All Blacks not taking us seriously?

By Paul (19/11/02)
November 19 2002

John Mitchell has made nine changes from the side that drew with France last week, including five new caps. It's raised doubts to whether they see as as credible force anymore at international level, Christian Cullen not even making the bench.

The All Blacks promise to give every player in the weakened squad at least a game has seen the match against us being used to blood the untried members of the squad. The sides to face England and France were understandably as near full strength as they could be from the squad they have.

Christian Cullen's exclusion may be down to several factors, one of them being player burnout, but coach John Mitchell put it down to giving his sides backline the right balance and also Carlos Spencer's withdrawal meaning Andrew Mehrtens was the only kicker, Blair now being seen as a back-up kicker.

The new caps are centre Regan King, prop Tony Woodcock, hooker Kevan Mealamu, flanker Daniel Braid and number eight Rodney So'oialo. As well as centre Paul Steinmetz who remains on the bench.

World class centre Tanu Umaga moves from inside to outside, also Sean Devine coming back into the side to replace Danny Lee at scrum half, Keith Robinson comes in for Bradley Mika at Lock

"We have got an eye on the immediate, which is Wales at the weekend, but we are also looking forward to next year and it was important that we looked at everyone on this particular tour," said Mitchell.

"Wales are a very big challenge, they are at home and they are a proud rugby nation."

If Wales were such a big "challenge" why would he play a weakened side?

But do we deserve to be taken seriously?

New Zealand team: B Blair, D Howlett, R King, T Umaga, J Lomu, A Mehrtens, S Devine, T Woodcock, K Mealamu, C Hayman, K Robinson, A Williams, T Randell (capt), D Braid, R So'oialo.
Reps: A Hore, K Meeuws, B Mika, M Holah, D Lee, P Steinmetz, M Robinson.