Hansen: Happy with his squad
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All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has revealed that his squad for the away Tests against Argentina and South Africa is unlikely to have surprise selections.
Hansen said All Blacks selector Grant Fox was keeping an eye on players in the ITM Cup, but his duties were more about monitoring the form of fringe players rather than unearthing a future star.
There was also a need to look at the form of players that were involved with the All Blacks' wider training group earlier in the year to make sure they will be ready to fill in if one of the current All Blacks were ruled out through injury.
"The reality is the players that we are keen on, we keep an eye on," Hansen told New Zealand's LiveSPORT radio.
"The ITM Cup rugby is all about guys getting themselves into the franchise teams from there ... that's the pathway.
"We have used players from there for end of years tours before and found what we were seeing at ITM Cup wasn't replicated at our level because the step is just too great.
"So we have taken the attitude that yeah, we'll keep an eye on the fringe players that might come into the team but the other guys are really working their way into franchise sides.
"Cleary we are flexible enough that if someone really stood up and was so outstanding that you could not pick them, we'd look at that player as well."
The All Blacks next match is against Argentina in La Plata on 30 September and Hansen is sitting on a potential selection dilemma for their tour.
He will probably have to choose between taking Beauden Barrett as cover for Dan Carter's calf injury or picking five props for the tour.
Hansen said current medical reports showed that Carter is set to be ready for the Test against the Pumas.
"But we have the option to take three five-eighths (fly-halves) if we need to, just to give him a bit more time," he explained.
He also defended the selection of Piri Weepu and is happy with the contrast in styles the veteran scrum-half and Aaron Smith offers.
"We saw in Wellington whey he is the right fit," Hansen said of Weepu.
"When the game suits his style there's none better.
"He's not the same type of players as Aaron Smith at all. Aaron is nippy and carries the ball whereas Weepu is always looking to organise and get things going off slower ball.
"The two contrasts are great for us when we are in those (differing) games."
Comments
Up_and_under says...
Wayne Smith has made Foster look like a complete waste of rugby resources. Firstly by leaving a legacy in the All Blacks which Foster obviously can't continue to build on.
Then helped out the Cheifs to win the Super Rugby comp during his first tenure at the franchise.
Let it go fozzy, you're outdated, have no real vision for the team and lack public support.
Posted 11:41 23rd September 2012
2EyedKiwi says...
@all. Hopefully Dave Rennie is part of the 2015 RWC mix
Posted 08:24 21st September 2012
kiwilad says...
Ramage, Here here, Foster scares the living sh@# out of me.
I suspect he is a rellie of Hansens, oyherwise I cant see a reason for him to have the job, unless its to make Saffa feel better about having PDV and the new Clown
Posted 01:10 21st September 2012
ruckingkiwi says...
sandal, yeah that's what the Aussies do, pump money in from the top down, importing foreigners, league players etc.. instead of developing talent from the grassroots up.
Posted 08:40 20th September 2012
ruckingkiwi says...
I was disappointed with the appointment of Foster & McClean as assistants, even though I was happy Hanson got the job. However, while we are winning I will give Foster the chance to come right. There are numerous reasons we're patchy on attack, lack of direct running, world cup hangover, poor coaching, opposition, no SBW, new combinations or whatever .. but think back to 2004 when Wayne Smith first took the backs, we were attempting a flat attacking back line which was shocking, if I remember right we came last in that 3N.. so we're doing ok in comparison so far. Hopefully things improve.
Posted 08:38 20th September 2012
sandal says...
@Ramage
I see you have a little campaign going there. I don't like Foster either. In fact, I can't really see why the union loves him so much. (Thought: if for some reason Hansen had to quite, Foster would be next cab in line, wouldn't he?)
But just a few months ago the All Black backline functioned beautifully in two of those Irish tests, perhaps better than at any time since 2003 and beyond. And Foster was in charge of things then.
Might the real problem be the absence of SBW?
@ruckingkiwi
That's awful. The presence of fourth and fifth Australian teams in the Super XV is hurting us, through the additional poaching, as much as it is the Aussies.
And you know what? In three years's time Trinuts will be calling the recruited mercenaries Aussies.
Posted 07:35 20th September 2012
Ramage says...
I can suggest one change that should be made. Drop Foster Steve.
Posted 13:52 19th September 2012
ruckingkiwi says...
Reds scouts are still doing the rounds, saw some at tonights Auckland game
Posted 12:08 19th September 2012