NEW ZEALAND COACH Steve Hansen has welcomed back some big names in his team for Saturday’s clash against Ireland [KO 5.30pm, RTÉ2].
Hansen had some big decisions to make across the board which culminated in five changes to his starting XV from their defeat in Chicago and a total of six switches in personnel in the match-day 23.
Loyalty shown to halfbacks
Hansen has backed Aaron Smith and Beauden Barrett to produce the goods second time around against Ireland, despite below-par performances from the pair in Chicago.
Both men have been on the road a long time in 2016, including deep runs in the Super Rugby season, and were perhaps showing signs of weariness in the US.
Smith, whose delivery is usually as reliable as the rising and setting of the sun, struggled to find his rhythm at Soldier Field and was outshone by his counterpart Conor Murray.
There had been some speculation in New Zealand that Hansen would make changes at halfback but he has kept faith with what most consider to be the best pairing in the world.
Lack of specialist midfield cover
New Zealand have had rotten luck with injuries in midfield, having lost Sonny Bill Williams to an Achilles injury earlier this year and more recently had George Moala and Ryan Crotty ruled out of Saturday’s clash.
All of this has come on the back of the retirement of one of the greatest centre partnerships seen in Test rugby — that of Ma’a Nonu and Conrad Smith.
Anton Lienert-Brown was a revelation for the Chiefs this year but some concerns have been voiced around the defensive side of his game.
Malakai Fekitoa has consistently proven himself at Test level since his stunning rise through the ranks to a Test debut in 2014, and he should give Lienert-Brown a solid platform to attack from.
However, Ireland will surely look to target this inexperienced partnership, which has started just two Tests previously (a 29-9 win against Australia in the second round of this year’s Rugby Championship and last weekend’s thumping of Italy).
Even more worrying from a New Zealand perspective is the absence of specialist centre cover on the bench — another midfield injury on Saturday could really unsettle the All Blacks.
Ben Smith has played there in the past but that All Black experiment was deemed a resounding failure.
Connacht’s Bundee Aki surely wouldn’t have been far away from selection this week had he remained in his homeland.
Great confidence shown in Scott Barrett
What a rise it has been for Scott Barrett.
Beauden’s younger brother earned his first cap in Chicago 10 days ago and made quite an impression by doing the basics well, stealing a lineout and getting over for an excellent try.
He put in another stellar shift against the Italians but so did Patrick Tuipulotu, who started in Chicago and has 10 more caps to his name, yet it is Barrett who got the nod on the bench for Saturday.
It speaks volumes about the impression the 6ft 6in lock has made, the 22-year-old (he turns 23 on Sunday) having only made his Super Rugby debut for the Crusaders last year.
He will likely have a role to play on Saturday too, as his club colleague Sam Whitelock is just making his return from an ankle injury and Brodie Retallick made his comeback from a concussion only last weekend with 25 minutes from the bench.
Kaino’s experience a big loss
Not much has been said about the absence of Jerome Kaino but his unavailability, through a calf injury, is significant.
Kaino may have struggled to impose himself on the game in Chicago but it must be remembered he was playing out of position.
This is a beast of a man who was a key figure in New Zealand’s back-to-back World Cup-winning teams of 2011 of 2015 and now Owen Franks, Whitelock and Kieran Read are the only members of Saturday’s starting team who the same can be said of (Dagg didn’t make the 2015 squad and Cruden is on the bench).
The return of Retallick and Whitelock to the second row will add considerable grunt and experience (a combined 140 Tests) to the New Zealand pack but Kaino’s absence at blindside is a blow, despite the excellent early impression Liam Squire has made in the Test arena.
Dagg adds dimension
Israel Dagg is enjoying a new lease of life with the All Blacks; this time last year he thought his international career was over.
His turnaround has been impressive. A return to provincial rugby with Hawke’s Bay Magpies was a serious reality check for the 28-year-old and he hasn’t looked back since.
Dagg knuckled down and played himself back into contention as he showed form of old with the Crusaders, and made the most of the injury-enforced absence of Nehe Milner-Skudder from the Rugby Championship and November tour.
The versatile back may not be as explosive with ball in hand as Waisake Naholo but he is an adept finisher and his booming right boot may well be used as an extra tactical option by Steve Hansen on Saturday evening.
Dagg is in form and back in the groove after starting all six of New Zealand’s Rugby Championship games and their extra Bledisloe Cup clash against Australia in Eden Park towards the end of last month. One to watch closely this weekend.
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