Confident Henry rings the changes
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.It almost appeared as though the All Blacks were taking the you-know-what. Graham Henry and his colleagues on the New Zealand selection panel reacted to last weekend's decisive victory over the British Isles by dropping three of their back division - the full-back Leon MacDonald, the wing Doug Howlett and the scrum-half Justin Marshall - for Saturday's second Test meeting in Wellington. Needless to say, Henry did not regard this as a panic measure.
Mils Muliaina, a counter-attacker armed with breathtaking pace and spirit of adventure, replaces MacDonald, while Rico Gear, the form wing in this year's Super 12, gets the nod over Howlett, who has been out of form.
The contest between New Zealand's two senior half-backs, Marshall and Byron Kelleher, is considered so close that Henry always planned to give them a game each and save the tough decision until the last Test in Auckland in 10 days' time.
There will be a fourth change if the huge Otago prop Carl Hayman fails to recover from a toe infection. Greg Somerville is on stand-by.
"New Zealand rugby has fallen over in the past because there was no depth of players in certain positions," said Henry. "Our task is to ensure it doesn't happen again. Frankly, we're looking to the future."
In a series against the Lions? If ever there was a sign of New Zealand confidence ahead of a big game, this was it.
NEW ZEALAND (v Lions, Second Test, Wellington, Saturday): M Muliaina; R Gear, T Umaga (capt), A Mauger, S Sivivatu; D Carter, B Kelleher; T Woodcock, K Mealamu, C Hayman, C Jack, A Williams, J Collins, R McCaw, R So'oialo. Replacements: D Witcombe, G Somerville, J Gibbes, S Lauaki, J Marshall, M Nonu, L MacDonald.
Chris Hewett
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments