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All Black new cap contenders

psychic duck

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Mar 7, 2011
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Having not being able to see too much Super Rugby this year unfortunately, can any Kiwis give a lowdown on who the emerging players who could be potentially putting their names forward for AB contention? I saw James Lowe mentioned in another thread, a player who impressed me from the bits I saw of him last year.
 
Not being a Kiwi, but I quite like one of the Highlanders wings. Thinks be used to play 7s, Osbourne is it?
 
Currently in the back 3 we have: Dagg, Piutau, Savea, B. Smith and Jane. Then you have people like Hosea Gear. I can't see James Lowe or Osbourne getting ahead of those guys. In 2016 you will start hearing their names more. I don't think there will be any bolters this year.
 
Not being a Kiwi, but I quite like one of the Highlanders wings. Thinks be used to play 7s, Osbourne is it?

I think Patrick Osborne may be available for the All Blacks, he was called into an ABs camp once in 2013, even though he was selected for Fiji sevens, but didn't play. To be honest, I think he's still down the peaking order for AB selection, as he's a specialist winger (they probably want versatility). The other Highlanders wing that's having a great season, is Waisake Naholo - he's played for NZ Seven's but probably won't feature for the ABs, as he's signed with Clermont.

As far as bolters go, maybe the Hurricanes fullback Nehe Milner-skudder is in great form, but, once again, the way forward is blocked with the established guys, so maybe next year?

Could maybe put Blues utility Lolagi Visinia, and winger Tavita Li, as well as chiefs fly half/fullback Damian McKenzie as players to watch as well.

Openside Flanker could be an interesting position to watch post RWC. Sam Cane is pretty much established to take over from Richie McCaw, but i'm anticipating that they'll be a tussle for the back up between Matt Todd, and Ardie Savea, who's come on leaps and bounds this year.
 
Okay that is the second time I've seen Osbourne's name pop up. He isn't that good is he? Or is it just me? I mean, he's okay, but All Blacks worthy? Admittedly I might be a little biased because I distinctly remember him almost botching a break away try last year against the Reds and ever since then I've only thought of him as a bit of an idiot haha. I've seen him do some other things which I'm not sure about either here and there.

To me, guys at the Chiefs and Hurricanes are way ahead of him. Bryce Heem, Skudder. They just need to bulk up like Dane Coles did.
 
Okay that is the second time I've seen Osbourne's name pop up. He isn't that good is he? Or is it just me? I mean, he's okay, but All Blacks worthy? Admittedly I might be a little biased because I distinctly remember him almost botching a break away try last year against the Reds and ever since then I've only thought of him as a bit of an idiot haha. I've seen him do some other things which I'm not sure about either here and there.

To me, guys at the Chiefs and Hurricanes are way ahead of him. Bryce Heem, Skudder. They just need to bulk up like Dane Coles did.

Well, I guess it depends on what they are looking for. If they are looking for someone in the J.Savea mould (I'm not saying he's in the same class), then they might look at him, but I agree that there are probably more likely candidates at this stage. Probably a stepper like Skudder, or a utility like James Lowe or Jason Woodward, are slightly more likely, but still improbable.
 
Piutau has signed over seas so i'm not sure they'll back him in the AB's and Gear has looked out of sorts...Osborne could be ahead of gear at the moment, Lowe does look very good though (manages to keep Gear out of the team), the selectors know who he is after calling him in to train last year and like so many highlanders players...if you can look good behind our pack..you will look fantastic behind an AB's one

Back up hookers could be interesting
 
Piutau has signed over seas so i'm not sure they'll back him in the AB's and Gear has looked out of sorts...Osborne could be ahead of gear at the moment, Lowe does look very good though (manages to keep Gear out of the team), the selectors know who he is after calling him in to train last year and like so many highlanders players...if you can look good behind our pack..you will look fantastic behind an AB's one

Back up hookers could be interesting

Yep, the hookers will be interesting - I don't see that anyone has really stepped up except, maybe Hika Elliott and maybe Motu Motu'u?

Will Nathan Harris feature this year, after last years injury ... he looked pretty promising prior to that
 
I'd say the only contender who stands a chance at this stage is James Lowe, and even that's small. As we saw in 2012 - the year after a World Cup the All Blacks like to start flooding the team with new caps to replace some of the older guys.
 
Agree with Lowe. The Chiefs have a couple of guys who are standing out for me. There are a few guys there who look pretty good, but like Nick said, after the World Cup will be the time for them. Or even 2017 in some cases. Not sure about McKenzie at the Chiefs. I really like him, but he's a bit small? Not sure how much size the ABs would want to sacrifice in their backline. I wouldn't put him in the All Blacks just yet anyway, but I've noticed him.
 
Damian Mckenzie is the only obvious bolter to me. This guy has class and AB written all over him. I want to watch Carter a bit more during super rugby but even right now Id outright drop Carter atleast for the Samoan game if he doesnt get his **** together and take Mckenzie maybe even right through to the WC. He's a bit young yes but it would be nice to give a first five this young who clearly has the talent a good go.

Carter is like an old Johnny Wilkinson way past his prime super injury prone but is still getting selected on reputation more than substance imo.

It being a WC year knocks Damians chances back alot though.
 
I don't think there will be any new caps this year, to be honest.

I think Hika Elliot will return to the squad, but other than that I can't see any new guys making the step up.

Lowe, Milner-Skudder and Ngatai are three backs who I think will be brought into the squad next year, but I don't imagine any of them will push out any of the established players for the World Cup.

Damian McKenzie is probably a couple of years away at best. If Slade goes after the Cup then there may be an extra spot available alongside Cruden and Barrett next year, but I think McKenzie needs a few season of Super Rugby under his belt before he makes the All Blacks.

In the forwards? Mealamu will need to be replaced come 2016, so there's a hooker spot available. Who takes that is anyone's guess. Likewise there'll be a few spots available for props.
 
Lowe is looking the goods and Damien McKenzie just oozes talent but is small he needs to bulk up, so maybe give him a few years. Osbourne is having a great season as is Milner-Skudder.

However can't see any of them making the AB's this year, if I had to pick a bolter I would go with Lowe, good running metres this year, looks confident, can tackle and is a good left foot kicking option.

Hooker should be Elliot based on what I have seen, admittedly I haven't watched as much rugby this year (the overseas games in particular) as normal so am a little light in some areas.
 
Kind of off topic sorry, so I undertstand if this question slips under the radar. But why did Hansen, and even Henry not persist with Hika Elliot? I've heard a few times that his off field behavior might have been the reason, but I'm not sure what that was specifically. Drinking or not showing up to training? No idea.
 
Kind of off topic sorry, so I undertstand if this question slips under the radar. But why did Hansen, and even Henry not persist with Hika Elliot? I've heard a few times that his off field behavior might have been the reason, but I'm not sure what that was specifically. Drinking or not showing up to training? No idea.


I believe it was the off field behavior, and the injury kind of finished it - he's definitely in the mix now, as the cupboards a bit thin for Hooker.

As for bolters, the Charles Piutau signing may have closed the door AB wise, for him, and may have opened the door for a bolter. I suspect that the main beneficiaries will be the five-eigths however, they may well select Barrett, Carter, Cruden, and Slade, with Barrett and Slade also covering the outside backs.
 
I think Piutau might be in for a shock come the WC. There is a good chance he wont even be selected imo. Hansen has nothing to loose on just leaving him out I reckon.

So thats one space free....
 
To be honest - despite me wanting Hansen to go with someone else I very much doubt Piatau will be left at home (although not discussing his leaving with the coaches probably doesn't help his case).
 
To be honest - despite me wanting Hansen to go with someone else I very much doubt Piatau will be left at home (although not discussing his leaving with the coaches probably doesn't help his case).

At the very least, it may spark some more great play from the fringe outside backs, who probably see a bit more hope of making the ABs this year. Some probably saw their only chance as replacing someone in the squad due to injuries to the incumbents
 
Key thing for me is in a world cup year we are not going to see many surprises.

Hooker is most prob the only position we may see something we don't expect.

Stability will be the thing that the selectors will look for.
 
Think perhaps for the very big games the AB selectors might go with a Dagg-Smith combo at 15 and 14. Cory Jane would be second choice if one of those guys were to be left out of the 15. And Piutau probably the 3rd option in waiting? No one is going to replace Savea obviously, unless you're putting him on the other wing. I'm guessing they'd be reasonably comfortable with Slade on the wing in a big game too, though not ideal.
 

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