All Blacks primed for clean sweep

Source:AFP Published: 2014-6-19 22:13:01

New Zealand All Blacks fullback Ben Smith (right) runs out of a tackle by England's Luther Burrell during the second Test match in Dunedin on Sunday. Photo: AFP



The All Blacks have their sights on a world record run of victories as they look to ram home their dominance over England in ­Saturday's third and final Test in ­Hamilton.­

Although New Zealand wrapped up the series by ­winning the first two Tests, ­assistant coach Ian Foster said, "We don't feel we've put the foot on the throat to the point we want to."

The All Blacks have made only two injury-­related­­ ­changes as they work on ­getting­ their preferred starting lineup playing with more consistency.

However England, with the series gone, have swung the axe and made seven changes as their quest to beat the All Blacks now becomes a search for sound combinations before they host next year's World Cup.

At stake for New Zealand is not only a further chance to gain a psychological blow over England, but also to become the most successful tier-one Test nation.

They've already won 16 Tests in a row and a win on Saturday will equal the record of 17 held by the All Blacks (1965-69) and Springboks (1997-98).

International player of the year Kieran Read returns for the home team now he is over his concussion issues and enterprising Malakai Fekitoa­­­ gets his first Test start in place of the injured Conrad Smith.

The misfiring Aaron Cruden­ retains the No.10 jersey ahead of the in-form Beauden Barrett with All Blacks coach Steve Hansen saying one new combination in the backs was enough when trying to produce a complete performance.

Hansen described Fekitoa as a "special" player and was not concerned about the rawness of his partnership with veteran Ma'a Nonu in the midfield.

"They'll be a good combination going forward. But like with any new combination, it takes time," he said.

"There will be mistakes. It's just what we do when we make the mistakes and how quickly we repair it. I'm not too concerned. I think (Fekitoa's) going to be a special player."

The return of Read to partner Richie McCaw and Jerome Kaino reestablishes a partnership last seen together when the All Blacks beat France in the 2011 World Cup final.

Despite winning the first two Tests, it was only in the third quarter of the second Test, when the All Blacks ran in three tries, that they played at a much higher level than England.

The aim in Hamilton is to produce that performance for 80 minutes.

"That's our primary driver so I guarantee there'll be no complacency," Foster said.
Newspaper headline: One win away from equaling record


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