History may have been on Steve Hansen’s mind as he settled on Beauden Barrett to remain the All Blacks playmaker for the second Test against the British and Irish Lions.
His team leading the series 1-0, coach Hansen made two injury-enforced changes to his backline for the Test in Wellington on Saturday.
Game-breaker Waisake Naholo comes into the right wing, with Israel Dagg moving to fullback to replace the concussed Ben Smith.
The other starting change is Anton Lienert-Brown’s promotion from the bench centre in place of Ryan Crotty (hamstring).
Hurricanes bulldozer and former Warriors NRL back Ngani Laumape is set to make his All Blacks debut from the reserves, in the only change there.
Hansen said he considered fielding the backline that finished Saturday’s 30-15 win at Eden Park, when Aaron Cruden was introduced from the bench and versatile Barrett shifted to fullback.
However, the selectors’ faith in Barrett as the team’s premier playmaker won out.
“At the end of the day, we wanted Beauden to steer the ship at 10. Then it become a no-brainer,” he said.
“It’s all about who we wanted in the driver’s seat at the beginning of the game and where we want to go later in the game.”
Twelve years ago, another gifted No.10 produced an All Blacks performance for the ages in the second Test against the Lions in Wellington.
Dan Carter scored 33 points in a career-breakout performance as New Zealand’s 48-18 triumph sealed the series.
Hansen has no doubt Laumape can back up from his powerhouse display on Tuesday for the Hurricanes in their 31-31 draw the midweek Lions.
“He played very very well. He didn’t leave us with too many options after watching him play, did he?” Hansen said.
“He just continued the form that he had in Super Rugby into what was a level above that, playing against a good international side.”
Laumape will cover both midfield positions, Hansen confirmed.
Hansen says his side will need to brace for opponents desperate to keep the series alive.
“The job is far from done – it’s going to require us to take our game to a higher level. It’s going to be very demanding, physically and mentally,” Hansen said.
“In reality, last week’s Test could’ve gone either way had they taken more of their chances. Our job will be to make sure that we shut down their counter-attack better than we did and, at the same time, win the critical moments.”
ALL BLACKS: Israel Dagg, Waisake Naholo, Anton Lienert-Brown, Sonny Bill Williams, Rieko Ioane, Beauden Barrett, Aaron Smith, Kieran Read (capt), Sam Cane, Jerome Kaino, Samuel Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Owen Franks, Codie Taylor, Joe Moody. RESERVES: Nathan Harris, Wyatt Crockett, Charlie Faumuina, Scott Barrett, Ardie Savea, TJ Perenara, Aaron Cruden, Ngani Laumape.