Hansen backs Gear for crunch Test
4 Oct 2012
Wing Hosea Gear has been preferred to Julian Savea for Saturday’s Test against the Springboks in Soweto.
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has made just two changes to the starting line-up for the next fixture at Soccer City, for reasons of rotation and injury.
Hansen explained on Thursday that part of the reason that Savea has been dropped from the squad completely is that the All Blacks want to protect him at this early stage of his career.
‘We are very happy with how Julian is going and it’s not a reflection on him, just the need for a young player to step out of the pressure,’ Hansen said.
What this statement suggests is that Hansen feels that Gear will deal with the incredible amount of pressure – playing the Boks at home, in front of nearly 100 000 fans, at altitude – in this particular match.
‘We’ve rotated. It’s important for Hosea to step in and step up. He played particularly well against Ireland in Hamilton. It was probably one of his better Tests.
‘I’m expecting him to have a big game. He’s itching to get out there.’
Savea scored a hat-trick on debut in June, and added a further two to his tally when he played against Argentina last week. The All Blacks will be expecting a similarly penetrative performance from Gear.
‘Having watched what Julian has done the last Test I’m sure he’s excited to score a few tries himself,’ said Hansen. ‘It will be a big challenge for him.’
The other change to the starting side sees Brodie Retallick stepping in at front lock for Luke Romano. This is unsurprising, as Romano has cut a figure akin to Frankenstein’s monster this week, a series of stitches serving to hold his battered face together.
Hansen has confirmed that this has prevented Romano from training, and so the Crusaders lock will only be used from the bench.
Hansen has also made several changes to his reserves. These changes could be crucial, as matches against South Africa are often not decided until the final whistle.
Indeed, it was Israel Dagg (wearing No 22 on that occasion) who scored a match-winning try in the 2010 Test played at Soccer City.
Prop Ben Franks replaces Charlie Faumuina, the more experienced Adam Thomson edges Sam Cane for the back-up flanker berth, and Tamati Ellison is preferred to Ben Smith as the backline utility player.
All Blacks – 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma’a Nonu, 11 Hosea Gear, 10 Daniel Carter, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Richie McCaw (c), 6 Liam Messam, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Andrew Hore, 1 Tony Woodcock.
Subs: 16 Keven Mealamu, 17 Ben Franks, 18 Luke Romano, 19 Adam Thomson, 20 Piri Weepu, 21 Aaron Cruden, 22 Tamati Ellison.
By Jon Cardinelli, in Johannesburg
41 Comments
4 Oct 2012, 08:10 am
Adam Thompson to seize the day…….hehe…….dragon
4 Oct 2012, 08:20 am
Hmmm.. Thompson wants revenge after his last test in SA.. Solid squad and solid bench. They coming to do battle with memories of the pre RWC game and recent Dunedin first half.. Boks going to need to bring an all round performance.. And better kicking %
4 Oct 2012, 08:25 am
kevin pietersen begs for his old job back:
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/cricket/4570585/Kevin-Pietersen-pleads-for-an-England-chance.html
4 Oct 2012, 08:44 am
Rotation… Something Meyer knows nothing about…
4 Oct 2012, 08:49 am
Savea is a bully when the opposition are under the pump, but he doesn’t fill me with confidence when under pressure.
Gear’s selection is a good one by Hansen.
4 Oct 2012, 08:50 am
boks to klap the kiwi’s
4 Oct 2012, 08:52 am
this is indeed a 80min squad….whoa this is going to be epic!
4 Oct 2012, 08:54 am
Boks better have their game faces on tomorrow!
4 Oct 2012, 08:55 am
Nice team, going to be a cracker!
4 Oct 2012, 08:56 am
@goforthegap00-6:
Clearly spell check was off tune for you there buddy.
The correct spelling is “clap”.
Which is what every decent sportsman does when vanquished by a superior opponent.
4 Oct 2012, 08:57 am
When you compare the boks against the ABs (best team in the world), you probably look at player vs player in each position first… Our team dont really stand back in most positions… Secondly you look to compare defence, attacking, skills, scrum and tactics/gameplan (coaching) etc.
If the team selections keep on improving and the players implement, hopefully a superior tactical game, they will become the best…
But like the other article suggested, player management will have to be the best in the world too….
So we all know we have the players, so after a year is it fair to say that the coaching will be to blame if the boks dont become just as competitive as the ABs…?
Or will player management carry more weight when we dont reach that ‘realistic’ goal to become the best team in the world?
Here’s hoping we come on top, but what factors will have to become world class?
4 Oct 2012, 09:02 am
Brads Saffas do not say “clap”… Our slang word for beat the hell out of someone is “KLAP”… As a “PK”…
4 Oct 2012, 09:04 am
@Jeez-11:
Beating the AB’s in a dead rubber would not represent anything other than two titans came together and one was superior on the day.
Winning the head to head battle may get a hard on for some folk, but winning consistently is more important to me.
Just imagine if the Bokke won on Saturday and then went down to Ireland, as you guys have done 3 out of the last 4 encounters.
4 Oct 2012, 09:05 am
@THE MAULER-12:
Woosh
4 Oct 2012, 09:10 am
@Brads-13:
Thats my point. We have the world class players. The contributing factors that will make us consistent will have to be world class too. Thats why some things just dont add up. Our player management obviously sucks, we dont have a world class backline coach. And up until last Saturday our tactics seemed to be outdated and predictable… Losing to the ABs every now and then wont be a train smash, but like you said, Id like to see the boks become as fierce as the ABs… We’ve just got too much talent to be mediocre like we’ve been for the past 10 years…
4 Oct 2012, 09:13 am
there is no such thing as a dead rubber in a Boks vs NZ test …. if you think there is, then you don’t know your rugby! ! ! !
4 Oct 2012, 09:16 am
@THE MAULER-4: Thats a bit of a tough one. Meyer is in no position to be rotating players yet. He is still trying to find the right players and combinations. Thankfully, through injuries and some public pressure, he seems to be starting to get it right.
4 Oct 2012, 09:22 am
If Hansen is uncertain about who his best 11 is, he could get clarity when Richard Kahui returns from injury. He’s a 13 but excelled on the left wing at WC11. Over time he’ll take over from Snake at 13 but for now Snake is the AB’s most valuable backline player after Dan Carter
4 Oct 2012, 09:22 am
@grant100-16:
Are you suggesting you believe I think the game means nothing to me or the AB’s.
If so, you are seriously off your trolly.
4 Oct 2012, 09:23 am
no articles or threads of interest and its 9:30 already.
4 Oct 2012, 09:26 am
Enough depth to drop a two-try in-form winger for another …
4 Oct 2012, 09:28 am
@viewer-18:
As gifted as Kahui is, he is a sick note in waiting.
While I love to see him on the park, his brittle body makes it a stand out if he can front the following week.
4 Oct 2012, 09:41 am
@TheTackler-21:
I don’t buy into that.
The left wing position has not been nailed down by anyone, hence the rotation with Hansen’s “horses for courses” selection.
4 Oct 2012, 10:32 am
for me, the strongest kiwis sides were the 1996 and 2005 versions.
they didn’t have the win % of other versions but only because I measure them with the calibre of opposition they were playing.
4 Oct 2012, 11:12 am
If you had to go with one on one’s it doesn’t look that good for the Boks.
15) Dagg
14) Jane
13) Smith
12) Nonu
11) Habana
10) Carter
9) Smith
8) Reid
Openside) Mccaw
Blindside) Alberts
5) Bekker
4) Etsebeth
3) Franks/Du Plessis
2) Strauss
1) Beast/Woodcock
4 Oct 2012, 11:48 am
@Brigadier Van Zyl-24: 1996 was by far NZ’s best team. Which Bok team compares to our 2009 team. 1997 team? or a 1986 team?
4 Oct 2012, 11:48 am
@Brads-23: Hansen seems to be protecting Savea. If the pressure of playing in front of 90k fanatics gets to Savea and he has an off night under the high ball it could affect his confidence for a couple of years. I hate to say it but if Gear has an off night, well, there’s only so many chances Hansen can give him at that age.
Gear seemed unlucky in his games this year. Either the ball didn’t come his way or when it did, he’s run out of space. He’ll be looking for a big game
4 Oct 2012, 11:55 am
@gonzo-27: he made mince meat of keith earls in hamilton though…whoa!
4 Oct 2012, 12:33 pm
@TheTackler-21: @gonzo-27: @Transformation-28: one word to describe this decision gentlemen – “Habana”
The AB’s management understands that when Habs is red hot, the opposing winger can do nothing but defend the whole game
e.g. Chris Ashton was nowhere in the SA vs England series due to having to mark Habs all the time…
Hence we were spared of his silly smack-me-in-the-face grins that he has when he scores those 80m tries against weak defences…
4 Oct 2012, 12:44 pm
@Horings-26:
ja, probably 86
4 Oct 2012, 12:52 pm
@scrumfan-25: Pretty accurate but I am not sure both AB centres would be in my combined side. I would have JDV at 12 and Smith at 13
4 Oct 2012, 13:06 pm
lacks will ‘destroy’ Springboks -
Spencer
LIAM NAPIER IN JOHANNESBURG
Last updated 05:00 03/10/2012
Carlos Spencer has turned his back on
coaching after being dropped by the
Lions and while the Springboks are
improving he believes the All Blacks will
“destroy” them this weekend in
Soweto.
Spencer has been settled in
Johannesburg for three years and is
now contemplating a sports
promotional job after being sacked
with immediate effect, along with Lions
coach John Mitchell, via email during
this year’s Super Rugby season.
The cold manner of dismissal, with
over a year to run on his contract, left
the former All Blacks playmaker miffed.
It is understood Spencer was a
popular figure with Lions’ players. His
innate knowledge of back-line play was
highly valued.
“They cut Mitch and I was next. It’s just
one of those things. People get fired
everyday. It’s time to move on and try
something different,” Spencer told
Fairfax Media. “It would have been nice
for the CEO or president to tell me
face-to-face. It was a cowardly way to
do it.”
Unlike Mitchell’s stabbing incident,
Spencer hasn’t endured a brush with
local crime and with an eight year-old
son and four year-old daughter to
consider he didn’t explore overseas
coaching posts.
But after been brutally cut by the Lions,
who have since lost their place in
Super Rugby to the Southern Kings, he
is unlikely covet a return to the cut-
throat coaching profession any time
soon.
“I just saw it as an opportunity to finally
get out of rugby,” Spencer said.
“Coaching for me was never a long-
term thing. It was something to do
once I hung up the boots. It’s just
probably happened a little bit sooner
than I thought.”
In their best performance of the year,
the desperate Springboks recorded
their biggest win in three years, against
the Wallabies last week, but Spencer
feels that purposeful result needs to
put in perspective.
Australia were decimated by injuries
and delivered another poor
performance on the highveld. The
Wallabies defence in particular was
shambolic, conceding five tries, as they
attempted to plug holes in their
faltering back-line.
“The Springboks obviously needed a
good win but the Aussie weren’t great.
I think the All Blacks will destroy them
this week,” Spencer said.
“It will be a big confidence booster for
the Springboks. There was a lot of
pressure on them over here in terms
of their last couple of efforts. They
played some good rugby at times and
didn’t kick away as much ball as they
had previously. That’s definitely a step
in the right direction for them.
“But they are going to come up against
a better defence this week. If they can
hold the ball for long periods and not
kick it away they’ll be in with a chance,
but the All Blacks will be too good for
them.”
There are question marks around the
All Blacks’ motivation after claiming the
Rugby Championship with a sublime
showing in Argentina last week, but,
with the benefit of experience, Spencer
reckons that achievement will relieve
tension rather than stifle their desire.
“They’ve already got the trophy in the
bag so they can go out there and
express themselves with no pressure
to win it,” he said.
“I’ve been in that situation before with
the Blues when you’ve already secured
a semi-final spot. You never go out
there to give 90 percent.
You always want to win the last game.
“It will make the trip home a lot better.
They won’t be relaxing just because
they’ve won the tournament. It would
be a disappointing way to end the
competition if they were to lose this
week. They’ll be fired up, hungry and
aiming to destroy them.”
Despite his ugly exit from the Lions,
Spencer hopes to see them rise again.
“Speaking to the people in Jo-berg they
can’t believe it. The richest city in South
Africa isn’t going to have a team in
Super Rugby,” he said. “There’s a lot of
disappointment around. It might make
them wake up and change a few
things so they can get back where they
deserve to be.”
- © Fairfax NZ News
4 Oct 2012, 14:11 pm
Solid NZ side, but it certainly doesn’t inspire fear. They’ve got very average locks… and they’re also struggling to find a good loose trio combo. Messam’s OK, but he seems to throw the balance they had with Kaino off. Pack looks decidedly vulnerable, but the backs look dangerous.
4 Oct 2012, 15:00 pm
This all black side looks pretty good. What a luxury to be able to bring in Nonu after you lose Sonny Bill… Perhaps one vulnerable area for the Blacks is there may possibly be a lack of bulk and aggression in the forward pack…. That being said, the Blacks always seem to bring smarts to the game and I’m sure they won’t be bossed in the forwards like they were in Dunedin. They possibly underestimated our pack last time round. We won’t be that lucky this time.
Tough game to call. The Blacks have had a heavy travel schedule lately and are playing away from home, but at the same time they are a quality side with the hunger to get a clean sweep in the first every Rugby Championship and stay on track for the record number of wins in a row.
The Boks are an improving side with big, physical forwards and one or two exciting backs. If we click, we will be hard to beat, but if we don’t click, The All Blacks will happily make us pay.
4 Oct 2012, 15:24 pm
Two areas we must be spotless in and that is defence and the breakdown. If we stifle their attack and keep them off our breakdown ball than we have half the game won. Than all thats left is finishing.
4 Oct 2012, 17:12 pm
If Nonu goes down…..Who is 12 next in line?
Or will they move the world best 10 Carter to 12 with Cruden to 10
NZ 12 stocks very low
Even at 13…After Smith its very so so.Ellison,Fruean,Ranger….very talented but also Test match arena may prove a step too far.Ellison though great comeback from Japan
Fact that Andre Taylor cant smell AB’s tell you how much attacking talent lies in NZ….WHat sa wouldnt do for a player like that at 15
4 Oct 2012, 17:36 pm
@mshiniwami-36: We have very good attacking fullbacks in SA.
Like Andries Coetzee.
That is the type of player that would be an All Black in NZ.
4 Oct 2012, 18:23 pm
@mshiniwami-36: 13: If Kahui wasn’t injured, he’d be next in line if I was selecting. But for that guy you always need another back up in case of injury. A pity Jared Payne left as the ABs hinted that he’d be in the frame too. 13 has been a problem for us over the years though. When Umaga left, it took a few years to find an uninjured replacement. Or a replacement that wasn’t a fullback
4 Oct 2012, 18:25 pm
@gonzo-38: Robbie Freuen. Problem solved.
4 Oct 2012, 22:37 pm
To think the All Blacks could go with a completely different backline and still be strong is a crazy thought but then again so could the boks
15 Ben Smith
14 Lelaila Masaga
13 Richard Kahui
12 Sonny Bill Williams
11 Julian Savea
10 Colin Slade
9 Andy Ellis
20 Alby Mathewson
21 Beauden Barret
22 Benson Stanley
15 Frans Steyn
14 Jp Pietersen
13 JJ Engelbrecht
12 Jaque Fourie
11 Gio Aplon
10 Morne Steyn
9 Jano Vermaak
20 Sarel Pretorius
21 Meyer Bosman
22 Louis Ludik
5 Oct 2012, 01:43 am
This is the best run on team and best bench that the Ab coaches could select for the game in SA. We do have some very exciting young forwards and backs coming thru, but the experience of this 22 gives us the best chance of winning.
This tells me the all blacks are targeting this as a ‘must win’ game. Respect.
Weaknesses? Not in the locks, despite postings from one eyed bok posters above. We dominated the bok line out in Dunedin.
Mess and Thompson are a big step down from Kano, and they are not as good as any of the SA loosing in the collision, ruck or tight play. Weak links. Hosea is a step down from Habana, and I don’t think he is a long term option for the AB’s.work rate not high enough. Aaron smith has a big question mark about whether he can play when his pack is being harassed as happened in Dunedin.
I think the boks will attack the rucks to punish mess am and put smith off his game. If that works we are going to struggle to get our game going off phase ball. If we can protect smith (and I am worried we won’t be able to) the all blacks should win through back line superiority.
This is going to be the best match up we have had for a couple of years!!!!!!
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