KEY POINTS:
The Wallabies have used the tandem-flanker ploy with telling effect. The All Blacks are now tinkering with the concept to expand their tactics, preserve captain Richie McCaw and develop their lineouts.
It was difficult to spot much evidence in the iceberg test in Wellington but the positional switch involving Rodney So'oialo and Jerome Kaino will continue this weekend at Eden Park for the first of two tests against England.
So'oialo will play off the side of the scrum in cahoots with McCaw while Kaino will deal with the back of the scrum and other No 8 duties in a side which has just one change from Wellington with Greg Somerville slipping into the tighthead prop duties instead of the injured John Afoa.
That alteration was predictable, though there was no certainty the All Blacks would persevere with the sort of policy which has had Phil Waugh and George Smith as dual tearaway flankers for the Wallabies. However forwards coach Steve Hansen explained that scheme would continue with the All Blacks.
"If it goes as well as we hope it does, and it is still early stages, then it allows us to have two different types of loose forward combinations," he said yesterday.
"And you know, I am not saying that we are not going to pick a traditional No 6 at some stage but it will give us a little more in the cupboard when we come to play different teams."
The All Blacks' rationale is that by playing left and right breakaways, the workaholic McCaw and So'oialo can share the increasingly physical demands at the breakdowns. That would free up McCaw to carry the ball more and in theory might extend his longevity in the code.
So'oialo had the explosive speed and aggression for the breakdowns and the selectors felt that new squad member, Adam Thomson, could also fill that role because of his speed and instincts at the tackle.
Having McCaw, So'oialo and Kaino as loose forwards also offered an array of lineout targets which was not as diverse when last year's All Blacks Chris Masoe and Jerry Collins were involved.
"We can't protect McCaw," Hansen added, "but if we can play a game and still be as effective and McCaw only has to do half the scavenging work, that is a bonus for us. If we can ease the burden on him and still be very effective then that would be great.
"Richie has also been developing his running game in the last 12 months and he is being stimulated by that."
Meanwhile coach Graham Henry said the panel would try to build a team each week because they did not have the luxury of experienced players to alternate or rotate selections as they had in recent seasons.
His informants told him that England had some young quality forwards while Charlie Hodgson had impressed him as the best first five-eighths on the 2005 Lions tour. "It is a very good England team, I don't know whether the New Zealand people understand but it is a very strong side," he said.
His antennae were also up several notches as England, while being run by Rob Andrew on tour, would also want to impress coach Martin Johnson who had stayed home for the birth of his second child.
The horrendous weather in Wellington demanded minimal changes. The backs had few chances, the pack had been rewarded and retained, except for Afoa's injury, while a fitter Sione Lauaki had been given a run in the reserves instead of Thomson.
* New Zealand vs England
Eden Park, 7.35pm Saturday
New Zealand
Mils Muliaina, Anthony Tuitavake, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Dan Carter, Andy Ellis, Jerome Kaino, Richie McCaw (c), Rodney So'oialo, Ali Williams, Brad Thorn, Greg Somerville, Andrew Hore
Neemia Tialata.
Reserves: Keven Mealamu, John Schwalger, Anthony Boric, Sione Lauaki, Jimmy Cowan, Stephen Donald, Leon MacDonald.
England
Mike Brown, Topsy Ojo, Mike Tindall, Olly Barkley, David Strettle, Charlie Hodgson, R. Wigglesworth, Luke Narraway, Tom Rees, James Haskell, S. Borthwick (c), Tom Palmer, Matt Stevens, Lee Mears, Andrew Sheridan.
Reserves: David Paice, Tim Payne, Ben Kay, Joe Worsley, Danny Care, Jamie Noon, Mathew Tait.
