Cruden buzzing for All Blacks' biggest test

Despite having suffered a string of injuries to key players, New Zealand coach Graham Henry had few issues when selecting his team to take on Australia in the semi-final at Eden Park on Sunday.

"I would think with 10 Test matches in the last few weeks we should bloody know what we're doing by now,” Henry said. “So it was reasonably straight forward."

Henry has made just three changes to the All Blacks starting side that beat Argentina 33-10 in the quarter-finals last weekend.
Aaron Cruden will start at fly half, replacing the injured Colin Slade, while Israel Dagg takes

on the role of full back following 100-Test veteran Mils Muliaina’s premature exit from the tournament with a shoulder injury.

Cruden had his first taste playing in the No.10 jersey off the bench last week, and while he acknowledges the pressure of starting at fly half, the 22-year-old is not shying away from the importance of Sunday night’s match.

"It's definitely the biggest game of my life and a huge challenge that I'm really looking forward to and I know all the boys are,” he said. “Against Australia, it's always an epic battle and you chuck a semi-final into the mix and it's huge."

Super-sub Sonny

Richard Kahui returns to the wing after missing the game against the Pumas with a hamstring strain, with Sonny Bill Williams moving back to the bench.

While Williams did well starting at wing last week, Henry says Kahui was always an automatic selection providing he was fit.

"Richard's played superbly,” the coach said. “We held him back last week, he perhaps could have played but the games he's played in this World Cup, he's played some top footy.

“He seems to handle a big occasion well, it seems to bring the best out of him and perhaps this is his best position.

"Sonny Bill has been a great player to bring off the bench and he can play in a number of positions now. He's become a bit of a super sub.”

Stephen Donald comes in on the bench as cover for the number 10 position while Andy Ellis has displaced Jimmy Cowan as back up scrum half.

Cowan dropped

Henry says the decision to drop Cowan from the 22 was based solely on form.

“One guy is playing better than the other one, simple as that,” he said. “There was always competition there. Jimmy Cowan is a very important member of this group of people, he adds a lot to the All Black culture.

"It's difficult because he's been in that group for a long time, he's played over 50 Test matches but his form right now is not his best form and that counted against him."

Eleven of New Zealand's starting XV also started the All Blacks' last match against the Wallabies, their loss in the Tri Nations decider in Brisbane in August.

But despite the defeat Henry says his men do not need to dwell on the past for motivation on Sunday.

“As far as this rugby tournament is concerned it's a semi-final we need to win to win a cup and it so happens that it's against Australia,” he said.

"We know them, they know us well, there's a lot of rivalry but I don't think it's any different to playing anyone else in the semi-final of a Rugby World Cup. You've just got to do the business."

New Zealand and Australia will kick-off at 21:00 at Eden Park on Sunday.