All Blacks squad for 2015 world cup? Players in contention

[jessta]

I know there is still a while until the cup, and technically shag and co would be considering every player in NZ as a potential squad member. But when you list the players from every position that are in strong/ reasonably strong contention for a spot, it makes it very interesting to see not only the areas of NZ rugby that have fantastic depth, but also the positions with a question mark hanging over them (such as hooker), where an absolute dog fight will commence between players for a spot.

Positions I find particularly interesting are hooker: with the uncertainty of kev and hore making it on to 2015 and some regarding Coles as not the correct player for the future, leaves pretty much any spot up for grabs.
lock: seemingly lacking a tad of depth compared to other positions in the country
and First Five: From a position of panic not to long ago in 2011, some great depth now exsists

players with a slight fighting chance i have bracketed and players I've noted will be marked with *

I have listed the players in no particular pecking order.

Please feel free to point out if you think I have missed anyone out, also excuse spelling... here it is!

Props:
1. Ben Afeaki
2. Ben Tameifuna
3. Wyatt Crockett
4. Joe Moody
5. Owen Franks
6. Charlie Faumuina
7. Ben Franks
8. Jefery Toomoga- Allen
9. Tony Woodcock

(Angus Taovao, Reg Goodes)

Hookers:
10. Hika Eliot
11. Rhys Marshall
12. Ben Funnel
13. Codie Taylor
14. Kevin Mealamu
15. James Parsons
16. Quentin McDonald* So unlucky not to have been getting regular game time at any franchise, very underrated
17. Dane Coles
18. Motu Matu'u
19. Andrew Hore
20. Liam Coltman

(Corey Flynn)

Locks:
21. Brodie Retallick
22. Luke Ramano
23. Sam Whitelock
24. Dominic Bird
25. Jeremy Thrush

Backrow:
26. Liam Messam
27. Sam Cane
28. Tanarua Latimer
29. Matt vant Levine
30. Luke Whitelock
31. Richie McCaw
32. Kieran Read
33. Matt Todd
34. Steven Luatua
35. Luke Braid
36. Jerome Kaino* supposedly going to return to the blues, most likely as there no.8. will be very interesting
37. Victor Vito
38. Brad Shields
39. Ardie Savea* after his itm cup campaign and one game in super rugby people are raving hes a sure bet for a spot. Definitely a player of great promise

(George whitelock, John Hardie)

Halfbacks:
40. Tawera Kerr- Barlow
41. Piri Weepu
42. TJ Perenara
43. Aaron Smith

(Andy Ellis, Augustine Pulu)

First Fives:
44. Aaron Cruden* will he be the starting first five in 2015??
45. Dan Carter
46. Tom Taylor
47. Beuden Barrett
48. Colin Slade

Centers:
49. Andrew Horwell* should seriously consider moving franchises in search of more game time, also very versatile
50. Bundee Aki
51. Sonny Bill Williams* You can bet a house on him to make the squad, maybe even start
52. Ryan Crotty* would be a shame if he just became a one test all black his whole career
53. Francis Saili
54. Conrad Smith
55. Ma'a Nonu

(Jason Emery)

Wings:
56. Robbie Robbinson* very very very underrated, beats me why hes not starting week in week out. very versatile too
57. Tim Nai- Nai Williams* if it wasnt for regular injuries he probably would have made an all black squad at some point. versatile too
58. Zac Guilford* redemption?
59. Tom Marshall
60. Frank Halai
61. Julian Savea
62. Ben Smith

(Asalei Tikorotuma)

Fullbacks:
63. Gareth Anscombe* versatile, does the job at first five too
64. Israel Dagg
65. Charles Piutau* I hope if the blues do move him to center the selectors still recognize his venom at fullback, for his own sake

(Benji Marshall, Andre Taylor* needs to regather his 2012 form)

 

[IRISH RUGBY MAN]

Tim Nanai-Williams? I think he's great and has serious talent and gas, as Ben Smith found out earlier in the season. If he can stay fit in 2014 I think hes in with a shout. Better then Guildford anyway. If Robbie Robinson was in the squad, it would be as full back, as that is his better position. He's ahead of Anscombe at the minute but behind Dagg, Piutau and Ben Smith in the pecking order. Will Kahui be back in time for 2015?

 

[ABs2011]

With 2 years to go Pulu will make his way to the list of candidates for half back!

Need to watch some more ITM cup, but there no doubt there will be some more names to add to that list. Proctor from Wellington looks a good player.

As for Marshal, my gut says he wont come close to the ABs, infact I think the Blues have made a big mistake spending all their $ on him. I hope he proves me to be wrong, but I;m not holding my breath. What position is he going to play? Can I infer from your post he is going to play fullback? and hence Piutau's move to 13? Mate I hope not as Piutau is one of the biggest talents we have coming through at full back!

 

[IRISH RUGBY MAN]

Pulu is great, class act. But if he stays at the Chiefs he will be stuck behind Kerr-Barlow, which is why I didn't understand him staying. He'd of had a better chance of regular game time at the Crusaders, but I guess they weren't interested.

I think the in form ITM players will be rewarded with super rugby places and then we will see if there are any class acts or not. 2014 super rugby is going to be huge for selection.

I really hope Marshall is a success, not sure where I'd play him. Not 10, or 12. 13 or 15 probably and piutau in either 13 or 15. Piutau will be class wherever he plays. Will the Blues have Baden Kerr as fly half next year?

 

[IRISH RUGBY MAN]

Big Benny Tameifuna is a sure bet if he can get his fitness up. I'd have him in now if he'd didn't die so easily

 

[ABs2011]

Yeah I think they have Kerr for next year!

 

[ABs2011]

Big Benny Tameifuna is a sure bet if he can get his fitness up. I'd have him in now if he'd didn't die so easily

On that note, I have to say in all my front row ignorance, I;m not a fan of Crockett. He just seems to always give away penalities in the scrum....Any front rower add to that? I heard he gets pinged so much partly to do with his hight.

 

[Kapa O Pango]

2015

1.Ben Franks/Charlie Faumuina
2.Dan Coles
3.Owen Franks
4.Luke Romano
5.Sam Whitelock
6.Steven Luatua/Lima Messam
7.Richie Mccaw/Sam Cane/Matt Todd
8.Kirean Read
9.Aaron Smith
10.Dan Carter/Aaron Cruden
11.Julian Savea
12.Ma'a Nonu/Sonny Bill Williams
13.Conrad Smith/Ben Smith
14.Frank Halai
15.Israel Dagg

 

[dasNdanger]

1. Ben Smith
2. Ben Smith
3. Ben Smith
4. Ben Smith
5. Ben Smith
6. Ben Smith
7. Ben Smith
8. Ben Smith
9. Ben Smith
10. Ben Smith
11. Ben Smith
12. Ben Smith
13. Ben Smith
14. Ben Smith
15. Ben Smith


Am I doing this right??




das

 

[IRISH RUGBY MAN]

2015

1.Ben Franks/Charlie Faumuina
2.Dan Coles
3.Owen Franks
4.Luke Romano
5.Sam Whitelock
6.Steven Luatua/Lima Messam
7.Richie Mccaw/Sam Cane/Matt Todd
8.Kirean Read
9.Aaron Smith
10.Dan Carter/Aaron Cruden
11.Julian Savea
12.Ma'a Nonu/Sonny Bill Williams
13.Conrad Smith/Ben Smith
14.Frank Halai
15.Israel Dagg

This is the team I'd pick, apart from Sony Bill in and maybe TJ Perenara, really like him. I also rate Retallick higher than Romano, who seems to pick up injuries left, right and centre. For some reason I'm just not convinced by Cane yet, Latimar and Braid would be ahead of him for me at the minute, but the NZ selectors don't see it like that.

 

[jessta]

With 2 years to go Pulu will make his way to the list of candidates for half back!

Need to watch some more ITM cup, but there no doubt there will be some more names to add to that list. Proctor from Wellington looks a good player.

As for Marshal, my gut says he wont come close to the ABs, infact I think the Blues have made a big mistake spending all their $ on him. I hope he proves me to be wrong, but I;m not holding my breath. What position is he going to play? Can I infer from your post he is going to play fullback? and hence Piutau's move to 13? Mate I hope not as Piutau is one of the biggest talents we have coming through at full back!

all indications are leading to kirwan playing marshall at 15 and piutau at 13. if so it will be interesting to see how it turns out. piutau is an exceptional fullback and i actually think his skill set will suit quite well in center. the combination of him and saili has potential to be deadly! however i hope that piutau is happy and willing to ply his trade there and kirwan dosnt just autocratically make him play there. that can have detrimental effects to a players form. also i hope the all black selectors still see piutau as the weapon he is at fullback if he plays center for the blues.
marshall will defiantly start for the blues somewhere, more so as a marketing item for the over anything else, as he will bring more numbers through the gates. I dont think he will get close to making the all blacks but i just put him there in case a miracle occurs. I personally predict marshall will start at fullback for the beginning of the campaign, fail to fire then piutau will move back into his favored position

 

[jessta]

1. Ben Smith
2. Ben Smith
3. Ben Smith
4. Ben Smith
5. Ben Smith
6. Ben Smith
7. Ben Smith
8. Ben Smith
9. Ben Smith
10. Ben Smith
11. Ben Smith
12. Ben Smith
13. Ben Smith
14. Ben Smith
15. Ben Smith


Am I doing this right??




das

lol