'We cannot change this team': Sir John Kirwan warns against experimentation on All Blacks tour

Former All Black great Sir John Kirwan has warned against experimenting with the All Blacks side at such a late stage in the World Cup cycle, imploring on the coaches to stick with a winning formula.

After a rocky Ireland series a new coaching staff was put in place whilst a handful of younger players were given starting opportunities, particularly in the front row where they excelled against the powerful Springbok pack.

The All Blacks finished the Rugby Championship strong to claim back-to-back titles by holding off South Africa by one competition point in the final round.

With a European tour a ‘dress rehearsal’ for next year’s World Cup, Kirwan doesn’t believe there is any time left for bolters to make a case for selection.

“We cannot change this team,” Kirwan told Sky Sport NZ’s The Breakdown panel.

“I was hoping to see D-Mac [Damian McKenzie] in there because I like him personally, I was hoping to see maybe a couple of changes.

“But at the end of the day if you are Fozzy [Ian Foster] you’ve got to say ‘we’ve got some new coaches here’, we’ve got a settled side and there’s just no time left.

Former Irish international Isaac Boss echoed Kirwan’s sentiment saying he didn’t expect the All Blacks squad to feature any bolters this year.

“We’ve seen no bolters, and I don’t think we could expect to see any bolters,” Boss said.

“Where they’ve come from this year, they are just starting to get momentum, new coaches coming in so players are starting to understand the new coaches.

“It’s a dress rehearsal. This is not the time to throw guys in the mix to put all the hard work you’ve done in the last few months at risk.

“It’s just the small steps to keep going ahead.

“It’s pretty much what I expected but great to see Anton Lienert-Brown back in there.”

There were a few players return to the squad who were last seen during the Ireland series, Nepo Laulala, Ofa Tuungafasi and Leicester Fainga’anuku, but those selections showed that the coaching staff are sticking with the same group for the year.

The big boost was the return of Chiefs centre Anton Lienert-Brown who immediately becomes the most experienced option in the midfield.

The 56-test veteran adds competition for the No 13 jersey for Rieko Ioane who has been one of the standouts through The Rugby Championship.