Weepu not a weighty issue for Hansen
Piri Weepu’s unshapely form may be a point of heated debate for most New Zealanders, but new All Black coach Steve Hansen does not see it as w eighty issue.
Hansen said the scrumhalf, Weepu, as well as lock Ali Williams and centre Ma’a Nonu would provide invaluable experience if named in the All Blacks.
He was certainly not concerned by their lack of early-season Super Rugby form with the Blues.
“Ali Williams stepped up to the plate the other night down in Dunedin, I was really happy with his game. Ma’a played better,” Hansen told LiveSport in a radio interview.
“Everyone’s got excited this year because now it’s the hangover from the Rugby World Cup, I don’t think that’s the case. I just think it was a big year last year and these guys have got a big year this year, it’s about pacing yourself.”
Hansen also said Weepu’s weight problems were nothing new, and the scrumhalf was actually heavier this time last year.
“We all know that Piri battles with his weight, he’s got one of those metabolisms that just doesn’t turn food into energy it turns food into fat and he’s working hard at that.
“We’ve got to back ourselves to get him right and the guys that are lacking in confidence we’ve just got to back ourselves to get that up. The All Black environment is a good place to install self belief.”
While Hansen said there was plenty of good talent coming through the Super Rugby system, younger in-form players would not come into the team at the expense of more hardened test players.
“There’s not too many test teams being victorious without good experience in the group. We know that we’ve got an ageing side and we need to bring in some newer players,” he said.
“We’re looking to get a little larger squad than we’d normally take and introduce some young blood at the same time as keeping that experience.”
Hansen was particularly pleased with the crop of young scrumhalves and first five-eighths emerging in Super Rugby but said hooker was a problem position.
“Going through the franchises, Keven [Mealamu] is in Auckland and the number one hooker at the Chief’s is not available for us he’s Samoan. [Dane] Coles is going pretty good, [Corey] Flynn’s going not bad and [Andrew] Hore’s an older player.
“We need players like [Hika] Elliot and Coles to stand up and some of the younger guys in the franchises to push their way through and start dominating.”
He was however happy with the loose forwards coming through from last year’s national under-20 side and had been pleasantly surprised by Chiefs lock Brodie Retallick.
“He’s just come out of nowhere. He’s just taken off and he’s been really, really impressive. He’s played a lot of rugby at Super level now, a lot of minutes and it’s just whether he can sustain that. It’ll be interesting to watch him over the next few weeks.”
Hansen said the list of All Blacks candidates to play the three-test series against Ireland in June had been narrowed to around 40, with the selectors looking to see how players perform now the business end of the season was nearing.
Source: Fairfax NZ News
