Scott Barrett to add bulk to back row
TOKYO: Scott Barrett will replace Sam Cane in the back row to add some height and bulk in the only change to New Zealand’s starting XV for tomorrow’s Rugby World Cup semi-final against England.
The versatile Barrett will start on the blindside flank as the All Blacks bid to bolster the line-out against an England line-up that is strong at the set piece.
Barrett replaced Cane in a tactical change at half-time in New Zealand’s 46-14 quarter-final win over Ireland last weekend, with Ardie Savea switching roles to play on the openside. That’s how they’ll start on tomorrow, with skipper Kieran Read recovering from calf muscle soreness and completing the back row at No.8.
Barrett joins his older brother, fullback Beauden, in the starting XV. Their younger brother, Jordie, is on the reserves bench.
The All Blacks topped Pool B here, opening with a 23-13 win over South Africa, and have been steadily building momentum in their bid for a third consecutive title.
“The team is exactly where we want to be, mentally and physically,” New Zealand head coach Steve Hansen said, rejecting England coach Eddie Jones’ claims that all the pressure is on New Zealand. “It would be very naive to think there is no pressure on both sides.”
Hansen said Cane’s move to the reserves was more related to game strategy than form, saying the flanker has been playing well.
“We’ve made some decisions around how we want to play, and we’ve made that change because of it,” Hansen said. Referring to Scott Barrett, he added: “Obvious thing, he’s a line-out forward. He’s a ball carrier... enhances our ballcarrying ability.”
New Zealand haven’t lost a game at the Rugby World Cup since an upset defeat to France in 2007, and have won all three previous meetings against England at the sport’s marquee event.
New Zealand won the inaugural Rugby World Cup in 1987 on home soil, won again at home in 2011 and in England in 2015.
Read missed a training session earlier in the week but said it was just precautionary.
“It’s good. It’s responded really well, so, good to go,” he said.
Scott Barrett can play as a lock or a loose forward, so has been working closer than usual with Read and Savea in recent days.
“He’s going to add something slightly different for us in the loose forwards and certainly it’s been pretty impressive what he’s been doing for us,” Read said.
“He’s certainly going to be physical, he’s great in line-outs and defensively. He’s someone who, every time he’s been on the field for us, has done a great job.”