All Blacks squad named tomorrow. Who Will make it?

[donmcdazzle]

I think Dagg's option inside was the right one, Cowan was way more open than Kahui (who had some guys just behind him), just a shame it was Cowan who has zero pace. Kahui probably would've scored, but you can hardly blame Dagg for passing to the more open guy (most likely both would've been screaming at him).

 

[donmcdazzle]

Also another string in Thomson's bow is that he is a genuine lineout option on pressure ball. Have a look at when we were in our own half under pressure it was Thomson going up at two in the lineout. He must be quick off the ground.

 

[FlukeArtist]

3, Statements like that are always bulldust, for example how many test caps, and years in and out of the all blacks did it take Kaino to establish himself. People said the same thing about him early in his carrier.


How is that "bulldust"??
Clearly Donald was unable to make the step up to international level. The same can be said of Messam in my opinion.
They ARE good provincial players, but not up to international standard.

 

[Larksea]

Also another string in Thomson's bow is that he is a genuine lineout option on pressure ball. Have a look at when we were in our own half under pressure it was Thomson going up at two in the lineout. He must be quick off the ground.

when the chiefs have a pressure lineout they need to win close to their line this year guess who the ball went to more often than not - Messam... He's not the chiefs bread and butter lineout option like Vito was for the Canes or Thompson for the landers, Messam was only used in pressure situations and he nailed them. I think the ball has been thrown to Messam twice for the AB's this year and he took both of them.

 

[Larksea]

I think Dagg's option inside was the right one, Cowan was way more open than Kahui (who had some guys just behind him), just a shame it was Cowan who has zero pace. Kahui probably would've scored, but you can hardly blame Dagg for passing to the more open guy (most likely both would've been screaming at him).

If dagg had passed to kahui it would have been a sure try, kahui was ahead of the two defenders and they would not have got him if the pass was good enough. Cant really blame dagg though because when he first looked left Kahui was behind the defenders then as dagg looked right kahui accelerated around the outside of the bok defenders and got clear ahead.

 

[Darwin]

The All Blacks squad in position (with province and Test caps in brackets) is:

Forwards:

Hookers
Corey Flynn Canterbury (14)
Andrew Hore Taranaki (54)
Keven Mealamu Auckland (85)

Props
John Afoa Auckland (33)
Ben Franks Tasman (11)
Owen Franks Canterbury (23)
Tony Woodcock North Harbour (75)

Locks
Anthony Boric North Harbour (20)
Brad Thorn Canterbury (51)
Samuel Whitelock Canterbury (17)
Ali Williams Auckland (65)

Loose forwards
Jerome Kaino Auckland (41)
Richie McCaw (capt) Canterbury (97)
Kieran Read Canterbury (31)
Adam Thomson Otago (21)
Victor Vito Wellington (7)


Backs:

Halfbacks
Jimmy Cowan Southland (47)
Andy Ellis Canterbury (20)
Piri Weepu Wellington (48)

First five–eighths
Daniel Carter Canterbury (82)
Colin Slade Canterbury (5)

Midfielders
Richard Kahui Waikato (12)
Ma'a Nonu Wellington (58)
Conrad Smith Wellington (48)
Sonny Bill Williams Canterbury (7)

Outside backs
Israel Dagg Hawke's Bay (7)
Zac Guildford Hawke's Bay (6)
Cory Jane Wellington (24)
Mils Muliaina Waikato (97)
Isaia Toeava Auckland (31)

 

[ACT1NUP]

sshhhhhhhhhhh coverage has started. Please No Sonny Bill...

 

[Larksea]

3, Statements like that are always bulldust, for example how many test caps, and years in and out of the all blacks did it take Kaino to establish himself. People said the same thing about him early in his carrier.


How is that "bulldust"??
Clearly Donald was unable to make the step up to international level. The same can be said of Messam in my opinion.
They ARE good provincial players, but not up to international standard.

Bulldust because as I pointed out the same thing has been said about players like Kaino and also Nonu and Conrad Smith. Players who were in and out of the AB's for years and took many tests to establish themselves. And you use donald as an example of a player who's not international level yet Donald had match winning performances for the All Blacks. See Brisbane 08, Auckland 09 Sydney 09

 

[Dizzy]

yo Larksea man, its team naming time, no room for young Beaver to be brought up now

 

[ACT1NUP]

No Gear dammit

 

[Dizzy]

Backs: Mils Muliaina, Israel Dagg, Isaia Toeava, Corey Jane, Zac Guildford, Conrad Smith, Richard Kahui, Ma'a Nonu, Sonny Bill Williams, Dan Carter, Colin Slade, Jimmy Cowan, Piri Weepu, Andy Ellis
Forwards: Kieran Read, Victor Vito, Richie McCaw (capt), Adam Thomson, Jerome Kaino, Ali Williams, Brad Thorn, Sam Whitelock, Anthony Boric, Owen Franks, John Afoa, Ben Franks, Tony Woodcock, Keven Mealamu, Andrew Hore, Corey Flynn

 

[Dizzy]

No Siv's either, very interesting. He has been one of Henry's favourites for a long time, And no Crockett either?... I just don't rate Woodcock

 

[DorceOutSide]

no ben franks no gear huh....

 

[FlukeArtist]

Bulldust because as I pointed out the same thing has been said about players like Kaino and also Nonu and Conrad Smith. Players who were in and out of the AB's for years and took many tests to establish themselves. And you use donald as an example of a player who's not international level yet Donald had match winning performances for the All Blacks. See Brisbane 08, Auckland 09 Sydney 09

"Match-winning performances"??? ... OK..... well we'll just have to agree to disagree on that one.
Those games were flat out awful.

 

[ACT1NUP]

All I have learnt is go to the Crusaders if want to wear black

 

[aucklander]

Expand
[h=2]Richie McCaw and Mils Muliaina are both poised to reach the 100 test mark during the Rugby World Cup. Photo / Hannah Johnston[/h]

The All Black selectors have named their squad of 30 players who will try to win the Willam Web Ellis Trophy for the first time in 24 years, at next month's World Cup.
The team is:
John Afoa
Anthony Boric
Dan Carter
Jimmy Cowan
Israel Dagg
Andy Ellis
Corey Flynn
Ben Franks
Owen Franks
Zac Guildford
Andrew Hore
Richard Kahui
Jerome Kaino
Richie McCaw (captain)
Keven Mealamu
Mils Muliaina
Ma'a Nonu
Kieran Read
Colin Slade
Conrad Smith
Adam Thomson
Brad Thorn
Isaia Toeava
Victor Vito
Piri Weepu
Sam Whitelock
Ali Williams
Sonny Bill Williams
Tony Woodcock

 

[Dizzy]

Messam out for Vito. I highly agree with this move, for those who have said Messam had a stronger Super 15 than Vito I highly disagree. Vito pretty much carried the Canes on his back this year and put in very consistent and high performances, He tore Canterbury to shreds in their match earlier this year with numerous line breaks[a couple were 50-60m runs] with great distribution and also picked up a try. Sure he didn't do much in his short time he had on the field against the Boks, but do you think Messam would have done any better in the final 10 minutes?. Vito is also a great lineout option as he was one of the primary jumpers in last years campaign, something he has up on Messam.

 

[Steveskiez7]

So glad they picked Vito, I'm sick of all of this hype around for Messam to deliver at Test level and he hasn't cut it.. ONCE. Vito attacks the ruck much better than him and is just as damaging running the ball. Probably expect Henry to use Dagg as a Wing at some stages during the pools. When you think about it he's taken 4 Fullbacks and 1 Winger.

 

[FlukeArtist]

Messam out for Vito. I highly agree with this move, for those who have said Messam had a stronger Super 15 than Vito I highly disagree. Vito pretty much carried the Canes on his back this year and put in very consistent and high performances, He tore Canterbury to shreds in their match earlier this year with numerous line breaks[a couple were 50-60m runs] with great distribution and also picked up a try. Sure he didn't do much in his short time he had on the field against the Boks, but do you think Messam would have done any better in the final 10 minutes?. Vito is also a great lineout option as he was one of the primary jumpers in last years campaign, something he has up on Messam.

Careful bro- you'll get Larksea started all over again....

 

[Darwin]

Messam out for Vito. I highly agree with this move, for those who have said Messam had a stronger Super 15 than Vito I highly disagree. Vito pretty much carried the Canes on his back this year and put in very consistent and high performances, He tore Canterbury to shreds in their match earlier this year with numerous line breaks[a couple were 50-60m runs] with great distribution and also picked up a try. Sure he didn't do much in his short time he had on the field against the Boks, but do you think Messam would have done any better in the final 10 minutes?. Vito is also a great lineout option as he was one of the primary jumpers in last years campaign, something he has up on Messam.

No one is denying that Vito had a very good Super Rugby season, but in my opinion Messem had an even better Super Rugby season. That is the main reason that he got selected in the initial squad rather than Vito. Messem was given a few chances with AB's and failed to make the most of them, so the AB's selectors decided on Vito - I'm not actually too worried either way. I does sound like Vito's greater ability at the lineout certainly helped him - Messem is a good lineout forward, but Vito is exceptional in this department.