Gear in for All Blacks

October 4, 2012
Posted by Morné

The All Blacks team to play South Africa in the Investec Rugby Championship match at FNB Stadium, Johannesburg, on Saturday 6 October has been named.

The team features only two changes from the starting XV that started against Argentina in Buenos Aires – wing Hosea Gear and lock Brodie Retallick come in for Julian Savea and Luke Romano respectively, with Romano on the bench. Other changes to the bench are prop Ben Franks, loose forward Adam Thomson and outside back Tamati Ellison, who replace Charlie Faumuina, Sam Cane and Ben Smith respectively.

All Blacks Head Coach Steve Hansen said: “We are in no doubt how big the challenge is for the team this weekend but it is one we are looking forward to as it will be a real test of our resolve and character.”

“South Africa are coming off a big win against Australia and will be playing in front of their home crowd at Soweto so it’s going to be a huge Test match,” he added.

Starting XV:

1. Tony Woodcock (90)
2. Andrew Hore (70)
3. Owen Franks (39)
4. Brodie Retallick (8)
5. Samuel Whitelock (33)
6. Liam Messam (15)
7. Richie McCaw – captain (111)
8. Kieran Read (43)
9. Aaron Smith (8)
10. Daniel Carter (90)
11. Hosea Gear (11)
12. Ma’a Nonu (71)
13. Conrad Smith (61)
14. Cory Jane (36)
15. Israel Dagg (20)

Reserves:

16. Keven Mealamu (98)
17. Ben Franks (20)
18. Luke Romano (6)
19. Adam Thomson (27)
20. Piri Weepu (64)
21. Aaron Cruden (16)
22. Tamati Ellison (2)

Interesting facts
• The All Blacks have played the Springboks in 84 Tests since 1921, with 47 victories to the All Blacks, 34 to South Africa and three draws. The All Blacks last played South Africa in Dunedin three weeks ago, winning 21-11. The last Test in South Africa was in Port Elizabeth last year, with South Africa winning 18-5. The All Blacks played at FNB Stadium in 2010, winning 29-22.
• Owen Franks will play his 40th Test, while Piri Weepu looks set to make his 65th Test appearance off the bench.
• The All Blacks squad currently has six of the most capped All Blacks in history by position: Tony Woodcock (prop), Keven Mealamu (hooker), Richie McCaw (flanker), Daniel Carter (first five-eighth), Ma’a Nonu (second five-eighth) and Conrad Smith (centre).

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5 Comments

  1. out wide out wide says:
    October 5th, 2012 at 12:50 am Reply to this comment

    A bit hard on Savea to be dropped right out of the chosen 22. He had a great game v the Argies in BA. Some in NZ are concluding that the coaching staff are expecting a much tighter kick and chase type game from the Boks and hence the change?

  2. bok_in_oz bryce_in_oz says:
    October 5th, 2012 at 1:51 am Reply to this comment

    Reply to out wide @ 12:50 am:

    I don’t think he was dropped… surely injured? He’s been brilliant since his first test…

    Gear is awesome however he does has a weakness in that he’s not great being turned around to chase under pressure (I suppose like most)…

    I’ll ask this again as nobody answered earlier…

    Has anyone noticed how Habana’s opportunities have changed since he moved from left-to-right wing… and how Hougaard’s have dried up…

    Whilst Habs is one of the busiest wings in the world… I have noticed the Bok’s swing the ball to right far more than the left on attack…

  3. Americano Americano says:
    October 5th, 2012 at 6:39 am Reply to this comment

    Reply to bryce_in_oz @ 1:51 am:

    “Has anyone noticed how Habana’s opportunities have changed since he moved from left-to-right wing… and how Hougaard’s have dried up…”
    -Yes , now that you mention it.-

    “I have noticed the Bok’s swing the ball to right far more than the left on attack…”
    -Could this be a function of the majority of players being right-handed? It would be interesting to see stats on this.-

    That issue with Gear you noted seems like something you needed to really look for. If so it makes sense to me – I think Gear is scary-good.

  4. Boertjie Boertjie says:
    October 5th, 2012 at 1:44 pm Reply to this comment

    Reply to Americano @ 6:39 am:

    Rather swinging the ball to the right -
    does not make sense to me.
    We’ve often lamented the fact that many
    players at a high level struggle to flip
    a decent pass to their right side.
    Surely it’s much more “natural” to pass to
    the left if you are right handed?
    Was my experience way back.

  5. Americano Americano says:
    October 5th, 2012 at 5:25 pm Reply to this comment

    oops. meant the “other right”. :whistling:
    It doesn’t make sense that they would do more moves to the right given that…Wonder if Hougaard’s a lefty?
    Wonder how it would compare with other teams?

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