'I'm quite intrigued': Foster 'open minded' over potential 6-2 split at World Cup

All Blacks selectors have made an unusual call for the weekend’s clash with the Springboks, naming a bench with six forwards and two backs as opposed to the familiar five forwards and three backs split.

The 6-2 split is a popular option in the South Africa camp, who utilise it more often than not but it’s a first for New Zealand.

All Blacks head coach Ian Foster said the surprising call was due to the team’s injury concerns.

“Yeah, haven’t done it before,” he told reporters in London. “That’s effectively a squad management technique for this game.”

The coach went on to outline the injury status of both Shannon Frizell and Brodie Retallick, who are ahead of schedule but still expected to miss the Rugby World Cup opener against France.

Sam Whitelock and Scott Barrett will start in the locks with an additional two locks on the bench in the form of Tupou Vaa’i and Josh Lord – who is not in the Rugby World Cup squad but travelling as injury cover.

The additional lock cover leaves Cam Roigard and Anton Lienert-Brown as the only cover in the backline. Outside of the halves, every player in the All Blacks backline has the ability to cover at least two positions, meaning cover is guaranteed so long as no more than one back leaves the field.

“I’m quite intrigued how it goes,” Foster added. “I think it’s a necessity for this game, and you know, we’ll have a look at it afterwards and see what we think.

“So, (I’m a) very open-minded coach.”

All Blacks captain Sam Cane wasn’t so clued in on the reasoning behind the decision but could see the logic in it.

“Sometimes when we play the South Africans, they often go with a 6-2 split.

“But if I’m to be completely honest I haven’t discussed with selectors why they’ve gone with that split.

“I think it’ll allow some guys to get some good game time and the fact that we’re carrying a couple of guys with injury, maybe it just means that should anything happen to someone else then we’ve got guys who are ready and available to step up who have played test matches recently.”

Outside of the bench makeup, there are further selections that have piqued fans’ interest.

Foster has opted to commit to Scott Barrett at lock rather than playing him at blindside flanker in Shannon Frizell’s absence, giving Luke Jacobson a crack in the No 6 jersey.

Cam Roigard’s selection over Finlay Christie throws further speculation over the No 21 jersey after Roigard’s impressive debut against the Wallabies in Bledisloe 1.

David Havili’s return from injury has not been rewarded with game time just yet. The ability of Anton Lienert-Brown to cover both midfield positions may well have factored into his selection given the 6-2 split, and the ability of the starting midfielders to cover the outside positions if needed.