2012 New Zealand Squads

[lance2010]

I really think people put way too much emphasis on size. Don't look at the player, look at what they do on the field.

This defence would be absolutely impenetrable. Not one player is over 100kg or 6ft.

9)Will Genia (5'9, 85kg)
10)Jonny Wilkinson (5'10, 89kg)
11)Rudi Wulf (5'11, 91kg)
12)Sam Tuitupou (5'9, 93kg)
13)Brian O'Driscoll (5'10, 95kg)
14)Brian Lima (5'11, 97kg)
15)Josh Lewsey (5'11, 87kg)

I reckon this backline would give it a good go.
9.Mike Phillips (6'3 104kg)
10.François Trinh-Duc (6'0, 93kg)
11.Hosea Gear (6'2, 100kg)
12.Ma'a Nonu (6'0, 106kg)
13.Jamie Roberts (6'4, 110kg)
14.Alasana Tuilagi (6'1, 117kg)
15.Paul Williams (6'3, 100kg)

That's one heck of a defensive unit you got there.

 

[nickdnz]

I reckon this backline would give it a good go.
9.Mike Phillips (6'3 104kg)
10.François Trinh-Duc (6'0, 93kg)
11.Hosea Gear (6'2, 100kg)
12.Ma'a Nonu (6'0, 106kg)
13.Jamie Roberts (6'4, 110kg)
14.Alasana Tuilagi (6'1, 117kg)
15.Paul Williams (6'3, 100kg)

That's one heck of a defensive unit you got there.

Well, they could make hits. I wouldn't be suprised to see that backline get exploited by some clever kicks and quick feet.

 

[Darwin]

Blues wider training squad named:
James Parsons (hooker, North Harbour)
Steven Luatua (lock, Auckland)
Daniel Pryor (flanker, Northland)
Sean Polwart (flanker, Auckland)
Wayne Ngaluafe (halfback, Auckland but loaned to Northland for the 2011 ITM Cup)
Hadleigh Parkes (midfield, Auckland)
Francis Saili (centre / wing, Auckland)

Some interesting selections. Good to see youngsters like Polwart, Luatua and Saili there, but would have liked to have seen Charles Piutau (though the fact he was in the Sevens team already indicated he hadn't made it), Nafi Tuitavake, or Bryce Heem ahead of Parkes. Parkes looks resonable at ITM Cup level, but I don't think he has the same potential as Piutau, Tuitavake, or Heem. I can only assume they wanted a specialist midfielder in the wider training squad, though personally I think Saili is better suited to the midfield than wing...

Really surprised not to see Luamanu in the squad - I wonder whether he has signed overseas? I would have thought he would have warranted a spot ahead of Pryor, as I don't see the need for two specialist opensides in the wider training squad. Really suprised to see Ngaluafe selected. He's been away for a couple of years on a Mormon mission, and didn't look very impressive at all for Northland last year when he returned to rugby. Ryan Caine must be pretty disappointed to have missed out considering he was the number 1 halfback for Northland last year (with Ngaluafe spending most of the time on the bench), and unlike Ngaluafe had a very strong season. I can only assume Ngaluafe has been incredibly impressive in training!

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

No Ben Botica? Hmmm...

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

he's now signed for French ProD2 side Périgueux

Ah I had a feeling there was something... Makes you wonder whether he knew before he signed that he wasn't going to be in the squad...

 

[Darwin]

It is a bit disappointing to see Ben Botica sign to go overseas, as he looks to have a lot of talent. He was always going to struggle to get into the Blues side given all their first-five options (Weepu, Anscombe, Hobbs, and even Munro), but I would have been quite happy if we had drafted him down here to the Highlanders instead of Chris Noakes....