NZ stick, France twist as World Cup plans take shape

WELLINGTON: Rugby World Cup planning has loomed into full view with All Blacks coach Steve Hansen opting not to tinker with his team for the second test against France in Wellington on Saturday while Jacques Brunel has made five changes to the visiting side.

Hansen has made no secret of the fact that this year was about fine tuning selections and tactics ahead of their World Cup defence in Japan.

“At this time of the year, it’s the norm for us not to make too many changes,” Hansen told reporters on Thursday.

“If we chop and change every week, history has told us that we get sloppy. “As the season goes on, we’ll have to take some risks too. Those risks are about finding out if these guys are good enough to go to the World Cup.”

Showing faith in the same 23 players that won the first test 5211 in Auckland, Hansen expected them to go out and seal the three-match series at Wellington Regional Stadium (0735 GMT) with a game to spare.

It took a while for the home side to crack the French in the series opener but they produced a blistering final 30 minutes to run in seven unanswered tries.

France coach Brunel, who was appointed last December, has also said he would use the tour of New Zealand to prepare for next year’s World Cup and has made five changes to the starting 15 from Auckland and dropped two replacements. — Reuters