inside centre. – Reuters