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Ian Foster has made the personnel adjustments you would expect after a disjointed first performance by the All Blacks of the year – some forced, some at his discretion – but the reality is a change in attitude he really needs if his men are to correct their flaws. Wellington. .
The first-year head coach conceded as much as he announced a lineup with five new faces in his starting XV and a renewed bench to face Dave Rennie’s Wallabies at Eden Park on Sunday. Last week’s disappointing 16-16 draw hadn’t lived up to New Zealanders’ standards, let alone the highest score for this team, and a big part of that had been around key intangibles like aggression and mindset.
Last week, the All Blacks forwards were outmatched in the battle for the win line, gaining just over a third of possession, and the backs were largely confused with no rhythm and fluidity. The result was a subdued overall effort in which the All Blacks, frankly, were lucky enough to get away with a stalemate and Rennie’s new-looking Wallabies got the proverbial psychological boost the new coach would have been praying for.
Kai Schwoerer / Getty Images
Rieko Ioane has been left on the bench for Sunday’s Bledisloe II in Auckland.
“It’s a question of attitude,” Foster explained Friday of the shift he needed to see. “From a defensive point of view, I thought we were more focused on being solid and solid, rather than aggressive. We have to advance further. And from a strategic perspective, it’s about making sure that we give our forwards the opportunity to push themselves in the areas that we want to challenge the Australians. “
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* All Blacks vs Australia – Coach Ian Foster says to be judged by our response at ‘home’
There is always pressure at this concert. But Foster was clearly feeling a bit more than usual as he reflected on the team to produce the expected, not demanded, response on terrain they hadn’t tasted defeat since 1994.
“It was a game where we didn’t achieve the level that we wanted,” said Foster of Bledisloe I, “… so we are suffering, and we should be. I love these weeks. These are the weeks when there is a real advantage in camp.
Kai Schwoerer / Getty Images
A concussion has ruled Sam Whitelock out of the All Blacks’ rematch with the Wallabies.
“We know we have to respond. We want to respond from the perspective of our own standards and we are excited to do so. Last week they tried to put a marker. We did it and so did they, and we have to respond. “
The answer, if it comes, will be from a renewed lineup. Two Barretts return to raise the team’s quota to a maximum of three. Beauden Barrett, with that Achilles we now know needs careful management to get through a full week’s setup, is back as a fullback. Damian McKenzie, a non-factor in Wellington at number 15, falls to the bank.
And Scott Barrett, now fully recovered from his plantar fascia injury, returns through the bench to drive a readjusted second row, with 118 test veteran Sam Whitelock ruled out following a blow to the head in Wellington. Rookie Tupou Vaa’i will make his first test outing alongside Patrick Tuipulotu.
Phil Walter / Getty Images
Beauden Barrett has been named to come back from his Achilles tendon injury.
Midfielder Rieko Ioane also pays the price for his roller coaster ride at Bledisloe I and is dropped on the bench, with Anton Lienert-Brown stepping in in the middle away from Jack Goodhue, who must be lucky enough to keep his spot after a discreet first appearance. Foster hinted that his midfielders could turn things around, depending on game situations.
Auckland rookie Caleb Clarke will also make his first test outing on the left wing, not just at home, but where his father, Eroni, made a name for himself as a prominent midfielder by province, franchise and country. He does so after a ruptured pectoral muscle suffered by George Bridge in training on Wednesday, but also as a result of a promising cameo from the bank in the capital.
The other opening change comes at the hooker, with veteran rake Dane Coles on starting duties and a chance to lead the physical response that just has to come from the All Blacks this week.
The bench is also refreshed, with Scott Barrett and Auckland’s loose head Alex Hodgman coming in for his first test cap (Karl Tu’inukuafe stays out), Nepo Laula is back to close head after his defection late the week. last while Taylor, Ioane and McKenzie all range from beginners to stunning men.
As for the talking points, there are a few. Richie Mo’unga gets another shot at No. 10 after an anonymous came out first; Jordie Barrett remains out of position on the right wing, despite a moderate performance there last week; and the loose trio remains unchanged, despite being outscored by the Australians (with the exception of Captain Sam Cane’s exceptional 25 non-fail tackles).
STUFF
Ian Foster explains All Blacks picks for Bledisloe II
Foster said Ioane’s demotion to the bench was due less to that failed attempt and more to Lienert-Brown’s qualities as an organizer and decision maker. “We feel like bringing him back will give us a bit of an edge in that space,” he added.
Clarke also deserved a chance after what seemed like a harmless crash at Bridge training ground that turned into a six-month make-up job. “We have to give him the ball more often,” Foster said. “You can choose whoever you want on the wing, if you only get 30 percent of the ball, you’re going to have a hard time getting them involved.”
Foster said Scott Barrett was “100 percent” above his injury, and that in-game physical condition was the only factor that could limit his minutes. “There was a feeling that we might even have played him last week, but we wanted to make sure he could handle the load.”
The coach ignored predictable claims this week that his team had lost its aura, but admitted that a “statement” performance would be helpful. One day after the country issues the verdict on its government, it will make a similar one on its most beloved team. Unlike some participants in the elections, the All Blacks are very much in control of their destiny.
Take a look
All the black people: Beauden Barrett, Jordie Barrett, Anton Lienert-Brown, Jack Goodhue, Caleb Clarke, Richie Mo’unga, Aaron Smith, Ardie Savea, Sam Cane (c), Shannon Frizell, Tupou Vaa’i, Patrick Tuipulotu, Ofa Tuungafasi, Dane Coles , Joe Moody. Bookings: Codie Taylor, Alex Hodgman, Nepo Laulala, Scott Barrett, Hoskins Sotutu, TJ Perenara, Rieko Ioane, Damian McKenzie.
