Fifita to step up for Squire
Let’s call it a French lesson. You don’t go to the All Blacks looking for sympathy and a kind word in your hour of need. You’re more likely to get short shrift and a flea in your ear.
That was the case here in Paris as some French media came to the All Blacks wondering what they made of the injury crisis that had beset Guy Noves’ team ahead of Sunday’s test at Stade de France.
As if the French rugby side don’t have it bad enough, on a 10-test losing skid against the All Blacks, and having dropped 17 of their last 19 against the No 1 outfit in the world, they have been decimated by injury in the leadup to their first outing of the 2017-18 northern season.
Noves was denied nine players when he named his initial squad of 32 to prepare for the test against the All Blacks, plus 14 more for the French XV clash just three days later.
Since then seven more players have been added to the injured list. Hardly auspicious for Les Bleus who haven’t beaten the All Blacks in Paris since 1973.
All Blacks flanker Sam Cane was asked about the plight of the French outfit who have had to dig so deep they have recalled burly Toulon problem child Mathieu Bastareaud who has never matched his size and personality with anything resembling a substantial body of work in the test arena.
‘‘We’ve been aware there have been a couple of injuries ... Louis Picamoles, how’s he looking?’’ responded Cane, referring to the world-class French No 8 who will there at Stade de France. ‘‘We only have to look back at the last couple of times we’ve played the French over here (a 24-19 victory last year, and a 26-19 one in 2013). Those games went right down to the wire.
‘‘Yeah, they’ve had a couple of injuries, and so have we. It will be about the players that front come Saturday, and knowing French sides I’ve played and watched, anyone who puts on that blue jersey to face the All Blacks will front.
‘‘We’re not getting sucked into any of this injury carry-on. I know they will come out firing.’’
The French won three of five in the last Six Nations, and were swept by the Springboks in South Africa in June. They have won just seven of 18 since Noves took charge in 2016, and simmering discontent is said to exist between the coach and national president Bernard Laporte.
It is thought that Noves has been told he must win three of his four November ‘‘tests’’, with the twin outings against New Zealand followed by matchups against South Africa and Japan. to dish out $322,5000 just to pay the base weekly salaries of the 43 assembled players. Bonuses, match payments and other costs will swell that figure further. Multiply that by four (weeks on tour), and you have a fair idea why those additional matches become so important.
All Blacks assistant coach Ian Foster said there were positives and negatives of having an enlarged squad. Staff were challenged, logistics stretched and individual teaching became difficult. But having dual XVs with reserves on the sideline allowed much more effective training.
‘‘And there’s plenty of energy round the squad. There are scraps to see who sits where on the bus ... they’re fighting for every bit of food and every seat they can get. That has brought energy to the squad at a good time. We’ve got to make sure we don’t get distracted by the size and stay focused on one task which is the test match.’’
Added experienced flanker Sam Cane: ‘‘The biggest difference is trying to find seats on the bus. The younger boys don’t want to tread too far back. We’ve got a big bus and she’s pretty much all full up.’’
The last word goes to Hansen. ‘‘What we’re trying to do is grow some depth, and we’re doing that. I know for a fact we’ll end up with some quality people and have a good group to select from in 2019.’’
In this case Hansen is betting bigger really is better. And that the payoff will come in 2019. The bad news first. Rugged loose forward Liam Squire is in major doubt for the All Blacks’ opening test of their northern tour after illness left him holed up in bed while his 42 team-mates had their first major training hitout of the week.
The good news? Star wing Rieko Ioane is a better prospect to play than he was when they rolled into Paris this week, after he had been diagnosed with the squad’s second (though unrelated) bout of the mumps.
Final decisions on both will be made over the next day or so, but don’t be surprised if the raw but exciting Vaea Fifita is called up for the biggest match of his short international career at No 6 against France. The All Blacks almost always require starters to log two quality training sessions, and Squire was in no shape to do that in Paris yesterday.
‘‘He’s a bit crook, so has been stuck in his room,’’ assistant coach Ian Foster said, confirming it was not mumps-related.
In terms of Squire’s selection prospects, medical advice would be followed. ‘‘At the moment he’s in bed. If he comes right in the next 24 hours they’ll tell us where he’s at from an energy side. Otherwise he’ll be out.’’
Even with Squire absent it was a busy day at training on a frosty morning in suburban Paris. The All Blacks squad now numbers a bulging 43 after Canterbury skipper, and recent Baabaa, Luke Whitelock was called up to cover for Jerome Kaino, whose posterior cruciate ligament injury looks likely to end his tour.
Prop Tim Perry (tight hamstring), a likely starter against the French XV in Lyon next Tuesday, joined Kaino on the sidelines, as what is thought to be the largest ever All Blacks squad was put through its paces.
Ioane was among them, though Foster hardly gave a glowing endorsement that World Rugby’s breakthrough player of the year finalist would take his place on the left wing at Stade de France.
‘‘It’s the first time we’ve seen him out on the field, and his energy levels were down a bit. He’s had a blowout in the gym, and training today. It’s how well he recovers.
‘‘He doesn’t have to be 100 per cent today, but he’s got to be 100 per cent on Saturday.
‘‘The goal now is to make sure he takes the right steps to present on Thursday at a more energetic level than today.’’