Despite four crushing wins over the world’s second and third-best sides in the Tri-Nations, New Zealand will hold off tinkering with their squad until after their trip to South Africa, coach Graham Henry has said.
The All Blacks travel to Johannesburg this weekend needing only a point next Saturday to secure the Southern Hemisphere trophy and are battling a growing temptation to blood new players in preparation for next year’s World Cup at home.
Henry said last year’s thumping losses to eventual champions South Africa had made the selection panel cautious, and at the cost of handing rookie flyhalf Aaron Cruden his first start.
“When you get bitten in the arse like we did last year, you are inclined to be a bit more conservative,” Henry told local media. “We went through a bad patch and got beaten by South Africa three times last year and the selection group just wanted to make sure we were pretty solid this season.
“In hindsight we should have played Aaron in Hamilton [against Wales]. It will happen sooner rather than later, though.”
The current battle-hardened line-up has swept New Zealand to 13 successive victories including last week’s 20-10 victory over Australia in Christchurch, which ensured the All Blacks retained the Bledisloe Cup and matched their best nine-game winning streak against the Wallabies.
“It has been going well so far because there was a feeling in New Zealand after the Super 14 final that we would not be able to match the Springboks,” said Henry, referring to the all-South Africa final between champions the Bulls and the Stormers.
“It has produced something that is beyond our expectation but in saying that, I still think there is plenty of wriggle room to improve.”
The All Blacks take on a Springboks side stung by two weeks of criticism at home after their Australia and New Zealand tour yielded three straight losses and quashed their hopes of defending their title.
Henry said he expected the Springboks would go back to basics on home soil for the August 21 clash and be a far different side from that who appeared bamboozled by the All Blacks’ high tempo game.
“They will be extremely physical, they will try and bully us and I think they will revert to what has been successful for them in the past,” he said.
“They will play a big field position game, they will put a lot of pressure on us with their kicks to try and get into position where they can kick goals and drive line-outs in the 22.
“This game is what the All Blacks need now. Once this test is over and depending on the result, we may have more freedom for some of the guys who need to play international rugby.” – Reuters