Prop idol - How Crockett and Faumuina can make most of starting opportunity

Steve Hansen has downplayed the significance behind the promotion of props Wyatt Crockett and Charlie Faumuina to starting roles ahead of Tony Woodcock and Owen Franks, respectively, but there is a changing-of-the-guard feel to his front row selection to face Georgia.

Test rugby is a game for 23 players, sure, but everyone wants to start and Crockett and Faumuina earned theirs at the Millennium Stadium by, to put it bluntly, playing better than Woodcock and Franks, who have been the go-to starting props for the All Blacks since 2009.

Franks, still only 27, has played a mammoth 73 tests since his debut that year. During that time he has come off the reserves bench only nine times and six of those came in his first year.

Woodcock, 34 and in his final year with the All Blacks, has played 116 tests - starting in 104 of them.

The pair have been tough and loyal servants of New Zealand rugby - and the relatively youthful Franks still has plenty more to give - but there is a feeling, looking from the outside in, that Crockett, 32, and Faumuina, 28, can do what the other pair do in the lineout and scrum and plenty more besides.

Both have a skill level in terms of ball handing and fast feet that are on a different level to Woodcock and Franks now. Woodcock once had a surprising turn of speed and has scored nine test tries, including, famously, the only one for the All Blacks in the 2011 World Cup final. That running game hasn't been seen for a while though, while Franks has always been seen purely as a lineout and scrum expert and a tough front-on defender. He has yet to score a test try.

Crockett, who has played 42 tests, starting in 21, has scored some stunning tries for the Crusaders, while Faumuina, who has played 29 tests, starting in nine, is one of the most skilful props in world rugby.

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A good performance from both might just see them retain their positions for the Tonga pool game which would make Hansen's front row selection for the quarter-final extremely interesting.

"Woody and Owie have been doing that job really, really well, so it's not a reflection of what they've been doing, it's more a reflection on what Wyatt and Charlie have been doing and both of them have been playing really, really well so we want them to start the game and see how that goes. It's just a swapping of the roles," Hansen said.

In other words, the form of Crockett and Faumuina demanded it and they will relish the opportunity against a powerful Georgia pack. And on the other hand it might help Woodcock and Franks go to the next level of performance too.

Once they are injected into the game they will be determined to make a statement and Hansen has already explained to the pair how their roles are different.

"It's massive really," Hansen said of the difference between starting and a bench role at the top level. We've talked about it with them this week because it's a totally different job.

"When you're starting you have security about when the kick-off is - when you're coming off the bench you don't know when you're coming off. It's very easy to make the mistake of just following the game rather than narrowing it to where you're needed and what you're going to do when you get out there."

All Blacks team to play Georgia at Millennium Stadium, kick-off 8am Saturday:

15. Ben Smith
14. Waisake Naholo
13. Conrad Smith
12. Sonny Bill Williams
11. Julian Savea
10. Dan Carter
9. Aaron Smith
8. Kieran Read
7. Richie McCaw (c)
6. Jerome Kaino
5. Sam Whitelock
4. Brodie Retallick
3. Charlie Faumuina
2. Dane Coles
1. Wyatt Crockett

Reserves: Keven Mealamu, Tony Woodcock, Owen Franks, Victor Vito, Sam Cane, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, TJ Perenara, Malakai Fekitoa.

By Patrick McKendry in Cardiff