New Zealand have revealed extensive plans to rotate their squad throughout the November Internationals, starting against Scotland.
Fielding relatively unchanged line-ups has become a hallmark of the All Blacks in recent years but the world champions are set to make a significant shift in policy and give their whole 32-man squad game time.
Uncapped Dane Coles and Tawera Kerr-Barlow are both likely to feature in the first two weeks - against Scotland and Italy - while Kieran Read is expected to take over as skipper in at least one of those games.
Neither the Scots nor the Azzurri have ever tasted victory against the All Blacks, who have acknowledged their plans to test their depth do not come without the risk of disrupting their cohesion.
"That's a definite danger," Read told Fairfax NZ News.
"We might not have the combinations right. It can be tough to get out on the field under pressure and get them right.
"The first few weeks create different challenges for different people. It's about adapting to that quickly."
"The squad throughout the year has been well drilled and guys have slotted in to do the job so I expect everyone to jump in and do what is expected," added Read.
Competition for places in the starting XV will be red hot for the games against Wales and England.
"There's another scrum-half around so there's a chance you may not be in the team," said Aaron Smith.
"They [coaches] are going to try some new combinations.
"When you're in the All Blacks environment it's about putting the team first. If I'm not selected, I'll be doing my best to help out Tawera or Piri [Weepu]."
Comments
ArmchairGeneral says...
If they're resting this is good. Read, Carter and Dagg should get a rest vs England. If switching positions this is good too. Carter at tight head for the game before England and Woodcock at scrum half vs England. Problem is that they would still win.
Posted 23:55 08th November 2012
isthatrightref says...
@ rakavi187... both dodgy under the high ball so doubt we'll see them both in the starting 15 @ dangerous... both good finishers but not what you'd call distributors so unlikely & besides we've got Ben Smith & Ellison plus Fruen could yet make the grade so no need to start manufacturing Conrad's long-term replacement.
Probably won't happen either but I'd like to see McCaw at 6 or 19 & Cane at 7 at least once.
Posted 19:54 05th November 2012
paulynz says...
@Ramage
Agree with what you say about bringing in the rookies in either of the first two games. So Coles could find himself packing down between Woodcock and O Franks, and TKB could find himself starting between Read and Carter. Starting in that sort of company would give those youngsters plenty of confidence I'd say.
Posted 18:32 04th November 2012
PREEST says...
Every single one of the players in the squad is quality. Even with a second string 15 or players playing out of position, the ABs will comfortably beat the Scotts and Italy.
Posted 18:28 04th November 2012
Ramage says...
@atg77 you forget that John O'Neill's greed in the ridiculous scheduling of a test match was the reason for that loss. It was on the Tuesday after a round of Super 15 Rugby and the main test against Wales on the Saturday after. This meant that the team wasn't the first team and they had little if any time to prepare. It is probably the reason O'Neill has been given his cards and pushed out before he wanted to go. They had no choice but to field a second string team. Do you remember in the 2007 RWC when Hadden the then Scottish Coach played a second string team against the All Blacks in the pool game as he wanted to have his best team against Italy. Surely that was putting up the White flag before the game was played. Not the brghtest light in the lamp shop was Frank Hadden even though his plan succeeded.
Why take new blood n the tour if they are only going to warm the bemch. How else do the younger members of the squad get exposure to test rugby unless they play. Yes it could backfire but I believe that a fair bit of thought will go into when and where the less experienced players appear and who will bethe experienced players around them in those tests.
Posted 14:20 04th November 2012
rakavi187 says...
actually I want to see both Gear & Savea start in the same game...with Gear at 11 and Savea at 14.
Posted 08:00 04th November 2012
jonesy2 says...
they will probably have about 3 variations of teams. against italy and scotland cruden should come in for DC, thomson for richie, maybe vito for read, debut for TKB and coles.
Posted 05:15 04th November 2012
bigb6969 says...
Only 2 new caps in 32 - hardly a big risk against Italy or Scotland.
Posted 04:14 04th November 2012
bigb6969 says...
Only 2 new caps in 32 - hardly a big risk against Italy or Scotland.
Posted 04:14 04th November 2012
paulynz says...
Hardly extensive, hardly a significant shift in policy and hardly a revelation.
Hansen has said a number of times that he'll be giving the whole 32-man squad a run in the first two games before settling on his top 22 for the Wales and England games.
I believe I read that on PlanetRugby...
Posted 00:23 04th November 2012
kennyisgay says...
dangerous... ridiculous call. neither of those guys have the vision or distribution skills to be anything but finishers.
Posted 23:48 03rd November 2012
atg77 says...
Intersting that NZ are underestimating Scotland like this. Remember we succeeded where Wales failed... victory over the Wallabies on Australian soil, and have previously tasted victory over South Africa under Andy Robinson. Well, hopefully Hansen will feild a second string side against us.
Posted 23:03 03rd November 2012
Isograford says...
Fine with that. Other than a bit of pride these yearly Northern Tours are rather meaningless so may as well think of the bigger picture and long term planning.
Posted 22:08 03rd November 2012
dangerous says...
Rotate combinations or posititions. I want to see gear or savea have a taste of centre. Maybe this tour is not the right place for these kinds of experiments
Posted 21:31 03rd November 2012