All Blacks grapple with law change
Forwards coach Mike Cron will take on the job of tutor as he asks his All Blacks’ front rowers to cram in some vital lessons prior to the test against Argentina.
World Rugby’s decision to change a scrum law with immediate effect, an effort to prevent ‘‘dangerous levels’’ of weight going through the neck and spine of front rowers, means the All Blacks have to urgently alter their engagement at the set-piece.
The law change requires the New Zealanders, who play the Pumas in Buenos Aires on Sunday morning, to make a swift transition if they are to launch successfully against an opposition forward pack expected to comprise the bulk of the Jaguares’ pack that lost the Super Rugby final.
All Blacks hooker Dane Coles said his initial reaction when introduced to the change was ‘‘holy hell’’.
‘‘That’s going to be a little bit different, but it is what it is,’’ he said. ‘‘We have got to adapt quick. We have been working with Crono [Cron] and all the young props.
‘‘We are probably not there yet, but we are making some good strides.’’
With Codie Taylor remaining in New Zealand along with seven other Crusaders team-mates, senior player Coles is likely to start against Argentina with Liam Coltman on the bench.
World Rugby has banned ‘axial loading’, a process of concentrating scrum power on the opposing hooker instead of allowing it to be spread along the shoulders of the opposing front row.
‘‘As a hooker there is a lot more of a hit,’’ Coles explained. ‘‘Like the old scrum. We haven’t gone too hard out with it. We will get a bit more of an idea during the week as the intensity ramps up. It’s a bit more of a hit like the old days, so we will see how we go.’’
The 32-year-old Coles, who has played 60 tests, has had a tough run with injuries in recent years and Taylor has replaced him as the country’s top-ranked hooker.
Last season Coles finally came back from a lengthy layoff to be picked for the All Blacks end of season tour, making four appearances but Taylor was the No 1 choice in the key tests against England and Ireland.
Because All Blacks captain Kieran Read has been left behind with his Crusaders team-mates in Christchurch, which includes Sam Whitelock who captained the test side against France last year, Sam Cane has been appointed skipper for the upcoming test.
There is potential for the law change, and not having experienced test props Owen Franks and Joe Moody (among those to stay in Christchurch) to be disruptive but the All Blacks are still expected to keep their unbeaten record against Argentina intact.
Argentina coach Mario Ledesma has picked four European-based players in his squad, including prop Juan Figallo who plays for English club Saracens.
Captain Agustin Creevy will once again fire-up his duel with Coles, and the latter said he was relishing the confrontation.
‘‘I have got a huge amount of respect for Creevy. He’s one of the best hookers in the world,’’ Coles said.
‘‘He offloads like a back, great over the ball with his jackling, good thrower and good set-piece guy.
‘‘Just an all-round great player. And a good man. We get on pretty good after the game, and have a few beers and swap jerseys and stuff like that.
‘‘A real competitor on the field, but off the field just a great guy.’’