All Blacks ring changes
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has made wholesale changes to the New
Zealand team to face Scotland on Sunday, recalling the out-of-form Piri
Weepu and introducing a new midfield line-up.
With Hansen intent on giving all of his 32-man squad a run in the
opening two Tests of New Zealand's European tour, only five players from
the All Blacks' last outing against Australia were included in the
starting 15.
Weepu, who struggled for form with the Auckland Blues in the Super 15
competition, was handed a chance of redemption, replacing Aaron Smith at
scrum-half for the Test at Murrayfield.
Hansen also named veteran hooker Andrew Hore in the starting line-up
and gave Tawera Kerr-Barlow and Dane Coles the opportunity to earn their
debut caps from an expanded eight-man reserve bench.
Perhaps the biggest surprise was the inclusion of Otago Highlanders
duo Tamati Ellison and Ben Smith together in midfield for the first time
at the expense of Ma'a Nonu and Conrad Smith. While Ellison and Ben
Smith are relatively inexperienced at Test level, with 12 caps between
them compared to Nonu and Conrad Smith's 136, they have worked well
together at the Highlanders, hinting that Hansen is looking to the
future.
The All Blacks chief resisted the temptation to rest captain Richie
McCaw and star fly-half Dan Carter, pointing out that the starting team
was still a strong side boasting 556 Test caps, backed up by 267 on the
bench.
He said his charges were excited about playing in front of a packed
house at Murrayfield and downplayed Scotland's poor record against New
Zealand, with the All Blacks posting 26 wins and two draws in 28
meetings.
"We've had a good build-up this week and the key for us has been to
get our preparation spot on so we can put in a performance in Sunday
which we are proud of," he said.
"However, we know the Scots will lift for this Test match and we
expect them to be very combative." New Zealand enter the tour undefeated
in 17 matches, although their hopes of breaking international rugby's
18-game record for consecutive Test victories was scuppered by an 18-18
draw with Australia last month.
After Sunday's Test, they play Italy on November 17, Wales on
November 24 and England on December 1.
The All Blacks team named Friday for a one-off Test against Scotland
at Murrayfield on Sunday (1430 GMT kick-off): New Zealand 15-1 Israel
Dagg; Cory Jane, Ben Smith, Tamati Ellison, Julian Savea; Daniel Carter,
Piri Weepu; Victor Vito, Richie McCaw (captain), Adam Thomson; Samuel
Whitelock, Luke Romano; Owen Franks, Andrew Hore, Wyatt Crockett.
Replacements: Dane Coles, Tony Woodcock, Ben Franks, Ali Williams,
Sam Cane, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Beauden Barrett, Ma'a Nonu.
AFP |