All Blacks win ... twice
The All Blacks emerged injury free from their pre-season hit-outs against two NPC teams, Counties Manukau and Auckland, on Friday.
New Zealand recorded two wins - 12-0 against Counties and 14-5 over Auckland - as coach Steve Hansen gave his charges the hit out they needed before the start of the inaugural Rugby Championships next week.
The 'practice' match saw Hansen make some odd selections.
For the opening 20-minute game, against the Steelers, Victor Vito played at lock, Ma'a Nonu at outside centre and Tamati Ellison was at inside centre - while against Auckland Nonu moved into his usual position of No.12, with Ben Smith going to outside centre.
Piri Weepu played flyhalf against his home province, while bizarrely Owen Franks played lock and Keven Mealamu was at openside flank.
Counties certainly gave the All Blacks a physical hit out and smashed into rucks with vigour.
Some Steelers players stood out, most notably New Zealand Under-20 lock Jimmy Tupou - who had a huge work rate and has already developed a Sonny Bill Williams style offload.
Counties-Manukau acquitted themselves well throughout their 20-minute spell, playing much of the match in All Blacks territory, however the All Blacks capitalised on their two clear chances to notch tries to wingers Julian Savea and Cory Jane.
Savea crossed in the opening minutes after Ma'a Nonu found himself in space before feeding his outsides to see two-Test Savea cross in the corner.
From then on the All Blacks battled against a determined DJ Forbes-led Steelers outfit, who tackled with venom and ran the ball with gusto.
After a five minute break the All Blacks went from playing a side that didn't have any Super Rugby players in it, to one with 13.
The jump up was immediately obvious, as after a long period on attack Alby Mathewson went on from close range.
But Hosea Gear bumped off Gareth Anscombe a couple of minutes from time to score and Weepu's conversion put the All Blacks in front.
Just before the end Savea finished off a length of the field attack for his second try of the match.
So two wins and most importantly, no one got injured.
Hansen and the All Black coaches' decision to stage this glorified training run against Counties and Auckland turned out to be an astute call, with the two provincial outfits providing them with a stern inspection.
The All Blacks now turn their attention towards next weekend's clash against the Wallabies with the Rugby Championship starting in Sydney on Saturday.
The scorers:
All Blacks 12-0 Counties Manukau:
All Blacks:
Tries: Savea, Jane
Con: Carter
Counties Manukau:
None
All Blacks 14-5 Auckland:
All Blacks:
Tries: Gear, Savea
Cons: Weepu 2
Auckland:
Try: Mathewson
Teams:
Steelers squad: Daniel Adongo, Bundee Aki, David Bason, Adam Cathcart, Jamie Chipman, DJ Forbes, Frank Halai, Peter Hale, Kane Hancy, Baden Kerr, Ray Laulala, Fritz Lee, Rey Lee-Lo, Tyrone Lefau, Simon Lemalu, Tim Nanai-Williams, Augustine Pulu, Tony Pulu, Ronald Raaymakers, Mahonri Schwalger, Mark Selwyn, Sherwin Stowers, Matt Talaese, Maka Tatafu, Suliasi Taufalele, Jimmy Tupou, Ahsee Tuala.
Auckland: 15 Charles Piutau, 14 Ben Lam, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Hadleigh Parkes, 11 George Moala, 10 Gareth Anscombe, 9 Alby Mathewson, 8 Peter Saili, 7 Daniel Braid (captain), 6 Steven Luatua, 5 Andrew Van der Heijden, 4 Liaki Moli, 3 Ofa Tu'ungafasi, 2 Tom McCartney, 1 Pauliasi Manu.
Replacements - from: Steve Fualau, Siua Halanukonuka, Nathan Hughes, Sean Polwart, Scott Patterson, Simon Hickey, Albert Nikoro, Joe Tupe, Nepia Fox-Matamua, Patrick Tuipulotu, Dave Thomas.
All Black squad:
Forwards: Andrew Hore, Keven Mealamu, Wyatt Crockett, Charlie Faumuina, Ben Franks, Owen Franks, Tony Woodcock, Brodie Retallick, Luke Romano, Samuel Whitelock, Sam Cane, Richie McCaw (captain), Liam Messam, Kieran Read, Adam Thomson, Victor Vito.
Backs: Aaron Smith, Piri Weepu, Daniel Carter, Aaron Cruden, Tamati Ellison, Ma'a Nonu, Conrad Smith, Israel Dagg, Hosea Gear, Cory Jane, Ben Smith, Julian Savea.
Source: TV NZ & Fairfax NZ News