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Debutante Flyhalf Lifts All Blacks Tom Taylor Lifts All Blacks
(about 17 hours later)
WELLINGTON — New Zealand’s joy at retaining the Bledisloe Cup for the 11th straight year has been tempered by an injury to yet another flyhalf.WELLINGTON — New Zealand’s joy at retaining the Bledisloe Cup for the 11th straight year has been tempered by an injury to yet another flyhalf.
Tom Taylor made his debut for the All Blacks in a 27-16 victory against Australia, but he was forced from the field late in the match Saturday with a rib injury and is expected to be out three weeks.Tom Taylor made his debut for the All Blacks in a 27-16 victory against Australia, but he was forced from the field late in the match Saturday with a rib injury and is expected to be out three weeks.
Taylor, 24, had only been rushed onto the All Blacks squad at the start of last week after injuries to the top three No. 10s: Dan Carter (calf), Aaron Cruden (knee) and Beauden Barrett (calf).Taylor, 24, had only been rushed onto the All Blacks squad at the start of last week after injuries to the top three No. 10s: Dan Carter (calf), Aaron Cruden (knee) and Beauden Barrett (calf).
Yet even with their fourth-choice flyhalf at the helm, the All Blacks barely missed a beat as they claimed their second victory in as many weeks and extended the Wallabies’ miserable run in the trans-Tasman rivalry to 15 straight losses on New Zealand soil.Yet even with their fourth-choice flyhalf at the helm, the All Blacks barely missed a beat as they claimed their second victory in as many weeks and extended the Wallabies’ miserable run in the trans-Tasman rivalry to 15 straight losses on New Zealand soil.
Taylor, whose father, Warwick, was part of New Zealand’s 1987 World Cup-winning side, had not even been playing flyhalf for his Crusaders Super Rugby team this year, but he showed great poise in the demanding playmaking role against Australia.Taylor, whose father, Warwick, was part of New Zealand’s 1987 World Cup-winning side, had not even been playing flyhalf for his Crusaders Super Rugby team this year, but he showed great poise in the demanding playmaking role against Australia.
He had a nervous start when he missed a straightforward penalty early in the match, but he quickly composed himself to put in a performance that belied his rookie status.He had a nervous start when he missed a straightforward penalty early in the match, but he quickly composed himself to put in a performance that belied his rookie status.
Taylor defended soundly, distributed and kicked the ball well in general play, and also made several telling runs as the All Blacks finished with clinical precision and Ben Smith scored two tries out wide after weathering the initial storm from the Wallabies.Taylor defended soundly, distributed and kicked the ball well in general play, and also made several telling runs as the All Blacks finished with clinical precision and Ben Smith scored two tries out wide after weathering the initial storm from the Wallabies.
Taylor’s only other blemishes were a missed conversion that bounced off both uprights and a long-range, 52-meter, or 170-foot, penalty that faded just wide. He finished with a 14-point haul and received a huge ovation from the sold-out crowd of 38,000 when he finally left the field, nursing his sore ribs.Taylor’s only other blemishes were a missed conversion that bounced off both uprights and a long-range, 52-meter, or 170-foot, penalty that faded just wide. He finished with a 14-point haul and received a huge ovation from the sold-out crowd of 38,000 when he finally left the field, nursing his sore ribs.
“He was outstanding considering the circumstances he was in,” enthused All Blacks Coach Steve Hansen, who could have Carter and Barrett back for their next match against Argentina in Hamilton, New Zealand, on Sept. 7.“He was outstanding considering the circumstances he was in,” enthused All Blacks Coach Steve Hansen, who could have Carter and Barrett back for their next match against Argentina in Hamilton, New Zealand, on Sept. 7.
“To come into the team and everyone know he’s the fourth choice,” he said. “He comes with a lot of pressure because he is the son of an All Black. I thought he coped tremendously well all week.”“To come into the team and everyone know he’s the fourth choice,” he said. “He comes with a lot of pressure because he is the son of an All Black. I thought he coped tremendously well all week.”
Hansen credited the work All Blacks assistant coach Ian Foster had done with the young No. 10 leading up to the test match. “Ian did a magnificent job with him — just nursed him along quietly and had him ready to play,” Hansen said. “He’s come out and he’s been a confident, mature young player that we thought he would be. He was assured in everything he did, and you can’t ask any more than that from a player making his debut.”Hansen credited the work All Blacks assistant coach Ian Foster had done with the young No. 10 leading up to the test match. “Ian did a magnificent job with him — just nursed him along quietly and had him ready to play,” Hansen said. “He’s come out and he’s been a confident, mature young player that we thought he would be. He was assured in everything he did, and you can’t ask any more than that from a player making his debut.”
Easing young players into the cauldron of test rugby has become a hallmark of the All Blacks, whether by choice or forced by injury.Easing young players into the cauldron of test rugby has become a hallmark of the All Blacks, whether by choice or forced by injury.
Last year, as they looked to maintain their world No. 1 status after their Rugby World Cup triumph in 2011, winger Julian Savea, scrumhalf Aaron Smith, flyhalf Barrett, openside flanker Sam Cane and lock Brodie Retallick were all brought in to the All Blacks as they started their four-year buildup to the 2015 World Cup in England.Last year, as they looked to maintain their world No. 1 status after their Rugby World Cup triumph in 2011, winger Julian Savea, scrumhalf Aaron Smith, flyhalf Barrett, openside flanker Sam Cane and lock Brodie Retallick were all brought in to the All Blacks as they started their four-year buildup to the 2015 World Cup in England.
All had memorable starts to their national team careers, while Savea, Smith and Retallick all started Saturday and made big contributions against Australia. So did a newcomer this year, blindside flanker Steven Luatua, who has been impressive in both victories against Australia.All had memorable starts to their national team careers, while Savea, Smith and Retallick all started Saturday and made big contributions against Australia. So did a newcomer this year, blindside flanker Steven Luatua, who has been impressive in both victories against Australia.
Luatua got his chance because of a hamstring injury to the incumbent Liam Messam, who is likely to have watched his teammate’s performances with some unease.Luatua got his chance because of a hamstring injury to the incumbent Liam Messam, who is likely to have watched his teammate’s performances with some unease.
Winger Cory Jane, who has yet to play this year after knee reconstruction surgery, may have felt a similar sense of foreboding. Jane has seen Ben Smith take his position on the right wing and score five tries in two games against Australia, continuing the excellent form he showed against France in June and in Super Rugby.Winger Cory Jane, who has yet to play this year after knee reconstruction surgery, may have felt a similar sense of foreboding. Jane has seen Ben Smith take his position on the right wing and score five tries in two games against Australia, continuing the excellent form he showed against France in June and in Super Rugby.
One reason for the All Blacks’ success at bringing in new recruits and getting them to perform immediately is the culture that was first established under the previous coach, Graham Henry, and is now being continued under Hansen.One reason for the All Blacks’ success at bringing in new recruits and getting them to perform immediately is the culture that was first established under the previous coach, Graham Henry, and is now being continued under Hansen.
Every player, no matter how many tests he has played, is treated the same, and they know exactly what is required of them on and off the field.Every player, no matter how many tests he has played, is treated the same, and they know exactly what is required of them on and off the field.
“Obviously you might listen to the 117-test guy a little bit more than the zero-test guy when it comes to an idea,” Hansen said. “But by and large, if the team room needs to be cleaned, the 101-test guy can clean it just as well as the zero-test guy. I think that culture and environment makes it easy for people to come into because they know where they stand.”“Obviously you might listen to the 117-test guy a little bit more than the zero-test guy when it comes to an idea,” Hansen said. “But by and large, if the team room needs to be cleaned, the 101-test guy can clean it just as well as the zero-test guy. I think that culture and environment makes it easy for people to come into because they know where they stand.”
All these younger players coming in has built up the team’s depth of talent at most positions, though Hansen acknowledges that is not the case at hooker, where Andrew Hore and Keven Mealamu have dominated, and at inside center, where Ma’a Nonu is far ahead of his rivals.All these younger players coming in has built up the team’s depth of talent at most positions, though Hansen acknowledges that is not the case at hooker, where Andrew Hore and Keven Mealamu have dominated, and at inside center, where Ma’a Nonu is far ahead of his rivals.
But few teams could get down to their fourth-choice flyhalf and produce the performances that the All Blacks do. They won the 2011 World Cup in those exact circumstances when Carter, Cruden and Colin Slade were all injured and Stephen Donald was rushed into the squad after receiving the call-up while fishing.But few teams could get down to their fourth-choice flyhalf and produce the performances that the All Blacks do. They won the 2011 World Cup in those exact circumstances when Carter, Cruden and Colin Slade were all injured and Stephen Donald was rushed into the squad after receiving the call-up while fishing.
“We’ve always set out to have enough depth in the group to cover the unexpected,” Hansen explained. “We’ve got an environment that we work very hard on that allows people to fit in easily.”“We’ve always set out to have enough depth in the group to cover the unexpected,” Hansen explained. “We’ve got an environment that we work very hard on that allows people to fit in easily.”
The fact that most boys grow up in rugby-mad New Zealand dreaming of playing for the All Blacks helps, too, as does the developmental system of schools, clubs, provincial rugby and Super Rugby that all fall under the watchful eye of the New Zealand Rugby Union.The fact that most boys grow up in rugby-mad New Zealand dreaming of playing for the All Blacks helps, too, as does the developmental system of schools, clubs, provincial rugby and Super Rugby that all fall under the watchful eye of the New Zealand Rugby Union.
“We’re a nation that is not frightened to share our rugby ideas with each other, either,” Hansen said. “I think that helps.”“We’re a nation that is not frightened to share our rugby ideas with each other, either,” Hansen said. “I think that helps.”