Get your bets in for the All Black Squad for the june tests

[Larksea]

woodcock
Hore
o.Franks
a.williams
s.whitelock
thomson
mccaw
read
A.Smith
Carter
Savea
SBW
c.Smith
b.Smith
Dagg

Mealamu
B. Franks
Retalick
Vito
Weepu
Cruden
Nonu

This is what I would do with the selected squad for the first test, Three Smiths to start Nisbo will be in tatters.

 

[Draggs]

woodcock
This is what I would do with the selected squad for the first test, Three Smiths to start Nisbo will be in tatters.

I believe that is 'Smuth'.

 

[Sneaki]

Three Smiths to start Nisbo will be in tatters.

Nisbo's a pro he can handle it. Marshall on the other hand...

I agree with the team though, they could put Ellison on the bench instead of Nonu if they want more flexibility.

 

[nickdnz]

I'd go with:

1. Tony Woodcock
2. Andrew Hore
3. Owen Franks
4. Brodie Retallick
5. Sam Whitelock
6. Victor Vito
7. Richie McCaw
8. Kieran Read
9. Aaron Smith
10. Daniel Carter
11. Julian Savea
12. Sonny Bill Williams
13. Conrad Smith
14. Zac Guildford/Hosea Gear (I think Guildford will add balance but Gear will be more effective verse Ireland)
15. Israel Dagg

16. Kevin Mealamu
17. Owen Franks
18. Luke Romano
19. Adam Thomson
20. Piri Weepu
21. Aaron Cruden
22. Ben Smith

I would like to see a change of squad depending on each test. I think everyone needs to get a run to see how doo they are. Wouldn't mind seeing Cane get a start with McCaw on the bench in one of the tests.

 

[admartian]

Like I said, that's not the team I want, but predict will start. Maybe Guildford will get the nod ahead of either Savea or Gear. Not sure who they'll have on the bench if that happens.

In terms of the number 12 jersey, it's probably more 50/50 than everyone else predicts. I just went with the more experienced guy. Same with halfback.

I wouldn't read too much into it... :lol:

 

[Darwin]

I'd go with:

1. Tony Woodcock
2. Andrew Hore
3. Owen Franks
4. Brodie Retallick
5. Sam Whitelock
6. Victor Vito
7. Richie McCaw
8. Kieran Read
9. Aaron Smith
10. Daniel Carter
11. Julian Savea
12. Sonny Bill Williams
13. Conrad Smith
14. Zac Guildford/Hosea Gear (I think Guildford will add balance but Gear will be more effective verse Ireland)
15. Israel Dagg

16. Kevin Mealamu
17. Owen Franks
18. Luke Romano
19. Adam Thomson
20. Piri Weepu
21. Aaron Cruden
22. Ben Smith

I would like to see a change of squad depending on each test. I think everyone needs to get a run to see how doo they are. Wouldn't mind seeing Cane get a start with McCaw on the bench in one of the tests.

If I was selecting a team from the 30-man squad I'd pick almost exactly the same side. I'd probably play Ben Franks on the bench, as I think it would be a bit difficult for Owen to start and play off the bench The only change I would make is to start Smith at fullback over Dagg, and it would be a tossup between Guildford, Dagg, and Gear for the right wing spot for me - I'd go Guildford, but wouldn't mind seeing either Dagg or Gear there.

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

I think we'll see...

1 T Woodcock
2 A Hore
3 O Franks
4 A Williams
5 S Whitelock
6 V Vito
7 R McCaw
8 K Read
9 A Smith
10 D Carter
11 J Savea
12 S Williams
13 C Smith
14 B Smith
15 I Dagg

16 H Elliot
17 B Franks
18 B Retalick
19 S Cane
20 P Weepu
21 A Cruden
22 Z Guildford

Four potential new caps in one match...

 

[smartcooky]

I'm not happy. I can't see how Shag can justify the selection of Weepu. How can a player who turned up at the beginning of the season overweight and out of condition, and who can't even hold down a starting position with his SR franchise, be considered good enough to gain selection for the All Blacks. If a new employee I had hired turned up on the first day of work for me unable to do his job and with his attitude, I'd fire him on the spot.

I also don't believe the BS about a back-up goal-kicker; we already have an 84% kicker in superb playing form in the shape of Aaron Cruden.

The 8, 9 10 combination of Read - Ellis - Carter is one of the most deadly in world rugby, and by not selecting Ellis he breaks that up. Its madness!

Ellis is in the form of his life and is arguably the No. 1 scrum-half in NZ. Possibly Perenara might challenge him for that. Behind those two would be Smith, Kerr-Barlow and then either Weepu or Leonard, so it looks like Shag has picked the #3 and #5 or 6 scrum-halves for this test team.


As for Andy Ellis, I wouldn't judge him too harshly if he said stuff it, and started looking at European contracts, because unless Weepu has a shocker and we lose to the Irish, I can't see a way back in for him.

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

On a completely unrelated note, the team looks pretty white compared to previous years

 

[smartcooky]

Yeah that's us the plucky Irish no skill or anything just really comitted. It's a pity you won't see a proper Ireland team what with half our pack and our main source of tries being injured.

Well I don't believe Ireland will be any kind of a walkover, especially in the first test

The AB's are notorious for their slow starts. Usually they warm up against a scratch Pacific Island side before taking on any Tier 1 countries, but not this time; its straight in first up v Ireland.

The last time they did this was in 2009 against France, and we all know what happened then!!!

 

[nickdnz]

Well I don't believe Ireland will be any kind of a walkover, especially in the first test

The AB's are notorious for their slow starts. Usually they warm up against a scratch Pacific Island side before taking on any Tier 1 countries, but not this time; its straight in first up v Ireland.

The last time they did this was in 2009 against France, and we all know what happened then!!!

In 2010 the first tests of the year were:

66-28 win against Ireland
42-9 win against Wales
29-10 win against Wales.

 

[smartcooky]

In 2010 the first tests of the year were:

66-28 win against Ireland
42-9 win against Wales
29-10 win against Wales.

Lets be fair about that Irish test. Firstly it was very much a "B" side.

Secondly, they also had to play with 14 men from the 15th minute when Wayne Barnes sent off Jamie Heaslip for a deliberate knee into a NZ player's head, then he gave O'Gara a yellow card in the 25th minute. It was 38-7 by half time--- game over.

I was talking about 2009

In 2009, the first tests of the year were:

v France LOST 22-27
v France won 14-10
v Italy won 27-6

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

Usually they warm up against a scratch Pacific Island side before taking on any Tier 1 countries, but not this time; its straight in first up v Ireland.

The last time they did this was in 2009 against France, and we all know what happened then!!!

 

[William18]

Lets be fair about that Irish test. Firstly it was very much a "B" side.

Secondly, they also had to play with 14 men from the 15th minute when Wayne Barnes sent off Jamie Heaslip for a deliberate knee into a NZ player's head, then he gave O'Gara a yellow card in the 25th minute. It was 38-7 by half time--- game over.

I was talking about 2009

In 2009, the first tests of the year were:

v France LOST 22-27
v France won 14-10
v Italy won 27-6

Your comment was that generally we warm up against a PI side. That isn't the case.

1st test match versus:

2003: England
2004: England
2005: Fiji
2006: Ireland
2007: France
2008: Ireland
2009: France
2010: Ireland
2011: Fiji

We only warm up against PI teams on special occasions (2011 and 2005). Every other year apart from 2009 since 2003 we have started with a top team and won. To call us slow starters for losing one of our last six opening test matches of the season against tier one countries is being excessively harsh.

 

[big ginger 8]

Well I don't believe Ireland will be any kind of a walkover, especially in the first test

The AB's are notorious for their slow starts. Usually they warm up against a scratch Pacific Island side before taking on any Tier 1 countries, but not this time; its straight in first up v Ireland.

The last time they did this was in 2009 against France, and we all know what happened then!!!

Unfortunately just like last time this won't be a full team either. We're missing Paul O'Connell our vc who runs our lineout. He's also brings much of our packs physicality and is a totem figure for the team. Then we're missing Stephen Ferris another who's huge physicality will be missed. He's one of our top carriers and essential to our defensive plan. He's another inspirational figure. Then it's Mike Ross he's not guaranteed out but will probably miss the first test and maybe the second test. He is vital as without him we don't have a scrum he's far from the best 3 in the world but he can hold a scrum and our replacements are poor. Declan Fitzpatrick will most likely start he's been injured for yonks and has only 240 minutes of rugby this year. Next Tommy Bowe our main source of tries sure O'Driscoll has scored more tries but he's also played 117 tests. Finally Luke Fitzgerald who wasn't guaranteed to start but was the form wing at the time of getting injured. He's a very solid defender and an exciting runner. The players have also pretty much been playing for a year straight.

To top it all of we're coached by Declan Kidney. Circa 2009 he was a good coach now he's terrible.

 

[Larksea]

As I said weeks ago, this will be the best change the Irish get for a win over the All Blacks for a long time. they may be missing some but the AB's a missing a lot through injury and availability and will have a short buildup - heck they have been slow starters with two weeks buildup now they are a fresh team with new coaches with one proper week buildup. The first test is their one chance to break this duck.

I'm a bit ****** with the Weepu selection as well, but I think I would have agreed with it if Weepu had done a good job in the world cup semi and final. But the fact he was very poor in those games makes me wonder were the faith in him is coming from, if we had lost the final the wrath of a nation would have come down on Weepu - he was 0 from 3 shots at goal.... Sure he kicked goals in the quarter final but we don't need him as 10 backup or goal kicking anymore, if anything his poor kicking in the last two games showed maybe he shouldn't be used as a kicker. All that time he was seen as a "big match" player and a clutch kicker when he got to the two big games of his carrier he faltered.

 

[big ginger 8]

I really don't know how to explain it to a New Zealander. You guys always have someone just as capable ready to step up the case that's not the way it is with us.

 

[bobbilycious]

Get those U20 boys in. They don't look too bad.

 

[admartian]

Your comment was that generally we warm up against a PI side. That isn't the case.

1st test match versus:

2003: England
2004: England
2005: Fiji
2006: Ireland
2007: France
2008: Ireland
2009: France
2010: Ireland
2011: Fiji

We only warm up against PI teams on special occasions (2011 and 2005). Every other year apart from 2009 since 2003 we have started with a top team and won. To call us slow starters for losing one of our last six opening test matches of the season against tier one countries is being excessively harsh.

I agree that we are SLOW starters, but not that we start with a PI side.

I think we are slow starters in that it takes a while for us to gel (see 2009) . We may not necessarily lose, but the difference play between a 1st test ABs squad vs. a mid-late season ABs team is big.

 

[nickdnz]

I think it's important to note for those first tests in 2009, we were missing Daniel Carter, Richie McCaw, Sitivini Sivivatu, Conrad Smit etc. We were unprepared and had a very average team put together.