NZ European tour and the Hansen juggling act.

Well yesterday made for a frustrating viewing spectacle. I was disappointed by the overall performance but given that the side was cobbled together and contained a lot of rookies, the weather conditions were tricky and the Japanese are not the minnows they once were, I concede that my criticisms yesterday, on reflection, were on the harsh side.

So now the squad arrives in Paris and the focus turns to the remaining matches of the year: France, England and Ireland. These games are perfect preparation for 2015 and a way of testing the depth of the squad. However, what will be intriguing is how much Hansen tests that depth. Only a couple of players stood out yesterday with Piutau showing wing suits him much better than fullback.

Therein lies the problem: some positions like wing or fullback have many options. Savea, Jane, Piutau, Smith, Halai, Dagg, Barrett, from whom Hansen can pick just three with the possibility of another reserve back. Jane was going to start in Dunedin and he went straight to Paris, which suggests to me that he will be starting in that test. That probably means a back three of Dagg, Jane and Savea and you'd expect Piutau to get the utility cover.

Similarly, flyhalf presents a similar problem. You had Carter starting in Japan and Barrett finishing the game at 10. That suggests Cruden will start at 10 but who will be cover: on form you'd suggest Barrett taking the impact role on the bench. Which begs the question, when does Carter fit into the equation and who will suffer as a result: Cruden or Barrett. It makes sense against England to give Cruden a rest and put in Carter and Barrett to protect Cruden from the big forwards who will rush him. But he is the one who can find those gaps with his offloads and have we seen enough from Carter to warrant his position? The same can be equally said of Jane. Hansen will not be quick to discard such wealth in experience but he must be mindful of the fact that there are players coming through who look a lot sharper and hungrier, who deserve a place.

Then we have the problematic areas where our stocks are thinner. Romano comes back from injury but he didn't play in Japan. Does that mean he's likely to start in Paris against a robust French pack and Retallick replace him in the second half when the French front five have tired? Nonu was in Japan and didn't start and the way Twelvetrees tackled Toomua might suggest he gets a start there to test that channel. So does Saili get a start against Ireland? My only fear is that the media emphasis is on England and that last game could be an ambush if it's not drummed into the players that the last game of the tour is often the most difficult.

It seems unlikely that we'll get the same combinations starting for all three tests but what will happen in the centres, the backrow, the front row and the locks in terms of those subtle shifts in combinations? When do they come? You'd think France at home and England at home deserve what is closest to our test side. But how much of a drop from that test side does that imply for Ireland? When do apprentice players like Ardie Savea get a chance or is he there simply to carry the water and get a taste of the environment. Cane is a fine replacement for Carter but does McCaw move to 8 to give Read a test or does Luatua replace Messam at some stage like England to reinforce the lineout?

The scrum has been a glaring weakness for this season. I'm not sure how much grunt we have lost with Romano out and Whitelock and Retallick as our locks. It seems our scrum has come right in the second half which suggests that the high tempo has a draining effect on the opposition and not NZ. Crockett was disappointing in Japan so who covers for the front row?

These are three good hard away tests to finish off the 2013 campaign. Three tests in a row might be too much for some after a long year. Hansen will want to shuffle round a few players here and there but he'll be mindful of the Japan test that when you make wholesale changes, performance goes out the window.

So would you like to see our best team start in France and England or would you prefer to see minor changes spread throughout the three matches to help spread the load. We want to win all three matches - after a perfect season that may sound arrogant to some but when you beat Australia and France 3 times, Argentina and SA home and away, Japan with a development team, it doesn't seem unreasonable to aim for a perfect season - but we also want to try out new players and give returning injured players some time back in the jersey and new players some time in the black jersey. An extremely difficult balance to achieve and there isn't a test where we can afford to take the opposition lightly. Not that NZ ever does take an opposition lightly.

What teams would you like to see start out in these last remaining games and where and when would you like to see changes made?

I think France have to be the target. France have been our major stumbling block in the history of RWC's and despite besting them twice in 2011 they came closest to us by a long margin.

All other teams I am confident of beating, and let's face it Ireland and England have never so much as come close to NZ in a RWC match.

Best side out from France, and then let's use the rest of the tour to really try out the new combinations and build some depth.

We beat France 3 0 at home this year and they'll have the same grief with the clubs now. France at home are a difficult prospect but before others remind you GE England beat us at home last year. It's not the revenge match the media or NZ fans would like to portray it as but yesterday's result shows that even a below par England performance can be a win.

Well I won't mention whom else had a bad performance.

Look, if NZ come up against that kind of obstacle in terms if playing field bias then all the best players and training in the world can't help.

So let's focus on things we can control. If were going to hit a Barnes 2007 or Clancey 2013 or stomach bug 1995 or 2012 then we will probably lose. No point worrying about it. These things are decided by external factors.

I'm merely talking about games on the big stage, where only France and Australia and SA have ever troubled us.

Let's sort that out then let the chips fall where they may.

Besides England are at home in 2015 and home RWC are easy to win and don't count right? Probably no point in worrying about England, just compete with the rest and leave them to their inevitable and unquestionable win.

There is something you can do about it GE. Contrast the yellow cards of Eden Park and Ellis Park this year. SA can look back and say Poite's ruling robbed them of the game as the first one was the wrong call but NZ reacted better to having one man down. Did it help that our yellows were justified? Possibly in terms of the head space but are you claiming that SA were robbed just as Australia were yesterday? You have to find that resolve and overcome adversity. There was no fight back from Oz after that charge down. You have to impose yourself when it counts.

People can criticise the RWC final all they like. We closed that match down in the last five minutes and were smart with the way we played. We won those types of games we had lost in the past. If people want to think Joubert handed NZ the game then let them. Their absence in 2007 to voice the same opinion shows that the ref doesn't decide the outcome. It's the two sides playing out on the field. Feel aggrieved? Show it out on the field. No one gives a damn after the final whistle.

Kia,Carter and McCaw are first choice accept it,Cruden is number 2 and has been battered.
Barrett on the bench.Basicly NZ want a clean sweep that means the A team all the first choice
players starting if fit.Tight 5,Loosies ,Halves,Wings,Mid field,FB.
The bench will be Crockett,Fauamina,Coles/Mealamu,Cruden /Barett,Piatau,Cane,Luatua,
Rettalick,Perenara/Kerr-Barlow the rest covering injuries.
The Scrum fror every side currently is learning process no side has got it right yet.Nor will
they until they pick players who can do the job.Props who can Scrummage,Hookers who can Hook,SH`s who can feed a Scrum.It will get better until IRB starts tinkering again.
Blaming the Ref AGAIN give it a rest they at least know the Laws plus latest IRB directives
most of us don`t.Win some/lose some yes I am as guilty of it as any BUT most of the time
the Ref is right as he sees it.
England will be the target for revenge and yes Hansen my decide both DC or RM start from the bench.
Make no MISTAKE these 3 matchs won`t be easy especially as it is likely to be wet underfoot.

How may of the current  All Black team will be around for the 2015 RWC?

Hansen will not want to lose any games in this Ais. He will be wanting to get revenge on England for the Loss last year.

How ever he will bring in players and give other players a rest, but he will not take any team for Granted. he will not assume that this is a for gone conclusion, it is not New Zealands way.

I do expect too see new players this Ais, and with no loss of pace or style.

kiakahaaotearoa wrote:There is something you can do about it GE. Contrast the yellow cards of Eden Park and Ellis Park this year. SA can look back and say Poite's ruling robbed them of the game as the first one was the wrong call but NZ reacted better to having one man down. Did it help that our yellows were justified? Possibly in terms of the head space but are you claiming that SA were robbed just as Australia were yesterday? You have to find that resolve and overcome adversity. There was no fight back from Oz after that charge down. You have to impose yourself when it counts.

People can criticise the RWC final all they like. We closed that match down in the last five minutes and were smart with the way we played. We won those types of games we had lost in the past. If people want to think Joubert handed NZ the game then let them. Their absence in 2007 to voice the same opinion shows that the ref doesn't decide the outcome. It's the two sides playing out on the field. Feel aggrieved? Show it out on the field. No one gives a damn after the final whistle.

Thats right Kia,
Sick of the ref moaning thing. Since Barnes we've taken the ref out of the equation by covering ALL bases. You learn from it once. You dont hear us moaning about refs these days.

Ref moaning is more often than not a side unable to cover its own inadequacies:
- SA 2011 and Eden park, Aus yesterday- both good examples of sides unable to see the wood for the trees.

We got two yellows at Ellis- didnt phase us. We just regrouped and went on to score more tries.

Some might say its because we have such a good side we can do this sort of thing. Thats also true, but the mindset is we believe we can overcome anything, refs and all. The ref thing happens...you just need to make sure you put a side out that can handle anything thrown at them, and Oz certainly didnt yesterday.

GloriousEmpire wrote:I think France have to be the target. France have been our major stumbling block in the history of RWC's and despite besting them twice in 2011 they came closest to us by a long margin.

All other teams I am confident of beating, and let's face it Ireland and England have never so much as come close to NZ in a RWC match.

Best side out from France, and then let's use the rest of the tour to really try out the new combinations and build some depth.

AI test match (specially if it's the first) is not close to a RWC in terms of preparation...France has little preparation and the core of players are tired or injured (picamoles and domingo, ie our only 2 players that mean something on the world stage will be missing). they have close to no chance. please dont shoot on the ambulance (again), don't send your best side and rotate accordingly

Here we go with the excuses.

England were rusty last week, but this week France are too tired?

Make your minds up!

weird post, since when France need excuses to lose to NZ
we dont even bother to blame the ref anymore!

tiredness and injuries are facts am afraid, some of those players play 35 games per year. be kind.

When they've just played the RC and an extra game against the wallabies, without refereeing assistance, they can be tired!

The club situation hasn't been sought out in France and that still takes a toll on the French national team. I read in the pro era the RWC defeats of NZ were in a way the worst thing to happen to France as they encouraged the status quo in terms of club and national structures.

That said the last test in June where there was more than a green tinge about the team was probably their best performance. The likes of Picamoles and Fofana under an injury cloud spell bad news but whoever fronts up will be looking for a scalp like Australia last year.

I really, really hope NZ treat the England game with full respect and field their strongest possible side. That's what England want. We want to test ourselves with the best. Anything other than full respect makes the game meaningless. SCW would take development sides down under 10 years ago much to the embarrassment of English supporters and frustration of the sh sides. Let's not go back to those days.

englandglory4ever wrote:I really, really hope NZ treat the England game with full respect and field their strongest possible side. That's what England want. We want to test ourselves with the best. Anything other than full respect makes the game meaningless. SCW would take development sides down under 10 years ago much to the embarrassment of English supporters and frustration of the sh sides. Let's not go back to those days.

Do you really think there is any chance of us not fielding our strongest team? If so you really don't get how we feel about that game. I won't be happy with anything less than a 20 point margin. Not sure about how Hansen but he probably really wants to win it too.

One game at a time a battered France side try pulling the other leg they will be fighting fit
and rareing to go.Hansen isn`t going to take any side lightly this year. As for England you
will get your wish strongest available side will fielded they REALLY want that win.Ireland won`t be underestimated either they want another NH clean sweep and an unbeaten year.

englandglory4ever wrote:I really, really hope NZ treat the England game with full respect and field their strongest possible side. That's what England want. We want to test ourselves with the best. Anything other than full respect makes the game meaningless. SCW would take development sides down under 10 years ago much to the embarrassment of English supporters and frustration of the sh sides. Let's not go back to those days.

You can be absolutely 100% assured that the best side will be out for this. It is Hansens only blemish other than a draw and the side has specifically focussed on being fresh for the end of year run, removing any possibility of that 'just in case' that was the issue last year.

Odd comment really glory. The England win last year was after 20 consecutive wins in the AI's so obviously fielding a weak side is not something we do. Translating Englands approach to the AB's is therefore redundant- unless you were joking of course.

I would think your biggest concern would be whether England are up for it. They were so so vs Oz and dont look capable of staying with this AB side. But you never know. ...so lets hear it...thats what we all said last year!