Ian Foster Coach of the All Blacks talks with Shaun Stevenson during All Blacks training, 2023 Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Tomorrow's second Bledisloe Cup test in Dunedin may be a dead rubber, but it's the last chance to impress for players hoping to earn a spot at the World Cup.
All Blacks coach Ian Foster has made 13 changes to his starting XV for Saturday afternoon's match and included three debutants in the side, as he looks to give his fringe players a crack before the World Cup squad is named on Monday.
Flanker Samipeni Finau and wing Shaun Stevenson have been selected to start and utility back Dallas McLeod is in the reserves.
Samipeni Finau. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
"We've got a lot of guys who have been with us who have been training well and we believe with what's coming around the corner this is a great opportunity to give a few guys a run," Foster said.
There may not be any silverware on the line but it's the All Blacks final home test of the year and hooker Codie Taylor, who's not in the matchday 23, said they want to send several departing veterans off in style.
"I'm sure a lot of the boys have thought about that.
"Playing at home is always special so all going well hopefully some of those lads get a crack to go out there, represent their country and finish their careers in New Zealand on a high. That would be nice."
Sam Whitelock, Richie Mo'unga, Brodie Retallick, Aaron Smith, Beauden Barrett and Dane Coles are among 10 players set to retire or move offshore after the World Cup.
The Wallabies lock Will Skelton is looking forward to lining up against Whitelock, the second most capped All Black, one last time on New Zealand soil.
"Mate, he's a legend, isn't he? He's paved the way for locks - probably one of the best in the past two decades.
"When I was at school, I was watching him play and he was carving up. I think he's had a great career in that All Black jersey," Skelton said.
Damian McKenzie will start at first-five with Anton Lienert-Brown and Braydon Ennor in the midfield while Will Jordan gets a rare run at fullback and Stevenson, who initially missed out on the Rugby Championship squad, gets a debut start with Leicester Fainga'anuku on the other wing.
Shaun Stevenson during the All Blacks training session at Nga Puna Wai, Christchurch, New Zealand. 3rd August 2023. © Copyright photo: John Davidson / www.photosport.nz Photo: © Photosport Ltd 2023 www.photosport.nz
While he appears close to finalising his first-choice team, Foster is adamant World Cup spots are still up for grabs.
"Yeah, there always are," Foster said.
"We name a squad soon but we have to be at our best in every test. We want to keep taking steps forward and making sure this is not a wasted opportunity for us to grow our game.
"The minute we take the pressure off and say it doesn't matter then we're in trouble so the answer to that is yes."
The World Cup squad is named on Monday and for the likes of loose forward Luke Jacobson, who's yet to start a game this year and is again on the bench, tomorrow afternoon's test in Ōtepoti is his last opportunity to stake his claim.
Photo: PHOTOSPORT
"You can only do what you can do and take the opportunities you are given," Jacobson said.
"I think, for me, I've just been trying to focus on training and put my best foot forward, but also when I get a crack, I'm taking every opportunity that I get.
"I was reasonably happy on the weekend, so, if I get another crack, I just have to do the same again."
While the All Blacks are unbeaten so far this year the Wallabies are searching for their first win.
Australian lock Skelton insists the team isn't suffering a crisis of confidence after three straight defeats.
"The belief in the group has always been there, and it always will be.
"The scorelines haven't gone our way but we're still building as a team. We're improving every week, and that's an internal thing. We're still searching for that performance we can be proud of.
"We thought we had a great start in Melbourne and it's about prolonging that and finishing matches and having an 80-minute performance."
If they Wallabies aren't at their best for 80 minutes tomorrow, they'll likely remain winless in 2023 and their chances of winning the World Cup will seem even slimmer.
