Blacks bring out the big guns
It was an astonishing affirmation of the nation’s strength in depth, even if it came at a time when Ireland were without the services of Brian O’Driscoll and Paul O’Connell, and in something of a mini-transitional phase.
Another game of musical chairs is expected at lunchtime today when Graham Henry names the starting line-up to take on Declan Kidney’s side at Croke Park on Saturday — but there are some key differences to events from three years ago.
Judging by the drills and formations on show at training in Westmanstown, west Dublin, there could be as many as 11 changes this time to the side that had 26 points to spare against Scotland last Saturday.
On this occasion however, the players being parachuted in are all expected to be front-liners, as are the four in line to retain their places from Murrayfield. In short, the heavy artillery is about to be unleashed. Captain Richie McCaw and Keven Mealamu are likely to scrum down for their second game in eight days at GAA HQ while Joe Rokocoko and Ma’a Nonu are being tipped to provide some continuity in the backs.
After moonlighting at centre and scrum-half in the last two games, Dan Carter will revert to the number 10 jersey with Jimmy Cowan coming in nine. Mils Muliaina is set to start at full-back after missing the Australia and Scotland tests due to the birth of his first child.
A massive amount of experience is also about to be injected into the pack. Three of the starters were making their debuts against the Sots while another three had yet to reach double figures in the number of caps won.
The side that accounted for Scotland had less than 300 caps to its credit, a team along the expected lines this weekend would be pushing 700. The All Blacks clearly see this leg one of the most challenging in their search for a second straight Grand Slam tour of Europe.
“What the guys did last week was really impressive,” said Muliaina. “We had a young side that got the win up there and convincingly. The guys who play this weekend will have to step up again. This tour was never going to be easy and this is another game towards that final goal.”
With talents like Luke McAlister, Byron Kelleher, Carl Hayman and Doug Howlett, to name but a few, all lost to the Kiwis since the World Cup, the current Blacks are more vulnerable to defeat than their predecessors three years ago.
However, history alone suggests that a New Zealand team playing at its peak should still have enough to beat any of the Celtic nations however well Ireland, Scotland or Wales play.
“If we have done our prep right, ticked all the boxes and made sure we have had a good week then you shouldn’t have any doubts in your ability to go out there and be really decent in the game,” is Muliaina’s guarded response to that.
“With the way these northern hemisphere teams play up here, they are really physical up front and that is a big difference from the way we play at home. The tight five are just so physical at the breakdown.
“Perhaps we sometimes take that for granted and we have to win the contact there. It is just an instinct for them to be that physical. They do it week in and week out. We chuck it around more but that is because of the conditions, I guess.”
It would be a surprise if the conditions this weekend weren’t dominated by wind and rain to some degree and, though Muliaina has 65 test appearances behind him, he might find his aerial skills tested early doors.
Nothing to do with ability, but Muliaina hasn’t played since the defeat of Australia in Brisbane on September 13 having stayed behind in New Zealand after his wife Hayley gave birth to his son Max five days before the Hong Kong game.
He admitted to “blowing hard” at the start of yesterday’s training run having arrived in London on the red eye on Saturday afternoon before joining the remainder of the squad en route to Dublin.
“This is probably the first time I have (had so little preparation). I have done a bit of training at home during the days but you can’t compare that to the physical nature of the game.
“I’m just excited about it though. I’m not going to go out there thinking about the preparation time and I’ll just back my instincts. Hopefully I’ll have done enough in training to get me by.”
NEW ZEALAND (probable v Ireland): M Muliaina; S Sivivatu, M Nono, C Smith, J Rokocoko; D Carter, J Cowan; N Tialata, K Mealamu, T Woodcock; B Thorn, A Williams; J Kaino, R McCaw, R So’oialo.
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