All Blacks vs Australia: Rieko Ioane in doubt, Sam Cane promises a physical response

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All Blacks captain Sam Cane says forwards are ready to step up physique and intensity this week.

All Blacks captain Sam Cane thinks Bledisloe’s response has been trickling in all week in Auckland, and he just hopes that local hero Rieko Ioane is fit enough to take part in it.

Ioane has fallen to the bench’s midfield coverage for Sunday’s second Bledisloe Cup game against the Wallabies at Eden Park (kickoff at 4pm), though he has doubts that he will take his place after a hamstring injury after Friday’s main workout.

Wellington midfielder Peter Umaga-Jensen has been called up to cover for Ioane and a decision will be made on match day as to whether the 23-year-old with 30 test matches to his name will take his place.

Cane, who spoke to the media after Saturday’s Captain’s Run at Eden Park in gloriously sunny conditions, said he hoped Ioane was okay to run off Sunday because, like everyone in the All Blacks, he was eager to atone for the 16-16. tie at Bledisloe I, where the New Zealanders were far from their best.

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But Cane made it clear that Ioane’s teammates were backing him after a performance for which the Aucklander received criticism on his first initial test assignment at center. Ioane missed a babysitter try in the shadow of halftime when she caught the ball while touching the ground with one hand, and also made a poor defensive decision on the second-half try scored by Marika Koroibete.

“It’s been really good,” Cane said of Ioane’s response this week. “No one in our circle blames Rieko in any way. He has continued and prepared as well as every week, and I am sure he will recover. “

In terms of Ioane’s willingness to “get back on the horse” in his homeland, Cane said he would trust key decision makers.

“I think if he was a lazy striker it wouldn’t matter. We don’t run as fast as him. But it probably needs to open up, so keep your fingers crossed. Between him, the medical staff and Fozzy (coach Ian Foster), they will do the right thing on behalf of the team. “

Cane also made it clear that the All Blacks forwards were well aware of the leading role they had to take on in response to last Sunday’s performance. The herd of Wallabies won the battle for possession and territory conclusively and put New Zealanders on the defensive for much of the contest.

A worrying recent trend continued of New Zealand forwards being beaten up front, when you factor in the World Cup semi-final defeat to England and even the attack on Bledisloe last year in Perth. To be fair, those efforts resulted in a pretty fair display against the Springboks in the opening game in Japan.

“A lot of our set-piece work was good, but we can make some real changes when it comes to our hauling and cleaning work, and I think we can get off the line a little bit faster and put them there too,” Cane said. .

“We have had some pretty clear approaches around the areas where we need to improve, so a lot of the messages have been based on that. Hopefully we’ll see it tomorrow. “

Kai Schwoerer / Getty Images

Rieko Ioane is in doubt for Bledisloe II with a tight hamstring, with a decision to be made on match day.

Much of the talk from the All Blacks this week had been about the need to improve physicality and the intention to match, or even better, the Australians.

“That’s a test match in a nutshell: physical, intensity,” added Cane. “As an advanced package, that’s where we have to step up and deliver.”

Cane downplayed the importance of last year’s dramatic shift between Bledisloes I and II, from a 47-26 loss at Perth to a 36-0 win at Eden Park in seven days, but admitted that the concept of learning from his previous outing it was at stake. .

And in terms of the pressure on the All Blacks this week to put on a performance they could be proud of and regain trans-Tasman ancestry, Cane took a vision of the ordinary.

“We are aware that there is a lot of pressure, but there is always it with the test matches,” he said. “There were also many things last week. We are only focused on what we can control and all of those things should add to what will be an incredible match test. “

The All Blacks, of course, have this magnificent record at Eden Park, where they have a 44-game unbeaten streak (42 wins, 2 draws) dating back to the 1994 loss to France.

But the Wallabies haven’t won in New Zealand since 2001 and Eden Park since 1986, either, so, as Cane was happy to point out, they probably have as much to play as the New Zealanders.

“They probably weren’t happy with the draw either and will come here knowing they have a real shot. I think we will see two quite desperate teams put on a quality performance.

A crowd of close to 47,000 tickets sold will no doubt be waiting for you.

Phil Walter / Getty Images

Rieko Ioane of the All Blacks passes the ball during the Bledisloe Cup match between the New Zealand All Blacks and the Australian Wallabies at Sky Stadium on October 11, 2020 in Wellington, New Zealand. (Photo by Phil Walter / Getty Images)

– Stuff