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All Blacks' June Internationals Preview
by Pete Cresswell
Last year the All Blacks ended a 24 year drought, winning the Rugby World Cup on home soil. This June sees a new start, with a new coach and a number of new players to face Ireland in a three test series.
Steve "Shag" Hansen has been promoted to the top job after years as Sir Graham Henry's assistant. His last tenure as an international coach, with Wales, was not particularly successful; and there are concerns that the
departures of Henry and Wayne Smith has weakened the brains trust.
That said, this year's Super XV has been a good one so far for the New Zealand sides (with the notable exception of the struggling Blues) and a number of new prospects have put their hands up for selection, showing that the New Zealand conveyor belt of talent remains strong. Notably the respective "cupboards" of half backs and first five-eighths look considerably less bare than even six months ago.
Injuries have played their part though, ruling Cory Jane, Jerome Kaino, Isaiah Toeava, Richard Kahui, Colin Slade and Anthony Boric out of the series, while Keven Mealamu is in doubt.
The rise of new talent, coupled with poor form of past stars Piri Weepu, Jimmy Cowan, Ma'a Nonu, Ali Williams and others has posed something of a selection headache for Hansen and his co-selectors. Hansen has opted to gamble on the form of Weepu at half back, while picking Aaron Smith as back up ahead of Andy Ellis, TJ Perenara and Tawera Kerr-Barlow, who have all starred in Super Rugby this year. The loss of Boric and retirement of Brad Thorn means Ali Williams is retained, despite struggling with the Blues, while Hansen has also kept faith with Nonu. There are seven new caps in the 30-man squad, plus recalls for the likes of Tamati Ellison (1 cap) and Ben Smith (2 caps).
The All Blacks have never lost to Ireland. In their 24 meetings to date, there has been one draw and 23 victories for the All Blacks. Ireland were last in New Zealand in 2010, the match was effectively over as a contest after Jamie Heaslip was red carded for kneeing Richie McCaw in the head, with under 15 minutes in. When Ronan O'Gara was sin binned later in the half New Zealand racked up the scores with a 38-7 half time lead. The game finished 66-28 in favour of the All Blacks.
Steve "Shag" Hansen has been promoted to the top job after years as Sir Graham Henry's assistant. His last tenure as an international coach, with Wales, was not particularly successful; and there are concerns that the
departures of Henry and Wayne Smith has weakened the brains trust.
That said, this year's Super XV has been a good one so far for the New Zealand sides (with the notable exception of the struggling Blues) and a number of new prospects have put their hands up for selection, showing that the New Zealand conveyor belt of talent remains strong. Notably the respective "cupboards" of half backs and first five-eighths look considerably less bare than even six months ago.
Injuries have played their part though, ruling Cory Jane, Jerome Kaino, Isaiah Toeava, Richard Kahui, Colin Slade and Anthony Boric out of the series, while Keven Mealamu is in doubt.
The rise of new talent, coupled with poor form of past stars Piri Weepu, Jimmy Cowan, Ma'a Nonu, Ali Williams and others has posed something of a selection headache for Hansen and his co-selectors. Hansen has opted to gamble on the form of Weepu at half back, while picking Aaron Smith as back up ahead of Andy Ellis, TJ Perenara and Tawera Kerr-Barlow, who have all starred in Super Rugby this year. The loss of Boric and retirement of Brad Thorn means Ali Williams is retained, despite struggling with the Blues, while Hansen has also kept faith with Nonu. There are seven new caps in the 30-man squad, plus recalls for the likes of Tamati Ellison (1 cap) and Ben Smith (2 caps).
The All Blacks have never lost to Ireland. In their 24 meetings to date, there has been one draw and 23 victories for the All Blacks. Ireland were last in New Zealand in 2010, the match was effectively over as a contest after Jamie Heaslip was red carded for kneeing Richie McCaw in the head, with under 15 minutes in. When Ronan O'Gara was sin binned later in the half New Zealand racked up the scores with a 38-7 half time lead. The game finished 66-28 in favour of the All Blacks.
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New Zealand’s June Squad to face Ireland
Management Team: Steve Hansen - Head Coach Darren Shand - Manager Gilbert Enoka - Assistant Manager, Ian Foster - Backs Coach, Mike Cron - Forwards Coach, Aussie McLean - Defence Coach, Grant Fox - Selector, Alistair Rogers - Performance Analyst, Dr Deb Robinson - Doctor, Pete Gallagher - Physiotherapist, George Duncan - Manual Therapist, Dr Nic Gill - Strength and Conditioning Coach, Errol Collins - Logistics, Joe Locke - Media Manager, Katrina Darry - Nutritionist, Bianca Thiele - Executive Assistant |
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Players:
Props: Tony Woodcock (loosehead), Owen Franks (tighthead), Ben Franks (covers both sides), Wyatt Crockett (loosehead), Benjamin Tameifuna* (Tighthead)
Hooker: Andrew Hore, Keven Mealamu/Hika Elliot
Locks: Ali Williams, Sam Whitelock, Brodie Rettalick*, Luke Romano*
Loose Forwards: Richie McCaw (c) (openside, covers blindside, no 8), Kieran Read (no 8, covers both sides), Adam Thompson (covers all three), Victor Vito (no 8, covers blindside), Sam Cane* (openside)
Half Backs: Piri Weepu, Aaron Smith
First five-eighths: Dan Carter, Aaron Cruden, Beauden Barrett*
Centres: Sonny Bill Williams, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Tamati Ellison
Wingers: Hosea Gear, Zac Guildford, Julian Savea
Full Backs: Israel Dagg (covers wing), Ben Smith (covers wing, centre)
* Denotes uncapped player
Props: Tony Woodcock (loosehead), Owen Franks (tighthead), Ben Franks (covers both sides), Wyatt Crockett (loosehead), Benjamin Tameifuna* (Tighthead)
Hooker: Andrew Hore, Keven Mealamu/Hika Elliot
Locks: Ali Williams, Sam Whitelock, Brodie Rettalick*, Luke Romano*
Loose Forwards: Richie McCaw (c) (openside, covers blindside, no 8), Kieran Read (no 8, covers both sides), Adam Thompson (covers all three), Victor Vito (no 8, covers blindside), Sam Cane* (openside)
Half Backs: Piri Weepu, Aaron Smith
First five-eighths: Dan Carter, Aaron Cruden, Beauden Barrett*
Centres: Sonny Bill Williams, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Tamati Ellison
Wingers: Hosea Gear, Zac Guildford, Julian Savea
Full Backs: Israel Dagg (covers wing), Ben Smith (covers wing, centre)
* Denotes uncapped player
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Likely Starting 15
1. Tony Woodcock 2. Andrew Hore 3. Owen Franks 4. Ali Williams 5. Sam Whitelock 6. Adam Thompson 7. Richie McCaw 8. Kieran Read 9. Piri Weepu 10. Dan Carter 11. Julian Savea 12. Sonny Bill Williams 13. Conrad Smith 14. Israel Dagg 15. Ben Smith |
Key Players
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Richie McCaw: "Captain Tackles" spent several months on the sidelines after battling a broken foot to lift the William Webb-Ellis Trophy. Fully fit again, McCaw dished out a lesson in openside play to James Haskell in the Crusaders vs Highlanders derby recently. His defence and ball carrying will be a key against Ireland.
Dan Carter: After being injured out of his third World Cup in a row the game's
top playmaker has come back into vintage form for the Crusaders in recent weeks. His running, kicking and passing game will be at the heart of the All Blacks' attack. Aaron Cruden has been in superb form meaning that the backup options are much stronger than they have been, but there’s still only one Dan Carter. Adam Thompson: The loss of Jerome Kaino leaves a big gap on the Blindside. Thompson has been on the fringes of the national side for some years, often bring injured just as it seemed he was on the verge of securing a place. After a strong season with the Highlanders Thompson is tasked with marking Stephen Ferris, and making the black no 6 jersey his own, as long as he gets the nod ahead of Victor Vito.
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Prospects
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Aaron Smith:
Smith has effortlessly displaced veteran All Black Jimmy Cowan from the Highlanders' starting fifteen this season. He has the quickest pass of any New Zealand half back since Graeme Bachop, which should add a new dimension when he comes off the bench. Lighter than most modern half backs, if he can defend against the big Irish back row then a promising future beckons. Julian Savea:
At just 21 years old Savea is an example of the New Zealand rugby development system at its best. He graduated from the NZ Secondary Schools side in 2008 to star in the NZ Sevens squad from 2009-2011, and featured in the Baby Blacks' 2010 Junior Rugby World Cup win. A strong campaign with the Hurricanes in 2012 has earned him a rapid promotion to the senior squad, and injuries to Jane, Kahui and Toeva mean he is likely to start against Ireland. Sonny Bill Williams:
The New Zealand heavyweight boxing champion has been talked about since switching codes from Rugby League, however at international level SBW has remained in the big shadow of Ma'a Nonu. Williams has been in superb form for the Chiefs, which coupled with Nonu's indifferent form after his Japanese sabbatical means that this could be SBW's year. |
With the likes of McCaw and Carter hitting form in recent weeks expect the All Blacks to retain their traditional style and not try to change too much as they integrate the new players into their ranks. No All Black wants to be part of the side that loses to Ireland for the first time, which will be a powerful motivator.
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(c) Copyright 606v2 2012. Please do not reproduce without permission
To discuss this further with our members, please visit the 606v2 forum here
(c) Copyright 606v2 2012. Please do not reproduce without permission
