McCaw back as ABs make major changes

By DUNCAN JOHNSTONE & MARC HINTON - RugbyHeaven | Tuesday, 29 July 2008

Richie McCaw has been named to start the second Bledisloe Cup test in a major boost for the All Blacks who will welcome the return of his leadership to a radically altered team and his outstanding loose forward skills to an area where the Wallabies dominated the opening encounter.

The selectors have reacted strongly to the disappointing 19-34 defeat in Sydney by making some major changes for the rematch in Auckland.

They have have boosted their experience levels – not to mention kick-return ability – by returning Leon MacDonald to fullback and moving the versatile Mils Muliaina to the right wing, dropping Anthony Tuitavake.

Conrad Smith comes in at centre for rookie Richard Kahui in an adjusted midfield. Said backs coach Wayne Smith: "Conrad brings an element of having been there, done it under pressure." Clearly it's a time for cool heads in the All Black backline.

The three halfbacks, including the recalled Piri Weepu, are all bracketed as injuries to Andy Ellis (ribs) and Jimmy Cowan (knee) are assessed. Weepu is certain to play, with coach Graham Henry confirming that Cowan was the more likely of the two crocked No 9s to make the start-line, but that "both of them won't be there".

McCaw's return, six weeks since he injured the ankle against England, boosts a revamped back row with Sione Lauaki axed after his Sydney nightmare.

McCaw was sorely missed last Saturday where Wallabies skipper George Smith reigned supreme at the breakdowns and was ably backed by the power of Rocky Elsom and Wycliff Paul.

Elsom will miss the Eden Park encounter with injury so New Zealand may be able to reclaim the advantage in this crucial area if McCaw is able to pick up where he left off in the Iveco Series six weeks ago.

He was in rampant form against Ireland and England before being forced off against the English with a an ankle injury.

He had hoped to return last week but after being bracketed with Daniel Braid he was withdrawn on the Wednesday. It was a blow from which the All Blacks never recovered as their back row failed to deliver.

Henry said he was confident that there would be no such false-start from his skipper this week.

"We think he will be [all right] by Saturday," said Henry, confirming that McCaw completed part of Tuesday's training before being strategically rested. "We're just being cautious because last week he was in good shape coming into the camp and then aggravated the ankle at a drills session.

"That put him back a week, so we're just trying to make sure we don't go through the same process."

Henry admitted that McCaw's presence on Saturday night would have a major spinoff for the under-pressure All Blacks who are desperate to halt a two-match losing skid.

"It means a tremendous amount," said Henry. "He's a class act, he leads from the front, he's demanding of others, he gives a wee bit more direction. He will bring the best out of other guys on the field."

Rodney So'oialo was tireless, Braid apparently became so tired he had to be subbed off after 45 minutes, Jerome Kaino was quiet and Lauaki was simply awful. Combined with an abnormally high error-rate it all added up to a disaster.

Lauaki has paid the price by being dropped altogether with Braid and Adam Thomson bracketed on the bench as loose forward cover. Braid is only there in case McCaw has any late slipups, with Thomson likely to fill the bench role.

So'oialo returns to No 8 and Kaino shifts to blindside, reflecting their usual provincial and/or Super 14 roles. Forwards coach Steve Hansen admitted it was recognition that the All Blacks had to make some adjustments in the loose trio best positions.

"For this test match, yes it is. We've always said at some stage Rodney would go back to 8, and the whole season is not aboout playing left and right [flankers]. Right from day one when we started left and right the whole purpose was to allow us to play two fetchers and a bigger guy at 8, and against some sides you can do that. Against this team we don't think you can do that, and that probably got confirmed again last week."

Andrew Hore's hip injury sees him bracketed with Keven Mealamu as the All Blacks take a cautious approach. But Henry is confident his first-choice hooker will be all right to take his place.

"He's looking pretty good. We just don't know how long he'll be able to play for. We hope to get a better indication of that on Thursday. It looks like the two hookers will be available after today's training."

The All Blacks know they have to get their act together at the breakdowns and with their general accuracy if they are to rebound in a test that has assumed massive proportions now.

They are defending a 19-match unbeaten stretch at Eden Park but face an increasingly confident Wallabies side, buoyed by the calming influence of coach Robbie Deans who has brought patience and composure while bolstering their defensive systems and allowing a license to attack.

Some of the changes smack of desperation – the Muliaina shift after he was a potent performer in Sydney – and others are a clear backtrack on what they have tried to do this year, like their experiements with So'oialo and Kaino.

Final decisions at hooker and halfback are expected to be made on Thursday.

"We've made some tactical changes in our selections," added Henry. "But we also need to change how we play. Clearly there are areas we need to improve on from Sydney.  We have to have the right game plan and execution."

NEW ZEALAND: 15 Leon MacDonald, 14 Mils Muliana, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Sitiveni Sivivatu, 10 Daniel Carter, 9 Jimmy Cowan/Andy Ellis/Piri Weepu; 8 Rodney So'oialo, 7 Richie McCaw (c), 6 Jerome Kaino (c), 5 Ali Williams, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Greg Somerville, 2 Andrew Hore/ Keven Mealamu, 1 Tony Woodcock. Reserves: 16 Hore/Mealamu, 17 John Afoa, 18 Anthony Boric, 19 Adam Thomson/Daniel Braid, 20 Jimmy Cowan, 21 Stephen Donald, 22 Richard Kahui.

 What do you think of this team? Is it good enough to square the ledger? Have your say below.