Rugby World Cup: Waisake Naholo named on wing for All Blacks v Georgia
TEN weeks after suffering a broken leg in his debut Test, traditional Fijian medicine has brought All Blacks ace Waisake Naholo back to confront Georgia.
TEN weeks after suffering a broken leg in his debut Test, traditional Fijian medicine has brought All Blacks ace Waisake Naholo back and ready to confront Georgia in the Rugby World Cup on Saturday (5am AEST).
One day after the All Blacks beat Argentina in Christchurch in July, grim-faced coach Steve Hansen revealed Naholo had a fracture that had ended his World Cup chances.
But Hansen was all smiles when naming his “best 23” to play Georgia.
Naholo was named alongside Richie McCaw, Dan Carter, Kieran Read and a host of other senior All Blacks who did not start in the 58-14 romp over Namibia.
Georgia should pose no more difficult a challenge, but Hansen has decided it is time his defending champions started to bed-in their top side.
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Some selections raised eyebrows.
Regular props Tony Woodcock and Owen Franks are benched and replaced by Wyatt Crockett and Charlie Faumuina.
Sonny Bill Williams starts at inside centre with Ma’a Nonu suffering a previously unannounced shoulder injury.
But the main talking point was the selection of Naholo who was selected for the World Cup when not fully fit but who Hansen always said would be his attacking weapon.
“It’s exciting for us to have him back,” he said of this year’s top try scorer in Super Rugby.
“There’s been a lot of talk about a miracle cure but he’s come back when we expected him to come back.”
After Naholo was told by New Zealand doctors the stress fracture would not heal in time for the World Cup he went to Fiji for a traditional treatment with an application made from a special leaf applied to the leg.
At a media conference where the team to play Georgia was named, Hansen shut down questioning about a “miracle cure” for Naholo.
“He’s not a witchdoctor, not a doctor, all he knows is his leg is right,” Hansen said.
“We know his leg is right because he’s had it X-rayed.”
Scrumhalf Aaron Smith, a teammate of Naholo at the Highlanders, said the big wing was raring to get back on the field.
“He’s been getting killed in the gym, seeing the big guy sweat a bit,” Smith said.
“But you could see the relief when he got named and how excited he is.
“I’m just an excited fan of watching the guy run.
“Guys like that when they get the ball you get excited and try to catch up if you can.
“I gee him up a bit, give a bit of banter like ‘you can’t run over him or around him’ and you can see him try and prove me wrong.”
Julian Savea starts on the other wing for his third consecutive match and Ben Smith returns at fullback to give the All Blacks a potent backline.
Williams, a standout performer in the All Blacks’ opening wins against Argentina and Namibia comes in for Nonu who is one of four players not considered because of injury.
Liam Messam is still recovering from a calf injury while fly halves Colin Slade (hamstring) and Beauden Barrett (whiplash) are expected to be fit by next week.
Usual scrumhalf TJ Perenara, a former New Zealand Schools fly half, will be Carter’s back-up at No 10 and will also kick if required.
The new look in the forwards sees role reversals with Charlie Faumuina and Wyatt Crockett while Owen Franks and Tony Woodcock warm the bench.
Hansen described the swith as “a reflection on what Wyatt and Charlie have been doing. Both of them have been playing really well and we now want to see them start a game and see how it goes.”
Georgia, meanwhile, have made 10 changes from the side that lost 54-9 to Argentina.
All Blacks (15-1): Ben Smith, Waisake Naholo, Conrad Smith, Sonny Bill Williams, Julian Savea, Daniel Carter, Aaron Carter; Kieran Read, Richie McCaw (captain), Jerome Kaino, Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Charlie Faumuina, Dane Coles, Wyatt Crockett. Reserves: Keven Mealamu, Tony Woodcock, Owen Franks, Victor Vito, Sam Cane, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, TJ Perenara, Malakai Fekitoa
Georgia (15-1): Beka Tsuklauri, Giorgi Apciauri, David Kacharava, Tamaz Mchedlidze, Alexandr Todua, Lasha Malaguradze, Giorgi Begadze; Lasha Lomidze, Mamuka Gorgodze (captain), Shalva Sutiashvili, Giorgi Chkhaidze, Levan Datunashvili, Levan Chilachava, Shalva Mamukashvili, Karlen Asieshvili. Reserves: Simon Maisuradze, Mikhail Nariashvili, Anton Peikrishvili, Kote Mikautadze, Viktor Kolelishvili, Vasil Lobjanidze, Merab Sharikadze, Muraz Giorgadze
Originally published as Rugby World Cup: Waisake Naholo named on wing for All Blacks v Georgia