The All Blacks want their latest wave of injuries to spark the same response as last week as they attempt to secure the Bledisloe Cup for another year on Saturday.
New Zealand will field their fourth-choice five-eighth – either Colin Slade or uncapped Tom Taylor – in the second Bledisloe Test against Australia in Wellington after Aaron Cruden (knee ligament) and Beauden Barrett (calf strain) were both ruled out with injuries from the 47-29 game one win in Sydney last Saturday.
Adding to their concerns, lock Luke Romano is out for the entire Rugby Championship after tearing his groin early in that game.
The sight of veteran outside centre Conrad Smith sitting out most of Tuesday’s training session with a sore ankle also set tongues wagging although he is expected to be fit for the weekend.
Hansen is calling on his team to respond as they did last week when they lost playmaking great Dan Carter (calf) and form flanker Liam Messam (hamstring) in the leadup to the Sydney Test.
Their respective replacements – Cruden and Steven Luatua – were among New Zealand’s best players in the emphatic six-try win.
“A bit of adversity doesn’t hurt anybody. We had some last week and people stood up and were counted,” Hansen said.
“And that’s the expectation this week – we just get on with the job.”
Slade is likely to end a two-year Test absence by starting at five-eighth with Crusaders utility Taylor added to the bench as back up.
Hansen was encouraged by how Slade and Taylor had absorbed information in their first two days in camp.
“It’s not easy but they’ve fitted in lovely,” he said.
“Both of them are reasonably comfortable in the environment.
“The game plan is not too difficult so we’ve got to trust them and everyone else just has to do their own jobs really really well.”
Slade’s 10th and most recent Test was the 2011 World Cup quarter-final win over Argentina.
He hobbled out of that game, part of the first five-eighth injury curse at the tournament which also claimed Carter and Cruden – turning fourth-choice Stephen Donald into an unlikely hero in the final.
Loose forwards Luke Whitelock and Brad Shields have also bolstered the squad although it will be a surprise if either plays at Wellington.
Brodie Retallick should be promoted as starting lock in place of Romano, with Jeremy Thrush coming onto the reserve bench.
Cruden, a standout performer in Sydney, requires further assessment. He could be ruled out for anything from two to six weeks.
Barrett, who replaced Cruden in the 70th minute, suffered a minor strain and should be available for New Zealand’s third Test of the Rugby Championship, against Argentina in Hamilton on September 7.
Romano tore a tendon and will target a return for the tour of Europe and Japan in November.
atlas
Guest
Taylor to start. And for history fans, another father-son AB (Warwick, 1980s incl RWC 1987) The theory that coach Steve Hansen is rewriting the once conservative book on All Black selection gained further credence when Taylor was named to start at No 10 for Saturday's second Bledisloe, and Rugby Championship, test against the Wallabies at Wellington's Westpac Stadium. Other changes to the side that won 47-29 in Sydney - on the bench - Dane Coles for Mealamu, Jeremy Thrush for Luke Romano (Retallick starts), Charles Piutau for Ryan Crotty, Colin Slade for Barrett All Blacks: Israel Dagg, Ben Smith, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Julian Savea, Tom Taylor, Aaron Smith; Kieran Read, Richie McCaw (capt), Steven Luatua, Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Owen Franks, Andrew Hore, Tony Woodcock. Reserves: Dane Coles, Wyatt Crockett, Charlie Faumuina, Jeremy Thrush, Sam Cane, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Colin Slade, Charles Piutau.
Glen
Guest
Wellington forecast this Saturday,All Blacks storm... though will be closer game.. Go ABs
Badger
Guest
Taylor will never be the AB's first choice no 10. He's a great goal kicker, but pedestrian on attack. Crudeness and Barrett are both superior options. Taylor doesn't attack the line enough, the crusaders scored hardly any tries last year with him at 10 until carter came back from injury...
Waikato07
Guest
I think we'd benifit more from having QC play against us.
Waikato07
Guest
To be fair - I think I would look pretty good at 1st 5/8 behind that forward pack. I don't think there's a huge amount of concern there. The only way TT or CS wont slot in easily is if our forwards are having a tough time and I can't see that happening.
Bazza Allblack Supporter
Roar Rookie
Yep, and a lot of the replacements were shite... What is link's excuse? Think the game will be closer this Sat ABs by 8
leggos
Guest
They'll start with Slade as Taylor is better option off the bench as he can cover several spots.
Kebab
Guest
Pay QC a bit and I am sure he will fill in for ya. Just speak to his manager
Chivas
Guest
+1 that I think is the worst I've seen especially in a country which doesn't have a wealth of depth... AB's only dealing with issue in two positions really.
Dsat24
Guest
and if Slade gets injured Kerr Barlow to 10 and he and Smithy can interchange - awesome.
dc-nz
Guest
Just pass the ball to Smith. They will be running the show - Conrad and Aaron....
Dsat24
Guest
Its looking like a change in game plan for the Wallabies this weekend. Attacking the inside channel is now gonna take precedence over the 'fixing the mistakes' strategy and well the defence bit is just going to have to defer another week... aw heck its just getting all complicated!
Ajax
Guest
Nice tongue in cheek stuff ;-) Having said that, the Aussies looked better when Cooper and Kudriani came on.. move Folua to full back.. their backline looks a lot better.. AAC and JOC are decent wingers. Aussie lineout was good all night.. and at different moments, the Aussie scrum wasnt too bad. They did actually have the better of the Lions scrum for the first 2 tests this year... Slipper, Moore and Kepu looks reasonable.. Sio..wow.. bigger than I realized. Kiwis will no doubt win this weekend.. but I think the Aussies can at least make a game of it. Is everyone in the All Blacks named Smith these days??
Simon_Sez
Roar Guru
The ABs injuries list still does not compare to what Robbie Deans had to deal with in 2012 with the Wallabies.
Team Taniwha
Guest
According to the Reunion show last night, Taylor spent most time at yesterdays training at 10. In a radio interview this morning, Ian Foster admitted thought had been given to calling Piri in as a replacement but they decided to do with Slade and Taylor.
js-nz
Guest
I think they should give Taylor a run, I think he has the talent, but Hansen will probably go with Slade starting as he has been there before. Either way, will make it even more interesting.
The Other Steve - and All Black fan
Guest
I wonder what Piri Weepu is up to? The CakeTin is a terrible place for kickers because of the swirling winds, and Piri played there for years as a Hurricane.
Antonio
Guest
Agree with Canadiankiwi's first point - rugby is almost always won up front. Expect to go with Slade - experience counts in overcoming rushed preparation time. Taylor is usually at inside centre for Crusaders, with Blyendaal @10. In future Taylor could be the AB's first choice 10, but would need time to ease into the role. Keeping the foot on the throat of Wallabies while McKenzie is trying to establish himself is not the time for experimentation (refer to JO'C being blooded in the critical role vs the Lions). That said, Taylor appears to have the maturity to cope with it if required.
Nick Cross
Guest
I'd definitely go with Taylor too
mace 22
Guest
picking the better kicker between the two isn't in the all black psyche. they'll the one that suits the game plan they've decided on. I myself would prefer taylor.