Goodhue lands central role
Jack Goodhue has got the nod.
In a potential pointer of things to come, the 23-year-old Crusaders centre will partner Sonny Bill Williams in midfield when New Zealand meet South Africa on Sunday. Williams and Goodhue were paired against France in June, when the latter made his test debut.
It remains to be seen if Goodhue can go on and permanently unseat one of Williams or Ryan Crotty from a berth in the All Blacks’ first XV, but he’s off to an encouraging start. Crotty and Williams enjoy an exalted off-field status within the group and this selection illustrates just how highly Goodhue is regarded, 11 months from the next World Cup.
Elsewhere, No 8 Kieran Read returns to captain the team after sitting out last week’s trip to Argentina, with Owen Franks back at tighthead prop too. Shannon Frizell has been retained at blindside flanker for what will be his first appearance against the Springboks.
In the backs, the first-choice back three remains intact, Aaron Smith returns to the No 9 jersey and Richie Mo’unga keeps his bench spot despite Damian McKenzie having rejoined the squad after missing Argentina for his grandmother’s funeral.
But it’s Goodhue’s selection that’s likely to attract the most discussion, having pushed Crotty into the reserves. Crotty and Williams started together in Buenos Aires, where New Zealand’s 35-17 win earned them the Rugby Championship title.
Securing that bit of silverware hasn’t altered the team’s aspirations for this week.
‘‘Nothing changes for us,’’ head coach Steve Hansen said, in a statement. ‘‘It’s a test match everyone in New Zealand expects us to win. The fact that it’s an All Blacks-Springboks test match makes it even more exciting.’’
That’s especially so given the wee run of form the Springboks are on. After inglorious defeats to Argentina and Australia, their 36-34 victory over New Zealand in Wellington breathed genuine life into test rugby. Fans had become accustomed to the All Blacks sweeping all before them, but they were a long way from their best at Westpac Stadium.
The fact the Springboks backed that up by beating the Wallabies in Port Elizabeth showed the win against New Zealand wasn’t just a fluke.
‘‘South Africa are playing with a lot of confidence and after their two recent wins, their confidence levels will be even higher, so we’ll need to respond with real purpose, composure, belief and intensity,’’ said Hansen.
This time last year Hansen sent an advanced party of starting players to Cape Town, in the hope of injecting life into his weary team. Despite that, they still looked a tired side in registering a last-gasp 25-24 win at Newlands.
Read’s the only player to go on ahead this time and his performance will be closely watched. He didn’t appear best-pleased with events in Wellington, where the team’s game-management wasn’t what it might have been.
You imagine there’ll be plenty of vigour about his play this week and one or two team-mates who are eager to impress him as well. TALKING POINTS
All Blacks team to meet South Africa: Ben Smith, Waisake Naholo, Jack Goodhue, Sonny Bill Williams, Rieko Ioane, Beauden Barrett, Aaron Smith, Kieran Read (c), Sam Cane, Shannon Frizell, Scott Barrett, Sam Whitelock, Owen Franks, Codie Taylor, Karl Tu’inukuafe. Reserves: Nathan Harris, Tim Perry, Ofa Tuungafasi, Patrick Tuipulotu, Ardie Savea, TJ Perenara, Richie Mo’unga, Ryan Crotty.