Kieran Read has urged Dave Rennie to go with a 6-2 split for the All Blacks’ third Test against the Springboks after the hosts levelled the series at 1-1.
South Africa claimed a 33-26 victory over New Zealand in Cape Town on Saturday, a week after a 33-16 triumph had moved the tourists into a 1-0 lead.
While Dave Rennie’s men were once again competitive, Read wants to see the All Blacks follow the Boks’ example with their own ‘Bomb Squad’.
Read’s second-row tweak
He is not advocating for mass alterations but the ex-skipper believes that the odd tweak could help them regain their advantage in Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry, starting with the inclusion of lock Sam Darry.
“I’m hesitant to change too much in the 23 because this Test becomes it – you win it, you can’t lose the series,” he told the GBRANZ podcast. “There’s maybe a couple of guys outside the 23 who could easily come into the squad and be great.
“Whether they make those changes, I’m not sure. Sam Darry, yes, I would have him at least on the bench because he wins kick-offs, he hasn’t missed a kick-off on tour, I haven’t seen him miss a kick-off all year.
“If South Africa put height on, it’s at altitude, they kick into that right corner, Sam Darry will get up and win that, so we can set that ball and exit well.”
The All Blacks’ exit strategy is certainly something Read has pinpointed looking ahead to the third Test.
“Whereas Jordie [Barrett] kicked it out, Tupou [Vaa’i] missed maybe one or two there, so he (Darry) would be in the conversation,” he said.
“Fabian Holland’s an outstanding player so I don’t know if you can take him out of your 23. They could start [together] and Tupou could go to six.
“The front-row’s interchangeable. You’re probably not going outside of those six guys because they’re playing 40 minutes each, so it’s not too big of a load on them.
“In the loose forwards, Ardie played 80 minutes and he’s going to keep playing. Simon Parker was great but I’m a big fan of [Peter] Lakai. Whether giving him more time would allow some of his great attributes to shine, I’m not sure.
“Lakai’s a potential to start, Ethan Blackadder’s a guy who you could bring into that 23 and start him, he could do what Simon Parker did.”
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Why All Blacks should go 6-2
Rennie hasn’t felt the need to go to a 6-2 bench but, with wing Josh Moorby not coming on last weekend, there could be scope to change. Even if the All Blacks suffer injuries, Read believes that there is enough cover should the risk of a forward-heavy bench be exposed.
“I think you do have to [go 6-2] because [Cam] Roigard’s not coming off basically, you can bank on that. [Kyle] Preston’s probably quick enough if you need him [on the wing], or if you’ve got Leroy Carter in the team to go to half-back,” he added.
“You’re not taking off the midfielders really, so it comes down to injuries. It’s a ballsy call 6-2, so if you get an injury in the backs, you are under the pump. I do like the look of a 6-2 for us right now to match the South African team that is really all about the forward power and physicality.
“The only thing is if you’re back at altitude, it’s tough. If you’ve got your backs running all day and it’s a game that opens up, that is what you want which we probably haven’t seen.
“There’s been talk around the tempo and talk around how we want to speed the game up, we just haven’t been able to do that.”