mens
international
From starring in the first three Tests of Dave Rennie’s reign as head coach All black peopleto miss consecutive teams, Blues lock Sam Darry dropped the order.
12-Test Canterbury lock impressed Rennie and the All Blacks coaching staff in July Nations Championship matches against France, Italy and Ireland, before starting the final two Tests against South Africa in Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry.
Darry returned to the Hilux NPC competition following the RGR tour, and made an immediate impact on Canterbury, helping them win the title over Northland in one New Zealand Christchurch Stadium.
In the recent Bledisloe Cup series, Canterbury team-mate Jamie Hannah was called up in place of Darry, with the same result in Tuesday’s 36-man Nations Championship for the end-of-year tour.
Hannah and Darry both lined out for their province on Labor Day Monday in the NPC final, but only one could make the All Blacks squad.
Rennie, addressing the media at their home Auckland hotel on Tuesday, said choosing the lock was one of the more difficult decisions.
“Yes, look, he is (Darry) unhappy because he is played a a lot of good footy for us, and that was a message that him,” said the All Blacks head coach.
“We are only Got unbelievable depth in that position everything of a suddenly, apparently with A scooter is coming back, and then the quality of the the rest locks that we Got there.
“We really do like Jamie Hannah. Good athlete, really good lineout forward, run the line out well, and he is Got a bit of a dark side around carry, clean, tackle.
‘Well yes, look, it is hard he Alone. That would probably be the the majority competitive spot in our side, and he is really unhappy that Miss out.”
After challenging his players after the Greatest Rivalry Tour to answer no Australia in the Bledisloe Cup, Rennie said the feeling around the upcoming four Tests was about improving after each game.
“I means, the focus is only getting better, and we are really disappointed fast South africa, but the only way you I can to answer is through performance.
“It’s easy that get an rub at Eden Park and try it that safe the Bledisloe Cup, and so what was impressive in Sydney ands that we talked a a lot Fr our standards and where we I want that get yes, and we probably messed up our way through a a little bit and only to the left a a little possibilities out there early in the second half.
“But the first half was excellent, and so we I want that to be in condition that to build he that. Here strong competition for places, and that it helps as so.”
