All Blacks backup men get their chance to impress

BY MARC HINTON IN SYDNEY

Last updated 19:41 07/09/2010

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RETURN: Blindside flanker Victor Vito returns to the Lions.

All Blacks training in Sydney

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Kieran Read runs the ball off the scrum during All Blacks training at Leichhardt Oval.

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Israel Dagg and Victor Vito are set to join Aaron Cruden in a young trio of the future getting their chance on the big stage in Saturday night's Tri-Nations finale at ANZ Stadium.

The All Blacks won't officially announce their lineup until Thursday, but assistant coach Steve Hansen today made it clear that a hand-picked group of the backup men will get their chance this week as the selectors tinker with their established lineup for the first time in the competition.

That's also likely to include standout halfback Piri Weepu who's largely played second fiddle to Jimmy Cowan this season but looks certain to receive a promotion based on form and his established partnership with Cruden.

Hansen also confirmed that in-form hooker Keven Mealamu has been battling a tight calf - he sat out today's training session -- that sees Corey Flynn poised to join the promoted youngsters if necessary. It's hoped Mealamu will be ready to train fully by Thursday.

"There will be some changes because this is an opportunity, with the Tri-Nations and Bledisloe Cup won, but it's still a major test so there won't be wholesale changes," said Hansen.

"But there will be one or two and they will be in areas where we want to see how people go from a starting point of view."

Twenty-one-year-old Manawatu rookie Cruden has already been told he will start at No 10, with Dan Carter recovering from surgery on his ankle. And it looks certain that 22-year-old wing/fullback Dagg, having a dazzling rookie season, and 23-year-old Vito, on the blindside flank, will also get their chance. It's likely Owen Franks will also return at tighthead prop.

Hansen all but confirmed that Dagg would step in for Joe Rokocoko on the wing and Weepu would get the nod at No 9 when he spoke about Cruden being surrounded by "familiar" faces as he makes his first test start on Saturday night.

"Ma'a has been playing particularly well, Conrad has been playing well and [Piri] has been on fire," he said. "The nice thing about that is they're all Hurricanes boys as well, and he's pretty confident with that group.

"He's got Izzy, or Roks (Joe Rokocoko), as guys he knows well on the flanks and Cory Jane is another Hurricane. He could quite easily have the majority of Hurricanes out there, so it's not going to be overly daunting."

Hansen said he was confident Cruden had what it took to step up to the mark in what will be a huge occasion for the talented youngster.

"He's a confident young man, has got some very good skills, and we think he's improved in some areas -- his kicking game has improved a heck of a lot over the year.

"He's ready, he's confident, and he's shown he can run a team. He's just got to believe in himself and get on with the job... his self-belief will be the key and we think he's got plenty of it."

Hansen confirmed Weepu would be the first-choice goalkicker, "if he started", but sprang a surprise when he said Cruden would be next choice ahead of Dagg. An accurate display for Manawatu a fortnight ago appeared to have sealed a promotion there.

In terms of the Wallabies, Hansen said he's expecting them to "turn up with plenty of attitude, grit and determination. You've got to work for your prize and we're expecting to have to work for it on Saturday.

"I think it's going to be a good test. As difficult a season as they've had, they've just come off a win that will perk them up a bit, and take a bit of the pressure off."

Hansen also spoke about being prouder of the way the All Blacks were playing than in the spectacular numbers they're on the verge of posting - with an historic six-game Tri-Nations sweep and a record 10th consecutive test victory over the Wallabies on the cards for this weekend.

"Our performance started to turn about midway through the end-of-year tour and since Marseille we've played pretty good rugby," said Hansen.

"The rule changes have helped us - it's allowed the team with the ball to have more confidence holding on to it and playing with it, and that suits our game. It's allowed us to play some good rugby and I don't think we're a finished product yet. There's still 10-15 percent more to come."

Now that's a frightening thought.