HURRICANE WARNING
Rookie pair start for ABs
OPINION: Steve Hansen is planning on a Hurricane - or three - to hit the Lions on Saturday night in the All Blacks’ most daring selection calls since a certain Rugby World Cup final head scratcher.
Remember when Hansen yanked off centre Conrad Smith at halftime of the 2015 tournament decider?
Smith hadn’t been playing poorly in his last match for the All Blacks before flitting to France. But Hansen recognised the All Blacks needed Sonny Bill Williams’ impact from the start of the second half.
That was a relatively risk-free option: Williams was experienced and was accustomed to the supersub role.
It is more of a gamble to give 20-year-old fullback Barrett and second five-eighth sparkplug Laumape their first test starts in the All Blacks’ biggest game since that World Cup final.
It’s a clear signal by Hansen that the All Blacks won’t die wondering at Eden Park on Saturday - he hasn’t brought in the Hurricanes duo for defensive reasons.
The All Blacks will have a real crack.
The selectors’ call to bring back Julian Savea on the left wing for Rieko Ioane confirms that. Savea hasn’t been reintroduced simply to shadow electric Lions right wing Anthony Watson.
Combinations are important, so perhaps Hansen is banking on the Hurricanes effect to blow some energy into the backline.
He’ll have Hurricanes at 10 (Beauden Barrett), 12 (Laumape), 11 (Savea) and 15 (Jordie Barrett).
In that case, should he have gone the whole hog and plumped for T J Perenara at halfback?
That would have stiffened the All Blacks’ defence around the fringes, but Perenara lost the plot a little near the end of the second test defeat and it is more prudent to stick with Aaron Smith, who was sensational in the first test and has played enough with Beauden Barrett to strike up a rapport.
Jordie Barrett’s selection has another potential benefit. He gives the All Blacks another goalkicking option should brother Beauden have another off-night.
Laumape’s selection was all but signalled on Tuesday when All Blacks assistant-coach Ian Foster said the 24-year-old had been able to express himself despite the All Blacks being down to 14 men.
The Manawatu man is more Ma’a Nonu than Ryan Crotty. He will stress the Lions’ defensive line and has been part of the All Blacks’ camp from the outset while substitute Malakai Fekitoa was in exile.
Hansen will be hoping Barrett and Laumape have the same ultimate impact as two rookies from his first year out from under Graham Henry’s coaching shadow.
Aaron Smith and Brodie Retallick made their test bows against Ireland in 2012 and are among the first names etched in the lineup now.
Retallick went on to win a World Player of the Year award and Smith has been widely rated the best halfback in the world.
Fekitoa - who played with Anton Lienert-Brown against Ireland last year - may be used in a closer role on Saturday if Hansen gets the early lead he’s clearly aiming for.
Ioane must be scratching his head at being relegated to the stands. Only a fortnight ago, Hansen handed him his first test start, saying: ‘‘He’s got electrifying speed, and we just think for this particular match he’s the boy. I guess the proof will be in the pudding.’’
Did the dessert go soft in the middle? Hardly. Ioane scored two tries in the first test and looked safe enough under the high ball. Play didn’t exactly go the wings’ way in Wellington last week.
Now, the 20-year-old and Waisake Naholo, injured after 59 minutes last week, have been omitted from the 23 with Fekitoa the only outside back reserve. Smith and Savea are the only All Black backline survivors from the 2015 RWC starting lineup.
No selection acuity was needed for the decision to name an unchanged pack. The All Blacks forwards basically pick themselves.
How Jerome Kaino must be pawing at the ground for an 80 minute opportunity this week.
The prospect of facing the Lions in 2017 was a key driver for Kaino to re-sign for New Zealand rugby until the end of 2018.
So far, he’s had just 70 minutes over two matches - off in the 45th minute with a slight knock in the first test and sacrificed after 25 minutes last week for Laumape when Williams got his red card.
Who’ll be keener this week Kaino in his 81st test or two kids making their run-on debuts?