Inga Tuigamala: Messam's attacking strengths bring excitement

Liam Messam. Photo / Getty Images

Opinion

The All Blacks are obliged to say they are taking Scotland seriously, but I don't think too many others are.

The Scots play with pride and passion, but they have never beaten the All Blacks and I doubt they ever will.

These All Blacks are a class above and will win this test well.

I quite like the changes that have been made. Liam Messam's inclusion on the blindside will add a whole new attacking dimension and it will be like having an extra back on the field.

I just hope the All Black coaches aren't expecting Messam to play like a Kieran Read and instead allow him to use his attacking strengths. If he gets going, this will be more bad news for Scotland.

I don't really know whether Sonny Bill Williams is a better prospect at second five-eighths or centre, but he's getting a chance in the inside position this time and we will find out more about him in the process.

Playing alongside the stable influence of Conrad Smith might also be a big boost to his game.

As for Isaia Toeava, I've always promoted wing as being his best position because this will allow him to roam a little.

Toeava is fighting for his test future because the selectors can't hang on to him forever when he fails to come up with the goods.

However, the time was right to replace Joe Rokocoko. He was certainly trying his heart out at Twickenham last weekend, and maybe a little too much, which led to mistakes against England.

They were bad errors, which allowed England into the game and gave us all a few jitters.

The key thing for the All Blacks is to ensure they get the set pieces right against Scotland.

If they do, then everything will flow from there.

As for the Keven Mealamu issue, I would certainly back an All Black appeal against his suspension.

To my mind, Mealamu was not guilty.

Ultra-slow motion replays are distorting these sorts of incidents, which happen at high speed in the hurly-burly of tough international rugby.

This has been a sad issue with a ridiculous outcome.

* Inga Tuigamala played 19 tests for the All Blacks.