All Blacks Watch: Changes Abound

The All Blacks’ haka before the 2nd test. (c) Geof Wilson.

Steve Hansen has made six changes to the New Zealand side to face Ireland in Saturday’s 3rd and final test. Two of those are injury-enforced, with key men Dan Carter and Kieran Read ruled out. The loss of those two would weaken any team in the world. They’re both world-class and any replacement would be a step down. That said, the players that Hansen has brought in are not to be totally underestimated. Ireland will have another huge battle on their hands if they’re to finally beat the All Blacks.

Carter’s out with a hamstring problem and into the number 10 jersey comes Aaron Cruden. During last year’s World Cup, the 23-year-old was called up to the All Blacks squad when Carter’s groin injury ruled him out of the latter stages. Cruden started the semi-final and final and did well, but didn’t dominate as Carter would have. He looked understandably nervous and realistically, not particularly ready. But the experience did him a world of good, as Cruden has gone from strength to strength since.

His form in Super Rugby has led the Chiefs to the top of the overall table. Cruden has looked a different player. Physically he finally looks comfortable at senior level. There’s a more confident, almost cocky edge to his play and that’s thanks to being part of the World Cup win. His playmaking skills are excellent and as well as that, his place kicking has been superb. Steve Hansen has said he always planned to make changes for the 3rd test. While that could be seen as an attempt to play down the losses of Carter and Read, it would have been no surprise to see Cruden start this game even if Carter was fit.

Cruden kicks a penalty against Australia in the World Cup semi-final. (c) Mark Whatmough.

The other changes in the backline see Hosea Gear and Ben Smith come in for Julian Savea and Zac Guildford on the wings. Gear and Smith are team mates at the Highlanders and have linked up to great effect this season. 26-year-old Smith has been playing at fullback, but is very versatile and will be comfortable on the right wing. At 28, Gear is fairly experienced in comparison to Savea. He has 5 tries in his 8 caps and has been unlucky not to earn more international recognition. He will be a lot more comfortable under high ball than Savea was, if Ireland look to use that tactic again.

The loss of Read means a move to No.8 for Richie McCaw. I may be tempting fate, but McCaw hasn’t been at his best in the first couple of tests. Uncharacteristic knock-ons have been a feature in both games and he has looked shocked at Sean O’Brien and Rory Best’s willingness to take him on at the breakdown. The legendary captain will be eager to finish on a high note. Sam Cane takes over at openside. The 20-year-old had a strong debut off the bench last week and looks test-ready at international level. Still, O’Brien should have the measure of him.

Completing the back-row is Liam Messam of the Chiefs. He was left out of the All Blacks’ original 35-man wider training squad, with Hansen stating that he knew exactly what Messam offered and didn’t need to see him at that point. The injury to Victor Vito and the fact that Adam Thomson wasn’t physically up to standard last weekend means a swift promotion for Messam. The 28-year-old has been consistently impressive for the Chiefs for a number of years but only has 9 caps to his name. Like Hosea Gear, he was left out of NZ’s World Cup squad and will be keen for redemption.

Kevin Mealamu is back on the bench for NZ. (c) Geof Wilson.

The only other change to the starting XV sees Luke Romano come into the second-row to win his first cap, with Brodie Retallick dropping to the bench. Romano is something of a late developer. At 26, this season has been his first as a starter for the Crusaders in Super Rugby. Indeed, he only started playing ITM Cup for Canterbury in 2009, under Munster coach Rob Penney. He has developed his 6’6″ frame, but at 110kg is still not the biggest lock around. Romano is a grafter though and will work hard around the pitch.

There’s three new faces on the All Blacks’ bench. Experienced hooker Kevin Mealamu has recovered from a calf injury and is likely to enter the fray for the closing stages. Uncapped Hurricanes outhalf Beaudan Barrett will be hoping for a debut. The 21-year-old has been in sparkling Super Rugby form and would add attacking excitement to the game. Finally, Tamati Ellison is included for his versatility. Capped once, back in 2009, the Highlander covers the midfield and the entire back-three.

So, plenty of changes to the All Blacks’ match day 22. The losses of Carter and Read have certainly weakened their team, but the six players who come in have all been performing well for their clubs sides. Still, Declan Kidney will recognise that this is not a full-strength New Zealand team. He’ll ask for one more effort from his Ireland team.

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Photos courtesy: Geof Wilson, Mark Whatmough.

All Blacks Watch: Richie’s Heir?

San Cane (c) Chiefs Rugby.

There’s just one change to the All Blacks starting team for tomorrow, with Victor Vito’s knee injury meaning a start for Adam Thomson. The Highlanders blindside scored a try off the bench last weekend and was unlucky not to be starting anyway, so it won’t weaken the hosts. Thomson’s promotion means that Sam Cane is included in an All Blacks match day squad for the first time. It’s likely that we’ll see the young Chiefs man off the bench tomorrow. The openside is still only 20, but there is some hope that Cane could be the man to eventually replace the legendary Richie McCaw.

Cane has long been marked out as a player of exceptional potential. In 2009, while he was still in school at Reporoa College, he was signed by ITM Cup side Bay of Plenty. Part of the New Zealand Schools side the same year, Cane became the first schoolboy player in New Zealand rugby history to be nominated for the NZRU Age Grade Player of the Year. Up against him were Aaron Cruden, Zac Guildford and Winston Stanley. All three were part of the 2009 Junior World Championship winning New Zealand U20s team and 3 years his senior. Cruden was the eventual winner, but to be nominated at just 17 was incredible.

2010 saw Cane make his ITM Cup debut for home union Bay of Plenty. After a few cameos off the bench, he started his first game against Manawatu in September, making him the youngest Bay of Plenty starter in over a decade. NZRU regulations at the time actually prevented Cane from featuring more throughout the season, as the rules limited him to just 6 starts because of his age (18). Still, the openside’s reputations was rapidly rising and the Chiefs brought him onto their books in the same year. At just 18 years of age, Cane made his Super Rugby debut off the bench in the Chiefs’ 72-65 win over the Lions.

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In 2011, Cane made 3 brief appearances off the bench before earning his first Super Rugby start in May 2011 at the age of 19. Prophetically, it came opposite Richie McCaw and the Crusaders. The following month, Cane was on his way to the Junior World Championship with the U20s, where he would announce himself to a worldwide audience. The Baby Blacks won all five of their matches on an aggregate scoreline of 274-52. It was a special team, so for Cane to stand out was remarkable. He even scored a hat-trick in the 92-0 thrashing of Wales.

His performances at the JWC in Italy earned the openside a nomination for the IRB Young Player of the Year. He returned home to play an important role in Bay of Plenty’s 2011 ITM Cup campaign. The ‘Steamers’ (odd nickname) were unlucky to miss out on a place in the Premiership Final, as they came up two points short. Cane once again impressed, scoring 4 tries and contributing all over the pitch with his never-ending work-rate.

The rise has continued in 2012. The Chiefs sit top of the Super Rugby table and Cane has played his part. He’s made 13 appearances, 5 of them starts and scored 1 try. He’s had to be patient though, with 4-times capped All Black Tanerau Latimer often preferred at 7. Still, it’s not too bad a situation for a 20-year-old to be in, and the 104kg back-row has done well whenever he’s been given the chance. His standing within the game was highlighted when Steve Hansen selected the openside in his 35-man wider training group for this test series.

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The expectation was that Cane was being brought into the camp to gain valuable experience, before being capped somewhere down the road. However, the injury to Vito has given him an opportunity to become an All Black earlier than expected. You’d have to presume that the young Chief has impressed in training to earn this chance. There are still aspects of inexperience in Cane’s game, but he has admitted that he’s learning “lots of subtle little tips” from the master McCaw.

All Blacks’ coach Hansen reckons that Cane “could be something special”. He has all the attributes to be a world-class openside. Cane does plenty of ‘fetching’ work on the deck and runs intelligent support lines like McCaw. Hansen says the 20-year-old is “big, robust, great over the ball and plays an intelligent game.” While I’m not suggesting that Richie McCaw is a poor ball-carrier, it’s one area where Cane looks to have the potential to be better than the All Blacks’ captain. At underage level at least, Cane has been explosive with ball in hand.

It’s never going to be an easy task to replace McCaw whenever that time comes, but Cane looks to have all the tools to do it.

All Blacks Watch – Forwards

Richie McCaw made his first start of the season for the Crusaders last weekend. (c) Geoff Trotter.

New Zealand have named a 35-man training squad ahead of June’s three-test series with Ireland. The omissions of Robbie Fruean and Andre Taylor are particularly surprising for fans of Super Rugby, as those two have been in spectacular form. The injury to Richard Kahui last weekend may mean a late call-up for one of them. Several of the other young players highlighted in last week’s look at the backline options for New Zealand were also left out, but there’s 11 new players included.

So, following on from last week’s look at the backs, let’s check out the form of the forwards Steve Hansen has selected in his training squad. Some of these guys will miss out when the All Blacks management cut the squad to 30 on the 3rd of June. There are some tough decisions to be made.

World Cup-winning loosehead prop Tony Woodcock returns despite the Blues awful season. The 31-year-old has actually been one of the few positives at Eden Park after taking an extended off-season. He has been a force at scrum-time, although niggly injuries have limited him to just 5 starts so far this season. Hansen will be hoping that Woodcock can steer clear of further problems as the crucial months of the season approach. When fit, Woodcock is one of the world’s premier looseheads.

Ben Franks (right) can prop on both sides of the scrum. (c) Geof Wilson.

Behind Woodcock in the loosehead depth chart are Wyatt Crockett and Ben Franks. Crockett has been in solid form for the Crusaders again this season. The 29-year-old is unlucky to be around at the same time as Woodcock, meaning he has been restricted to just a handful of All Blacks caps. His fellow Crusader Franks is an asset to any squad with his ability to play both sides of the scrum. That versatility can also count against him in that it makes him so suitable for the bench, where he is likely to start from against Ireland.

Hansen has selected only two hookers in the 35-man squad, both of them over 30 years of age. Kevin Mealamu is now 33 and if truth be told, his form for the Blues suggests that age is finally catching up with him. He has had a recurring calf injury recently and that hasn’t helped his level of performance. Andrew Hore is likely to start in the middle of the front-row. Despite being the same age as Mealamu, Hore has started all but one game for the Highlanders, getting around the park well.

At tighthead, World Cup Final starter, and brother of Ben, Owen Franks has done enough to retain his position. The 24-year-old has been part of the dominant Crusaders front-row  alongside his brother and Crockett. Competition at tighthead was to come in the shape of Charlie Faumuina and the gigantic Ben Tameifuna. 25-year-old Faumuina has been part of a good Blues scrum and was set for his first cap. Cruelly, a calf tear has ruled him out of this summer’s test series.

Owen Franks (right) is likely to start at tighthead. (c) Geof Wilson.

20-year-old Tameifuna represented NZ at the Junior World Championship just last summer and wasn’t expecting much Super Rugby action this season at the Chiefs. But injuries to Ben Afeaki and Toby Smith gave the 138kg prop a chance which he has eagerly taken. He’s started 10 games already as the Chiefs have risen to 2nd in the table. It’s not only his sheer size and strength which have impressed, but also his skillful contributions around the park. Apparently he used to play outhalf back in his school days. He’s definitely one to keep an eye on, particularly as some New Zealanders reckon he could cover hooker too.

In the second-row, Sam Whitelock and Ali Williams return after their involvement in the World Cup last year. Whitelock is still only 23, and having started the World Cup final and shown up well for the Crusaders this season, he will be confident of his starting position. Williams is lucky to be in the squad at all. The 31-year-old has been poor all season for the Blues. However, his experience at international level means he is retained. Hansen will hope Williams’ influence on rookies Luke Romano and Brodie Retallick is positive.

Crusaders man Romano is something of a late developer, getting his first call-up at the age of 26. He started this season on the bench for his club side, but swiftly beat off the challenge of Tom Donnelly to make himself a starter alongside Whitelock. Romano made giant leaps under Rob Penney for the Canterbury ITM Cup side in recent seasons. The new Munster coach said that Romano has the ability to be a Brad Thorn-like figure for the All Blacks.

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20-year-old Retallick is an absolute certainty to represent the All Blacks sooner rather than later. The Chiefs man is in his first season of Super Rugby having won the U20 World Cup alongside Tameifuna last year. Retallick’s sheer size is frightening. Standing 6’8″, he has actually had to shed bulk recently, dropping down to 120kg in order to increase his lineout ability. In a recent fitness test, Retallick beat Brad Thorn’s long-standing beep test record for second-rows (he scored 19.3 for those interested!). This is a machine of a young man, destined for test rugby.

So to the back-row. Of the trio that started the World Cup Final, Richie McCaw and Kieran Read are back. Not much needs to be said about that pair. McCaw has recovered from a foot injury and made his first start of the season in the Crusaders loss to the Reds last weekend. Read has captained the Crusaders with distinction in McCaw’s absence and is a world-class operator at No.8. World Cup blindside flanker Jerome Kaino has moved on to Japan, so his All Blacks career is over for now.

The outstanding candidate to replace him is the Highlanders’ Adam Thomson. The 30-year-old has been in superb form, excelling in each of his 10 starts so far this season. He has carried with aggression, impressed in the lineout and scored 4 tries. He deserves his chance. Victor Vito, who has been playing at No.8 for the Hurricanes appears to be Thomson’s main competitor. 25-year-old Vito has the advantage of youth on his side, and has looked physically stronger this season.

Adam Thomson deserves to start in the No.6 jersey. (c) Geoff Trotter.

Vito’s fellow Hurricane, Brad Shields, is the third option at blindside in the squad. The 20-year-old was another of last season’s World Junior Championship winners. Shields has made 8 appearances for the Hurricanes this year, but only 1 of them was a start. At 6’4″ and 112kg, Shields is another young player earmarked for a lengthy international career, although this summer’s test series may come a bit too soon for him.

There were two more rookies called-up in the back-row. Sam Cane is yet another of last year’s Junior World Championship-winning side. The 20-year-old openside flanker has continued his impressive form this year with 11 appearances for the Chiefs, 4 of them starts. His potential clearly marks him out as McCaw’s long-term successor at No.7. With McCaw still on the recovery path, Hansen may be tempted to expose Cane to the international game this summer.

Luke Whitelock is the younger brother of second-row Sam, and his teammate at the Crusaders. The 21-year-old was captain of the U20 All Blacks last year, forming an incredibly talented back-row with Cane and Shields. Whitelock can play at 8 or 6, but the fact that he has made just 2 Super Rugby starts this season makes him a surprise call-up, particularly with the omission of Liam Messam. Again, the impression is that Hansen simply wants to integrate Whitelock into the All Blacks set-up as soon as possible.

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It’s unlikely that the All Blacks coach will opt for too much youth up front, especially in the first test. I’d predict a starting pack of: 1 – Woodcock, 2 – Hore, 3 – Owen Franks, 4 – Romano, 5 – Sam Whitelock, 6 – Thomson, 7 – McCaw, 8 – Read. The likes of Cane, Retallick, Tameifuna and Shields will be desperately hoping for first caps from the bench. Again, the major point here is that the All Blacks have plenty of competition for places, with so many players in good form. Ireland will have to be at their very best to compete.

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Photos courtesy: Geoff Trotter, Geof Wilson.