Hansen: NZ can handle injuries

Hansen: NZ can handle injuries

Sportal.co.nz    16.Aug.2013Getty Images

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has played down the disruption caused by injuries to Dan Carter and Liam Messam ahead of Saturday's Bledisloe Cup blockbuster against the Wallabies in Sydney.

Carter was ruled out on Tuesday with a calf injury, giving Aaron Cruden several days to prepare with the starting side.

In contrast, replacement at blindside flanker Steven Luatua will have just one training session with the squad on Friday to prepare after Messam also succumbed to a calf injury on Thursday.

"It's just one of those things, you've just got to roll with the punches," an unfazed Hansen said at Sydney Airport on Thursday evening.

"Steven's been preparing to play all week. He'll be fine, he fitted into the last part of training good.

"We're very confident that he'll do a great job.

"It's very exciting for him. It's his first really big test. I'm sure he'll pump up for it, he's looking forward to it."

Pressed on the impact the injuries have had on his side's preparation, Hansen added: "DC went out early in the week. That was disappointing but Crudes has come in and trained well.

"We have a mantra within the group that everyone prepares to play and Steven's done that well.

"He's had a good week with his preparation and now he gets his opportunity."

Meanwhile, Hansen labelled the 23-man Wallabies squad 'pretty predictable' and says he knows exactly what to expect from the Wallabies in their first game under new mentor Ewen McKenzie.

"Ewen's telling them they're going to outsmart us and they're going to play this sneaky, smart game," Hansen said.

"The reality is he's going to play a little bit like Queensland and mix a wee bit of the Brumbies defence in it.

"We just have to prepare well for that and we've done that."

there is was one thing i didnt like, the fact that luatua only got one training tun with the All Blacks this week. even though he was part of the squad for the bulk of the training and only recently got released for IRM duties.

but with injuires to carter and messam, changes needed to be made and im questioning the All Blacks decision to send some players from the squad back to their respective unions who werent needed.

IMO at all times their should always be cover with the All Blacks at all times in every position, i mean what if messam had injured himself during the captains run???
tj perenara, dane coles, wyatt crockett, charles piutau should have remained with the All Blacks squad so that there is as little disruption as possible when things like messam and carter getting injured occur.

GO THE MIGHTY MIGHTY ALL BLACKS!!!

 Hansen must be confident in Steven, he has other options. He could call up someone else right? Or I'd he restricted to just  the training  squad? He has other options in the training camp also.

 hey Cloudy! Miss that avatar :) LOL

 Wonder how Sam Cane feels ubout being leepfrogged by Luatua?

This NZ team could have been better selected. I'm a SAFFA, but here is my NZ Team:

1. Crocket, 2. Flynn,3.Tameifuna,4.Retallick,5.S, Whitelock,6,Shields,7. Todd, 8. Reid, 9.Kerr Barlow,10. Cruden, 11,Gear, 12. Crotty,13. Ranger,14.Marshall,15.Dagg,16. Woodcock,17.Hore.18.Franks,19.Romano,20.McCaw,21.Ellis,22.C.Smith,23. Anscombe

Cane shouldn't feel too peeved. He's an opensider whilst Luatua is a blindside flank.

Flynn is pretty average. Would rather have blooded Ged Robinson.

Prefer Luatua at 6 to Shields.

Would also stick with Romano in place of Retallick.

Rate Aaron Smith as far superior to Kerr Barlow.

Woodcock would not feature in my mix nor would Hore.

Crotty is not a test player yet. Much prefer Nonu. That's actually a no brainer.

Marshall is an interesting pick ... but in place of Savea or Smith???

Rate Anscombe highly.

Fraid you don't have much of a team. Pretty average if you ask me. Reckon they'll get hammered by most in the test arena .

Hi there Cloudy :)  Yes, here we are gathered like black birds on a power line waiting for Ab.com to come back, lol Must be why Wardad called our fantasy teams gypsies and orphans, humorous bloke that he is. Glad to see you still have your guns & they are blazing as usual.

 @Cloudy, I forgot about Gear and Ranger leaving. Replace with Savea and C. Smith respectively and C. Smith with Aki on the bench.

@CleanCut, I am rewarding Chiefs players for their SUPERXV performances, but I get what you are saying except for Cane as being an opensider only. Richie McCaw is starting and is captain and openside flank,so what are the chances of Sam Cane subbing Richie in the game? Not Much....ARe you suggesting that maybe Reid gets subbed by McCaw and Cane comes on in his preferred position? No way...As it is, I rate Mat Todd above McCaw at the moment due to match rustiness. The SuperXv stats place Retallick above Romano. 

 Who knows what Hansen could do or is thinking?

He could switch Richie to 6 during the game and bring on Cane at 7. Richie has played 6 before. I believe Retallic is being rested, he played a  lot of hard footy in s15.

One thing I do know is the ABs want to be more physical, Cane has it apparently, Romano has it as does Luatua. So this has to be one of the factors in the selection &  may explain why Vito was dropped. Todd is not as physical as some of the others.

@cloudzter,
hello madame vice prez, hope all is well with u, :o)

and yes luatua will kill it, i cant wait, :o)

@cleancut,
geds not eligble of rthe All Blacks, u must play for a NZ spXV team if u want to play for the All Blacks in the june test sereis or the RC/4nats.

@greg,
regarding some of ur interesting selections,,,
crockett - no problem with crockett, but woody is still the best loosehead in NZ

flynn - great player who would do us proud, but like kev and hore hes on the wrong side of 30 and has ALWAYS been 3rd on the grumpy old rakes for ABs preference list.

taemafuina - fantastic prop, real powerhouse, but hes not an 80 minute player yet, maybe if he dropped 10kgs??? also owne is IMO best tighthead in the world.

sheilds - one for the future, but there are plenty who are more in form and luatua and messam are two of them. dont want risk players who are green against someone like the wallabies and if we do, their form better be like luatuas.

todd - has same problems as vito, a little shy in the physical department, but his form does have him as the best openside in NZ.

t kerr barlow - great player, but aarons smith is hands down the incumbent.

crotty - nonu hands down the incumbent

marshall - i like this selection, but not over ben smith. if u moved ben smith to the centers over conrad though, that would be pretty damn acceptable in my books.

ellis - great halfback, but the All Blacks are putting a lot of focus on speed round the halves, and the new kids on the block smith/barlow/perenara all leave solid and dependable ellis far behind.

anscombe - as great as he has been ofr the chiefs in spXV, he will never make the All Blacks as an outside back, flyhalf his natural position is his best bet.
piutau would be the automatic inclusion for the ABs bench should the need arise.