All Blacks: Hansen hints at surprise picks for Brisbane test

Charles Piutau could make a return against the Wallabies on Saturday at the expense of Ben Smith. Photo / Getty Images

If there was a game with room for experimentation, this is it.

After making it clear to reporters yesterday that he wasn't going to pick the team on Monday to give Ewen McKenzie a leg-up with his planning, All Black coach Steve Hansen hinted that this was the sort of game - with the Bledisloe Cup already secure - where it would be appropriate to experiment a little.

"The All Blacks jersey doesn't allow you to experiment too much. There's a responsibility to put the best team on the park. But you have to be comfortable if there are changes they are to going to represent the jersey the way you want," said Hansen.

"If there's ever a game where we might make some changes, this would be it."

That may mean good news for wing Charles Piutau, who ran freely for Auckland on Saturday and looks ready for a return at the expense of the rested Ben Smith. Cory Jane is the other option, but he did not play for Wellington last weekend, unlike TJ Perenara, who was the best player on the paddock as the Lions finally broke their ITM Cup duck.

Lock Brodie Retallick is back in the frame after missing the Ellis Park test with concussion. Auckland's Patrick Tuipulotu has been in strong ITM Cup form and may force his way on to the bench.

Hansen was not going to give any selection pointers at Christchurch Airport just before flying to Brisbane.

"There's no point in me telling Ewen McKenzie what we're doing yet. It's only Monday. We don't have to do that until Thursday ... Three of you have asked the same question and it's the same answer," said Hansen, his trademark humour tested.

He did give a steer as to what role, if any, new halfback Augustine Pulu would play.

"It's fair to say it's a look and learn week for him. It would be a pretty big ask to chuck him straight in the deep end. He'll get a week to feel what it's like to be an All Black," said Hansen of Pulu.

He was more equivocal on the subject of Dan Carter.

"I'm not sure about Dan. He's training pretty good. It's likely he could get a game [this] week. Then we'll take it from there. Hopefully he gets some games, so we can take him on tour and give him a start against the USA [on November 1]."

Carter played 40 minutes for Canterbury against Southland last month, but had a hiccup with his leg and has not played since. Canterbury play Tasman in Saturday's Premiership semifinal, but if he does not feature there and Canterbury lose, this could become an issue for the first-five-laden All Blacks.

3 things we love about Steve Hansen

1. His trademark dry humour
This was tested yesterday by some naive questioning from young reporters, but he handled it well. Would his predecessor have been as understanding?

2. How he doesn't suffer fools
Even though he comes across as laid back to the point of almost being horizontal, do not be fooled into thinking he has not watched and analysed every game to within an inch of its life. Media need to come prepared or they will cop a sarcastic barb ... perhaps he learned that from one G.W. Henry.

3. How he stirs the pot, even when not trying to
He was trying hard not to give the Wallabies any extra ammunition - even if they appear to be using it all on themselves - but Hansen could not resist a little dig. On Will Genia: "He hasn't looked like playing yet, so you wouldn't expect him to, but who would know at the moment?"
Subtle ...

Condensed championship

A condensed 2015 Rugby Championship will begin on Friday, July 17 with the All Blacks hosting Argentina in Christchurch while the Wallabies and Springboks lock horns in Brisbane the following night.

The three-round championship sees teams face each other once, with a champion to be crowned on August 8, before a stand-alone round serves as final preparation for September's World Cup.

The July 17 match will be AMI Stadium's debut match in Rugby Championship, although the temporary Addington venue has hosted the All Blacks twice before (a 22-19 victory over Ireland in 2012 and a 30-0 whitewash of France in 2013).

The schedule

*Round 1
July 17: NZ v Argentina (AMI Stadium, Christchurch)
July 18: Australia v South Africa (Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane)

*Round 2
July 25: South Africa v NZ (venue TBC)
July 25: Argentina v Australia (venue TBC)

*Round 3
August 8: Australia v NZ (ANZ Stadium, Sydney)
August 8: South Africa v Argentina (venue TBC)

*Additional week (not for competition points):
August 15: NZ v Australia (Eden Park, Auckland)
August 15: Argentina v South Africa (venue TBC)