Series win gives scope for selection experimentation for All Blacks

Series win gives scope for selection experimentation for All Blacks

The All Blacks coaches will no doubt have a little voice in the back of their head this week reminding them of the sacred mantra that their side ‘remain a winning team’, but with the Steinlager Series wrapped up with 23-13 and 30-0 victories in Auckland and Christchurch respectively, there is now some scope for personal changes.

With the exception of the late inclusion of Sam Whitelock, All Blacks coach Steve Hansen originally made no changes to his starting XV from the first to second international, but in the third Test in New Plymouth there may be one or two shifts in the selection process.

Changes not so much to freshen the team and keep internal competition strong, but also to give the All Blacks coaching team some breadth to continue to refine the side as they keep one eye permanently cocked towards the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

The most significant could be a double change in the backline, with Ben Smith a chance to be shifted into the midfield, with many believing that the inform Highlanders back has a long term future in the centres, showing similar skills and intelligence to another Smith who is currently cannot be shifted as the country’s premier number 13.

If the Highlanders back is shifted closer to the action, it could coincide with the return of Dan Carter, and there would be a fair amount of ease amongst the All Blacks if the world’s premier backline navigator is suited up to help oversee what would be Smith’s first international appearance in the midfield.

While Kieran Read is likely to run out again as captain despite his knock to the back, the selectors could also mix up the back row, with Victor Vito’s brief and powerful cameo and number eight in Christchurch notable, while there will be a desire to see if Steven Luatua can translate his Super Rugby authority onto the Test stage.

Big Chiefs front rower Ben Afeaki is another who could benefit from extended game time with Owen Franks potentially ready for a rest at tighthead, while Beauden Barrett has been a feature during All Blacks training sessions at fullback, perhaps further revealing some selection tinkering that will occur this week.

oh man i would love for afeaki to get a shot this week and giving owen a rest would be the smart option, he dosent have to be rested completely, but he can spend time on the bench and come on around the 65/70 min mark provided everything is going as planned.

yes its about time luatua got a chance to prove wether he can make the transistion from spXV greatness to the big stage, im sure hes one player who knows exactly how lappies is feeling in SA. i wouldnt even mind it if he started on the bench, just as long as hes in the team.
they should use the thrid test to give vito a decent crack, he was awesome coming of the bench, not being usedin the first test must have made him a lot hungrier then usual, cos he came on and strated smashing the frnechies for a 6 left right and center.
All Blacks loose trio combo should be 6 v vito, 7 s cane, 8 k read, 20 s luatua.

article from mortimer is all shit, why would u play the form fullback/outside back in the world right now in the centers??? thats was a serious option that even i subscribed to last year, but power rnager is the future 13 and the sonner hansen realises that, the better it will be for the All Blacks.
i really hope the recent rumours about ranger signing with a french club are not true, cos that would be waste of talent.

with dagg having a fantastic game last weekend, IMO he nees to play again this week, he needs to add to that confidence and that will aid the crusaders in a weeks time and the All Blacks for the IRC.
ive got no problems with ben smith at 14, he can play a similar role to corey jane who was outstanding for the All Blacks the last few years at 14. and should any problems arise at 15, yo smith, cover out back, problem easily solved, :o)

so come on hansen, u made some nice changes last year once the irish steinlarger sereis was all locked up, and that was after a very close victory, so lets dot he same again this weekend, :o)

GO THE MIGHTY MIGHTY ALL BLACKS!!!

saSUE I agreeLuatua should get a shot as the ab loose trio is a bit feeble as its stands. The rest will make little difference.

Frogs must get in a test class pack. Hope they have seen the light.

to make matter worse for the fenchies, michilak and their best player No8 pinocchio have gone home injured, o_O
even though michilak was useless in test 2 hes still a big loss IMO, but to lose picamoles, damn thats gotta hurt, i would rate him as one of the best No8s in the world, right upm there with ben mowen, parissie and kerean read.

still i want to see changes, but more importantly, i dont want any complacency, lests step on the french fries jugular and squeeze the rugby life out of them,

KIA MAU!!!! Do:

 Sasuke - looks like you got just about everything you wanted

New Zealand: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Ben Smith, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Rene Ranger, 10 Daniel Carter, 9 Piri Weepu, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Sam Cane, 6 Victor Vito, 5 Samuel Whitelock, 4 Luke Romano, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Andrew Hore, 1 Wyatt Crockett.
Replacements: 16 Keven Mealamu, 17 Tony Woodcock, 18 Ben Franks, 19 Steven Luatua, 20 Matt Todd, 21 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 22 Beauden Barrett, 23 Charles Piutau.

@oimatey,

only just read ur comment now, but yes im very stoked with hansens team slections, a strong team while continuing the rebuilding theme, awesome stuff.

i would have prefered that luatua be considered as a looseforward though and i wish ben afeaki had a chance to show his wares too, but all in all im very happy with the All Blacks team that hansen named for test 3, :o)