Three All Blacks changes flagged for France
BY MARC HINTON IN MARSEILLE
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All Blacks
Ma'a Nonu was the big concern and Jerome Kaino the big mover as the All Blacks launched the serious part of their preparations for Saturday night's season-defining test against France at Stade Velodrome.
Nonu took only an observer's role in the active part of the session as the All Blacks adopted a precautionary attitude to a haematoma in his thigh picked up at Twickenham last weekend.
But they fully expect the powerful second five to be ready by Saturday night, where it looks like he will be joined by Cory Jane on the right wing, Neemia Tialata at tighthead prop and Jerome Kaino on the blindside flank.
They shape as the three changes to the starting lineup that defeated England 19-6, if today's training alignment was anything to go by.
Assistant coach Wayne Smith said they didn't want to risk Nonu as they swapped between artificial grass and a dry, slightly rutted natural surface at the Jean Bouin training facility that looked a little the worse for wear since the last time they visited (in 2007). "We expect he'll be fine," said the assistant coach.
Smith shrugged off the sub-standard nature of their training ground and an unsuccessful attempt by team manager Darren Shand to find a new venue.
"I thought it was good compared to the club ground I used to train on (at Belfast, near Christchurch)," he said. They did their speed work on a pristine artificial surface and then moved to the rugby field for the contact part.
"It was a wee bit hard, but we had hit-suits, and we got by," added Smith. "I don't think it's a bad thing, changing the state, keeping a bit of interest up, keeping people on their toes. A bit of hardship is not too bad at this time of the year."
Whether Otago flanker Adam Thomson thinks he's been hard done by remains to be seen, but it appears he and Zac Guildford will miss out in the two close calls of the week. It was always likely Tialata was going to replace the vastly less experienced Owen Franks at tighthead.
"Zac's been great, Ben Smith showed a fair bit in Italy, but Cory has been consistently good so that's the way we went," said Smith of the wing tussle, admitting it would have been a huge call to drop a player who had aimed up as well as Jane had this year.
Smith said there had been plenty of "heat" on in the loose forward mix, particularly at No 6 where Kaino's hard-hitting cameo off the bench at Twickenham, and a workmanlike Thomson start, had swung it the Aucklander's way. Thomson could nudge Rodney So'oialo for the bench spot
Smith confirmed training would be kept as intense as possible - "there's no backing off this week" - and that the Dave Gallaher Trophy, currently in the French cabinet, was a big part of this week's motivation.
"It hurts that it's sitting here, and taking the Dave Gallaher trophy home is important to us. We could sit him on top of Sir Ed, which would be great."
Smith also took aim at France's non-attendance in Marseille until the day before the match.
"It's not something we'd be allowed to do or something we'd want to do. Part of our responsibility is to our commercial partners, and supporting them in areas we go. Promoting the game is a product of that as well. That's our way, and hopefully because of it we'll get a bit more support."
Not from the French they won't, not even if les Bleus waltzed into town five minutes before kickoff.
- © Fairfax NZ News
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Barry your a muppet people like you give New Zealanders a bad name Instead of critizing Nonu why dont you come up with some viable alternatives? On current form who in New Zealand is a better 2nd 5 than Nonu?
Ex All Black Fan.
Mate, perhaps you should get your facts right before commenting on this site. Whether you like it or not, rotation is a part of any sport at any level. Seems like your running low on excuses to justify yourself. So tell us then, who should be the coach if Graham Henry is not suitable in your narrow minded, outrageously stupid point of view?
I humbly apologise for that Jamie you are correct, tho in popular culture it is 'kool aid' which is more instantly recognisable with the Rev Hen.. sorry Jones! To be honest I kinda expected that comment to go over the head of Graham Henry's fanatical supporters anyway!
EABF - I obviously wrote my previous post too quickly for you. I'm typing with 1 finger now so hopefully it's slow enough for you to understand.
Tialata is the first choice ahead of Franks. They said at the start of the tour that everyone would get a game, and Franks has had his.
You seem to think any change is rotation. I think you'll find that rotation was swapping 15 players in 1 week in 2005. This tour has been clearly building to this test (well, clearly for those of us that actually know the game and follow it) as being the big one and all previous tests were effectively trials. They have now picked what they feel is their number 1 team available.
PS - "smugface". real mature, fool.
Ex All Black Fan -
So what you are trying to say is stick with one option and stay with it. Going by the last few games, sure they were not great scores but I applaud Henry on his rotation theory in these tests. For once we have actually seen what these emerging players are capable of and he is much more likely to pick the more suited line-up now he knows his options to their extend.
Tialata over Franks is a given to anyone with half a brain. Incase you have not noticed those french front rowers are pretty dam huge and Tialatas size and strength is a huge advantage over Franks. With a decent Ref (going by the Italy game) Tialata definately holds his own.
Ex All Black Fan aye, makes me wonder who you support now. Is it one of the teams that is STILL loosing to the All Blacks? Australia who cant even spell RUGBY anymore? Or South Africa who managed to loose 3 in a row, 2 to provincial sides!
Hopefully this weekend we will see the attack open up, I am sure Henry is much closer to achieving this now he knows his team. As for the defence...well it has held up like a brick wall so far in Europe, so lets see that continue.
To Ex All Black Fan:
It was Flavor-Aid, not Kool-Aid. Do your homework, son...
You didn't answer either of my questions Richard. Q-1- Why drop Franks for Tialata? Q-2- How did rotation work out for Henry in 2007?
Thompson stated in the media that he was a bit rusty and fresh against England as he hadn't had a game for a while. Kinda blows your theory really doesn't it?
Any enlightenment greatly appreciated.
I stand corrected and apologize: Nonu has played brilliantly in this tour, his defence has been flawless and he's performed admirably in interviews. Let's praise GH and prepare the trophy cabinet for the Cup. Not.
Ex All Black Fan so I take it you have played for the All Blacks before? I think you would change your tune pretty quickly if you had to go through a whole year of professional rugby. Yes they are pro athletes but they are still human and there is no way a person can be continually pushed and pushed without suffering fatigue. Even McCaw needs a break every now and then. Why have a squad if you aren't going to play them? It's healthy to have competition for places otherwise complacency will creep in.
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I must admit that Graham Henry is better than Robbie Deans.
The All Blacks are going to win the world cup because prats like me are going to support them no matter what, my new name is Reborn All Blacks fan.
All Blacks forever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!