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Stephen Donald misses a conversion - Source: Photosport -
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Patience has run out for the All Blacks coaches, who are poised to wield the axe on their underperforming team for Saturday's final Tri Nations rugby Test against Australia in Wellington.
The 32-29 loss to South Africa in Hamilton over the weekend was the last straw for a coaching panel who have overseen four losses this year in eight tests, all of which have failed to match the high standards set in recent years.
While the Wallabies on Tuesday named an unchanged team, up to a third of the New Zealand starting 15 look like being overhauled in Wednesday's announcement.
Selection was delayed by a day to allow Graham Henry and assistants Wayne Smith and Steve Hansen more time to mull how many of the starting 15 to push through the guillotine.
They needed to observe a two-hour training run today before unleashing the red pen.
"Some players here have had a lot of opportunity this year," Smith said.
"But some things never change, it's not how many games you have in the jersey, it's what you do in it that counts.
"We've just got to make sure that we're raising the standards and if that means changes in personnel, then that's what we'll do."
Players were interchanged regularly during Tuesday's session at Porirua Park but if time in the first-choice team's grey training jersey - as opposed to the yellow bib of the opposition - is any guideline, then there will be two changes to the forward pack and three to the backline.
Prop Neemia Tialata could earn a surprise recall in place of young tighthead Owen Franks while Adam Thomson seems set to be named on the blindside flank ahead of the out-of-sorts Jerome Kaino.
Out wide, Isaia Toeava will probably be injected at centre, with Ma'a Nonu shuffled back to second five-eighth in place of the struggling Stephen Donald.
Two changes could come on the wing, where the injured Sitiveni Sivivatu and Joe Rokocoko may well make way for Wellington pair Cory Jane and Hosea Gear.
"I don't want to say there's any element of panic but it's the reality that we've got a big test on the weekend and we've got to pick the right people to go out there and do it," Smith said.
"We just want to make sure that everyone's earning the jersey, earning the right to be out there and is able to execute more accurately than we've done."
Smith said faith in players who aren't performing the core skills well could only last so long and some had crossed that line.
"There's a certain point when you've got to make some tough decisions and that's where we're at," Smith said.
"We didn't play as well as we wanted to against South Africa.
"I don't think there was anything wrong with the attitude, I think the effort and everything was fine.
"But that's not all that's required. You've got to be able to be composed, make the decisions, execute under pressure and we didn't always do that.
"Just by not naming the team and changing them around at training, that puts them on notice."
While South Africa claimed the Tri Nations on Saturday, Smith said that would have no bearing on the desire to prevail this week.
Thus, experimentation would not be behind any of the changes.
"What's the Tri Nations? We're playing a Test match," Smith said.
"Tri Nations is a consequence of doing well in your Test matches. Test matches are what it's about.
"There's no element of trial and error, we want to get the best people for the job on Saturday out there."
Smith said the Tri Nations involved the world's three premier teams and it was more apparent than ever that substandard rugby of any sort is quickly exposed by the opposition.
He doesn't believe the All Blacks are far behind the Springboks and likewise feels Australia are more than capable of toppling both their rivals.
"We've won the Bledisloe Cup but they (wins in Auckland and Sydney) have been tight matches and in the first half we didn't play accurately in either of those."
Four losses in 2009 - What is wrong with the All Blacks? Have your say on our messageboard below.
Add a Comment:
Post new commentTrevthehev said on 2009-09-15 @ 19:20 NZDT: Report abusive post
Has Isaia Toeava ever had a good game in the Black jersey? I've been watching him since he got in - in 2005 - and I haven't seen him play a good game - against quality oppositon - ever. Even Steven Donald is better in the ABs that Toeava.
Byronmd said on 2009-09-14 @ 19:05 NZDT: Report abusive post
Springboks won the world cup, conquered the British and Irish lions and now took the tri-nations. Need we say more.
Byronmd said on 2009-09-14 @ 18:51 NZDT: Report abusive post
Nothing wrong with the all blacks! The Springboks are just in there rightful place now "no 1". Held back by all the politics... but things are changing. AB's you're just gonna have to accept that number 2 position. Sorry 4 u :(
ROTOKAURI said on 2009-09-14 @ 18:12 NZDT: Report abusive post
ALL I HAVE TO SAY THEY WERE JUST OUT PLAYED BUT WITH THE WORLD CUP IN 2 YEARS OR LESS TIME AWAY A TEAM NEED NOT PEAK TO EARLIY IT IS JUST TOO MUCH TO HAVE TO KEEP UP WITH THAT PRESSURE OF RWC. NZ NEEDS TO GET BEHIND THE ALL BLACKS NO MATTER WHAT
kbudge said on 2009-09-14 @ 14:38 NZDT: Report abusive post
Clearly there are a lot of Auckland haters who do not understand international rugby reading this article. For the record I am not an Aucklander either. Henry - most successful coach of an AB's team ever (second on % behind Mitchell). McCaw, not only the best player but a fine captain. We have had a lot of changes. Things take time and with a bit better handling we would have won the majority of these games. Things will come. Would love to see Toe'ava get more game time.