Will the All Blacks experiment in Dunedin?

Name: Watch: All Blacks assistant coach Ian Foster talks Cruden, Fekitoa injuries
Uploaded: 2016-06-21T16:31:16+12:00
Duration: 132 s
Description: All Blacks assistant coach Ian Foster talks Aaron Cruden injury progress and kicking, as well as Malakai Fekitoa's progress from his head knock during the test match on Saturday.

By Wynne Gray

NZ Herald·

21 Jun, 2016 08:43 PM2 mins to read

All Blacks assistant coach Ian Foster talks Aaron Cruden injury progress and kicking, as well as Malakai Fekitoa's progress from his head knock during the test match on Saturday.

A dozen All Blacks have started both tests against Wales and 10 in the squad have yet to play a minute.

How will coach Steve Hansen approach his selection for Saturday's last test at the Glasshouse as he looks to keep the heat on Wales and his squad as he eyes the All Blacks next outing-against the Wallabies in August in Sydney.

The Highlanders staff have a more pressing focus because once the test is done they leave for away Super rugby duels next Sunday in South Africa then Argentina.

Eight of their players are in the test squad and four backs-Ben and Aaron Smith, Waisake Naholo and Malakai Fekitoa started at Eden Park and the Cake Tin.

The other four New Zealand sides are involved in local derbies although the Chiefs and Crusaders are taking their clash to Suva, while the Hurricanes and Blues square off at the Cake Tin.

The 10 All Black squad players without any test time against Wales are Damian McKenzie, Charlie Ngatai, George Moala, Lima Sopoaga, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Liam Squire, Elliot Dixon, Tom Franklin, Ofa Tu'ungafasi and Codie Taylor.

Do any slot into the plan for Saturday? Will the All Black panel listen to any pleas from the Super rugby coaches about their players' workload?

It's unlikely. This is the All Blacks month and they want to finish this test segment with extended cohesion as a platform for the start of the Rugby Championship.

Tactics for this test will have been sorted long ago because the roof guarantees conditions.

Returning Ben Smith to fullback and Naholo to his usual right wing will sharpen the team direction, potency and local fervor. An injection of Sopoaga at five eighths and Dixon on the blindside will add to that mix but give Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph some anxiety.