The All Blacks team selected to play the Wallabies at ANZ Stadiumn on Saturday night could be called the ultimate respect team.
For the key principle behind the selections it seems to me is that, when confronted with deciding between potential and experience, the selectors have opted for experience.
Read more: Romano wins surprise start for All Blacks
And the reason for this is obvious enough.
Despite all the talk about how much better the All Blacks are on paper against the Wallabies, the fact is that the Sydney Test will be a tremendously hard game for them to win.
The All Blacks won by one point in their last two Tests against the Wallabies at Sydney, 23 – 22 in 2010 and 19 – 18.
This year the Wallabies have had a long preparation because there was no Australian side in the Super Rugby semi-finals.
The coaches have used this time to get the squad, and especially the Waratahs contingent in the squad (8 of them), really fit.
The new coaching team, too, has spent a lot of time prepping the Wallabies on strategies to counter what went wrong last year in the 2011 RWC semi-final.
The All Black selectors clearly expect a really tough encounter in the forwards with a re-vitalised Wallaby pack. There has been some debate in New Zealand over the selection of the tough Luke Romano over the huge, young, Brodie Retallick in the second row.
But this selection goes to the heart of the matter for the All Blacks success in the last few years.
On the bus for officials leaving Eden Park after the 2011 RWC semi-final, Fred Allen sought out John O’Neill to tell him: “John, if the Wallabies had a couple of Brad Thorn’s in the pack they’d be world-beaters.”
Romano is the nearest equivalent in New Zealand rugby to Thorn. He is big enough. Tough. A vigorous and relentless tackler. And a smashing runner in the mid-field.
With Kieran Read, Romano and Liam Messam, the All Blacks have three big, hard running forwards which will allow Richie McCaw to concentrate more on his fetching and link game at number 7.
In the backs, too, the selectors have gone for the experience of Hosea Gear (although, like Romano, he has hardly played much for the All Blacks) over the raw potential of Julian Savea.
Only 8 of the Wallabies involved in the RWC 2011 semi-final are in the squad for Saturday night’s Test. The same number of All Blacks are backing up from the 2011 for the coming Test.
But for the All Blacks, one of the changes is a critical one: Dan Carter was out for the RWC game.
Aaron Cruden played splendidly against the Wallabies that day and even kicked a field goal that nailed home the lead advantage.
But with Carter back, the All Blacks get their greatest number 10 back, the player who has scored more points in Tests than any other player and a player who when he plays with Richie McCaw rarely is on the losing side for the All Blacks.
The old firm of Carter and McCaw, together with a frontrow with the most capped All Blacks prop and hooker of all time in Tony Woodcock (86 caps) and Keven Mealamu (93), is heading a team that has the experience and the record to perform strongly in what is going to be a cauldron of Wallaby support at ANZ Stadium.
All Blacks team: Israel Dagg, Cory Jane, Ma’a Nonu, Sonny Bill Williams, Hosea Gear, Dan Carter, Aaron Smith, Kieran Read, Richie McCaw (captain), Liam Messam, Sam Whitelock, Luke Romano, Owen Franks, Keven Mealamu, Tony Woodcock. Reserves: Ben Smith, Aaron Cruden, Piri Weepu, Victor Vito, Brodie Retallick, Ben Franks, Andrew Hore.
marknperth
Guest
what??,should be lala land
Ryan
Guest
I wouldn't be surprised to see the ABs slip up here to be honest. After all if we use the "Australian thinking" The Wallabies have had more time to prepare so are and should be "Better Prepared" The Wallabies are playing at home at a venue where their last two losses are by a solitary point against the ABs. The Wallabies are the Number 2 team in the world a win at home over the ABs in their first hit out in the 2012 Rugby Championship will be a massive blow but it won't spell the end of the world either. if the Wallabies do win the gloating will be horrendous as always, well for a week at least until they get brought back down to Earth with an almighty thud at Eden Park.
Frisky
Guest
No room for Jonah Lomu, sorry, Julian Savea in the 22??? Wow!! Nice too see Hosea Gear back in black though. He has been under-appreciated for too long.
ted
Guest
hook....line.....sinker
Andrew C (waikato)
Guest
Spiro, for once forget past HISTORY of Wallaby v's All Blacks test matches. The new Sheriff is in charge @ the All Blacks now. Hansen won't allow complacency to enter their heads, you'll see a hard-nosed approach from a well selected and well drilled All Black team. Plus, once the chokerhold is applled by (say) 30 minutes into the game, they won't let up on the defence nor attack . They'll be totally ruthless and relentless. All Robbie will be left saying is a few mea culpas !!!!
jeremy
Guest
1/10 I ain't even mad, troll harder next time.
all7days
Roar Guru
Against Scotland?
all7days
Roar Guru
Hey hey hey! Get your facts out if here!
stillmatic1
Guest
the problem in both games though xiedazhou was that the wallabies almost got beaten because they couldnt stop the Abs when they finally got into the game. i was at the HK match, and at 12 nil to the wallabies in a short amount of time, we werent very happy. but then the Abs roared back and took a 24-12 lead (i think) and it was a couple of mistakes by the duck and good play by the wallabies that saw them snatch the win. same goes for brisbane last year. wallabies post a big lead, get it pulled back within the space of 20 minutes and then get out of jail with a genia special (forward pass after a run behind the ref (sic)) and that was that. all the bluster in the world is still not getting a strong 80 minute performance to truly shut out the ABs. the question is: if the wallabies come out firing with the same intent as HK/Bris but dont put many points on the board, then what would we be saying come sunday morning? good effort but no quade cooper!! wish i could get down for the game, it should be very close. im interested in seeing if the ABs decide to start releasing the shackles a bit now, what with that big gorilla locked away now!!
Sprigs
Guest
They lost in Hong Kong without those excuses, and in Brisbane last year...
Sprigs
Guest
New Zealanders arriving in Australia aren't eligible for welfare, Ted. They work.
Jeff
Guest
Fred Allen and John O'Neill knew each other [before Fred's death] So why wouldn't he make a comment like that. It is the sort of observation knowledgable people will make to each other after a game.And to be frank if the ABs had not had Thorn and Whitelock they would not have been the force they were in RWC. I am constantly astonished at some of the remarks I read !!!
mania
Guest
time will tell jiggles. either way i really lookin forward to this test series
Wal the Hooker
Guest
Don't waste your breath Moa... What a turkey!
krisl of Utah
Guest
The allblacks always show respect to their opponents...... nothing new there. no wonder they haven't lost a game to Samoa or Scotland....
Richard
Guest
Its way past the time that the Wallabies et al stopped talking it up re the All Blacks and started delivering. Just shut up and start performing on the field against them and stop making excuses..
ohtani's jacket
Guest
Is this Wallabies side the ultimate respect team?
Trevor DeAngelo
Guest
NO Rob - that would never happen!
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
Agree with you WS: monkey is off ABs back and they wont have too much pressure. Plus they have showed they could handle it anyway and they will never be under the same pressure they were under last year (rwc, at home, 24y draught). Hope you're wrong re- a thrashing though! But Dagg and SBW have never been stronger and Aaron Smith brings so much speed that Weepu didnt have in the last few years! They could be lethal.
WatsonSpear
Guest
the burden of Bill is off our shoulders, so we can start enjoying the rugby again. and the team selection shows it. methinks it's gonna be a thrashing. Barnes gonna have to play his bestest game in a \wallaby jersey. Genia fatigued, and it's gonna be Pocock vs Read with McCaw running the show. what's the odds of SBW scoring the first try of the game?