All Blacks squad announced Sunday

[austingtir]

you know I think people will call me stupid for saying this but I wonder how close Richard Buckman is to all black selection.

he can play anywhere 12-15

He's had a big influence since he returned to the highlanders from injury.

huge workload and low error rate
tackles anything, makes tackles that save trys and force turnovers on a regular basis
full skillset
makes excellent decisions
has a tidy attacking game

I feel like once Conrad and Nonu are gone he would be hard not to select. If he sticks around long enough he might get a shot as I agree I think he's very good.

 

[Kiwi_]

Yeah Buckman will be in close contention, if he has another season like he did this season, then I think he will make the cut. We are definitely short in the centre department next season. Crotty isn't good enough, only Fekitoa is world class.

I think the MF will look like;

Fekitoa
Crotty
Ngatai
Buckman
Fruean*

A Fekitoa/Buckman combination would make sense, they've played 2 great seasons together now and work extremely well together.

I wouldn't mind seeing if Lowe could be converted into a centre as well since Naholo will take the wing.

 

[Regan]

Yeah Buckman will be in close contention, if he has another season like he did this season, then I think he will make the cut. We are definitely short in the centre department next season. Crotty isn't good enough, only Fekitoa is world class.

I think the MF will look like;

Fekitoa
Crotty
Ngatai
Buckman
Fruean*

A Fekitoa/Buckman combination would make sense, they've played 2 great seasons together now and work extremely well together.

I wouldn't mind seeing if Lowe could be converted into a centre as well since Naholo will take the wing.

Agree 100% on your list. Definitely rate Ngatai ahead of Buckman. No doubt there'll be a couple of potential players to come through the ITM Cup ranks too but that aside you'd have to say Buckman is a fringe player at least next year onwards.

 

[austingtir]

Yep Ngatai is the best specialist Buckman just covers so many positions that he'd be an awesome bench cover to have in the mix from next year on.

 

[jessta]

If hurricanes highlanders make final it will certainly make for an interesting AB team...

Lowe, George moala, tom Marshall, charlie ngatai, Damian McKenzie could be potential call ups to fill voids.

I liked McKenzie at fullback, reminded me of Ben smith the way he could change direction and see space inside the field.

 

[Kiwiwomble]

I don't see why they couldn't pick someone form The canes or landers as long as they hadn't been included in the squad, someone like Osborne for example.

 

[nickdnz]

I don't see why they couldn't pick someone form The canes or landers as long as they hadn't been included in the squad, someone like Osborne for example.

Huh?

Because Osborne would be playing in a SR final a few days before.

 

[iINDOMINUSxx]

To be honest i'm quite glad that the All blacks are going to cap Lima Sopoaga instead off Samoa, I was quite worried because if he played for Samoa, Scotland are screwed in the world cup. But thats one worry out the way.

But yeah really happy to see Nehe Milner-Skudder and Waisake Naholo in the team, both have been brilliant this year.

 

[Regan]

To be honest i'm quite glad that the All blacks are going to cap Lima Sopoaga instead off Samoa, I was quite worried because if he played for Samoa, Scotland are screwed in the world cup. But thats one worry out the way.

But yeah really happy to see Nehe Milner-Skudder and Waisake Naholo in the team, both have been brilliant this year.

He hasn't been capped yet mind you.

 

[iINDOMINUSxx]

He hasn't been capped yet mind you.

That is very true but he's included in the All black training squad, doesn't that mean he can't play for Samoa

 

[Regan]

That is very true but he's included in the All black training squad, doesn't that mean he can't play for Samoa

I was under the impression that it's not until they run on the pitch i.e debut then they can't play for other countries? I may be wrong though. Seems logical.

 

[Kiwi_]

He's from the Cook Islands.

 

[Kiwiwomble]

Huh?

Because Osborne would be playing in a SR final a few days before.

Isn't the idea to give them a rest before abs duty? If he's not going to fonts the World Cup so will be resting up till the itm cup then it's should be up to him

 

[nickdnz]

Isn't the idea to give them a rest before abs duty? If he's not going to fonts the World Cup so will be resting up till the itm cup then it's should be up to him

No, the idea of the larger squad was to allow for players who would be in the finals to not be then required to play four days later in Samoa.

 

[Kiwiwomble]

not the idea of the larger squad, the idea of not picking anyone playing in the final. If there are guys playing in the final that are NOT in the squad why should they miss out on playing for the AB's

People have been talking about Osborne in the AB's quite happily. but now, even though he is NOT in the squad and assuming the Highlanders make the final (big IF) he would be over looked for the samoa game?

i do feel like i'm missing something

 

[Larksea]

a player actually has to earn a test cap to be tied to a country.

I'm pretty sure there have been players who have been selected on the bench for one country, not taken the field and later played for another nation

- - - Updated - - -

Yeah Buckman will be in close contention, if he has another season like he did this season, then I think he will make the cut. We are definitely short in the centre department next season. Crotty isn't good enough, only Fekitoa is world class.

I think the MF will look like;

Fekitoa
Crotty
Ngatai
Buckman
Fruean*

A Fekitoa/Buckman combination would make sense, they've played 2 great seasons together now and work extremely well together.

I wouldn't mind seeing if Lowe could be converted into a centre as well since Naholo will take the wing.

missing Moala
Moala is starting to look every bit a future all black.
He's NZ form 12 behind Nonu, probably NZ's strongest ball carrying mid fielder and very strong defender as well.

 

[Kiwi_]

a player actually has to earn a test cap to be tied to a country.

I'm pretty sure there have been players who have been selected on the bench for one country, not taken the field and later played for another nation

- - - Updated - - -



missing Moala
Moala is starting to look every bit a future all black.
He's NZ form 12 behind Nonu, probably NZ's strongest ball carrying mid fielder and very strong defender as well.

Moala has been around for awhile now and he's not good enough.

 

[Larksea]

Moala has been around for awhile now and he's not good enough.

errrr.... have you watched him play this season? he's been unstoppable at 12 for the blues, usually takes 3-4 defenders to take him down

plus.... he's only 24 years old for crying out loud. Been around a while and not good enough? how good was conrad smith when he was 24? Should he have been passed over as not good enough at 24?

maybe someone can digup his defenders beaten and line break stats for the year, I wouldn't be surprised if he was #1 for NZ midfielders.

 

[Regan]

errrr.... have you watched him play this season? he's been unstoppable at 12 for the blues, usually takes 3-4 defenders to take him down

plus.... he's only 24 years old for crying out loud. Been around a while and not good enough? how good was conrad smith when he was 24? Should he have been passed over as not good enough at 24?

maybe someone can digup his defenders beaten and line break stats for the year, I wouldn't be surprised if he was #1 for NZ midfielders.

Moala's not bad, not sure if he's AB worthy yet but he'd be in contention next year onwards you'd have to think. It's not hard to look good in a Blues team.

 

[Peat]

errrr.... have you watched him play this season? he's been unstoppable at 12 for the blues, usually takes 3-4 defenders to take him down

plus.... he's only 24 years old for crying out loud. Been around a while and not good enough? how good was conrad smith when he was 24? Should he have been passed over as not good enough at 24?

maybe someone can digup his defenders beaten and line break stats for the year, I wouldn't be surprised if he was #1 for NZ midfielders.

I don't have anything to compare them to, but a quick scan of ESPN says that in 11 starts, he carried the ball 109 times, making 603m, with 13 clean breaks and 50 defenders beaten. He beat 6 or more defenders in five of those games (Tahs, Highlanders, Force, Bulls and Crusaders).