All Blacks: Ian Foster contemplating Scott Barrett switch due to back-row absentees

New Zealand head coach Ian Foster will be forced to alter the make-up of his back-row for next week’s clash against Australia due to injury and unavailability.

Shannon Frizell will miss the clash with the Wallabies on Thursday after picking up a rib issue, while Ardie Savea is awaiting the birth of his third child.

It means that Foster will have to alter his starting XV, something he has been unwilling to do over the last few weeks as they attempt to gain some consistency.

They have brought Luke Jacobson into the squad as cover for Savea and Frizell, but Foster is considering playing either Barrett or Tupou Vaa’i at blindside.

The All Blacks have had mixed success with the hybrid back five forward, something England and South Africa have utilised consistently.

Captain Sam Cane will keep the openside jersey with Hoskins Sotutu the favourite to play number eight, but Foster has a number of options at six.

Enough cover

“We’ve lost two, and put in one. We feel we’ve got enough cover, with Scott and Tupou who can also play 6, and Akira and a bit of flexibility with Dalton (Papali’i). So there are some big decisions to make,” the head coach told Stuff.

“But it’s a good opportunity. Over the last two or three weeks we’ve felt we needed to stick to combinations to try and grow our group, but there are going to be a few changes, and that’s a great opportunity for us too.”

Foster concedes that Savea will be a significant loss, but the All Blacks boss had no hesitation in allowing the number eight to leave the squad.

“He’s a key leader, a key player, but we’re massively supportive of the decision. If you go back to the last 2-3 years, players have had to make some pretty tough choices with families,” he said.

“It’s great to be able to support him and Saskia and their family, and he has our blessing.”

New Zealand will be looking to build on their dominant 53-3 victory over Argentina when they face Australia at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne.

Inconsistency has also blighted the Wallabies during this Rugby Championship campaign, but Foster is expecting the hosts to be up for the fight.

“They’ve been a little bit up and down. We always prepare to play a team at its best, and a lot of the games they’ve played really well, they’re certainly moving their game,” he said.

“They’ve moved the dial a little bit at some of their set-piece and they’ve focused hard on their ball carries, in particular.

“They’re a passionate team over there. They never think of themselves as second best and we know they’ll go in very confident.”

Bledisloe Cup permutations

Many believe that this is the Wallabies’ best shot at winning back the Bledisloe Cup, a trophy they have not held since 2002.

However, should New Zealand retain the Bledisloe, it means that they will have kept hold of it for two decades.

The All Blacks only need one victory from the two matches to have it for another year but know that it might not be enough in terms of their Rugby Championship aspirations.

Foster’s mind is therefore not on their continuing trans-Tasman rivalry but instead on doing enough to put themselves in the best position to win the annual southern hemisphere competition.

“Right now we’re more fixated on the Rugby Championship. All four teams have had a bit of inconsistency about how they’ve gone about it, and it’s been a very even competition. That’s where our eyes are firmly fixed at the moment,” he added.

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