It’s not very often that an England fan can congratulate a
Kiwi on the build up to an England Test Series in the All Black’s backyard, but
Brodie Retallick, the All Black lock, has added himself to Stuart Lancaster’s
Christmas Card list ahead of the First Test at Eden Park. When quizzed, big Brodie
couldn’t name one England player, with the dismal effort of “Michael Lawes” (we
assume he means Courtney) being the closest he got to picking out any of the
individuals who will be trying to dismantle him over the next 3 weeks. Lancaster can strike one item from the
“to-do” list before the first test – I think the team talk writes itself.
But perhaps the Kiwi has a point. I mean, who are this rabble coming over to
take one the World Champions? The
Invincibles of 2013? If you didn’t watch
Premiership rugby regularly, would you really have a clue who the likes of Rob
Webber, Marland Yarde, Kyle Eastmond or Freddie Burns were? It’s been more than well documented that this
is a classic example of how NOT to organise a tour – with a schedule tight
enough to exclude players from both of England’s premier clubs as they battled
it out last weekend in the Premiership final.
It means Lancaster has had his hand forced into selecting an XV for the
first test that is inexperienced at the highest level, with 4th
choice picks involved in some spots.
It’s easy to see how some New Zealanders are already making dismissive
noises about this England side’s chances.
I say let them underestimate England. This is still a side with enough firepower to
scare any, with Mike Brown, Manu Tuilagi and Joe Launchbury all pushing World
XV spots when in top form. Add to that
to experience, nous and work rate of Chris Robshaw and Geoff Parling, the
Kiwi-knowledge of James Haskell, and the unpredictability of the likes of
Marland Yarde, Kyle Eastmond and Freddie Burns, and you have a side that has
the potential to excite. So much will
depend on whether a side depleted of some of their most physical characters can
muscle up to the Kiwi pack, which is always so dominant at home, and whether
the backline can settle in quickly under huge pressure. There is a real sense that there is nothing
to lose for this England side. Nobody
expects.
The same can’t be said about the All Blacks, though – and I
mean that as the highest compliment.
Despite the above, I expect them to dominate. In addition to the fact that every single
player – including the front row – has the ball handling prowess of an England
halfback (as a minimum requirement), they also have an established roster of
world class players. With power players
such as Jerome Kaino, Liam Messam,and Ma’a Nonu providing the punch and Israel
Dagg and Ben Smith sprinkling in the magic, there is not one area where the New
Zealanders do not threaten. And I say
that even though the almighty Dan Carter is kicking back on a beach, even
though that Aaron Cruden hasn’t been in great form for the Chiefs, and even
though that the great Richie McCaw and Conrad Smith have been looking a little
jaded of late. I am measuring them to
unbelievably high expectations, and I fully expect them to still be too good
for this England pick n’mix XV.
But who cares about expectation. Lancaster’s men have shoved expectations down
the throat of critics before, and they will believe – genuinely believe – they
can do it again. As an England fan,
there’s still plenty to be excited about and – regardless of the result – I
reckon Mr Retallick might be remembering a few more names following Saturday
night.
New Zealand have recalled number eight Jerome Kaino in their
team for the first test against England in Auckland on Saturday, with World
Player of the Year Kieran Read recovering from concussion. Three uncapped players are named on the
replacements' bench by the world champions – lock Patrick Tuipulotu, scrumhalf
TJ Perenara and utility back Malakai Fekitoa – whilst Julian Savea and Dan
Carter are also both unavailable.
Starting Line
up: Israel Dagg; Ben Smith, Conrad
Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Cory Jane, Aaron Cruden, Aaron Smith; Jerome Kaino, Richie
McCaw (captain), Liam Messam, Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Owen Franks,
Dane Coles, Tony Woodcock.
Subs: Keven
Mealamu, Wyatt Crockett, Charlie Faumuina, Patrick Tuipulotu, Victor Vito, TJ
Perenara, Beauden Barrett, Malakai Fekitoa.
Key Player
Jerome Kaino. OK, he
may be replacing the best number 8 in world rugby, but Kaino is no lame
replacement and boasts a brutally powerful defensive game in addition to having
arguably the most impressive chin in world rugby. But Jerome is going to have to show off the
attacking side of his game on Saturday if he is to fill the void left by Read;
we know he is a wall in defence, but can he get his hands on the ball, run
hard, create space and offload as Read does.
Neither McCaw or Messam are particularly attack focused – which is why
the balance works so well with the Canterbury 8 – so the Blues man must adapt
his mentality if the All Blacks back row unit is to reach its usual devastating
potential.
England Team News
Harlequins scrum-half Danny Care has been ruled out of
England's first Test against New Zealand on Saturday after jarring his shoulder
in training. Ben Youngs will replace
Care to form a half-back partnership with Leicester team-mate Freddie
Burns. Northampton's Lee Dickson is
promoted to the bench just three days after arriving in New Zealand. Lancaster fields a fourth-choice midfield of
Burns and Kyle Eastmond, while Rob Webber, James Haskell and Geoff Parling all
come into the pack. There are two
uncapped players on the bench in Worcester full-back Chris Pennell and
Harlequins hooker Joe Gray, while Sale fly-half Danny Cipriani is in an England
match-day squad for the first time in six years.
Starting Line
up: Mike Brown (Harlequins); Marland
Yarde (Harlequins), Manu Tuilagi, (Leicester Tigers), Kyle Eastmond (Bath),
Jonny May (Gloucester); Freddie Burns (Leicester Tigers), Ben Youngs (Leicester
Tigers); Joe Marler (Harlequins), Rob Webber (Bath), David Wilson (Bath); Joe
Launchbury (London Wasps), Geoff Parling (Leicester Tigers); James Haskell
(Wasps), Chris Robshaw (Harlequins, capt), Ben Morgan (Gloucester).
Subs: Joe Gray
(Harlequins), Matt Mullan (London Wasps), Henry Thomas (Sale Sharks), Dave
Attwood (Bath), Tom Johnson (Exeter Chiefs), Lee Dickson (Northampton), Danny
Cipriani (Sale Sharks), Chris Pennell (Worcester)
Key Player
Manu Tuilagi. He
might still just be a pup in terms of age, but Tuilagi is now the experienced
head in the England backline, and it’s time for his leadership skills to go up
a notch. He and Youngs will form the
nous on either side of a very inexperienced back 10-12 partnership, and it is
absolutely vital he demonstrates the communication skills picked up from
Anthony Allen at Leicester. In terms of
general play though, he is the one player the All Blacks know all about – and
England must use this to their advantage.
Launch Tuilagi in between the 12-13 channel and attempt to draw in Nonu
and Conrad Smith – the defensive organiser – and you will create opportunities
elsewhere. And, of course, Aaron Cruden
should prepare himself for one of the more obvious physical mis-matches in
international rugby.
Brodie Retallick v Joe Launchbury. Retallick may not know who he is (apparently)
but big Joe won’t care about that.
During the Six Nations we saw the young Wasp weigh in with a series of
monumental performances, driven by a ferocious work-rate and eye-catching
athleticism around the field. But whilst
Launchbury was partnered by the ultra-physical Courtney Lawes (or Michael
Lawes, according to Retallick) during that tournament, the baby-faced second
row links up with the intelligent-but-less-imposing Geoff Parling. It means that Launchbury must shake off that
cherub-like demeanour and weigh in with a bruising display against a typically
hard-nosed All Black lock, in the shape of Retallick. The All Blacks are expected to outmuscle the
England in the tight, with their lock pairing a key component, but if Launchbury
can help his side at least achieve parity in this area then the New Zealanders
might just lose a little bit of that aura.
Anyone who reads this blog regularly (there must be someone
apart from my dad...) will know that I am an eternal – and often hapless –
optimist. But it’s hard to look past the
obvious for this one. The All Blacks are
too experienced and too slick, even though they are not at their best
individually for the moment. Chuck in
their phenomenal home record and you would be forgiven for thinking that this
England side will have less of a chance than I have of marrying Scarlett
Johansson. But that’s doing Lancaster’s
men a discredit. Yes, there are a lot of
unknown factors in the side, but we know that each and every one of them can do
a job on their day, and there’s still sufficient experience in the side to lay
down a challenge. For England to win,
they will need at their best and the All Blacks to be well below that level;
the problem is, the All Blacks very rarely stoop that low. New
Zealand by 11.
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