Injuries have forced the All Blacks to cobble together a makeshift backline for this weekend’s crucial rematch against the Wallabies as they make a desperate bid to regain rugby respectability.
Coach Graham Henry has gambled on converting usual midfield back Richard Kahui into a wing in an attempt to counter the astute kicking game employed by the Wallabies in their 34-19 win last weekend.
Kahui’s new role came in a backline reshuffle after fullback Leon MacDonald was withdrawn over concussion concerns, while 48 hours from kick-off Henry was still unclear on who would start at halfback and hooker.
Once one of the most feared rugby sides, the All Blacks have had a look of vulnerability in losing back-to-back Tri-Nations Tests against South Africa and Australia, while the unbeaten Australians have emerged as the rising force.
They’ve beaten world champions South Africa and the All Blacks in successive weeks as part of an impressive record of five wins from five home outings under coaching mastermind Robbie Deans.
Deans, the New Zealand coaching reject, now faces an acid test by taking his side on the road for round two in his duel with Henry for trans-Tasman bragging rights.
Henry, who is still trying to win back public support after the All Blacks’ shock quarterfinal defeat in last year’s World Cup, has been forced to admit he was out-foxed by Deans in last week’s drubbing in Australia.
The Wallabies overcame a shortage of possession by successfully kicking for territory, and Henry admitted his side blundered by trying to run their way into an attacking position only to be met by staunch defence.
The All Blacks were also well beaten at the breakdown, although the return of Richie McCaw from injury should improve their stocks considerably this week, even with the ace opensider short on match fitness.
But McCaw, who played under Deans with the successful Canterbury Crusaders, said what his former mentor used as a winning formula one week was not necessarily what he would do the next week. ”They will certainly tweak their game. That’s the way Robbie operates and he will come up with something new,” McCaw said.
Meanwhile, Deans has arguably strengthened his side’s potential in the breakdown area by unleashing Phil Waugh to join George Smith with the aim of negating McCaw’s influence.
”Obviously he is a player who’s capable of impacting on a game, significantly if you allow him to. We’ll attempt to deny him that sort of influence,” Deans said.
”We need to be wise in the way we structure our attack, be accurate in the way we execute that attack because he’ll prey on poor technique, whether it be in the carry or in the supporting roles.”
The decision to put Kahui on the wing for the All Blacks, at the expense of the regular wings in the squad, Anthony Tuitavake and Rudi Wulf, means Mils Muliaina will revert to fullback.
Although it means playing Kahui out of position, assistant coach Wayne Smith said it was the best option to fit the All Blacks’ response to Australia’s kicking game.
”He has got a big kicking game. He is pretty comfortable there, he understands the tactics and he’s a good all-round footballer. He will be fine,” Smith said.
A final call on who will start at halfback and hooker for the All Blacks is likely to be made on Friday.
Jimmy Cowan, Andy Ellis and Piri Weepu are all bracketed at halfback with Andrew Hore and Keven Mealamu bracketed at hooker.
It has been 22 years since the Wallabies last won on Auckland’s Eden Park, and 10 years since the All Blacks lost three consecutive Tests, and Deans knows they are statistics that will fire up the All Blacks.
”It reflects the All Blacks psyche that they see it as their stronghold and that’s what makes it so challenging. They take a real pride in what they do there,” Deans said.
Teams:
New Zealand: Mils Muliaina; Richard Kahui, Conrad Smith, Ma’a Nonu, Sitiveni Sivivatu; Dan Carter, Jimmy Cowan/Piri Weepu/Andrew Ellis; Rodney So’oialo, Richie McCaw (captain), Jerome Kaino; Ali Williams, Brad Thorn,[Greg Somerville, Andrew Hore/Keven Mealamu, Tony Woodcock. Reserves: Hore/Mealamu, John Afoa, Anthony Boric, Adam Thomson/Daniel Braid, Cowan/Weepu/Ellis, Stephen Donald, Anthony Tuitavake.
Australia: Adam Ashley-Cooper; Peter Hynes, Stirling Mortlock (captain), Berrick Barnes, Lote Tuqiri; Matt Giteau, Luke Burgess; Wycliff Palu, George Smith, Phil Waugh; Nathan Sharpe, James Horwill; Al Baxter, Stephen Moore, Benn Robinson. Reserves: Tatafu Polota-Nau, Matt Dunning, Dan Vickerman, Hugh McMeniman, Sam Cordingley, Ryan Cross, Drew Mitchell. — Sapa-AFP