New look All Blacks front row 'hiccup' in grand plan; NZ Herald

Stuff rugby reporters Toby Robson and Liam Napier  discuss a new look All Blacks front row for the match against Georgia in Cardiff on Saturday (NZT).

They talk about the surprise decision to start Wyatt Crockett and Charlie Faumuina ahead of regular props Tony Woodcock and Owen Franks in the front row.

Ma'a Nonu's injury raises more questions about Sonny Bill Williams, whose form will be giving Steve Hansen selection headaches for bigger matches later in the tournament.

However Robson still believes Nonu is the man to start the big games at second five-eighth.

 Link to video discussion

not sure why any selection of non in(umbent players in an All Blacks team playing georgia would come as a surprise, we all know its not whose going to win that match, its how much the All Blacks will win by.

one thing i will say about charlie faumuina, and that is IMO hes been playing better than owen franks for the last two years.
in this RWC i have been insanely impressed with faumuinas work rate around the feild in both his performances, coming off the bench vs the pumas and his starting against nambia.
i would have no problem what so ever if faumuina was made the in(umbent tighthead for the All Blacks big matches in the RWC.

as for SBW, damn hes been impressive in the RWC, but nonu IMO still gets the nod ahead of him for the big matches, but its safe to say that bench spot for the back is  pretty much now SBWs.
its easy to shine in a few games like SBW has in the two RWC games to date, but the real baptism by fire, is being on top of ur game for a long long time like nonu has.
in the big important matches, if nonus fit, he starts.

 Franks ads alot of value in the Skinner model, more so because of him managing to do it covertly most of the time...some old school stuff that only frontrowers can understand and appreciate.