The All Blacks are in line to spring a major surprise when naming their team to play England in their Rugby World Cup semifinal on Saturday.
NZME understands that Scott Barrett is set to be given the nod to start at blindside flanker, with Ardie Savea moving to openside flanker and Sam Cane dropping to the bench. NZ Herald
Sounds good to me, he is bigger and just as capable on defence and perhaps better on attack. Plus, in the lineout he will provide another option. Cane off the bench is also not bad.
Don't know about Barrett at flank, That may work out against the pace-deficient England, provided Barrett keep out of being carded.
Disagree. Cane is an awesome and accurate tackler and his work rate is outstanding.
Would rather see him there early to blunt the Poms who will come out firing against our notoriously slow beginners.
Let Barrett's size hurt them in the 2nd half when they hopefully flag!
I'd have Bender Ben Smith in at wing replacing the disappointing Bridges (A back three of BB Smith and Reece would be superb) Smith and BB linking up in attack would be a sight to behold and drop the over rated one trick pony SBW out all together and replace him with the reliable experienced Gritty G rotty...much better option to contain Tuilagi who was the key playmaker and double try scorer the last time we lost to England...all be it years ago.
It was a no brainer really. They have shore up their pap tight five.
Er Beeno, Barrett will not be playing in the tight five.
JW politely correcting Beeno at no extra charge
I agree Cane is a tough tackling machine and this is what he's been asked to do but for this game I think Barrett at 6 is a plus. Anyway some combination of the two is a winner and if in addition they have Tuipulata on the bench they have added some real grunt.
JW you shore up a failing tight five by putting a lock on the flank.
Now don't be a wise guy on me and say what about Du Toit. Steph is not a lick he is the world's best seven AND nobody can say in truth our tight five is pap.
HAHAHAHA you have to spell everything out to the kbbs??
Perhaps PSDT is a "lick" Beeno, I don't know about such things but defer to your expertise on that
JW trying to keep his fiend Beeno on the straight & narrow
Jordie will help big time with the lineout ,saffex did indeed pick it .Cane off the bench after the initial collisions between packs looking for dominance may well be to protect him RE concussion and Cane let loose on a tiring Pommy pack is a good thing.
Bridge is part of that Crusties group they wanna keep intact ,you know sum of its parts kinda thing .Barrett is in form too and can kick long range off the tee as well if it came down to needing him .
Smith ahead of Bridge is indeed not even remotely an improvement, Smith already is not the player he used to be and Bridge has serious pace to boot. That would be a bad move on the part of Hansen,
I think George Bridge is still to show his full set of skills as an AB, one of these games he's really going to break loose. He has fantastic skills and is always looking for work. Hansen always seem to surprise us and also gets it right so we will see who he selects in another couple of hours. I think Jordie Barrett has to be in the mix for the reason Wardad mentions, plus he can cover almost and position in the backline except for 9.
All Blacks as announced by Hansen:
1. Joe Moody (44)
2. Codie Taylor (49)
3. Nepo Laulala (24)
4. Brodie Retallick (79)
5. Samuel Whitelock (116)
6. Scott Barrett (34)
7. Ardie Savea (43)
8. Kieran Read - captain (125)
9. Aaron Smith (90)
10. Richie Mo’unga (15)
11. George Bridge (8)
12. Anton Lienert-Brown (41)
13. Jack Goodhue (12)
14. Sevu Reece (6)
15. Beauden Barrett (81)
16. Dane Coles (67)
17. Ofa Tuungafasi (34)
18. Angus Ta'avao (12)
19. Patrick Tuipulotu (28)
20. Sam Cane (66)
21. T J Perenara (63)
22. Sonny Bill Williams (56)
23. Jordie Barrett (15)
Only surprise is the one predicted, i.e. Cane on bench and S Barrett starting at 6. Good call IMO.
The selection of Barrett at 6 shows how worried the rotund Hansen is about the Poms physicality. Certainly he doesn't want Cane getting beat up again.
Should be an interesting match.
