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'Take some risk and change five or six': Ex-All Black calls for mass changes
By Ben Smith
With the All Blacks securing the Bledisloe Cup and Rugby Championship trophies with the 38-7 win in Melbourne over the Wallabies, the team has a unique opportunity to experiment with selection in Dunedin.
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Changes to the starting side have been used sparingly across the first three Tests, with just one rookie starter in Emoni Narawa in Mendoza. The other two newly capped All Blacks, Tamiati Williams and Cam Roigard, were introduced off the bench against South Africa and Australia.
No rookie has managed to play twice in a row yet, with Narawa missing out on both subsequent Tests through injury while Williams sat out in Melbourne as the selectors opted to go with veteran Ofa Tu’ungafasi.
Ex-All Black John Kirwan has called on the selectors to ‘got for it’ in the second Bledisloe Test with a number of players not yet seen in order to find some answers with just two games left until the Rugby World Cup.
“I think you have to, sorry but I think you have to. Mission accomplished,” Kirwan told Sky Sport’s The Breakdown panel.
“So Fainga’anuku, Caleb Clarke. Is Fainga’anuku going to be covering centre? You know, who is the other loose forward?
“What are we going to do with the back three? I think you’ve just got to here’s the group opportunity.
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“The Australian side last night, for periods, I think Eddie will be happy. The first 20, the second half first 15 minutes.
“But now is the opportunity for the country to go ‘okay Fozzy, if you want to take some risk and change five or six’ because we want to know who is going to the World Cup. Go for it.”
Crusaders wing Leicester Fainga’anuku has not been seen in the gameday 23 yet after joining the squad in Auckland following the trip to Argentina.
Chiefs fullback Shaun Stevenson has also been training with the squad for the entire three weeks but hasn’t yet been handed a playing opportunity, and neither has club teammate Samipeni Finau.
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The newly capped players Roigard, Williams and Narawa will also be eager to get more game time to impress ahead of the World Cup squad selection, which Sky Sport Commentator Tony Johnson said was probably ‘pretty close’ to being finalised.
“I’d say now he has a pretty good idea about what his best 23 is. He’s getting close to that,” Johnson said.
“He’s got a few five-into-four or four-into-three situations he’s got to decide. It’s not a bad place to be in.”
Although the opportunity to experiment is available there are other considerations, such as a final game in New Zealand for many departing All Blacks.
It will be the last time that centurions Aaron Smith, Beauden Barrett, Brodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock will have the chance to play on home soil. Nepo Laulala and Richie Mo’unga are also set to depart.
Ian Foster stated in his post-match press conference that he is undecided about what to do, but hinted that perhaps change is not on the cards.
He said they will assess what the game ‘means’ and expressed his desire for the All Blacks to finish strong.
“I kind of knew I’d be asked that question and I’m not sure I know the answer yet,” Foster told reporters after the Bledisloe win
“We will go away and have a think about next week, what it means.
“We’ve got a balance here, we are about growing our game, building and taking big strong steps forward. Treasuring each week.
“How we balance that with change is going to be key for us.
“But the message will be clear, we don’t want to compromise on performance.
“In the past we’ve often gone into that game, people have talked about dead rubbers, we don’t believe a Test match is ever a dead rubber.
“We want to make sure we finished in this part of the world in a very, very strong space.”
The last thing any serious coach should do is listen to Sir jk.
Yep
I'd like to see them figure out who the best bench players are, it isn't always a case of the next best player.
Roigard's size and physicality would be great off the bench, Shaun Stevenson would be our best option for an Outside Back that can play Wing or Fullback (Will Jordan can't, every kick proves that) and Leicester would provide Wing and extra Midfield cover. Anton seems like he's locked in as the reserve midfielder which if they go with Leicester it would allow Jordie to slot back at 15 if Beauden comes off injured.
Dane Coles performs far better off the bench than Codie or Samisoni, Brodie is probably the best bench option of our 3 top Locks, Luke Jacobson offers far more versatility than Dalton.
I do get concerned over whether or not public opinions affect selection, like the ones from people who think picking the same team every week is what they need to do, not caring if that means injury cover players are debuting in the final, or more pressingly the opinion that Will Jordan should play Fullback even though he doesn't know how or when to kick, an issue at Super Rugby and a significantly bigger issue in a team using the Fullback as a second Flyhalf, I only trust Beauden, Jordie and DMac to play that role, and for Stevenson to play a more traditional Fullback role if called upon but I'd rather see him on the Wing.
It's always about risk, especially in the current predicament of having a terrible few years leading up. Every minute these players get together is still hugely beneficial, especially the backline. So, do you take the chance you'll be able to play them for every minute they are under the pump for the rest of the season, and be better for it in that last minute, or do you get others to a point where they would be more beneficial, providing not just an impact off the bench but an improvement in quality over a tiring starter. Or even playing it safe and planning to have to use everyone, even some you leave at home?
It's a situation I certainly find more intriguing than Aussies throw caution to the wind approach of debuting your pivot and quaterback just before a WC. To me winning this RWC looks like such a tough prospect you almost need to put all your eggs in one basket. I would solely worry about bench impact as well, sadly I think everything is set in stone with the starting team and bench save simple choices on loosie and 9 cover. I would have more concern over impact from your 8 cover, I see Dalton and Luke as very versatile bench players but neither bringing enough impact at 8 if Ardie goes down. I'd give a chance for youth over experience from the bench props. And ensure Roigard is given the chance to displace Finlay. Samisoni has been too tough not to start with him against the top sides. I don't see Coles getting a chance to prove any possible resurgence as best bench impact, or Lord forcing a commitment to size over Dalton or Luke's bench versatility, or Dmac and ALB making starting spots.
Well, I didn't expect to delve so deep into the options here, I really think it will be as simple as having Dmac covering FB and 10, Reiko wing, and ALB centers, and plodders on the forwards bench. Something I certainly didn't expect to be saying after watching SR and pushing for Stevenson at FB, Dmac over everyone, and anyone over the performances Jordies delivered at 12. A center never really came through in time to allow Reiko to perform at wing and Talea's form has negated even the need for it. But he is so scary for opposition there I think it is a loss having had no other solid options at 13 (before now) appear. The perfect case of a 4th form lock, like Lord, being able to cover the bench and allow Barrett to make 6 his own was also scuttled by injury, and I would have liked Frizell's current form and muscle being there to be used off the bench too.
John kerwin and Johnson believe kane is best open sider so who cares what they think, it's always chiefs or Auckland for them two
Who'se better? Certainly not Papalii.
I get sick of hearing that players have cemented their spots when no one else has had a chance to prove otherwise. Give these players a go or you get an injury in a 1/4 final and you are bringing in an untried or inexperienced replacement.
There was such a drop in form from the core group I think plenty have taken their chances already. Sadly heavy injury tolls this year and the timing of the youth development being just out of alignment with this WC cycle, has largely dictated how it was going to play out. Provocative with such a good group of youngsters and even late developers making it interesting for sure though.
Certainly a continuation of losses might have seen a few more chances going out though?
Totally agree, nothing to loose and everything to gain.