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

[Steveskiez7]

Andre Taylor and Robbie Freuan robbed of a spot.

 

[Rhyer]

Taylor might be a decent goal kicker, but at this early stage, he has done nothing else. You need to be more than just a goal kicker to make the All Blacks.

He's someone you can depend on though. Does the basics right. When Dan Carter gets injured you'll be begging for someone like not, not someone like Slade who misses all the time.

 

[bobbilycious]

He's someone you can depend on though. Does the basics right. When Dan Carter gets injured you'll be begging for someone like not, not someone like Slade who misses all the time.

Or we could stick with Cruden whose kicking % is only a tiny bit worse (a couple of percent) but he actually offers something in attack. If Beauden Barrett works on his game like Cruden did, he will also be far ahead of Tom Taylor for the AB jersey. If we have a couple of injuries than I'm sure Taylor will be a decent fill in but currently we don't need him.

 

[Gena_ZA]

why you reckon Hosea Gear didn't make it?

 

[nickdnz]

why you reckon Hosea Gear didn't make it?

I have a feelling it's his age. He's 28 years old now. He's also never really been given a fair shot at making and staying in the All Blacks, so it'd be strange for Hansen to buck the trend. I really like Gear, one of my favourite wingers of all time, but Julian Savea has been playing better than Gear with a similar style, and he's only 21 years old so has a long career ahead of him. I just hope he gets the oppertunities Gear didn't.

 

[Aedaphon]

I have a feelling it's his age. He's 28 years old now. He's also never really been given a fair shot at making and staying in the All Blacks, so it'd be strange for Hansen to buck the trend. I really like Gear, one of my favourite wingers of all time, but Julian Savea has been playing better than Gear with a similar style, and he's only 21 years old so has a long career ahead of him. I just hope he gets the oppertunities Gear didn't.

It is an absolute shame he hasn't had more starts in the black jersey but I can't disagree- Julian Savea plays the game of a younger (and very slightly faster) Hosea Gear. Gear should not have been kept behind Rokocoko as long as he was, but that's no reason to award him caps in compensation now that there is a dynamic set of young wingers coming through in the Super XV.

Still- wish we'd all seen more of him for the ABs.

 

[Tadginator]

Savea is just a younger better faster version of gear at this stage. Seeing as gear and save are so similar I would call up Guildford for kahui

 

[Scan]

Ehhhh, I was looking over the squad there and, well, I'm a bit confused...
I think they must have spelt this fella's name wrong:

It says 'Luke Whitelock' on the squad list? I was sure there was a 'M' in there somewhere.

 

[admartian]

Ehhhh, I was looking over the squad there and, well, I'm a bit confused...
I think they must have spelt this fella's name wrong:

It says 'Luke Whitelock' on the squad list? I was sure there was a 'M' in there somewhere.

Lol yep pretty much.

I was surprised Todd wasn't named. But then again, we may see him named for the Investec series? (hopefully)


Same for Andre Taylor, seeing as Kahui is injured and can't play.

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

Doubt we'll see an uncapped player in the June series that wasn't in the training squad.

 

[bobbilycious]

Yep. Messam and Latimer are possibilities but I wouldn't expect them to bring in Todd.

 

[Larksea]

yeah in Matt Todds case they obviously just see Sam Cane as being the perfered option,

As far as the loose forwards go it sounds like when the test squad is named the loosies will be:

McCaw, Read, Vito, Thomson

and one from the following:

Cane, Luke Whitelock, Shields, Messam, latimer

IMO

The likelyhood of Shields or whitelock being the 5th loosie are very slim to none at this stage.

It Would also be a suprise to me if they selected Latimer, They obviously and with good reason hold Sam Cane in very high regard. And out of the three young guns he's had more gametime and made more of an impact.

I think it will be between Cane and Messam, and I really hope it's messam >.<

 

[donmcdazzle]

The treatment of Messam over the past couple of seasons has been baffling. He has hardly ever been injured, seems to get through a ton of work and has all the skills in the world. He has hardly even been given a chance at test level. When you compare him to someone like Thomson who has had plenty of chances in the AB jersey. Messam has been given a run here and there and that's all, and if he was ever not fantastic then he was dropped.. Unlike plenty of others who have got repeated selection and chances despite some average performances.

Same can be said for Hosea Gear. He got the odd game but never had a decent shake, and only got a game or two against Tri Nations teams and if he wasn't fantastic then he was gone. They kept picking Rokocoko even though he was a shadow of his former self for his last couple of AB seasons while Gear was at the time pretty good for the canes. Now it seems like his window is gone, real shame for the guy. Funny how circumstances more than actual performace can shape a career in some cases.

Must be highly frustrating for those guys. I really don't know what else Messam would have to do to nail down a spot. I like Vito but Messam has been better this season.

 

[admartian]

The treatment of Messam over the past couple of seasons has been baffling. He has hardly ever been injured, seems to get through a ton of work and has all the skills in the world. He has hardly even been given a chance at test level. When you compare him to someone like Thomson who has had plenty of chances in the AB jersey. Messam has been given a run here and there and that's all, and if he was ever not fantastic then he was dropped.. Unlike plenty of others who have got repeated selection and chances despite some average performances.

Same can be said for Hosea Gear. He got the odd game but never had a decent shake, and only got a game or two against Tri Nations teams and if he wasn't fantastic then he was gone. They kept picking Rokocoko even though he was a shadow of his former self for his last couple of AB seasons while Gear was at the time pretty good for the canes. Now it seems like his window is gone, real shame for the guy. Funny how circumstances more than actual performace can shape a career in some cases.

Must be highly frustrating for those guys. I really don't know what else Messam would have to do to nail down a spot. I like Vito but Messam has been better this season.

Yep - some people unfortunately just fall into a coach's doghouse and don't always get a fair shake.

For Rokocoko though, I think his first second chance out of form was warranted, then it became painful to watch as a big Joe fan.

 

[Black_Magic]

I won't say anything new - I'm one of those persons disappointed there is no place for Andre Taylor. Therefore he's not likely to play in June, but I hope he gets his chance this year. Besides that, a good selection in my opinion, remember it's for the camp not for the game yet! I can perfectly understand that the coach wants to get old guard and the young guns together. Even if some of those experienced guys are not even close to their best. Maybe one more issue, with the hookers. It would be good to have a younger one in the squad, like Elliot.

Good to see Ellison in the squad.

I think Retallick and Aaron Smith will get their first caps in June.

 

[Shaggy]

I'm pleased they included some of those young guys, I'm particularly pleased that they included Sam Cane ... the main area of concern is the replacement for Brad Thorn, as I'm not convinced that any of the locks can push that well in the scrums

 

[Larksea]

I think Retallick and Aaron Smith will get their first caps in June.

With kahui injured it looks like Savea will get caps too.

one thing I find interesting with this whole process is that Hansen is fronting the whole thing himself. Foster & McLean haven't been spotted at all. neither has Fox though I did hear an phone interview he did.

under Henry it was very much a team thing and he always appeared with his other coaches and players. So far it's just be Hansen and Himself.

 

[Larksea]

Squad 15
1, Wyatt Crockett
2, Kevin mealamu (C)
3, Ben Tameifuna
4, Ali Williams
5, Brodie Retalick
6, Adam Thomson
7, Sam Cane
8, Victor Vito
9, Andy Elis
10, Aadron Cruden
11, Julean Savea
12, Ma'a Nonu
13, Ellison
14, Cory Jane
15, Ben Smith

Unlucky 15
1, Jamie Macintosh
2, Hika Elltiot
3, Toby Smith
4, Tom Donnelly
5, Jason Eaton
6, Liam Messam (C)
7, Matt Todd
8, Nasi Manu
9, Brendon Leonard
10, Tom Taylor
11, Zac Guildford
12, Ryan Crotty
13, Robbie Fruen
14, Sean maitland
15, Andre Taylor

Who do you think would win? I honestly think the unlucky 15 overall looks the stronger side

 

[donmcdazzle]

^^ That would be a close game.. you could make the squad 15 look a lot worse too. Chuck in Barrett at 10, Shields at 6, Whitelock at 8, Romano at lock, Weepu at 9 and your unlucky 15 would definitely be favourites at the TAB.

 

[Larksea]

good point... I could have made that squad 15 worse...

Still not sure what I think about it. I think for now I reserve judgement till the actual 30 man squad is named. I dont expect Shields, whitelock and Barrett to be part of that squad. Heck Weepu may not even make it, by all accounts he has some targets he needs to reach to make the squad.

But Romano will as there are only 4 locks in the squad... I just really wish Anthony Boric wasn't injured I'd be happier about the stock in that position if he was in the squad.