adminTHE All Blacks are gambling on novice playmaker Tom Taylor to stamp their authority on the Rugby Championship when they confront a wounded Wallaby side tomorrow in Wellington.The Wallabies, humiliated 47-29 in the first Test in Sydney last week, meanwhile made only one injury-enforced change as coach Ewen McKenzie gives his new-look squad a second chance.
An All Blacks win will see them wrap up the Bledisloe Cup for an 11th straight year and have them well placed to defend their Rugby Championship crown with home and away Tests to be played against South Africa and Argentina.
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen is in no doubt the Wallabies will be fired up to exact revenge for last week’s hiding, which was a demoralising first outing for new coach McKenzie.
“They are obviously going to be more dangerous. The first sign of that is that they’re not talking as much this week,” he said. “They will be looking to play with more accuracy and intensity so, therefore, we will need to meet – or better that – with a higher level of execution right across the board if we are to be successful.”
With his leading flyhalf choices – Dan Carter, Aaron Cruden and Beauden Barrett – all injured, Hansen has put his faith in the uncapped Taylor to step up as the All Blacks helmsman.
“He is mentally tough and plays the game with a lot of confidence and maturity,” Hansen said. “These factors, along with his assured goalkicking under pressure, has made this an easy selection.”
Taylor, a son of 1987 World Cup-winning centre Warwick Taylor, has played for the Canterbury Crusaders this year at centre, wing and fullback, but not flyhalf. He was nevertheless unfazed, saying he was “treating it as just a normal game”.
The Wallabies haven’t beaten the All Blacks in New Zealand since 2001 but McKenzie was in no mood to dwell on the past.
“The job is to come over here and change that,” he said.
The one change to the Wallabies sees siderower Scott Fardy promoted to replace Hugh McMeniman, who is to undergo shoulder reconstruction.
McKenzie had hinted at possible backline changes after the first Test, where Israel Folau saw little action, James O’Connor was out of position for two of the All Blacks’ six tries and debutants Matt Toomua and Jesse Mogg were unconvincing.
But after reviewing the match tapes, the coach said he was backing his squad to improve.
“You can’t fudge experience and I know this group learned a great deal from last week and will be much better for the experience on Saturday night,” he said.
Apart from the inclusion of Taylor, the All Blacks have a second-row change with Brodie Retallick in for injured lock Luke Romano.
While this will be Taylor’s first Test, for prop Tony Woodcock it will be his 100th, becoming the fourth All Black to reach a century behind Richie McCaw (117), Keven Mealamu (105) and Mils Muliaina (100).
Teams
New Zealand: Israel Dagg, Ben Smith, Conrad Smith, Ma’a Nonu, Julian Savea; Tom Taylor, Aaron Smith; Kieran Read, Richie McCaw (captain), Steven Luatua; Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick; Owen Franks, Andrew Hore, Tony Woodcock. Replacements: Dane Coles, Wyatt Crockett, Charlie Faumuina, Jeremy Thrush, Sam Cane, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Colin Slade, Charles Piutau.
Australia: Jesse Mogg; Israel Folau, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Christian Lealiifano, James O’Connor; Matt Toomua, Will Genia; Ben Mowen, Michael Hooper, Scott Fardy; James Horwill (capt), Rob Simmons; Ben Alexander, Stephen Moore, James Slipper. Replacements: Saia Faingaa, Scott Sio, Sekope Kepu, Kane Douglas, Liam Gill, Nic White, Quade Cooper, Tevita Kuridrani. – Reuters
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