The All Blacks' end-of-season tour has taken on added significance for coach Steve Hansen's planning ahead of the 2019 World Cup in Japan after the world champions were beaten 23-18 by Australia last night.
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen. Photo: photosport
Hansen will name an extended 37-man squad tomorrow for the five-match tour, which includes tests against France, Scotland and Wales and games against the invitational Barbarians and a French Selection.
While Hansen had arguably his strongest possible side available he was missing six first-choice players on Saturday and the two extra games on tour will allow him to look at fringe players as he builds depth for the World Cup.
"We will be taking a decent sized squad and be looking to be smart about how we prepare," Hansen told reporters in Brisbane.
"It will require quite a bit of work from the staff and some good planning a lot of which we have done already. As long as we are flexible in our thinking we should be fine."
The tour should also allow Hansen to evaluate how the team is going to dominate games in two years time, given the loss to the Wallabies highlighted some of their weaknesses.
Their attack did not flow with first-five Lima Sopoaga struggling to take control of the match, while the Wallabies' desperate defence harried the All Blacks into making errors.
That has been characteristic of the season, with opposition defences, starting with the British and Irish Lions, able to shut down time and space and put their backs under pressure.
The Wallabies also stopped the All Blacks forward momentum by smashing into tackles and at the breakdown.
The defeat also ended what has been an enigmatic and frustrating international programme for the team.
On three occasions - the 30-15 first test win over the Lions, the first 50 minutes of their opening Rugby Championship clash with the Wallabies when they raced to a 54-6 lead and a 57-0 demolition of South Africa last month - they showed when they get it right, no team can stay with them.
They were unable, however, to maintain that consistency throughout the year, and more importantly from week to week, which could be crucial in Japan.
Despite those frustrations, Hansen is well aware that he has two years to iron out the issues, starting with next month's tour.
"When you look at the people that aren't here and the people that are, what a great opportunity for this team to grow and learn," he said.
"The wheels on the bus keep going around, in two weeks' time we have to play another game and we'll take those (lessons) and we'll use the hurt that's here to grow."
Moore hails landmark Test result
Former skipper Stephen Moore has hailed Australia's Bledisloe Cup breakthrough against New Zealand as a landmark moment in the squad's development.
Moore went out a winner in his last Test match on home soil, coming off the bench late in the second half to help seal a morale-boosting victory.
It was a fairytale finish for the 34-year-old but he was more enthused about what the result would mean for the playing group he will soon leave behind.
"That's one of the better performances I've been a part of, to be honest," Moore said.
"I've been a part of a lot of teams but that was really good. I thought everyone did their job really well and everyone contributed.
"For this group particularly, it's a really important result.
Moore still has next weekend's clash against the Barbarians and tour matches against Japan, Wales, England and Scotland before he officially retires from international rugby.
But Moore will finish up a very satisfied man, particularly with the way a new generation of leaders has emerged over the last year.
"I don't think we've had that in this team for a number of years... there's five, six, seven players now that are having real input and driving the standards, driving the outcomes," he said.
"Maybe 12 months ago it was myself and Hoops were probably doing a lot of the stuff.
"It's really powerful when that happens."
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen said the Wallabies deserved the win.
"They were the better side on the night and we just made too many mistakes, missed too many tackles and didn't take the opportunities ...and they did so when you play a good side and you do those things, you're going to run second," said Hansen.
Wallabies coach Michael Cheika said one of the most pleasing aspects of the result was what it would do for long-suffering supporters.
It has largely been a year to forget for Australian rugby but Cheika said it was "inspiring" to see a crowd of 45,107 brave constant rain in Brisbane to watch a dead-rubber contest.
"I'm very realistic, it's one win, it was hard-earned," he said.
"I'm really pleased in particular for the fans. I'm not just saying that.
Cheika has brought in more fresh blood for next weekend's clash with the Barbarians, with James Slipper and Ben McCalman named to make their long-awaited Test returns.
But 13 players from the team that defeated New Zealand last night will be rested.
Captain Michael Hooper, the in-form Kurtley Beale and second-row enforcer Rob Simmons are among the others who will get a week off ahead of the end-of-year tour of Japan and Europe.
Meanwhile, Israel Folau will miss Australia's end-of-season tour to take a complete break from rugby.
- AAP/REUTERS
