Hansen to bulk up squad for northern tour in long year
Steve Hansen will name a 37-man squad for the end of season tour with a view to building depth and resting senior All Blacks in what shapes as one of his most taxing years in charge.
‘‘This year is not only about the Lions and Rugby Championship but getting more development done,’’ Hansen said. ‘‘Therefore we’ll be looking to take a squad of about 37 up north and we want to be able to give those guys sitting outside the 23 or 15 some opportunities to play. The big theme of the end of year tour will be growing our playing options by developing more players two years out from the World Cup.’’
By the end of this year the All Blacks are likely to have played 14 tests and two additional games. It’s a packed schedule that, on top of Super Rugby, would leave many out on their feet if they were to play every match.
Three headline tests against the British and Irish Lions in June will be exhausting alone, both from a physical and mental perspective.
A test against Samoa on June 16 in Auckland, with Wales and Tonga featuring in the curtain raiser, prior to the opening Lions assignment is close to being finalised.
The All Blacks are also keen to add a midweek fixture, likely to be against the French Barbarians in Paris, to their end of year program. That would give them three northern tests in November and two fixtures – the other a profitable game against the Barbarians at Twickenham – which would allow Steve Hansen flexibility to rest and rotate his squad at a time when they are likely to be feeling the pinch.
‘‘Those two extra games will give us the opportunity to fill the needs of growing our experience.’’
The same strategy may be needed at the backend of the Rugby Championship, when the All Blacks will use a 33-man squad, and venture to Argentina, South Africa and Australia, for the third Bledisloe Cup in Brisbane, over a three-week period.
‘‘We’ve got to manage the tail end of the Rugby Championship because we do a lot of travelling,’’ Hansen said.
‘‘Our senior players have to be in reasonable nick to get up and play what are going to be three big test matches – Wales, Scotland, France.’’
The All Blacks are yet to decide which senior players may need to be spelled at certain points this year but starting locks Brodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock and blindside Jerome Kaino are sure to carry heavy loads early in the season.
‘‘We’ll look at that later on. Those sorts of things are done when you see who has had injuries, who hasn’t.’’
In previous years the All Blacks have taken the likes of Ardie Savea and Jordie Barrett away on the end of year tour as apprentices, a nonplaying role that still enables them to develop. Two games outside the three northern tests will instead allow those on the fringe of the playing squad to be tested in the heat of battle.
Focus points in those matches not involving senior players could be developing another tighthead prop and third halfback, with Charlie Faumuina and Tawera Kerr-Barlow moving on after this year, and exposing emerging talents like Vaea Fifita, another to go on last year’s northern tour but not feature.
‘‘We’ve only used the apprentice scheme on really standout players.
‘‘Ardie has already become an All Black and I’m sure going on that apprentice tour was beneficial to him.
‘‘We’re seeing Jordie playing really well at Super level and I’m sure when he gets the opportunity at All Black level his time with us will shine through too.’’