Kane Hames is being thrown straight into the deep end after being selected to pull on the All Blacks’ No.1 jumper for Saturday’s Rugby Championship clash with South Africa in Auckland.
The two-Test Hames joined the Kiwi squad earlier this week, following a season-ending shoulder injury to incumbent loosehead Joe Moody.
He has jumped directly into the starting line-up for a likely bruising encounter against the Springboks, leapfrogging veteran Wyatt Crockett.
It will be the Chiefs loosehead’s first Test start, having come off the bench in Bledisloe Cup Tests in 2016 and 2017.
Crockett will start on the bench.
Elsewhere, All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has sprung few surprises, reinstating his heavy artillery after giving several key players a rest in last week’s 39-22 win over a plucky Argentina in New Plymouth.
Sam Whitelock, Sam Cane, Aaron Smith and Ryan Crotty all return to the starting XV, while Liam Squire has been selected ahead of Vaea Fifita at blindside.
Fifita, who starred in his starting Test debut against Los Pumas and scored a barnstorming try, has been left out of the matchday squad altogether.
Damian McKenzie retains his role at fullback, while Nehe Milner-Skudder has earned the nod ahead of Waisake Naholo on the right wing.
Israel Dagg, who has struggled with a knee issue for much of this week, will not play with Rieko Ioane named on the left edge.
After struggling to dispatch Argentina last weekend, Hansen called on his troops to produce the goods in Auckland.
They needed to keep growing their game, particularly in attack.
Several outfits – from the British and Irish Lions to Australia and Argentina – have successfully blunted Hansen’s troops with defensive line speed.
“We need the games we’re getting at the moment, we’ve had a bit of adversity and that will only make us better,” Hansen said.
“South Africa scrummage well, they attack well with the ball and their defence is getting better – so that’s basically the game.”
ALL BLACKS: Damian McKenzie, Nehe Milner-Skudder, Ryan Crotty, Sonny Bill Williams, Rieko Ioane, Beauden Barrett, Aaron Smith, Kieran Read (c), Sam Cane, Liam Squire, Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Nepo Laulala, Dane Coles, Kane Hames. RESERVES: Codie Taylor, Wyatt Crockett, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Scott Barrett, Ardie Savea, TJ Perenara, Lima Sopoaga, Anton Lienert-Brown.
Tipene Roar
Roar Rookie
I hear you ...but this is ab s vs boks.Not the same eh
Tipene Roar
Roar Rookie
I hear you ...but this is ab s vs boks.Not the same eh
Atlas
Roar Rookie
Eden Park has had three tests this year. I like that NZR move tests to venues around the country, New Plymouth last week, Hamilton has had tests, and next year Christchurch doesn't get a test, but Nelson does
Fionn
Guest
Timber, I agree 100%. I think that Jordie will be relegated to the bench as a super sub until Ben Smith retires or suffers serious injury.
timber
Guest
Naholo and DMAC are both prone to mistakes. NMS is a very accurate player while being just as brilliant in attack as the other two. I hope the long-term future is Ioane , NMS and Smith, with Jordie coming in at some stage.
timber
Guest
Conrad wasn't fast but he had a great sense of space and could anticipate the opposition's thinking allowing him to run great lines and mesmerize the defensive line. Guile rather than athleticism, I would describe him as having ample time rather than a physical gliding run.
Ben
Guest
Surprised you rate Ennor so highly given your fixation with the size of players..i.e. Ben Smith, Crotty, Lienart-Brown all being too small according to you with all of them being a lot bigger than Ennors 92kgs.
timber
Guest
I hope not, Kaino is still our best tight ball carrier and balances out the team nicely.
Ben
Guest
Sopanusa.......?
Ben
Guest
Really Cuw?.... Lam is nowhere near being an AB...not even in the picture. I know Ben very well having coached him at 1st xv level and know where hes at atm...before you accuse me of not knowing much like you did when i said Fifita would be an AB.. Naholo has only played 1 full game of NPC and subbed on in 1 vs Savea having played 4 full matches. Savea has showed glimpses but is inconsistant atm whilst Naholo is injured anyway....so saying Naholo is in better form after 1 full match is not a comparison.
Fionn
Guest
I don't think that Naholo is better under the high ball. NMS is very good under the high ball, and often plays fullback at super rugby, and Naholo has looked very average catching high balls. Naholo is faster, but I don't think he offers more in defence and possibly not even in attack.
Harry Jones
Expert
Actually, it might be the reverse... Young little starting Boklings may fall behind early, and then pull back and make ABs sweat in the last 20:00 with Kitshoff, PSDT, Pollard, and DdeA
Tipene Roar
Roar Rookie
Really?ok well how far the boks have fallen then eh.not that long ago it would of been a eden park clash for sure
Walt1010
Roar Rookie
The are some interesting matchups but I don't expect the Boks to be very competitive. The team is too new and they need another year to get the defensive system spot on. Add to that the weaknesses in the loose trio with Kriel out and Cassiem retained, and probably the weakest back three in several years. Expect some good early tusssles but the ABs will be too strong over the last quarter.
lassitude
Guest
He wasn't fast at all. He had very good aerobic capability, good timing, and good positioning on defence but I never saw him beat anyone on the outside or by a step - the least athletic 13 of any tenure that the All Blacks have ever had IMO.
Andre
Guest
No we don't stand a chance. Everytime we get suckered into this false sense of security by them before matches. They soften us up firat by talking history, how good we are since last ywar, the respect they have for us. Putting jam around our mouths and we're to naive to realise we are caught in the headlights like a dear.
Muzzo
Guest
Oh too true Galatzo, as Ron Jarden, was definitely, one of our great wingers, as I too, remember, as a teenager, that particular Wellington winger.
Shane D
Roar Rookie
Conrad Smith was not a cart horse. He has the ability to be moving quickly effortlessly. That deceptive speed allowed him to ghost through gaps.
ClarkeG
Guest
Naholo was not considered for the Arg test following a head knock playing form Taranaki. Not sure what his fitness status is presently.
timber
Guest
I'm not everyone, I'm me, and I've always considered Barrett a fantastic fullback but a question mark 10. No need to get your knickers in a twist because someone has a different opinion on where Barrett is best utilized.