New Zealand names unchanged team for 2nd test vs. France

By Associated Press 13 June 2018, 12:00AM

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand has named an unchanged lineup for Saturday's second rugby test against France after winning last weekend's first test 52-11.

The All Blacks showed some rustiness in the first half of the opening test at Eden Park, trailing 11-8 at halftime, but ran away with the match by scoring seven tries and 44 unanswered points in the second half.

Head coach Steve Hansen, who has the luxury of naming an unchanged side for the first time in three years, said Thursday New Zealand's focus at the start of a new season was on building combinations.

"As we have a big focus right now on developing our game and working on our skill sets, connections and combinations, it isn't beneficial to be making wholesale changes, if any at all, to the playing 23," Hansen said.

"While we were really happy with the way we finished last weekend's test, we're fully aware that we still have a lot of work to do over the rest of the series."

Hansen's decision to leave his team unchanged is a vote of confidence in the players who participated in the first test at Eden Park, extending their winning streak at the Auckland stadium to 41 matches over 24 years.

It is reflects a rare occasion on which the All Blacks have emerged from a test without injuries.

Hansen said he expected France to be highly competitive in Saturday's test at the Wellington regional stadium. France, who will name their team later on Thursday, will be reinforced by three players who missed the first test while playing in the French Top 14 club final.

"The French would've taken a lot of confidence out of their first 50 minutes on the weekend and will be coming to play on Saturday night," Hansen said. "It will require us to raise our game to an even higher level.

"Rather than being inhibited by this we'll be embracing and walking towards the challenge. We'll be looking to play our own high-energy game with real intent. When it comes to our performance, we know there are high expectations from our fans. This, in turn, demands that we drive our own expectations even higher."

___

New Zealand: Jordie Barrett, Ben Smith, Anton Lienert-Brown, Ryan Crotty, Rieko Ioane, Beauden Barrett, Aaron Smith; Luke Whitelock, Sam Cane, Liam Squire, Scott Barrett, Sam Whitelock (captain), Owen Franks, Codie Taylor, Joe Moody. Reserves: Nathan Harris, Karl Tu'inukuafe, Ofa Tu'ungafasi, Vaea Fifita, Ardie Savea, TJ Perenara, Damian McKenzie, Ngani Laumape.

By Associated Press 13 June 2018, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

Upgrade to Premium

Subscribe to
Samoa Observer Online

Enjoy unlimited access to all our articles on any device + free trial to e-Edition. You can cancel anytime.

>