New Zealand v England, 2nd Test
Steve Hansen demands more from All Blacks
ESPN Staff
June 12, 2014
Steve Hansen was unhappy with all aspects of the All Blacks' performance in Auckland © Getty Images
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Multiple changes were not an option for Steve Hansen after the All Blacks' patchy performance to defeat England 20-15 at Eden Park in Auckland, the coach believing to have done so would have been to dig a deeper hole.

 
"If you said 'so and so shouldn't start because he played poorly' we wouldn't have anyone on the park - that's how bad the performance was." Steve Hansen assesses the All Blacks' Auckland performance
 

Hence he made changes only to his back three for the second Test at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin: Julian Savea is recalled after recovering from the knee injury that forced his absence from the Auckland team, with Cory Jane swapped to his favoured right wing and Ben Smith moved to fullback to replace Israel Dagg, who has succumbed to a long-standing patella issue that has restricted his ability to kick and leap to field kicks.

"One of our problems was a lack of preparation so there's no point recreating that and putting a set of new faces in again," Hansen said of his reluctance to make more changes.

"If you said 'so and so shouldn't start because he played poorly' we wouldn't have anyone on the park - that's how bad the performance was."

Hansen said Cory Jane was "all at sea" on the left wing at Eden Park, and he expects the 31-year-old to thrive on the right in his reshuffled back three.

All Blacks: Ben Smith; Cory Jane, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Julian Savea; Aaron Cruden, Aaron Smith; Jerome Kaino, Richie McCaw (captain), Liam Messam; Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick; Owen Franks, Dane Coles, Tony Woodcock. Replacements: Keven Mealamu, Wyatt Crockett, Charlie Faumuina, Patrick Tuipulotu, Victor Vito, TJ Perenara, Beauden Barrett, Malakai Fekitoa.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd with AAP

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