[2014 EOYT] Maori All Blacks

[TRF Mr Fish]

The squad for the Maori All Blacks 2014 Tour to Japan is:

FORWARDS

Hookers
Joe Royal - Te Arawa/Ngati Whatua o Orakei - Bay of Plenty
Ash Dixon - Ngati Tahinga - Hawke's Bay
Codie Taylor* - Ngati Raukawa/Muaupoko - Canterbury

Props
Chris Eves - Tainui - Manawatu
Mike Kainga* - Ngati Kahungunu - Bay of Plenty
Nicholas Barrett - Ngati Kahungunu - Auckland
Brendon Edmonds* - Ngati Kahungunu - Hawke’s Bay

Locks
Tom Franklin* - Ngati Maniapoto -Otago
Joseph Wheeler - Ngai Tahu - Tasman

Loose forwards
Shane Christie (vc) - Te Atihaunui a Paparangi - Tasman
Blade Thomson - Ngapuhi - Taranaki
Liam Squire - Ngai Tahu - Tasman
Elliot Dixon - Ngapuhi - Southland
Sean Polwart* - Ngati Pu/Ngati Maru - Auckland
Dan Pryor* - Ngapuhi/Ngati Pikiao - Northland

BACKS

Halfbacks
Jamison Gibson-Park - Ngati Porou/Nga Tai Taranaki
Chris Smylie - Ngati Mutunga Taranaki

First five-eighths
Ihaia West - Ngati Kahungunu/Ngati Porou Hawke’s Bay
Marty McKenzie* - Ngati Tuwharetoa Taranaki

Midfield backs
Jason Emery* - Ngati Haua/Ngati Maniapoto - Manawatu
Charlie Ngatai (c) - Ngati Porou/Te Whanau-a-Apanui - Wellington
James Lowe* - Ngapuhi/Ngai te Rangi - Tasman

Outside backs
Matt Proctor - Ngapuhi/Ngai te Rangi - Wellington
Kurt Baker - Ngapuhi - Taranaki
Joe Webber* - Ngati Ranginui - Waikato
Nehe Milner-Skudder* - Ngati Porou/Tapuika - Manawatu
Robbie Robinson - Tuwharetoa/Ngati Tahinga - Southland

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

Interesting that James Lowe has been named as a midfield back. The loose forwards are strong, not too sure about that tight five though. The backs are decent, fairly inexperienced though.

 

[Darwin]

Pretty strong overall. Only two specialist locks is interesting. Thomson can certainly play there, and I suppose both Squire and Dixon could cover there too if required.

Obviously there is a shortage of specialist midfield backs too. Lowe has played in the midfield in the past (I understand he was more a centre than a wing in his younger days), and both Baker and Proctor have played in the 13 jersey at NPC level.

I will post what I consider the "top 15(/23)" when I've had a chance to think about it...

 

[Peat]

Can't say I recognise too many names - West, Emery and Robinson really. Any of these guys possible future All Blacks of note?

 

[nickdnz]

Can't say I recognise too many names - West, Emery and Robinson really. Any of these guys possible future All Blacks of note?

If there are any, they are all a bit too far away to predict.

Ash Dixon is quality but has been stuck behind Coles and Matu'u for the Hurricanes. He's moved to the Highlanders for next season so could be a bolter for the RWC. Codie Taylor is in a long line of hookers that may be promising but aren't quite there yet, but he's only 23 years old so he may one day get a shot. None of the props are worth noting. Joe Wheeler is a quality lock but I'd be surprised to see him get the call up anytime soon as he's not as young as some of the other good prospects.

The loose-forwards have Liam Squire who is a very good young prospect who I would be surprised not to feature with the All Blacks at some point having already spent some time training with them. Shane Christie has also spent time training with the All Blacks this year, but I'd be a bit surprised to see him get tests considering he turns 30 next year. Blade Thomson is having a good ITM Cup, and despite me not rating him last year too highly, actually looked pretty decent in his limited oppertunities (Sumo Stevenson thought he should be a bolter into the AB squad which may be a stretch). Dan Pryor has also been a very exciting loose forward for Northland but I can't see him featuring for the All Blacks considering the number of quality 7s.

Jamison Gibson-Park is a quality halfback who is pretty young. Tough to get a look in with Aaron Smith, TJ Peranara, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Augustine Pupu, Bryn Hall and Brad Webber all around a similar age and all being fairly outstanding halfbacks.

Both Marty McKenzie and Ihaia West are very promising attacking 1st 5/8th and both may be starting for the Blues/Highlanders. Again there is a bit of a log jam at fly half..

Charlie Ngatai wouldn't look out of place in test rugby; has good defense, a big boot and runs pretty good lines. A similar player to Crotty in some ways. Emery looked amazing at U20 level but hasn't really continued on with his form, still young though.

All the outside backs are pretty good. Joe Webber has been a strong member of the NZ 7s team and is currently the ITM Cup leading try scorer. Nehe Milner-Skudder has impressed me a lot this season, very good counter attacker. He was just picked up by the Hurricanes (although I doubt he'll ever make the All Blacks). I'd say the best chance to make the All Blacks would be Robbie Robinson, who has been unlucky with injuries and Dave Rennie's rotation policy but is a very exciting fullback (who seems to have not yet been picked up by a SR franchise..?), and possibly Matt Proctor who is good at wing and fullback and plays for Wellington (which means he's guaranteed to get SR experience with the Canes :lol.

 

[Larksea]

quality squad

some top shelf players like

Robbie Robinson
Charlie Ngatai
Ihaia West
Shane Christie

Christie is a beast, Robinson has been right up there with Ben Smith and Dagg when hes been fit and I still think Ngatai could be a good replacement for Conrad Smith eventually.

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

Looking at a 23 of:

1 Any prop
2 Dixon
3 Any prop
4 Franklin
5 Wheeler
6 Dixon
7 Christie
8 Squire
9 Gibson-Park/Smiley
10 West
11 Proctor
12 Ngatai
13 Lowe
14 Milne-Skudder
15 Robinson

16 Taylor
17 Any prop
18 Any prop
19 Thomson
20 Polwart
21 Smiley/Gibson-Park
22 McKenzie
23 Baker/Webber

There tends to be a bit of experimentation on these tours however, so it's unlikely we'll ever see that lineup.

 

[nickdnz]

Out of interest, is Kane Hames injured? Not sure why he's not in the squad considering his involvement with the All Blacks this year and the total lack of note worthy props.

 

[Darwin]

Out of interest, is Kane Hames injured? Not sure why he's not in the squad considering his involvement with the All Blacks this year and the total lack of note worthy props.

Hames has been out injured almost the entire ITM Cup. I've got no idea what sort of injury he has though....

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

Hames has been out injured almost the entire ITM Cup. I've got no idea what sort of injury he has though....

It's an ankle injury, I believe.

 

[Darwin]

My preferred 23 would be similar to Mr Fish's. All 4 props are at about the same level - perhaps I would opt for Edmonds and Kainga to start. Thomson and Squire are the best to 6/8's in the squad but given they play a similar style including a 'tighter' loosie like Dixon would probably be the right choice.

Personally I wouldn't have Robinson starting - indeed I would struggle to find a spot for him in the 23. I feel he is very over-rated. He had a good season for the Chiefs in 2012, but did nothing previously, and has done very little since (though has struggled with injuries). He does have phenomenal acceleration, and is an excellent counter-attacker when given space, but I think he still has some serious flaws in his game. He is a very weak defender and struggles when any pressure is put on him at all - not great attributes to have as a fullback! Based on current form I would have Milner-Skudder at fullback - he's been outstanding for Manawatu this season - with Proctor and Webber on the wings. I've got some time for Baker too, but he too has struggled with injuries these last few years, and has never fully translated his 7's form into the 15's game.

 

[William18]

How can you get away with just 4 props these days?

 

[Darwin]

How can you get away with just 4 props these days?

Joe Royal can (apparently) play both LH and TH as well as hooker.

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

Mitch Crosswell, Nick Crosswell and Hayden Triggs have replaced Liam Squire, Shane Christie and Joe Wheeler, who are all out with injury.

Pretty disappointed, Squire in particular I was looking forward to seeing.