Scotland forward coach Mike Brewer believes Adam Thomson is too light for test rugby. Photo / Getty Images
EDINBURGH - Scotland forward coach, Mike Brewer has raised one concern about New Zealand's decision to use a virtually untried loose trio in Sunday's (NZT) Grand Slam rugby opener here.
Liam Messam and Kieran Read make their All Blacks test debuts and while former All Black loosie Brewer
can understand the reasoning behind the pair's elevation he was not as convinced about the placement of Adam Thomson on the openside flank.
Thomson has inherited what amounts to a thankless task deputising for Richie McCaw, the tour captain who will be on the bench along with other first choice players who are being managed through five tests in successive weekends.
Brewer, capped 32 times, sensed the rangy Thomson could be vulnerable when confronting a Scottish loose forward unit bolstered by the 127 tests worth of experience offered by Jason White and Simon Taylor.
Noting Thomson's background as a sevens player, Brewer thought he was still a shade light for test rugby.
"Adam is still finding his feet as far as the physicality of international rugby is concerned," he said.
While Brewer held reservations about Thomson, who has featured in eight of the All Blacks 11 tests in his debut season, he had no fears over the suitability of Read and Messam.
"Looking at it from 12,000 miles away, Kieran was probably the shock omission from the Tri-Nations.
"He's a very accurate player, pretty similar to a lot of sixes Canterbury has produced over the years," Brewer said, referencing the likes of Todd Blackadder and Reuben Thorne.
In contrast Messam was a genuine ball player, a roaming loosie in the Zinzan Brooke mould.
Thomson, admittedly a revelation during his last outing at openside when Otago beat Wellington last month, was picked ahead of Taranaki's Scott Waldrom, who now seems certain to wear black for the first time against Munster.
The decision to have McCaw on the bench as an emergency counted against Waldrom's involvement in what assistant coach Steve Hansen described as a combination brimming with talent.
"There's some exciting players there. Kieran is a quality player and could easily have played tests earlier in the year. Liam comes in, he's a natural athlete," Hansen said.
"We think we've got a tight five that can support them and we've got Richie in the background hovering if we need him."
And while the All Blacks back row' has a greenish tinge about it, the Scots, for all their experience, are also relatively underdone.
White has been rewarded with a 68th cap despite barely playing for his English club Sale due to a knee injury.
No 8 Taylor will be out of position - this season at least - for his 61st test after primarily playing at lock for Stade Francais.
Undeterred by White's lack of game time, Scottish coach Frank Hadden said the veteran was preferred to Alasdair Strokosch on two grounds.
"We were looking for the sort of physicality we are confident Jason can bring every time he steps on to a rugby pitch and we have a young squad so the experience he brings is vital."
Hong Kong-born openside John Barclay, who made his debut when a virtual B team played the All Blacks in last year's World Cup pool match, is the odd man out with just four caps.
Hadden has also recalled another 50-plus cap veteran, lock Nathan Hines, despite his match fitness being compromised by a 30-day suspension in France.
New Zealander Matt Mustchin, who played nine games for Canterbury before McCaw's emergence encouraged him to move offshore, is named on the bench as lock and loose forward cover.
Another abrasive character, there is little doubt Scotland want to dominate or at least disrupt the All Blacks' set piece and a McCaw-free breakdown.
For all their forward muscle, Hadden has named youthful three-quarters - with the exception of Sean Lamont, who has missed the last seven tests with a knee injury.
Thom Evans, capped in Argentina in June, and midfielders Nick De Luca and Ben Cairns have only seven caps between them but Hadden is unfazed by their inexperience.
The selection of Phil Godman at first five-eighth ahead of the one-dimensional Dan Parks is further evidence the Scots will chance their arm - providing the Scottish capital's crisp, clear weather holds.
All Blacks
Isaia Toeava, Anthony Tuitavake, Richard Kahui, Ma'a Nonu, Joe Rokocoko, Stephen Donald, Piri Weepu, Liam Messam, Adam Thomson, Kieran Read, Ali Williams, Anthony Boric, John Afoa, Keven Mealamu (captain), Jamie Mackintosh.
Reserves: Corey Flynn, Neemia Tialata, Ross Filipo, Richie McCaw, Andy Ellis, Daniel Carter, Cory Jane.
Scotland
Chris Paterson, Thom Evans, Ben Cairns, Nick De Luca, Sean Lamont, Phil Goodman, Mike Blair (captain), Simon Taylor, John Barclay, Jason White, Jim Hamilton, Nathan Hines, Euan Murray, Ross Ford, Allan Jacobson.
Reserves: Dougie Hall, Alasdair Dickinson, Matt Mustchin, Scott Gray, Rory Lawson/Mark McMillan, Dan Parks, Hugo Southwell.
- NZPA
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