Wynne Gray: Time to put cap on spark plugs

Coach Steve Hansen might bring on TJ Perenara for an appearance rather than a cap.

It has taken a while but most of us have acknowledged rugby is a 23-man game. We understand the concept and the merits of a system which is invaluable in catering for injuries, blood bin or concussion assessments.

There are no points any more for players going the distance, that endurance has been hijacked with eight subs ready to cover any roles left vacant by their 15 starting teammates.

The trick for the coaches is how they get the best use out of their replacements.

All Blacks head coach Steve Hansen and his staff will want to use all 23 tonight at Eden Park if the game allows. They'll argue there is no better place to find out about their men than under the cosh of the international spotlight.

They've spent all year watching their choices go around in Super Rugby, have drilled them through a variety of training camps and opposed sessions and want to see how they react to all the pressures that go with test rugby, from sun-up to lights out tonight.

Hansen understands what the All Blacks mean to this country and how everyone interested in the sport will have an opinion about the team and their impact. His priority is to take the side to their best levels and use the rules to keep them there.

World Rugby permits him eight subs and if the game allows, he'll get them all on to the park even if they barely raise a sweat.

When players run themselves into the turf in a high-paced game, Hansen can replace them with others of similar or different skills to power through the final stages of a test. That's part of the skill of coaching and works for Hansen and the team but awarding caps for players who run on for a handful of minutes does not sit right. The All Blacks and New Zealand Rugby have sustained a global reputation as front-runners in the game and they should instigate a system where caps are only awarded to subs if they have played a quarter of a test.

Reserves who are drip-fed into games in the final minutes should be acknowledged in team and almanac statistics but should not get a cap.

If the test is tight and Aaron Smith is still whizzing around the ground in prime condition, he should be left until the final whistle.

However, if Hansen believes the All Blacks have secured victory after 65 minutes, he should be able to safeguard his premier halfback and bring on TJ Perenara for an appearance rather than a cap.

The front row is different. Joe Moody and Owen Franks have not played much this season because of injury and suspension and are likely to make way soon after halftime for Ofa Tu'ungafasi and Karl Tu'inukuafe on his debut. Those big boys will feel plenty of minutes and impact for a well-deserved cap.

Subs are a crucial part of the team. Those spark plugs must be ready to run on at any stage and deal with that tension until there's an injury or a word from the staff up in the stands. They are invaluable for the team cause but not always worthy of a cap.