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The Rugby Championship preview: New Zealand

TRF_Ezequiel

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2011 Record: Played 4, won 2, lost 2 (2nd​ overall)

New Zealand will look to once again defend their ranking as the number one team in the world. In a tournament which holds the top three ranked teams by the IRB, as well as the new addition of Argentina, the ***le of 'the favourite' is certainly contentious, but the All Blacks look to be the team to beat in the Rugby Championship. Not only did they manage to win the Rugby World Cup in 2011, their recent form against Ireland in a three test series saw them win the series unbeaten, including a sixty point score line in the third test. With the New Zealand conference performing well overall in the Super Rugby, including the eventual championship of the Chiefs, the All Blacks will be hoping to carry that form over to the Rugby Championship to claim their 11th ***le, and their 1st in the four team format.

New players to watch:

Despite having only one uncapped player named in the team, there will be no shortage of new talent on display. During the Ireland series a total of six new players were introduced to test rugby, all but one of whom have earned a second call-up. The uncapped player is Blues prop Charlie Faumuina, who was unlucky to miss out on the series against Ireland due to injury, with big Ben Tameifuna taking his place instead. Now fully recovered, he will look to recreate the form that made him a stand-out in an otherwise poor Blues outfit. Able to play both tighthead and loosehead effectively, Hansen has stated his versatility was a factor in his selection, as well as a strong workrate and powerful scrummaging.

Joining Faumuina in the tight five will be Brodie Retallick and Luke Romano, both of whom made very solid debuts during the Irish series. Luke Romano demonstrated a powerful running game as well as offering a solid set piece, which has been one of the concernes of the All Blacks since the departure of Brad Thorn. Brodie Retallick, at 2.04m and only 20 years of age, has been one of the outstanding figures for the Chiefs during their successful campaign. His work rate and consistency carried through to the international scene, making a solid impression throughout the series. With the injury to Ali Williams, as well as there being only three locks selected, both players are almost guarenteed regular selection and will be looking to make a strong claim for the starting jersey.

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The only new loose forward from the Irish series is Sam Cane, however an awful lot of talk has been generated since his debut. An athletic and physical openside flanker, Sam Cane had his first test start in the third test after a solid debut of the bench the week before. In his debut start he was extremely physical in the tackle area and had a massive workrate, making the most number of tackles. At only 20 years of age, he has been benched for a majority of the season at the Chiefs for the preferred Tanerau Latimer, however based on his form during the test series many pundits are speculating that he will be the next successor to McCaw, with some suggesting his form warrants a positional change for the New Zealand skipper. With so much hype he will be looking to deliver and stake his claim as the next great New Zealand openside in a production line of legends such as Michael Jones, Josh Kronfeld and Richie McCaw.

In the backline there are only two new players from the Ireland tour. The inclusion of Highlanders halfback Aaron Smith comes to no suprise to anyone, with the new halfback being arguably the pick of the new players. His efficent kicking game and his extremely accurate and quick clearance from the ruck allows both Daniel Carter and Manawatu teammate Aaron Cruden a lot more time with the ball, giving the All Blacks a new dimension in attack. After his Rugby World Cup heroics, Piri Weepu has had a poor season with the Blues and his days as a starting halfback may well be a fond but distant memory. With new coach Hansen leaving out an impressive Beuden Barrett from the squad, the Hurricanes will feel a certain degree of consolation with the inclusion of talented winger Julian Savea. Scoring three tries on debut, the most of any All Black against Ireland, Julian Savea made a sufficent argument to be included over the likes of Zac Guildford, however a starting position on the left wing is not a guarentee, with the form of Hosea Gear meaning the left wing jersey is a two horse race. Both Gear and Savea have a very similar style. Both over 100kgs, both very quick and both equally as happy to go over a player as around them, it will be interesting to see which one Hansen favours.

Key players:

In a team primarily made up of World Cup winners, it's difficult to pick a handful of key players. With that being said the first man on everyones mind will be All Black skipper and most capped player Richie McCaw. After winning his 100th cap during the Rugby World Cup, the All Blacks first centurian will be leading out a team with a strong mix of experience and enthusiasm. Being arguably the greatest openside of all time, there has been plenty of pressure on him over the last few seasons to consider a change to the blindside, where his physicality can be utilized and speed is a little less essential. McCaw will be looking to defy his critics by betteirng other world class opensides such as new Australian captain David Pocock, whether or not he can do so may determine whether a positional change is necessary to make way for the young Sam Cane.

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The other legend of the game who may be feeling the pressure is All Blacks 1st 5/8th Daniel Carter. Regarded as one of the best flyhalfs in the history of the game, the world leading test points scorer may well be feelling the pressure off Aaron Cruden, whose impressive form carried the Chiefs to a Super Rugby ***le and a man of the match after just over twenty minutes against Ireland. Both players possess uncanny vision, however the experience and reliability of Daniel Carter may well be crucial to the All Blacks chances of a ***le, as he will likely demonstrate that form is temporary, class is permanent.

Finally, the player whom the media will most likely be focusing on will be the final performances by Sonny Bill Williams. After signing with Japanese side Panasonic Wild Knights after a handshakes agreement and a considerable sum of cash, the charismatic inside centre will most likely be making a move back to the NRL. Winning a Rugby World Cup with the All Blacks and featuring prominently for the Chiefs in the Super Rugby, Sonny Bill Williams may well have felt his time in the All Blacks had come to a happy end, however with an eye injury to Hurricanes skipper and world class centre Conrad Smith, Sonny Bill Williams will now be playing at least two more games before heading overseas.

Predicted 22:

1. Tony Woodcock, 2. Andrew Hore, 3. Owen Franks, 4. Brodie Retallick, 5. Sam Whitelock, 6. Victor Vito, 7. Richie McCaw (c), 8. Kieran Read, 9. Aaron Smith, 10. Daniel Carter, 11. Hosea Gear, 12. Sonny Bill Williams/Ma'a Nonu, 13. Ma'a Nonu/Conrad Smith, 14. Cory Jane, 15. Israel Dagg
Reserves: 16. Kevin Mealamu, 17. Ben Franks, 18. Luke Romano, 19. Liam Messam, 20. Piri Weepu, 21. Aaron Cruden, 22. Ben Smith

Schedule:

18th​ August. Australia v New Zealand.ANZ Stadium, Sydney
25th​ August. New Zealand v Australia. Eden Park, Auckland
8th​ September. New Zealand v Argentina. Westpac Stadium, Wellington
15th​ September. New Zealand v South Africa. Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
30th​ September. Argentina v New Zealand.Estadio Ciudad de la Plata, La Plata
6th​ October. South Africa v New Zealand.FNB Stadium, Soweto


Predicted finish in 2012: 1st​
 
For this NZ squad going into this series, what I'd really like to see:

Ben Smith establish himself in the squad, maybe even the starting lineup. Good honest kiwi bloke, when he runs onto the park he just looks like a bulk standard rugby player but as soon as the game starts it's obvious he's much more than that, he's pretty damn gifted. I really like the energy he has.

However if Julean Savea can establish himself he has a chance to secure his position in the side for a very long time. And it will be just what the AB's need, he's had a breakthrough year.

Messam to get some starts, he's had an outstanding year but this year has been a bit different. Previous years (last yer in particular) hes been overworked (by playing every min of every game) in super rugby and his form has dropped off a bit going into the finals and test season. This season with the new format, some well placed byes and a game he sat out with a minor injury his workload has been better managed and his form got better and kept getting better as the year went on. Now with the tests here and he's on fire. Jerome kaino's trademark was his physical defense, I look at Messam, Thomson and Vito and no doubt in my mind that Messam is the one who can bring that critical component to the AB's that will be missing with Kaino out of selection.

In An Idea world, even as a Messam supporter, I'd rather see McCaw at 6 and Cane at 7, surely it's going to happen at some point and IMO sooner is better than later. The speed Cane has around the field, his power on defense and speed in support. Great assets.

lastly and maybe most importantly: Aaron smith

I think the AB's have desperately needed someone like smith for a long time. Cowan and Elis in particular are quite slow at clearing the ball and Weepu is a mixed bag. Aaron smith is a genuine world class 9 week in and week out and the whole AB back line will be better than it has been for years with Aaron smith doing what he does. Carter should thrive and if so the whole backline will fire. It could even be the spark needed to even get Dagg out of his rut.
 
I think the AB's have desperately needed someone like smith for a long time. Cowan and Elis in particular are quite slow at clearing the ball and Weepu is a mixed bag.
If that bag is a bag of potato chips and cheeseburgers.
 

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