All Blacks 36 man touring squad

[philbe]

15 Mils Muliaina
14 Sitiveni Sivivatu
13 Conrad Smith
12 Maa Nonu
11 Joe Rokocoko
10 Dan Carter
09 Piri Weepu
08 Rodney Soliola
07 Richard McCaw
06 Jerome Kaino
05 Ali Williams
04 Brad Thorn
03 John Afoa
02 Andrew Hore
01 Tony Woodcock

16 Neemia Tialata
17 Keven Mealamu
18 Anthony Boric
19 Adam Thompson
20 Jimmy Cowan
21 Stephen Donald
22 Isaia Toeava

23 John Schwalger
24 Jamie MacIntosh
25 Hika Elliott
26 Jeremy Thrush
27 Filipo Levi
28 Keiran Read
29 Tanerau Lattimer
30 Sione Lauaki
31 Andy Ellis
32 Stephen Brett
33 Richard Kahui
34 Anthony Tuitavake
35 Hosea Gear
36 Corey Jane

 

[ChiefsFan]

Props
J Afoa
N Tialata
T Woodcock
J Macintosh
J Schwalger

Hookers
A Hore
K Mealamu
H Elliot

Locks
B Thorn
A Williams
A Boric
J Thrush

Loose Forwards
R McCaw
R So'oalo
J Kaino
L Messam
A Thompson
T Latimer
K Read

Halfbacks
A Ellis
P Weepu
J Cowan

First Fives
D Carter
S Donald

Midfielders
M Nonu
C Smith
R Kahui
S Brett
T Bateman

Wingers
J Rokocoko
S Sivivatu
A Tuitavake
R Wulf

Fullbacks
M Muliaina
P Williams
I Toeava

 

[bobilycious]

36? I'm pretty sure the squad is only supposed to have 35 players in it. 20 forwards and 15 backs.

I would go with ChiefsFan's team except have Jason Eaton at lock, swap Brett for Hosea Gear, Bateman for Cory Jane and leave out Paul Williams

 

[bates]

The possible squad looks mighty fine.
already looking forward to the tour

 

[ChiefsFan]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (allyoop @ Oct 7 2008, 06:24 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

36? I'm pretty sure the squad is only supposed to have 35 players in it. 20 forwards and 15 backs.

I would go with ChiefsFan's team except have Jason Eaton at lock, swap Brett for Hosea Gear, Bateman for Cory Jane and leave out Paul Williams[/b]

I considered both Gear and Jane, but felt that taking five specialist wingers would be overdoing it. Unless Wulf or Tui had horrid ANZ Cups, and even then, I don't think they would be dropped from the squad. I'd like to see Gear have another season at Super 14 level, that's where he'll really be tested. It's very hard for wingers to get into AB squads out of the ANZ Cup as defenses are usually a lot weaker than in Super games and wingers tend to look much better. I personally prefer Williams over Jane as firstly Williams is younger, but also he always features in games whereas Jane occasionally disapears for whole games.

Also in your squad you'd only have three (four if you include Toeava) as specialist midfielders. We need another option at 12 so I feel either Brett, Bateman or Benson Stanley will get in.

 

[darwin_23]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (allyoop @ Oct 7 2008, 06:24 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

36? I'm pretty sure the squad is only supposed to have 35 players in it. 20 forwards and 15 backs.

I would go with ChiefsFan's team except have Jason Eaton at lock, swap Brett for Hosea Gear, Bateman for Cory Jane and leave out Paul Williams[/b]

Yep, I think 35 players with a 20/15 split has been confirmed. I think the majority of the team picks itself, with all of the tri-nations squad (if fit) likely to be selected (with the exception of possibly Lauaki).

I think the squad will be something along the lines of:

T Woodcock
J. Schwalger (or J MacIntosh)
N Tialata
B Franks
J Afoa
A Hore
K Mealamu
H Elliot (or D Coles, C Flynn)
B Thorn
A Williams
A Boric
R Filipo (or J Eaton, J Thrush)
T Donnelly
J Kaino
K Read
R McCaw
T Latimer
A Thompson
L Messam (or S Lauaki)
R So'oalo
A Ellis
P Weepu
J Cowan
D Carter
S Donald
M Nonu
R Kahui
C Smith
I Toeava
A Tuitavake (or R Wulf)
J Rokocoko
S Sivivatu
H Gear (or L Masaga)
M Muliaina
L MacDonald (if fit, otherwise P Williams, C Jane or L Masaga)

 

[cyRil]

Hasn't Henry said he won't be playing McCaw, or have I been dreaming again?
Bateman has looked awesome recently so hope he gets the chance to go.

 

[bobilycious]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ChiefsFan @ Oct 7 2008, 09:33 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (allyoop @ Oct 7 2008, 06:24 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

36? I'm pretty sure the squad is only supposed to have 35 players in it. 20 forwards and 15 backs.

I would go with ChiefsFan's team except have Jason Eaton at lock, swap Brett for Hosea Gear, Bateman for Cory Jane and leave out Paul Williams[/b]

I considered both Gear and Jane, but felt that taking five specialist wingers would be overdoing it. Unless Wulf or Tui had horrid ANZ Cups, and even then, I don't think they would be dropped from the squad. I'd like to see Gear have another season at Super 14 level, that's where he'll really be tested. It's very hard for wingers to get into AB squads out of the ANZ Cup as defenses are usually a lot weaker than in Super games and wingers tend to look much better. I personally prefer Williams over Jane as firstly Williams is younger, but also he always features in games whereas Jane occasionally disapears for whole games.

Also in your squad you'd only have three (four if you include Toeava) as specialist midfielders. We need another option at 12 so I feel either Brett, Bateman or Benson Stanley will get in.
[/b][/quote]

I would use Tuitavake as a centre for the All Blacks as he plays really well there and it frees up a spot for another wing (Gear). I dont think the midfield is a problem. We would have Nonu, Kahui, Smith, Tuitavake, Toeava and if we need to Wulf, Muliaina, and Carter (with Donald at first-five).

Oh and if the provincial websites are correct I think Jane is 2 months younger then Paul Williams. Also, I think Paul Williams is too slow to play Fullback at an international level. I see him as sort-of like Hamilton: knows where to be at the right time but is just too slow!

 

[ChiefsFan]

Oh, hehe... I thought Jane was getting along in age. Some people seem to say he's really old? Like 26/7?

 

[bobilycious]

By the way, didnt he used to have dreadlocks? I quite liked them although I always have been a fan of them.

 

[candybum]

Yup, wanted to fit in with Umaga, Nonu and So'oialo lol

 

[cyRil]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (cyRil of Ospreylia @ Oct 7 2008, 09:47 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Hasn't Henry said he won't be playing McCaw, or have I been dreaming again?
Bateman has looked awesome recently so hope he gets the chance to go.[/b]

Anyone? No?

 

[darwin_23]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (cyRil of Ospreylia @ Oct 9 2008, 12:55 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (cyRil of Ospreylia @ Oct 7 2008, 09:47 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hasn't Henry said he won't be playing McCaw, or have I been dreaming again?
Bateman has looked awesome recently so hope he gets the chance to go.[/b]

Anyone? No?[/b][/quote]
Henry has said that McCaw won't be starting every game, but I'd imagine he will start the majority of the games. Even last year when they were rotating the team McCaw started every game along with Carter (apart from a few games against minows at the world cup) - so this is a bit of a change of tactic. Henry has stated that one of the aims of the tour is to find a suitable backup for McCaw, so I'd imagine several players will each be given a start in the 7 jersey to see how they cope (most likely those playes will be Thomson and Latimer, though someone like Messem may be a chance)

 

[cyRil]

Can Thompson start the Wales game please?
(I'm disregarding his performance against Wellington, and going purely on All Black form when I say this)

 

[darwin_23]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (cyRil of Ospreylia @ Oct 9 2008, 08:24 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Can Thompson start the Wales game please?
(I'm disregarding his performance against Wellington, and going purely on All Black form when I say this) [/b]

Sure - I mean we need to give you guys a chance I guess. With Thomson starting you may be able to get within 30 points of the AB's

 

[punkbrain]

Props:

1.T.Woodcock
2.N.Tialata
3.J.Makintosh
4.B.Franks
5.J.Schwalger

Hookers:

1.A.Hore
2.H.Elliot
3.K.Mealamu

Locks:

1.A.Williams
2.B.Thorn
3.T.Donnelly
4.A.Boric
5.J.Thrush

Loosies:

1.R.McCaw
2.R.So'oialo
3.J.Kaino
4.A.Thomson
5.L.Messam
6.K.Read
7.T.Latimer

Halfbacks:

1.J.Cowan
2.P.Weepu
3.A.Matthewson

Flyhalves:

1.D.Carter
2.S.Donald

Centres:

1.C.Smith
2.M.Nonu
3.R.Kahui
4.T.Bateman

Wings:

1.H.Gear
2.S.Sivivatu
3.A.Tuitavake
4.C.Jane

Fullbacks:

1.M.Muliaina
2.P.Williams


C.Jane should be on tour as a winger coz J.Rokocoko doesn't look as sharp as he did at the begining of the year!!!......and coz P.Williams needs to be rewarded for his form in the Super14 and ANC!