All Blacks coach Steve Hansen is dismissing talk about margins of victory against Japan – his focus is on getting the performance right.
New Zealand are expected to comfortably win Saturday’s Test at a sold-out Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium in Tokyo even though Hansen’s side has a developmental look about it.
Outside of captain Richie McCaw, who will play at No.8, and five-eighth Daniel Carter none of the other players in the starting 15 have 30 Tests to their name.
Two – towering lock Dominic Bird and wing Frank Halai – are making their debuts, while several others such as Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Beauden Barrett (at fullback), Francis Saili, Charles Piutau, Steven Luatua and Wyatt Crockett are getting rare starts.
It will also be just the second Test at outside centre for Ben Smith.
For all that, this week has been all about maintaining standards without the majority of the senior players around. And Hansen wants to see that translated onto the playing field.
“If we can prepare to have a performance that we can be proud of as a team, individually and collectively, then the margin is irrelevant,” said the All Blacks coach. “Our performance is what’s important.”
The All Blacks have met Japan on four previous occasions and the closest the Brave Blossoms have come was a 74-0 hiding in an unofficial 1987 Test in Osaka.
The key for the All Blacks will be to avoid getting sucked into the high-speed, loose style the Japanese will want to play.
That means getting a good platform up front and playing in the right areas of the field.
“They are a good side and they will make us pay if we try and play from anywhere and play helter-skelter footy,” said Crockett. “We’ve got to be smart.”
Crockett also wants the All Blacks scrum to be firing from the start, something that hasn’t always happened this year.
While New Zealand are expected to have the upper hand in the scrums, Crockett said Japan had tested the Welsh pack – albeit one without their British and Irish Lions players – in their recent victory.
“They weren’t all one-sided that’s for sure,” said the loosehead. “The Japanese boys had some good scrums in there. They are very explosive men.”
Japan’s preparations were disrupted when coach Eddie Jones suffered a stroke two weeks ago. But the former Wallabies boss has been in regular email contact with acting head coach Scott Wisemantel, who was due to visit Jones in hospital on Friday.
Wisemantel has named his strongest-possible side, including Highlanders halfback Fumiaki Tanaka, Melbourne Rebels hooker Shota Horie and former Australian rugby league international Craig Wing.
He has vowed Japan will throw everything they have at the world champions.
“We’re certainly not going out there with a defeatist attitude to try and just compete. We actually want to go out there and win the game,” said Wisemantel.
Seb Vettel
Guest
How many Luatuas, Piutaus and Sailis are there in this squad?
Tane Mahuta
Guest
I doubt it mate. Japan has you fooled. Japan 1 billion NZ -10 trillion kazillion. Thats Japan to win by 10 trillion kazillion and 1 billion. Thats a lot but Japan invented ninjas and the playstation.
Tane Mahuta
Guest
Yes yes yes! Play JTA on the loosehead. We have tightheads for China but very few looseheads and JTA is perfect for the job and can/has played loosehead.
Tane Mahuta
Guest
Yes this game will give us a fairer indication of where his game is. My personal opinion is that he will become a very good 9.
dsat24
Guest
Warm and muggy in Singapore TT. Is it ever not. Hope the boys don't swear if they lose as its probably straight to jail.
chracol
Guest
In recent years the AB's have tried to manufacture 13's or patch up the spot. Conrad's not the case and he's been there a long time. Ditto Bunce and Tana came from the left wing and was a success. But the bosses can dither to their detriment when there's a change of guard. Hart experimented with Cullen or Wilson at 13? Lost a RWC. Mitchell and Deans used McDonald (?) in Sydney and lost a RWC to an intercept the injured Tana would have covered. I guess Ben Smith needs time but I'd prefer to see a genuine 13 come through the ranks. Thus Ranger but he's away.
Roarer
Guest
I think Japan will win. 28-26. I've gotta feeling.
Tissot Time
Guest
Moa Sevens in Singapore this weekend and a couple of NZ teams involved. It his dawned warm and muggy. There will be a requirement to be well hydrated on and off the pitch. Go the Taniwha.
Chas
Guest
Don't like the Ben Smith 'experiment', I'd rather they experiment with Piutau at 13. Also hope that TJ Perenara gets plenty of opportunity to challenge for No. 2 HB spot. Don't rate TKB.
Old Bugger
Guest
Is Jeff Too Much-Allen on the bench?? Hope he gets 20mins if he is...... I think Shag is looking at him as LH/TH prop in the long term to replace Ben Franks and eventually Woody & Crockett on the LH side along with Moody.
mace 22
Guest
Yeah the raeburn sheild. Thats one award I've been waiting for the all blacks to win since i first heard about it. When was that? lets think about it. Oh I remember, last week.
dsat24
Guest
TKB will be the targeted for sure but me thinks Richie and DC will giving him every support etc he needs.
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
just saw that the test is live on fox this arvo!
dsat24
Guest
All that's needed surely is a win by 1 point and its Raeburn Shield time. Yeah!
WEST
Roar Guru
bench is full of quality. If gets to lose. Japan will throw everything at this. Agree with you about that. But great testing ground for the new breed. AB should still clear 50 points.
mace 22
Guest
As everbody so far has said, it's going to be interesting how TKB will go. What I want to see from him is improved decision making. So far this part of his game hasn't impressed me.
Firstxv
Guest
Another feather in the Hansen cap, using the week and match to build a second layer of leadership within the squad. Winning sure does have its benefits and Hansen has been superb at taking opportunities to build depth- any sort of depth i this tenure. Also gives the Luatuas, Piatau's, Saiilis and the new locks etc rare opportunities to start and enhance their bench/ start positions for the next two years, the congestion only getting more so with the Kainos and SBWs returning over the next two years. This is the last game like it before the 2015 pool play- after tonight, its all on. Good thing is at least two or three will star tonight and go on to great things. The reverse is also true...at least one will be playing his last, even if first, test tonight, such is the depth of the fuller squad. Guarantee it...thing is...who will that be?
moaman
Guest
To be fair to him ,anyone can duff a clearance.Perhaps him starting will allow him to settle down,overcome his nerves and produce what he has for the mighty Chiefs?
Jarryd
Guest
Yeah gotta admit TKB had a pretty average game against australia in dunedin, I remember his kick under lottle pressure that gained a whole 5 metres and gave the wallabies an attacking lineout less than 20 metres out, which they scored off!
moaman
Guest
"The key for the All Blacks will be to avoid getting sucked into the high-speed, loose style the Japanese will want to play." Yeah,heaven forbid the ABs try to play it fast 'n loose! ;-) But I know what you mean--they want to keep structure and not turn it into a sevens-style free-for-all..... Interestingly (to me,at least) TKB starting and paired with Carter---he will be DC's 8th different Test 9 since Carter debuted in 2004.I am waiting to see what they see in TKB and hope he produces something special tonight.