Ricki Herbert delays the inevitable

By PAUL THOMPSON
Last updated 09:17 24/05/2010

All Whites coach Ricki Herbert kicked for touch as adroitly as Morne Steyn on the high veldt with his team selections for tonight's World Cup warmup against Australia.

Ricki HerbertHerbert has picked the same 11 players who secured World Cup qualification against Bahrain in Wellington in November.

That means there is no room within what may prove to be a lacklustre team for rising stars Winston Reid, Chris Wood or Tommy Smith.

In sticking with his "first XI" Herbert has merely delayed the inevitable. At some point during the run to the World Cup he has to chance his hand on the young trio, and perhaps other contenders, in a bid to strengthen a team that could otherwise be disappointing in South Africa.

He has also postponed another crucial call - whether to stick with the unorthodox 3-4-3 formation that worked wonders against a Bahrain team that would struggle to attack a pizza.

Tonight's team was a predictable call for a coach who likes to keep things the same if he can possibly get away with it, which he probably can in Melbourne tonight.

It is only a friendly. New Zealand will be well aware that, however tempting it might be to place a heavy emphasis on a rare match against our ageing Antipodean rivals, the real contest begins against Slovakia next month.

This line of logic might have persuaded a bolder coach to test some fresh options with the view that he still has time to settle in new combinations over the next three weeks.

And Herbert must be aware of how limited his team is at the top level and how fresh, young talent could be pivotal.

In Wellington last week skipper Ryan Nelsen tried to mount an argument that a poor result in tonight's warmup would not really count.

He's right only to an extent. A pasting in Melbourne is unlikely but, if it happens, expect big changes in Ricki's next starting lineup.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/sport/football/3730357/Ricki-Herbert-delays-the-inevitable