Ardie Savea during an All Blacks training session. Photo / Photosport
Ardie Savea during an All Blacks training session. Photo / Photosport
Strength in depth will again be on show this week as the All Blacks return to their rotation policy that continues to bear fruit.
Carrying a 39-man squad on their northern tour, while confined to a tight Covid bubble, presents major challenges.
Yet it is becoming increasingly clear the AllBlacks have hit the right notes with their selections and despite being largely hotel bound in the USA and Europe, the additional time together has brought the relatively new squad closer.
Striking the balance between winning, playing the top side, experimenting and maintaining squad harmony is a delicate juggling act.
To this point, though, the All Blacks are united and oozing talent across the park. From the loose forwards to the front row, first five-eighth and outside backs, Ian Foster has a plethora of options at his disposal.
The midfield, where David Havili has struggled in recent weeks and Quinn Tupaea is expected to get another chance to impress at second-five against Italy, is but one highly contestable area.
Quinn Tupaea in action. Photo / Photosport
Ardie Savea was the standout for the All Blacks from No 8 in Sunday's record-equalling 54-16 victory in Cardiff, replicating his influential display from his last match when he captained the team from openside to their one-point defeat to the Springboks almost one month ago.
"For me it's close my eyes, bite down on my mouthguard and go," Savea said of his performance after arriving in Rome on Monday. "If you can stop me, you stop me, but I'm going to fight through it."
Savea debuted for the All Blacks five years ago and has now played 57 tests. Ahead of a week where the All Blacks will make mass changes and he could be in line for a rest, Savea believes competition for places has never been so fierce.
In this regard, the All Blacks are achieving multiple objectives by growing experience in the here and now while building for years to come.
"This team is at a place where it hasn't been in the time I'm here," Savea said. "There's always usually a really definite 15 or 23 that you know is going to go week in, week out. What's really impressed me is the new guys that are coming through.
"The young guys have been awesome; they're training well, they're learning and it's showing on the field. I'm not that old ... but for us more experienced guys having those guys play well it's keeping us on our toes and we're trying to compete and fight for positions. It doesn't matter who goes out there on the weekend the lads are on fire so it's pretty special.
"Being on tour for 15 weeks has a big part in that. Usually we don't get this time together so it's setting us up well for the future."
The dominant win over a weakened Welsh team was achieved without Sam Cane and Dane Coles (both of whom are expected to feature against Italy), Aaron Smith, Damian McKenzie and Luke Jacobson.
Ardie Savea during an All Blacks training session. Photo / Photosport
Even in that match, the All Blacks experimented by carrying specialist wing Sevu Reece on the bench – that tactic coming up trumps in the final quarter as Reece's pace and footwork combined with Savea and Rieko Ioane for a stunning try.
Against Italy, ranked 14th in the world and riding a 32-test losing streak, Sam Whitelock is expected to lead a very different forward pack to last week. Likewise Richie Mo'unga will guide a backline of candidates attempting to further their cases for spots in the final two tests in Dublin and Paris.
Other than Brodie Retallick's shoulder issue, the All Blacks have a fully fit squad to select from which could pave the way for Highlanders loose forward Shannon Frizell to make his first appearance since July.
Living out of each other's pockets for such an extended period could drive any squad to self-combustion. All Blacks assistant coach Brad Mooar instead senses this unique tour could be the making of Foster's tight-knit team.
"There's been a lot of work done to recognise it could be tough and it's okay to say it's tough and to have a day where you might be a bit lower and slower," Mooar said. "You can go and talk to someone about that and then switch back in. Being away from families for that long you've got to make it worth it by putting your best effort in. We want to finish strong.
"The competition is superb, it's a really deep squad, and that creates the performance that we're looking for because the guys are putting each other under pressure for selection but also helping each other prepare.
"People have fitted in superbly. The group is doing a great job on this tour of switching on and off. When we're on, we're on, but when we're off we enjoy each other's company and enjoy our own time to full the tank in all respects. That's a great sign of where everybody fits in and are comfortable to express themselves. It's a really healthy position to be in."
