John Kirwan believes the All Blacks must “start thinking like South Africa” and load their bench with dynamic players if they hope to beat the Springboks on Saturday.
Rugby’s greatest rivalry will be showcased this week on the Highveld when the world champions tackle the All Blacks in the Rugby Championship at Ellis Park. The action moves on to Cape Town Stadium on Saturday, 7 September.
After two rounds in the competition, the Boks lead the standings after bonus-point wins over the Wallabies in Australia. The Kiwis started their campaign with a defeat to Argentina in Wellington, but bounced back with a stylish victory two weeks ago.
The famed group of South African replacements, the Bomb Squad, has pulled the Boks through multiple victories and World Cup title wins in 2019 and 2023.
Discussing the composition of the All Blacks loose trio to face Rassie Erasmus’ men on Saturday during the latest episode of Sky Sport NZ’s ‘The Breakdown’, Kiwi great Jeff Wilson made a case for former skipper Sam Cane to start at No 7 and bench Dalton Papali’i.
“Ethan Blackadder has to play, we need another lineout option; he’s managed to play a couple of games in a row. Leave him out there,” he said.
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Fellow ex-All Blacks star Kirwan chimed in, “I haven’t picked my No 8.” Wilson then asked: “So you’re not picking Ardie Savea?”
“I’d bring him off the bench late,” Kirwan jokingly replied. “I’m not saying he actually wouldn’t play, I’m having you on. He plays No 8, Dalton at six, and Sam Cane at seven.
“But listen, the bench will win us the game. I think it was something we were really good at a few years ago. I don’t think our bench has been as dynamic or understood the importance of what the bench does.
“The bench is going to win us this game if we’re going to win. It is fundamental who’s coming off the bench.
“Dalton would be coming on with at least 30 [minutes] to go. We need to start thinking a little bit like South Africa.
“We’ve got to play our expansive game, play skill, great kicking game, can’t give away penalties in our half because you know what’s going to happen – they’ll kick us to the corner.”
Host Kirstie Stanaway asked Kirwan whether Scott Robertson should consider playing the All Blacks’ most impactful player this season, Beauden Barrett, off the wood this week.
“You start Beauden,” he insisted. “The reason why I spoke about Ardie and the reason [Wilson] wants to start Sam Cane is I don’t think Sam Cane must play off the bench, because he’s better starting.
“Who is going to come off the bench like a Damian McKenzie late, when they’re getting fatigued, and they’re going to bring on the Bomb Squad and I’m going to boo at my television.”
Photo: Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images
The post Kiwi great: Bench Savea, start Beauden appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Src: sarugbymag.co.za
