Experienced duo left out by coach
STEVE HANSEN: IT HAS BEEN A TOUGH PROPOSITION
Sonny Bill Williams was benched and fellow centre Ryan Crotty missed out altogether as New Zealand named their team for tomorrow’s World Cup quarterfinal against Ireland.
In-form Anton Lienert-Brown and Jack Goodhue got the nod for the defending champions in midfield, coach Steve Hansen saying it had been a tough proposition to sort out his centre combination.
“We have 31 available for selection. Every team you pick you look at the opposition, what you’re after and the midfield was no different,” Hansen said yesterday.
“You come down to having more people good enough to start than you have to leave out.
“In this case Ryan’s missed out. That doesn’t mean to say that if we’re fortunate enough to go further in the tournament that he won’t make the next team.
“But just for this game, we thought the combination of Jack, LB and Sonny was the one for us.”
Hansen added that LienertBrown had been in “really good form”.
“It was a no-brainer to pick him,” he said.
Two-time World Rugby Player of the Year Beauden Barrett starts at fullback, with relatively inexperienced wingers George Bridge and Sevu Reece completing the back three.
Richie Mo’unga is named at flyhalf alongside regular scrumhalf Aaron Smith.
Kieran Read captains from No 8, where he lines up with Sam Cane and Ardie Savea. Brodie Retallick and Sam Whitelock pack down in the boiler house, with Joe Moody and Nepo Laulala propping up Codie Taylor.
“There’s a lot of energy and excitement in the team which is normal for this stage of the tournament where the winner takes all. It will add extra pressure to both sides,” said Hansen.
“You just hope that it becomes a good game of rugby.” –