The All Blacks have made four changes to their starting line-up for Saturday’s second Test in a bid to prevent the first home series loss to France in fifteen years.
The return from injuries of Conrad Smith at outside centre and Jerome Kaino at blindside flanker brings some needed experience back to the side that lost the first Test 27-22 at the weekend.
Reserve openside flanker Tanerau Latimer has been promoted off the bench after Adam Thomson broke a bone in his hand and hooker Keven Mealamu also comes out of the reserves after Andrew Hore injured a rib cartilage.
With flanker Richie McCaw and Rodney So’oialo still injured, the All Blacks loose forwards still have a makeshift look about them after France dominated the breakdown in the Dunedin Test.
“It’ll be a challenge for them, they’re coming together as a new combo,” assistant coach Steve Hansen told journalists.
But he added Kaino was a valuable addition to the side and Kieran Read – who moves to No.8 – and Latimer were improving.
He said it was unfair that the loose forwards should be singled out for criticism after the first Test.
“For them to work in any rugby game, your tight five have got to do the job and you’ve got to go forward.
“A number of people didn’t play well last week because the French didn’t allow us to and we didn’t front up, and we have got to front up as a tight five and do the job.”
No.8 Liam Messam is the biggest casualty from the first Test, being dropped altogether from the 22 chosen for Saturday.
“Liam’s got to get more consistent. He’s a real athlete, he can do some wonderful things and he can do some silly things,” Hansen said.
“That’s something he’s working on.”
Isaia Toeva has dropped to the reserves to make way for Smith, who joins his Wellington Hurricanes team mate Ma’a Nonu in the centres.
“He’s a talker, he’s a leader and he’s had very good form through the year, so it’s good to have an experienced player like him coming back,” coach Graham Henry said of Smith.
Chiefs hooker Aled de Malmanche and Crusaders flanker George Whitelock have been called into the All Blacks’ reserves bench.
Henry said the All Blacks were more prepared following Saturday’s loss, when they were outmuscled and outdefended by France.
“The loss always brings the best out of people, makes them more determined, have greater edge, but also having more time together … time is an important factor too,” he said.
TEAM: Mils Muliaina (capt), Cory Jane, Conrad Smith, Ma’a Nonu, Joe Rokocoko, Stephen Donald, Jimmy Cowan, Kieran Read, Tanerau Latimer, Jerome Kaino, Isaac Ross, Brad Thorn, Neemia Tialata, Keven Mealamu, Tony Woodcock. Res: Aled de Malmanche, John Afoa, Bryn Evans, George Whitelock, Piri Weepu, Luke McAlister, Isaia Toeava.
Mark
Guest
Jerry - fair point, we lose the top 3 7's & the top 8 & we're in strife. Lauaki has turned his game around in the S14, his major issue at test level was ball retention & he's sorted that, pity he can't have another crack (even though after the tests last year I was hoping never again). What are the issues with Waldron ? in the S14 he played agaisnt te opposition that he'd play against in teh 3N & came out well. At least with eirther of those we'd have 2 from 3 specialists. I
Jerry
Guest
Well, if you look at those guys playing 7 and 8 for the S14 franchises, to be honest, there's not that many options out there. These are the guys who played 7 and 8 for most of the time for each franchise (or were the top in that position when fit). 7 - Scott Waldrom, Josh Blackie, Tanerau Latimer, George Whitelock, Alando Soakai. Prior to Latimer getting on as a replacement last weekend, there's not a test cap amongst that bunch and Waldrom and Blackie are both injured. 8 - Rodney So'oialo, Sione Lauaki, Thomas Waldrom, Jerome Kaino, George Nauopo. Rodney's sitting out the Iveco series resting up for the TN, Lauaki's had multiple opportunities and has failed to step up, Kaino's been shown to be a far better 6 and has been selected there and Nauopo is very inexperienced. Essentially, the only fit capable specialists who could concievably step up are Latimer and Waldrom and there are question marks over both of them. Look, I'm not an apologist for Henry by any means, but it's not like he's over looking proven test performers to experiment. And learning a new position at test level isn't anything new. Sometimes it fails, like Cullen and McDonald at centre, sometimes it succeeds, like Stephen Larkham at 10 or Mils Muliaina at 15.
Mark
Guest
Jerry - but why why why doesn't he put a specialist in there......we have 5 teams in the S14, that means a MINIMUM of 5 regulars at 6, 7, & 8. Yet last weekend he started 3 guys who were regular 6's This weekend he starts 2 6's & a 7.........he wants someone to learn their trade at international level ??? Maybe he should shove Weepu into Centre next time we have problems there ! What's he trying to do to us poor supporters......looking forward to this weekends match though. French will be up for it big time, AB's came back from 17-3 down last weekend so showed some guts, should be a cracker.
Jerry
Guest
To be fair, Read played a full season at 8 in the Air NZ Cup last year. I do agree Henry seems to have a blindspot when it come s to specialist loosies.
Rusty
Roar Guru
must be smoking the same pipe as PDV
van der Merwe
Guest
Why is Henry so obsessed with playing his loose forwards out of their provincial positions?
JamesB
Guest
Fair comment about Messam, but on this basis how does Keiren Read warrant being retained. He really looked to be struggling at this level. These are both players I admire and have a lot of time for, but they really must do better. Adam Thompson a real disappointment, and he is yet to have a good game wearing the black jersey. Time must be running out for him.