Former All Black: Why ABs won't play two opensides

Richie McCaw and Sam Cane briefly took the field together during the All Blacks thrashing of the Wallabies at Eden Park in August. Photo / Greg Bowker

Former All Blacks loosie and TV commentator Richard Turner says the All Blacks won't copy the Wallabies and play two openside flankers at the Rugby World Cup because they would lose a physical edge.

The Wallabies ploy of starting David Pocock at No.8 and Michael Hooper on the side of the scrum, both natural openside flankers, has paid dividends this season with victories over the All Blacks in Sydney followed by Sunday's win over England at Twickenham.

Turner, a TV commentator and the TAB's Rugby World Cup ambassador, told the Herald that All Blacks coach Steve Hansen and his selectors would be open to the idea of playing two number sevens but it would be a big call to replace Jerome Kaino with the likes of Sam Cane or Victor Vito.

"I'm sure it's a consideration. Absolutely a consideration. Will they do it? Probably not. We're very stuck in our ways a little bit. By doing that, that would be replacing Jerome Kaino and we lose that physicality in defense and I guess if they did then the question is who goes there? Is it as simple as Sam Cane or do they put Victor Vito onto the side of the scrum.

The All Blacks started with McCaw and Vito in August's 41-13 thrashing of Australia at Eden Park, but Pocock missed that clash. Cane replaced Vito in the second half and briefly played alongside McCaw before the captain was subbed off in his final ever home test.

Turner said he's not sold on whether it would be a worthwhile move for the All Blacks.

"When push comes to shove, I want to see Kaino making those big defensive plays because they're just as inspirational as a big turnover."

Turner also told the Herald that he agrees with Hansen's claims that the All Blacks are holding back.

"I'm pretty sure they are holding things back. I saw a team that is probably under a little bit of pressure to perform well and internal pressure, they're putting pressure on themselves as well, obviously a whole heap of external pressure and I just saw a side that was trying too hard," he said.

"For me it's a simple solution. They just take a step back, relax and just get back to doing what we know they are good at doing. We know we've got a good side there but through these pool games probably the weight of expectations is probably touching them a little bit. I think we'll name our strongest side for Tonga and then get into our work.

"I want to see some continuity. Our simple catch and pass game is missing. I want to see us go out there, go through our patterns, obviously cut down our handling mistakes, score some good tries, get some confidence and we roll into the playoffs."

The All Blacks name their 23-man squad to face Tonga overnight Wednesday NZT.