Props
Is Crocket injured? I guess I am a bit confused as to what exactly the injury standby means. I'd have him there ahead of Woodcock if avaiable as first choice loose head.
It is a bit weird. Henry has named a top squad of 30, but 4 of these players are carrying injuries (Woodcock, Gear, Toeava, Dagg) - these 4 players will probably miss the first few matches, but will come back half-way through the tri-nations. The injury standby players (Crockett, Ben Smith, Sivivatu, Jane) are included in the squad while these players recover from injury. Crockett will likely get a few chances at the start of the Tri-nations, but at this stage (assuming he regains full fitness) Woodcock still appears to be NZ's first choice loosehead prop.
Halves
Spot on again at 9 but with the question as to Carter's back-up still not answered IMO. That said I have no idea what to expect from Slade but unless Carter gets injured I doubt this even matters.
You will get brillance from Slade
Henry has stated that Carters backup will start at least one of the tri-nations tests, so we we should get to see him get some test rugby before the RWC.
Outbacks
This is where I think the selectors MIGHT have dropped the ball but they probably, definately, know a lot more than I do LOL. Muliaina has, like so many Springboks, looked his age a tad at times. Solid and experienced but not the best bet probably. Gear has not been the force he has been in previous seasons. Maybe that was because of the Hurricanes in general having had a bad season but still with the options NZ have in this area.. I am not convinced. While Guildford has had a reasonable season I think he is only there because he played for the 'Saders and others would/could have done much better with the opportunities he has had. With Dagg and Toeava I think both should be there. Dagg has shown in a AB jersey that he is a class player and did so with the Crusaders as well prior to injury. So too Toeava and though both have been out of the S15 for a while I think it is the best option to bet on these two to pick up where they have left off. They'd be my bets for the 15/22 spots. The big casualties for me have been Sivivatu and Jane both of whom have been massive for the AB's. Jane has always done a lot better in black at 14 than with the 'Canes at 15 IMO and with the overall bad form of the 'Canes I'd think he would still be a good option while Sivivatu had shown some form coming back form injury IMO. Exceptionally dangerous on the counter and kick-return running and creates more than he finishes. Also if there was room for someone coming in from the fringes I'd have thought both maitland and Smith were better bets than at least Guildford.
The probelm with the outside backs is that New Zealand has some many good options to choose from, and many of them are at a very similar level. Who the AB's selectors picked will very much have come down to what their gameplan is. I'd say Guildford has had more than just a resonable season; Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder suggested recently that he has been the Crusaders best back (impressive when you consider the rest of the Crusaders backline). He did benifit from being on the end of a strong Crusaders backline but he took his chances very well, and often set up tries for others. His ability to put pressure on the oppostion (often through chasing kicks) set up numerous try scoring oppurtunities for the Crusaders, and on a number of occasions he saved the Crusaders with some phenomenal cover defense (the tackle on Fourie in the semi was a prime example). I'm not writing off Muliaina yet either; everyone was writing him off before last years international season, but he turned around and had a huge season.
Everyone has a different opinion on who the five outside backs should be, and most of of the opinions are equally valid. If Steveskiez7 was the selector he would have picked Maitland over Guildford,
http://www.therugbyforum.com/forum/member.php?42455-Steveskiez7if Whitewolf was the selector he would have picked Jane and Maitland over Dagg and Toeava, if donmcdazzle was the selector he would have picked Ranger over Guildford, if Larksea was the selector he would have picked Maitland and Sivivatu over Dagg and Gear, if Nickdnz was the selector he would have cloned Hosea Gear and picked him 5 times, and I was a selector I probably would have left Gear out altogether, and Nickdnz would have been on the first plane down to Dunedin to hunt me down.....
I can see where you guys are going with the above points on Thomson, but the other options aren't any better I don't think. Todd isn't ready yet, he is too small for international footy. Tests are far more physical than Super rugby or ITM and I can see him being outmuscled; not only when going for turnovers but also when carrying the ball (two things incidentally that Tomson and Messam excell at). I actually think Luke Braid has had a better season than Todd.
On a tangent; Todd seems to get the benefit of the doubt due to playing for the Crusaders that players such as Mark Robinson (the centre) Scott Hamilton, Caleb Ralph, Sam Broomhall, Razor Robertson etc have benefitted from in years past. I doubt any of them would've made higher honours had they played for any other team. This is why I'm a bit sceptical on Todd, he needs to have an excellent season (rather than just a decent one) to oust test experienced players like Thomson and Messam.
I have noticed Todd struggle occasionally in the physical stuff, but the problem is that Thomson struggles just as much (if not worse) than Todd. Thomson is ideal in an open flowing game, but in a tight, forward orientated battle he is completely annoymous. He often has very poor body postion when running with the ball, so easily gets driven back at times. While I agree Todd may not be ready to play 7 at test level, I'd argue Thomson isn't ready yet to play 7 and Super Rugby level! I was actually starting to favour Luke Braid too as the season progessed, as he has a strong physical edge to his game. I'm not actually convinced that Thomson will be the primary backup to McCaw in the current squad in any case; Henry has suggested that Thomson, Messem, and Read are all potential options at 7 (the Read option doesn't make much sense though, as Messem would have to play 8, and he is a better 7 than Read...). After watching this Super Rugby season I wouldn't feel too uncomfortable with Messem at 7.
guys just remember the 3n team is not cecessarily the RWC squad....AB have a
contract the field the best team in the 3N...so out of this group you will get
players that will be in the WC squad...then there will be players that were
either injured in the S15 or players that did not perform that Henry wants to
test at the level of the 3N to see if they are ready...then i'm also sure there
are players that were so brilliant in the S15 that they are automatically in the
RWC squad...either they are injured at the moment or being rested...Toeava comes
to mind....
Henry has stated on several occasion that ideally the Tri-nations squad will be the same as the RWC squad. Unless there are injures, players outside the 34-man squad are unlikely to be able to force there way into the final RWC squad, with the exception of the injured Anthony Boric. If Boric can prove he is fit in time for the RWC he is bound to be in the squad.
