Acid test to come in July, claims Oliver

Anton Oliver at training with the All Blacks in Buenos Aires. Ross Land / Getty Images

Old school All Black Anton Oliver accepts the New Zealand public may be wary of the current rotation selection policy and believes the philosophy's acid test will be played out in Christchurch on July 8.

One of a dying breed of All Blacks who made his debut against a provincial side on a fully-fledged tour - against Eastern Province during the historic series-winning tour of South Africa a decade ago - Oliver gets his chance to stay in the Tri-Nations frame by fronting up against Argentina here on Sunday morning.

The former All Blacks captain has not featured in a Tri-Nations test since 2001 but his leadership and experience sees him as one of three hookers in contention for the opening match of this year's series, against Australia in Christchurch on July 8.

Oliver, who has played 45 tests, has benefited from head coach Graham Henry's policy of interchanging his team to prevent player burnout, but admitted the quality of performance could be lacking on Sunday.

The All Blacks were patchy in maintaining their unbeaten record against Ireland in two tests this month.

Stand-in skipper Jerry Collins has already indicated his team could be similarly lacking cohesion against the Pumas, and Oliver, an able on-field lieutenant, agreed.

"That was always the tradeoff with what the coaches have tried to do with this three-test campaign," said Oliver.

"They're trying to expose as many people to test match football and they're trying not to burn people put.

"The compromise is you can't get the collectivism and the building of relationships on the field." Confident the All Blacks will still have enough class to quell an Argentine side traditionally tougher to bowl on home turf, Oliver thought the opening Tri-Nations test against the Wallabies would prove whether Henry and his fellow selectors were right in making so many changes.

"The Aussies, when they play us in Christchurch, they'll have had three games together [against England and Ireland] with pretty much the same team compared to the All Blacks.

"It will be interesting."

Oliver, who has played only a Dunedin club game at openside flanker since the Highlanders bowed out of the Super 14, is one of a number of All Blacks who could be underdone against a settled Pumas side buoyed by a 2-0 home series win over Wales.

"When I played club footy I didn't do much. It's been a long time, five-six weeks for me, so it's going to be a tough encounter."

Oliver said team management made the right call in sending the starting 15 to Buenos Aires before the second test against Ireland last Saturday in Auckland.

"The 15 chaps that came over here early, physically they're light years ahead of the boys who have just arrived.

"We've acclimatised, we're sleeping well, we've adjusted. At trainings they [new arrivals] have been a bit flat, a bit tired."

Meanwhile, Oliver is a fan of the rotation system given the arduous season faced by the elite players.

"It's a sign of the times. I think it's an ingenious way of overcoming scheduling problems.

"If we play our top 15 every week, we will lose test matches because the guys will be absolutely shattered.

"The public won't accept that."

- NZPA