[2014 Mid-Year Tests] New Zealand

[Shaggy]

I'm not totally against Visinia as a bolter - but I'd be shocked if Jane missed out for him. I personally would love to see TNW given a shot at fullback..

I hadn't thought about Nanai-Williams ... I guess they'd consider him for his utility value, and he's certainly proven himself at Super Rugby level

 

[IRISH RUGBY MAN]

Romano out with broken ankle. Chance for Tuipolotu?

 

[Shaggy]

Romano out with broken ankle. Chance for Tuipolotu?

Yes, maybe ... if they go for four locks, they might be Whitelock, Retallick, Bird, and Thrush ... but Tuipolotu could certainly displace Bird or Thrush

 

[Bada-Bing!]

Romano out with broken ankle. Chance for Tuipolotu?

That guy is really injury prone.

 

[IRISH RUGBY MAN]

Yes, maybe ... if they go for four locks, they might be Whitelock, Retallick, Bird, and Thrush ... but Tuipolotu could certainly displace Bird or Thrush

Whitelock and Retallick are obvious starters and I think thrush has played pretty good this year and deserves a start. But for me Bird hasn't done enough and Tuipolotu should be in ahead of him. He's younger and has played to a higher standard this year already.

On another note, thought Dagg was much better today. Whitelock brothers were both very impressive

 

[Shaggy]

Whitelock and Retallick are obvious starters and I think thrush has played pretty good this year and deserves a start. But for me Bird hasn't done enough and Tuipolotu should be in ahead of him. He's younger and has played to a higher standard this year already.

On another note, thought Dagg was much better today. Whitelock brothers were both very impressive

Just had another look to see if the team has been named ... it hasn't, but NZ radio sport site (which is usually pretty reliable) seems to think Tuipolotu will be named in the squad http://www.radiosport.co.nz/news/sprug/1374792388-rugby--all-blacks-training-squad-to-be-revealed

It doesn't look like Corey Flynn will get a recall as he's just signed a two year deal with Toulouse http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/10035255/Corey-Flynn-shifting-to-France-with-Toulouse

 

[Darwin]

Given Mealamu's dodgy calf I would have thought Flynn may have been tempted to stick around a bit longer, though I suppose he isn't getting any younger so needs to make the big money while he can....

 

[Shaggy]

Given Mealamu's dodgy calf I would have thought Flynn may have been tempted to stick around a bit longer, though I suppose he isn't getting any younger so needs to make the big money while he can....

Yeah, he'll be 35? by the time his two year contract is up ... I guess he's had a chat with Shag Hanson about his RWC prospects, and made the decision based on that (at least I hope that's what happened) ... put's a lot more pressure on Dane Coles until the young guys get up to standard

 

[jessta]

My tips for the 35 man squad:

Props: pretty straight forward
1. Tony woodcock
2. Ben franks
3. Wyatt crockett
4. Owen franks
5. Charlie faumuina
6. Jeffery toomaga allen

Ben tameifuna cant even be considered for international rugby until he looses his extra baggage. Him and ben afeaki would be next up though.

Hookers: as its problem position they will train four

7. Dane coles
8. Kevin mealamu
9. Liam coltman
10. Nathan harris

Harris has stormed into chiefs starting role and edges out rhys Marshall.

Locks:

11. Brodie retallick
12. Sam whitelock
13. Jeremy thrush
14. Dominic bird
15. Patrick tuipulotu

In the actual squad either bird or tuipulotu will be dropped. Thrush deserves his spot. Bird hasnt been fantastic but tuipulotu is still new to super rugby. I would tip tuipulotu be retained though based on his bruising form.

Backrow:

16. Liam messam
17. Jerome kaino
18. Steven luatua
19. Richie mccaw
20. Sam cane
21. Kieran read

Pitty they cant train 40 as matt todd, luke braid and maybe ardie savea would have to be included.

Halfbacks: straight forward
22. Aaron smith
23. Tawera kerr barlow
24. Tj perenara

Augustine pulu would be next up but I think andy ellis on form should be.

First five:
25. Beuden barrett
26. Colin slade
27. Tom taylor

Centers:
28. Maa nonu
29. Ryan crotty
30. Conrad smith
31. Malakai fekitoa

These should be our world cup centers but SBW and kahuis return complicates things.

Back three:
32. Ben smith
33. Israel dagg
34. Cory jane
35. Julian savea

If piutau was fit who knows who would of been dropped. Probs jane. Tim nai nai Williams would also be a great option. Maybe they will take two tens (dropping either slade or taylor) in order to free up another spot here.

Interesting stuff... cannot wait to see

 

[Draggs]

Hookers: Keven Mealamu (Blues), Nathan Harris (Chiefs), Dane Coles (Hurricanes) and Liam Coltman (Highlanders).

Props: Charlie Faumuina and Tony Woodcock (Blues), Ben Franks (Hurricanes) and Wyatt Crockett and Owen Franks (Crusaders).

Locks: Patrick Tuipulotu (Blues), Brodie Retallick (Chiefs), Jeremy Thrush * (Hurricanes) and Dominic Bird and Sam Whitelock (Crusaders).

Loose forwards: Jerome Kaino and Steven Luatua (Blues), Sam Cane and Liam Messam (Chiefs), Victor Vito (Hurricanes) and Richie McCaw, Kieran Read and Luke Whitelock * (Crusaders).

Halfbacks: Tawera Kerr–Barlow (Chiefs), TJ Perenara (Hurricanes) and Aaron Smith (Highlanders).

First five-eighths: Aaron Cruden (Chiefs), Beauden Barrett (Hurricanes) and Colin Slade (Crusaders).

Midfielders: Ma'a Nonu (Blues), Conrad Smith (Hurricanes), Ryan Crotty (Crusaders) and Malakai Fekitoa (Highlanders).

Outside backs: Cory Jane and Julian Savea (Hurricanes), Israel Dagg (Crusaders) and Ben Smith (Highlanders).

* Note: Thrush will be attending the Wellington camp only and Luke Whitelock the Christchurch camp.

The All Blacks play England at Eden Park, Auckland, on Saturday 7 June; Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin, on Saturday 14 June; and Waikato Stadium, Hamilton, on Saturday 21 June.

allblacks.com

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

Well, only surprise there is seeing Vito.

 

[Shaggy]

Only four specialist outside backs indicates that we may see Fekitoa, Barrett, or Slade used at the back, at some stage

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

Only four specialist outside backs indicates that we may see Fekitoa, Barrett, or Slade used at the back, at some stage

Given there are only three tests I'd like to think we don't see Barrett at fullback at all.

I'd like to see:
Savea, Smith, Dagg (Jane on bench)
Savea, Jane, Dagg (Fekitoa on bench)
Fekitoa, Jane, Smith (Dagg on bench)

 

[Shaggy]

Given there are only three tests I'd like to think we don't see Barrett at fullback at all.

I'd like to see:
Savea, Smith, Dagg (Jane on bench)
Savea, Jane, Dagg (Fekitoa on bench)
Fekitoa, Jane, Smith (Dagg on bench)

It's hard to see them not starting Savea and Ben Smith, and I guess they'll start Dagg with maybe the bench being TKB, Barrett, and Fekitoa or Jane ... if they go with Fekitoa and he comes on in the Centres, Barrett might get some game time at Fullback

 

[nickdnz]

Well, only surprise there is seeing Vito.

I'd be more than annoyed if Vito wasn't there but Luke Whitelock was..

I'm also not convinced Fekitoa is a wing option...I've only ever seem him played in the centers.

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

I'd be more than annoyed if Vito wasn't there but Luke Whitelock was..

I'm also not convinced Fekitoa is a wing option...I've only ever seem him played in the centers.

This is true, but I figure at this point in time he's very much one of the players not normally included because 'we already know a lot about them', and unlikely to make the 31 man squad. Unless injuries strike I can't really see him making the World Cup (though the same could definitely be said for Whitelock), purely because I can't imagine any of the other six NOT making the World Cup.

Fekitoa played once on the wing for the Highlanders this year, so he's spent approximately 10% of his Super Rugby career there

 

[Shaggy]

I'd be more than annoyed if Vito wasn't there but Luke Whitelock was..

I'm also not convinced Fekitoa is a wing option...I've only ever seem him played in the centers.

I think Luke Whitelock and Jeremy Thrush will both be injury cover, as Whitelock is only attending the Christchurch camp, and Thrush the Wellington one ... with regard to Fekitoa, I definitely see him as wing cover for Savea ... I'm not sure how much game time Kahui had for the Chiefs on the wing, but it didn't stop the ABs playing him on the wing ... might be a way to ease him (Fekitoa) into test rugby without the responsibilities of playing at Centre

 

[Darwin]

Overall a largely predictable squad. Not that is necessarily a bad thing! There are a few new faces, but the fact that the likes of Fekitoa, Coltman, and Harris will be selected was hardly kept secret. The only thing I'm not sure of is the make-up of the training squad: 8 loose-forwards? Only 4 outside backs? Only 5 props? I for one expected to see another prop (Toomaga-Allen). On the player front the only real surprise for me was Vito (for the same reasons as Mr Fish I suspect). I'm not saying he shouldn't be there, just I didn't think the AB's selectors would pick him....

Good to see two younger hooker (Harris & Coltman) given a chance - not that the selectors had much option with Flynn leaving. It will be a straight head-to-head between these two for the 3rd hooker position in the 31-man squad. I'm also happy to see Tuipolotu included. He is still very raw, but so to is Bird, and I think both have more potential at the top level than Thrush (or Romano for that matter). Tuipolotu, Thrush, Bird, and Luatua are probably battling for 2 spots in the actual 31-man squad...

No surprise to see Luke Whitelock included again. Over the last few weeks he has actually started to show some very good signs at Super Rugby level. I'm hoping he won't make the final squad, but at least he is starting to show why the AB's selectors rate him so highly. I can't really see any room for Vito in the 31-man squad as Kaino, Messam, Cane, McCaw, and Read are all certainties in my opinion. The only way I could see him being included is if they chose only 3 locks and decided Kaino would provide a 4th locking option if required (but I can't see that happening).

All 14 of the backs in this squad should be included in the final squad.....

 

[Patchey]

From an English point of view I'd hoped there would be a few more new faces. Even with starting all of the uncapped guys, this squad will make short work of the team we're likely to put out in the first test.

Does anyone know whether it was Slade or Fekitoa who forced Tom Taylor out?

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

From an English point of view I'd hoped there would be a few more new faces. Even with starting all of the uncapped guys, this squad will make short work of the team we're likely to put out in the first test.

Does anyone know whether it was Slade or Fekitoa who forced Tom Taylor out?

Taylor hasn't been starting for the Crusaders lately, so he hasn't had a lot of game time. Fekitoa is more likely to make the final squad than Slade is, I'd imagine (I can't see Slade getting any game time with Barrett and Cruden both likely to be fit), and Taylor was originally selected as a 10 for the All Blacks (though his ability to cover midfield and fullback would have been appealing too).

So that doesn't really answer your question, but there isn't really a straight forward answer