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

(Photo by Fiona Goodall/Getty Images)

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.

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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.

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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.

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“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.”

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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.

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3 Comments
E
Euan 772 days ago

One change may help, move L-Brown to centre, and Reiko back to the left wing, where Clarke has shown himself to be a liability too often.

S
Shane 772 days ago

We really missed our chance to bring in some young guys on this tour. This team is too old and without any real depth. Next year with a few injuries our World Cup could be over before the tournament begins.

D
David 772 days ago

well tell fosterand his team that

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JW 1 hour ago
'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Where? I remember saying "unders"? The LNR was formed by the FFR, if I said that in a way that meant the 'pro' side of the game didn't have an equal representation/say as the 'amateur' side (FFR remit) that was not my intent.


But also, as it is the governing body, it also has more responsibility. As long as WR looks at FFR as the running body for rugby in France, that 'power' will remain. If the LNR refuses to govern their clubs use of players to enable a request by FFR (from WR) to ensure it's players are able to compete in International rugby takes place they will simply remove their participation. If the players complain to the France's body, either of their health and safety concerns (through playing too many 'minutes' etc) or that they are not allowed to be part in matches of national interest, my understanding is action can be taken against the LNR like it could be any other body/business. I see where you're coming from now re EPCR and the shake up they gave it, yes, that wasn't meant to be a separate statement to say that FFR can threaten them with EPCR expulsion by itself, simply that it would be a strong repercussion for those teams to be removed (no one would want them after the above).


You keep bringing up these other things I cannot understand why. Again, do you think if the LNR were not acting responsibly they would be able to get away with whatever they want (the attitude of these posters saying "they pay the players")? You may deem what theyre doing currently as being irresponsible but most do not. Countries like New Zealand have not even complained about it because they've never had it different, never got things like windfall TV contracts from France, so they can't complain because theyre not missing out on anything. Sure, if the French kept doing things like withholding million dollar game payments, or causing millions of dollars of devaluation in rights, they these things I'm outlining would be taking place. That's not the case currently however, no one here really cares what the French do. It's upto them to sort themselves out if they're not happy. Now, that said, if they did make it obvious to World Rugby that they were never going to send the French side away (like they possibly did stating their intent to exclude 20 targeted players) in July, well then they would simply be given XV fixtures against tier 2 sides during that window and the FFR would need to do things like the 50/50 revenue split to get big teams visiting in Nov.

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