NZ under pressure to improve in final combat with France
>> DUNEDIN: Though they have already won the three-Test series, the All Blacks will find themselves under extraordinary pressure in the final Test against France at Dunedin today.
Only a year out from a World Cup New Zealand will try to win for the third straight time, the All Blacks’ selections, tactics and performance are beginning to look increasingly haphazard.
Head coach Steve Hansen has one of the best records of any coach in professional sport, 75 wins in 84 matches, but he may risk losing public confidence unless the All Blacks show improvement or at least consistency in all of those areas.
Selection is becoming the greatest test of Hansen’s tenure. The squad he has named for today’s Test are experimental; if they produces a good performance, Hansen will justly be credited with foresight but if they don’t and France again stretch or even beat New Zealand, Hansen will have some explaining to do.
The team have a vulnerable look; combinations in several areas are untested. The backline has potential but has members who haven’t played in concert before. If it fails under the defensive pressure France will inevitably apply, the result could be an embarrassing defeat.
Damian McKenzie, a fullback, will start a Test for the first time at fly-half as Hansen and his fellow selectors continue a pet project to turn the small but talented player into a back-up to first choice No.10 Beauden Barrett. Barrett will miss today’s match with concussion and that gives Hansen an excuse to allow McKenzie his first full match in the No.10 jersey.
“Damian’s coming along nicely,” Hansen said. “He came on [in the second Test] and had a good stint at first-five and he did okay. He didn’t set the world on fire, the whole team didn’t.”