All Blacks name first training squad of year.

[Darwin]

The All Blacks coaches and management team will hold two pre-season camps during the Super 15 playoffs as preparations continue for the international season.

A number of players from the Hurricanes, Chiefs and Highlanders, as well as several injured players, will attend the first camp in Wellington next week on Wednesday 29 and Thursday 30 June.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10733754

Chiefs: Ben Afeaki, Hikawera Elliot, Richard Kahui, Brendon Leonard, Liam Messam, Mils Muliaina and Sitiveni Sivivatu.
Hurricanes: Aaron Cruden, Hosea Gear, Andrew Hore, Cory Jane, Ma'a Nonu, Conrad Smith, Neemia Tialata, Victor Vito and Piri Weepu.
Highlanders: Jimmy Cowan, Tom Donnelly, Jarrad Hoeata, Colin Slade, Ben Smith and Adam Thomson.
Injured players: Israel Dagg, Isaia Toeava and Tony Woodcock.


Certainly a few interesting things that can be read into the squad (despite no Crusaders or Blues being included).
- No Stephen Donald! This suggests he is completely out of the picture. Aaron Cruden and Colin Slade (despite being injured) are firmly in the frame to backup Carter.
- Great to see Ben Smith there! (not the least bit surprising though).
- Not sure why Afeaki is included as he has no realistic chance of making the squad (though he is one for the future).
- I wonder what this means for Rene Ranger; he has been ruled out for the rest of the Super Rugby season, but has not been included alongside the other injured players in the squad. This may mean he is not in contention for the AB's this year...

 

[markshaw]

Big Ben Afeaki! Future All Black

 

[FlukeArtist]

Is it wrong to be stoked that Donald is not in there?
Poor guy... but got to say, he had to go

 

[Aedaphon]

I'd quite like a New Zealand opinion on this actually, is the back up 10 position more likely to go to Cruden/Slade or an old hand like Macallister?

Interesting seeing the injured players, I really hope that Toeava and Dagg will come into the form they had this season, they were absolutely spectacular.

 

[markshaw]

Slade for me , he has a running game similair to Carter and He is consistant. Should he be ready I'm confident the coaches will make the right decision they are very wise men

 

[Darwin]

I'd quite like a New Zealand opinion on this actually, is the back up 10 position more likely to go to Cruden/Slade or an old hand like Macallister?

Interesting seeing the injured players, I really hope that Toeava and Dagg will come into the form they had this season, they were absolutely spectacular.

When Slade got injured I was pretty sure that McAlister would be Carter's backup, but I'm not so sure now. MacAlister has had limited game-time in the 10 jersey, and has not been overly impressive. Worryingly his normally accurate goal-kicking has been absent in recent weeks; he didn't even do the goal-kicking last week, with Lachie Munro taking them instead (with Munro likely to be kicking again this week). At this stage I have a feeling that Cruden may have the inside running for this spot, though I would prefer Colin Slade (assuming he shows strong form in the ITM Cup once he has returned from injury).

 

[southern85]

Cruden has an outside chance as it has been proved more than once he cant step up when the pressure is on. Colin Slade on the other hand is very consistent and you could almost bet your house on him if it came to it. McCallister is an average rugby player at 1st five and 2nd five and he has had his chance. It is time selectors look to the future and to the best possible back up to Carter.

 

[Amobokoboko]

Good to see so many chiefs in the squad. Pity Latimer didn't make it.

 

[nickdnz]

I wish people would learn how to spell McAlister.

 

[FunkyMonkey5]

Stephen Brett

I'm from Wales so not in the greates position to be commenting on the outside half situation in New Zealand, however it strikes me that Brett is one of the better outside halves in the country on his form in super rugby. He's scored some sensational tries this year and the blues are in the playoffs so why has Delaney, Donald et al been getting picked ahead of him, did he do something wrong? Most other countries would love to have him I'm sure!

 

[nickdnz]

I'm from Wales so not in the greates position to be commenting on the outside half situation in New Zealand, however it strikes me that Brett is one of the better outside halves in the country on his form in super rugby. He's scored some sensational tries this year and the blues are in the playoffs so why has Delaney, Donald et al been getting picked ahead of him, did he do something wrong? Most other countries would love to have him I'm sure!

He played rugby over the last couple of seasons...

He's a good runner and pulls out some good plays every now and then but he'll do four things wrong for every time he does something right. I'd love to know how many of his passes of his have been intercepted. I'd rather have Donald over Brett and that's saying something.