All Blacks final World Cup squad?

[Mcfadden]

Is Osbourne playing for Canterbury or Counties?

Canterbury.

 

[TobesHodges]

Scudder in, unlucky dagg? Also I think Ben is better than Owen? Am I right? But the likes of him and Barrett might just be released to get game time..

 

[rugby_mad]

Hope these are the 31 All Blacks going to RWC 2015..

Tony Woodcock
Owen Franks
Wyatt Crockett
Nepo Laulala
Ben Franks

Dane Coles
Kevin Mealamu
Codie Taylor

Brodie Rettalick
Sam Whitelock
Luke Romano

Richie McCaw
Keiran Read
Jerome Kaino
Sam Cane
Victor Vito
Liam Messam

Aaron Smith
TJ Perenara
Andy Ellis

Dan Carter
Beauden Barrett
Lima Sopoaga

Ma'a Nonu
Conrad Smith
Malakai Fekitoa
Sonny Bill Williams

Julian Savea
Nehe Milne-Skudder
Ben Smith
Charles Piutau

 

[nzlizard]

We will have to agree to disagree on Conrad Smith.

I'm not saying he is bad, but I think we can all agree that in the last 18 months he has made more mistakes and had more bad games that the previous 6-8 years. He is not the Conrad of that error, while he is still ahead of Fekitoa in some areas we can all agree that Fekitoa has some areas over him as well.

Fekitoa is been asked to pressure the ball carrier a lot more. Rush at the line. He does the same for the Highlanders.. Stats don't always tell a story, sometimes you have to watch players impact in the game, Fekitoa played a huge part in our South African victory.

Getting really hard to take you serious when you have one rule for Highlanders and one others, while this may not be intentional it is certainly the way you come across.

With this information, we can roughly guess who is confirmed going and who is still under evaluation.

A little bit of this, but some of the names on the list will be going but haven't played a lot of rugby in the last 4-6 weeks, so a bit of match fitness will be needed.

 

[Kiwi_]

I'm not saying he is bad, but I think we can all agree that in the last 18 months he has made more mistakes and had more bad games that the previous 6-8 years. He is not the Conrad of that error, while he is still ahead of Fekitoa in some areas we can all agree that Fekitoa has some areas over him as well.



Getting really hard to take you serious when you have one rule for Highlanders and one others, while this may not be intentional it is certainly the way you come across.





A little bit of this, but some of the names on the list will be going but haven't played a lot of rugby in the last 4-6 weeks, so a bit of match fitness will be needed.

Yeah because I've been so kind bout Aaron Smiths woeful performances of late.

 

[IKALETAHI]

Rumours out of France Ben Tameifuna to be a surprise selection. Although I can't see this happening I hope there are no truths to these reports.

 

[nickdnz]

Rumours out of France Ben Tameifuna to be a surprise selection. Although I can't see this happening I hope there are no truths to these reports.

I can't see any truth in Tameifuna being included. It would be out of very left field.

 

[chikwa chibwe]

Hope these are the 31 All Blacks going to RWC 2015..

Tony Woodcock
Owen Franks
Wyatt Crockett
Nepo Laulala
Ben Franks

Dane Coles
Kevin Mealamu
Codie Taylor

Brodie Rettalick
Sam Whitelock
Luke Romano

Richie McCaw
Keiran Read
Jerome Kaino
Sam Cane
Victor Vito
Liam Messam

Aaron Smith
TJ Perenara
Andy Ellis

Dan Carter
Beauden Barrett
Lima Sopoaga

Ma'a Nonu
Conrad Smith
Malakai Fekitoa
Sonny Bill Williams

Julian Savea
Nehe Milne-Skudder
Ben Smith
Charles Piutau

I wish this were so. Based on the players he has released to play , it appears he will leave behind Lima sopoaga and Charles piutau. He carries Colin slade & Israel . I hope I am wrong !

 

[Kiwi_]

Leaving behind Piutau and taking Dagg would be stupidity beyond belief. I'm going to try stay away from misinformation like this, it will just **** me off. But I have heard Sopoanga isn't getting selected.

 

[TobesHodges]

Leaving behind Piutau and taking Dagg would be stupidity beyond belief. I'm going to try stay away from misinformation like this, it will just **** me off. But I have heard Sopoanga isn't getting selected.

But Dagg was in the Advert, surely you can understand.. :lol:

 

[Kiwi_]

It doesn't make much sense, he hasn't been played into any sort of form.

 

[nzlizard]

I wish this were so. Based on the players he has released to play , it appears he will leave behind Lima sopoaga and Charles piutau. He carries Colin slade & Israel . I hope I am wrong !

I still feel some of the players released have been for game time, as a couple like Barrett, Cane have not played a lot in the last few weeks, at least am hoping so.

 

[Kiwi_]

When's the squad released?

 

[ShonH]

All Blacks release 17 players to ITM Cup

Source:





The following players have been released by the All Blacks to play in the ITM Cup for their respective provinces.

Beauden Barrett of the All Blacks

The following players are available, if required, for Week 2 this week:

* Cory Jane and Jeremy Thrush (for Wellington vs. North Harbour, Auckland, 7.35PM Thursday 20 August)
* Tawera Kerr-Barlow and Liam Messam (for Waikato vs. Manawatu, Palmerston North, 2.35PM Saturday 22 August)
* Lima Sopoaga (for Southland vs. Northland, Whangarei, 5.35PM Saturday 22 August)
* Israel Dagg (for Hawke's Bay vs. Otago, Dunedin, 7.35PM Saturday 22 August)
* Charlie Faumuina and Charles Piutau (for Auckland vs. Taranaki, Auckland, 2.35PM Sunday 23 August)
* Ryan Crotty Joe Moody, Patrick Osborne and Matt Todd (for Canterbury vs. Counties Manukau, 4.35PM Sunday 23 August)

The following players are available, if required, for Week 3 next week:

* Sam Cane (for Bay of Plenty vs. Southland, Tauranga, 7.35PM Wednesday 26 August)
* Cory Jane, Jeremy Thrush and Victor Vito (for Wellington vs. Northland, Wellington, 7.35PM Saturday 29 August)
* Israel Dagg and Ben Franks (for Hawke's Bay vs. Counties Manukau, Pukekohe, 7.35PM Friday 28 August)
* Charlie Faumuina and Charles Piutau (for Auckland) and Ryan Crotty Joe Moody, Patrick Osborne and Matt Todd (for Canterbury) for their match in Auckland, 2.35PM Saturday 29 August
* Beauden Barrett and James Broadhurst (Taranaki vs. Otago, New Plymouth, 5.35PM Saturday 29 August)

With this information, we can roughly guess who is confirmed going and who is still under evaluation.

---

Educate me: does this mean Sopoaga will not see WC action?

 

[Kiwi_]

I think in the case of TKB, who is likely going to be our 3rd string, it's for more game time, given the lack of game time they have had the past few weeks/months. Also Hansen will be watching to see if they find any sort of form, in the case of Dagg, so he will be wanting to look at the closely contested positions and players fighting for a spot.

Players to watch, for contested spots;

Piutau
Dagg
Barrett (99.9% sure he's safe and just needs more game time)
Sopoanga (unlikely to be picked, heard from personal sources he's not going)
TKB
Cane/Todd

Most of the others just aren't going to be going to the RWC or be on the injury reserves list like;

Crotty
Broadhurst
Thrush
Jane
Todd (most likely won't go)
Osbourne


I think not taking Sopoanga could be our biggest mistake. I understand he's too green, which is a shame, but really he can overcome that. He's the inform 1st 5 in the country at the moment. Slade has earned his spot, so it would be had to drop him.

Also if we take Dagg over Piutau then that's just complete favouritism and stupidity.

 

[easy2288]

Slightly deviation from the subject matter. Anyone knows how many individual medals will be given at the WC. I recalled everyone received one medal including those players that were called in as injury replacement for example Stephen Donald.

 

[nzlizard]

When's the squad released?

Last I heard was 30th August.

Educate me: does this mean Sopoaga will not see WC action?

Hard to say, depending on the mix of reserves they want, eg specialists over utilities in certain roles, that one SA test may have been enough, maybe Hansen wants to see him play another game before he decides? depending on when he names the squad.

The one thing I do know is that either way he needs game time as he only played once in the last 5 weeks.

 

[Kapa O Pango]

This is the strongest All Blacks starting 23:

1. Tony Woodcock
2. Dane Coles
3. Owen Franks
4. Brodie Retallick
5. Sam Whitelock
6. Jerome Kaino
7. Richie McCaw
8. Kieran Read
9. Aaron Smith
10. Dan Carter
11. Julian Savea
12. Ma'a Nonu
13. Conrad Smith
14. Charles Piutau
15. Ben Smith

Reverse:
16. Codie Taylor
17. Wyatt Crockett
18. Nepo Laulala
19. Luke Romano
20. Sam Cane
21. TJ Perenara
22. Beauden Barrett
23. Malakai Fekitoa

 

[TobesHodges]

This is the strongest All Blacks starting 23:

1. Tony Woodcock
2. Dane Coles
3. Owen Franks
4. Brodie Retallick
5. Sam Whitelock
6. Jerome Kaino
7. Richie McCaw
8. Kieran Read
9. Aaron Smith
10. Dan Carter
11. Julian Savea
12. Ma'a Nonu
13. Conrad Smith
14. Charles Piutau
15. Ben Smith

Reverse:
16. Codie Taylor
17. Wyatt Crockett
18. Nepo Laulala
19. Luke Romano
20. Sam Cane
21. TJ Perenara
22. Beauden Barrett
23. Malakai Fekitoa

Please.. Nehe for Piutua.. Love your name btw.

 

[CaliRa1]

If only everyone could stay healthy

Starting XV
Ben Smith
Nehe Skudder-Milner
Conrad Smith
Ma'a Nonu
Julian Savea
Dan Carter
Aaron Smith
Kieran Read
Richie McCaw
Jerome Kaino
Samuel Whitelock
Brodie Retallick
Owen Franks
Dane Coles
Tony Woodcock

Reserves
Keven Mealamu
Ben Franks
Nepo Laulala
Victor Vito
Sam Cane
TJ Perenara
Beauden Barrett
Malakai Fekitoa

Extended Bench
Codie Taylor
Luke Romano
Liam Messam
Tawera Kerr-Barlow
Lima Sopoaga
Sonny Bill Williams
Israel Dagg

and either
Charlie Faumuina/Joe Moody/Wyatt Crockett
or
Waisake Naholo/Cory Jane/Charles Piutau

1 of those guys anyway

Hookers we definitely take 3
Coles top 3 possibly #1. Mealamu goes because of experience and Taylor goes due to his familiarity with the Canterbury connection in the front row. Nathan Harris would have been another option if he were healthy.

Locks only 3
I don't see the need to take a 4th Specialist Lock as Kaino would be able to fill that void quite comfortably.
If only Luatua and Tuipulotu didn't get injured there would be 5 viable options at Lock.
Unfortunately I drop my Maori brother Messam and Romano

Props from Canterbury and Auckland
Owen Franks #1 TH in the world. Ben Franks goes for his versatility. Tony Woodcock experience. Nepo Laulala gets the nod over his now ex-Crusaders teammates because he has been involved with majority of these Rugby Championship Matches. And if Faumuina was all good to go, I go with him over Moody and Crockett due to his versatility
Moody has a great future ahead of him though

Loose Forwards
I take 6 with me to the world cup. 2 of each. Read McCaw Kaino have been regularly regarded within the top 3 at their respective positions throughout their illustrious careers. Vito Cane and Messam round out my Loose Forwards. Based on Form and Health. Luatua would shift Messam back to the ITM Cup if he were healthy though. Would have loved to have seen Dixon Savea and Shields in the Rugby Championship but were overlooked due to playing in the Super Rugby Finals and not really being in the plans for this years World Cup. I have not doubt each of them will be seen in Japan 2019. If not for the RWC plying their trade in the Top League there. Also, Akira Ioane and Blake Gibson also looking promising for the future of NZRU

I take 3 Flyhalves due to the issues we had at the last 2 world cups
And Slade and a healthy Cruden would both be viable candidates
But based on form and health Sopoaga and Barrett clearly lead the pack behind Carter
Ihaia West and Damian McKenzie the next Plausible candidates

The only question mark I have is if we really need to take a third Scrumhalve
I believe Smith and Perenara are 2 of the top 4 in the world (with the likes of du Preez and Genia you may call me a southern hemisphere lover but hey each of those power 3 nations have winning records over all of the northern hemisphere nations) and trust that they would be able to handle the load. Just earlier Substitutions I guess. Game management very important. Plus Kerr-Barlow hasn't played a whole lot of rugby since returning from his most recent injury.

Midfield is a bit light in depth
Nonu Smith and Fekitoa are all definitely going in my opinion
But based on his poor outing in the 1st Bledisloe Cup match I am not convinced that Sonny Bill deserves a ticket to England
I can't see any other options in the midfield either. No Kahui or Ranger available, yet as least. Crotty and Ngatai are there for Injured cover but aren't experienced enough. Same as Tamanivalu and Moala.

Outside Back depth is Very Strong (If Healthy of course)
Smith and Dagg definitely battling it out for the #15 jersey with Piutau the 3rd best option. Piutau plays on the wing also and is just as effective.
Savea if fully fit and healthy sures up the left side for any team while Skudder-Milner seems to have found a home on the right side especially with Jane and Naholo out Injured
Naholo looks promising for NZs future. Osborne has been outstanding also. Were Naholo and Jane healthy though, I'm not sure Skudder-Milner would have been playing in those Bledisloe Cup Matches. Excellent audition performance against a tough foe.