Auckland: Saturday’s clash between New Zealand and Australia has all the ingredients of a “great Test”, with World Cup considerations looming large, All Blacks coach Steve Hansen said on Thursday.
“We’re going to find out who’s got the steel and who hasn’t,” he said after both camps announced the teams for their last hit-out before deciding on World Cup squads at the end of the month.
The Wallabies hold the upper hand having beaten the All Blacks 27-19 to claim the Rugby Championship in Sydney last weekend and have made six changes while the world champion All Blacks made only three as they seek redemption.
At stake are the Bledisloe Cup which Australia last won in 2002, the All Blacks’ 29-year unbeaten record against the Wallabies at Eden Park and a last chance for all players to push for a seat on the plane to the World Cup in England next month.
“If people want to be on it then they’ve got to turn up on Saturday,” Hansen said.
“Everything is with an eye down the road. In a year like the World Cup these are the only Test matches we get to ascertain where everyone’s at so you’ve got to be brave, you’ve got to have a plan.”
Wallabies captain Stephen Moore described Eden Park’s hostile environment as the right place for Australia to prepare for the pressure they will face at the World Cup.
“If you are looking at the broader picture, we don’t have any more home games this year. We have to get used to this type of thing, don’t we?” Moore said.
“We have to get used to playing away from home and being comfortable in that environment and being tight as a team when we get over there and go out there and play as well as we can.”
The All Blacks have added former sevens star Victor Vito to their starting line-up in an attempt to match the Wallabies at the crucial breakdown area with regular number six Jerome Kaino dropping to the bench.
Hansen has taken the bold move to carry no lock reserves, with Kaino to take a second-row role if required and Sam Cane to come on as a replacement flanker.
The Australian shake-up includes a recall for fly-half Quade Cooper and the benching of David Pocock, whose partnership with Michael Hooper last week created havoc among the All Blacks forwards at the breakdown.
Cooper is part of a new-look inside backs trio with scrum-half Nic White and centre Matt Toomua, but Hansen said the rearrangement was to be expected.
“They’re in the same boat as us. They’ve got to answer some questions for the World Cup too. They’ve got to select a side on August 31.
“We’re forcing Australia to bring the best they’ve got. While everyone’s saying we’re under pressure I think Australia now have put themselves in a place where people have got high expectations of them and with that comes pressure too so it’s one of those great Test matches.”
