Steve Hansen
Steve Hansen could never be accused of being a conservative.
The All Blacks coach has struck a balance between future and present in naming three new caps on the reserves bench to play England at Eden Park on Saturday.
Centre Malakai Fekitoa, lock Patrick Tuipulotu and halfback TJ Perenara have all been named in the 23-man squad for the first test of the international season.
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A largely predictable starting fifteen features the return of Jerome Kaino at No 8, the selection of Aaron Cruden at first five-eighth, and the absence of big wing Julian Savea, whose knee injury has ruled him out.
Hansen has resisted the urge to go with form Hurricanes No 10 Beauden Barrett, a sensible decision considering a run of injuries that’s ruled out loose forwards Kieran Read (concussion) and Sam Cane (knee), as well as Savea.
Cruden, in his 28th test, gets the nod despite limited game time after a long stint out with a broken thumb and on the back of a rusty match and a half for the Chiefs in recent weeks.
He will oversee a backline that has seen Cory Jane selected on the unfamiliar left wing, leaving Ben Smith in his preferred No 14 jersey.
Kaino is set to complete a remarkable return to New Zealand rugby after two years in Japan. It will be the 31-year-old’s first test appearance since the 2011 Rugby World Cup final win over France.
Kaino has seamlessly moved from blindside to No 8, a position he may well have sealed with his dominant display for the Blues against the Hurricanes last Saturday.
His Hurricanes opposite that night, Victor Vito, is set to complete a comeback of his own after being named in the reserves nearly a year after being dropped from the test side.
The other feature of the pack is the continuation of hooker Dane Coles at hooker with veteran Keven Mealamu’s 109 test caps balancing out an otherwise inexperienced reserves bench.
Hansen’s side show a healthy respect for an England side widely tipped to be under strength for the opening test of a three match series for the Hillary Shield.
However, in Perenara, 22, Tuipulotu, 21, and Fekitoa, 22, he has left room for a peak into the future.
All three will be champing at the bit. Fekitoa has been the Highlanders’ form back and will presumably see time at centre in the second half as the search for veteran Conrad Smith’s successor takes another step.
Perenara’s selection ahead of Chiefs No 9 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, edges him closer to a test cap that’s been dangled in front of him since he was first named in an All Blacks squad for last year’s Rugby Championship.
After going away on the end of year tour, the Hurricanes halfback remained uncapped even after sitting on the bench for the final test against Ireland.
Tuipulotu completes the trio, the massive Blues lock selected ahead of another giant in Crusaders second row Dominic Bird.
All Blacks: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Ben Smith, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma’a Nonu, 11 Cory Jane, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Jerome Kaino, 7 Richie McCaw (Captain), 6 Liam Messam, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Tony Woodcock.
Replacements: 16 Keven Mealamu, 17 Wyatt Crockett, 18 Charlie Faumuina, 19 Patrick Tuipulotu, 20 Victor Vito, 21 TJ Perenara, 22 Beauden Barrett, 23 Malakai Fekitoa.
Steve Hansen slow to change… and maybe he has reason, as it’s worked so far.
Can’t help but thinking Beauden Barrett would have been better as starting Flyhalf.
Richie McCaw is there on reputation only now, not a shadow of what he used to be.
Still a bloody good side though!
McCaw, even as a shadow, is still streets better than most players.
He will be devastating as usual, he has just gotten more wily with age and rule changes. He isn’t prone to giving away penalties as much and his tackle count is still up there with the best.
He has just evolved his game.
Jerome Kaino is a player that I really rate highly (thought he was superb at last World Cup) and in top form one of the first names that would go on my team sheet, good for rugby that he is back from Japan and playing at the top level again.
Good team, Read and Savea will be very difficult to replace – c’mon boys we want 17 straight out of this series.
@ NZINCHINA:
As long as Aaron smith plays NZ will win, he is crucial.
@ MacroBok:
Yip he’s certainly come on, a great little player and very hard to defend agianst. I’m also looking forward to seeing the two new caps getting a run as they look like superb prospects.
@ NZINCHINA:
It is more his kicking game, IMO thats where the all blacks are strong, they play a strong kicking game (kick and chase) they defend well…more importantly the All Blacks are the deadliest counter attacking team in the world
Aaron Smith is the unsung hero of the All Blacks, because at this stage his kicking game is second to none in the world in my opinion.
@ MacroBok:
He’ll need to be on form as I think the Poms will be difficult to beat more so in the last 2 tests but they weren’t far of beating us late last year, you wouldn’t want to meet them at Twickers in a WC final and it’s looks like it’ll either be you or us that probably does that.
@ NZINCHINA:
nz will also have to carry the expectations of the record… I think england will win 1
only injury preventing the team that played last season starting again, and why wouldnt you? those players deserved first shot at it, not sure on Kaino as an 8, would prefer him at blindside personally, his best position.
1st test is very much a danger game, no one expects the English team to come close, and thats usually when teams are most dangerous. I expect the Poms to try to emulate “Jake-ball”.
Think McCaw and Cruden are still both short of runs after lengthy time off, so would not have been unhappy with Barrett starting, but can also see his value as a sub that could change/save a game.
ABs to win the first one by about 12 points imho.
England’s team to face New Zealand: Mike Brown (Harlequins); Marland Yarde (Harlequins), Manu Tuilagi, (Leicester Tigers), Kyle Eastmond (Bath), Jonny May (Gloucester); Freddie Burns (Leicester Tigers), Danny Care (Harlequins); Joe Marler (Harlequins), Rob Webber (Bath), David Wilson (Bath), Joe Launchbury (London Wasps), Geoff Parling (Leicester Tigers), James Haskell (Wasps), Chris Robshaw (Harlequins, capt), Ben Morgan (Gloucester)
Replacements: Joe Gray (Harlequins), Matt Mullan (London Wasps), Henry Thomas (Sale Sharks), Dave Attwood (Bath), Tom Johnson (Exeter Chiefs), Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers), Danny Cipriani (Sale Sharks), Chris Pennell (Worcester)
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