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

[Shaggy]

.... I don't mean to be picky, but isn't Toby Smith a specialist loosehead prop? He seems to play at loosehead for the Chiefs ... if he plays both sides of the scrum, then he is idea unlucky to miss out on selection, but I guess the injury that he had/the lack of recent game time probably counted against him.

How many of the locks named are considered specialists that play on the tighthead side of the scrum (does anybody know?) ... none of the New Zealand franchises have impressed at scrum time with any consistance this year IMO - the possible exception is the Chiefs, and I think that Craig Clarke is the lock that forfills that role for them, and he's not been named

I wouldn't be surprised if Vito starts as the run on number 6 with McCaw and Read, as I think he's the only one that would come close to Kaino's physical presence ... I could also see Mealamu starting ahead of Hore, even though Hore is in better form at the moment

 

[bobbilycious]

Toby Smith can play both sides, but from what I've seen he really isn't that good at tighthead. I'd probably go with Ben May.

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

Yeah, just swap em round...

 

[Larksea]

I moved Smith to tight head to accommodate MacIntosh, he would be fine there he's an impressive scrummager for his age.

Ben may really impressed me with his scrummaging this season, when Woodcock was blowing away oposition scrums this year May is the only prop that Ive seen actually hold him at bay. That said may is still prone to giving away a lot of silly penalties and mistakes. i kinda look at hime the same way I see Thomson - hes more likely to lose you a game with a stupid penalty than win a game with good play. Discipline is so critical.

 

[admartian]

I've always wanted to see Big Mac get more time in a Black jersey. He was touted as the next great for a time there. Still can though.

 

[big ginger 8]

Now that Jane is apparently out who do you guys think will start?

 

[bobbilycious]

Ben Smith will probably start. Guildford comes in to the squad to replace Kahui. Taylor or perhaps Gear comes in to replace Jane.

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

Yep, what bobily said...

 

[Cave Dweller]

Adam Thomson<---- He's one of those players that dissolve like a disprin in a accident in the big games. Messam is a great player at Super Level but has failed to impress at test level strangely. Think that is why they are a bit nervous bout picking him. You got a massive abundance of centers, wingers and fullbacks and whoever starts will be one formidable line up.

 

[big ginger 8]

Savea is the only wing left in the squad be a bit unfair to start someone ahead of him. I know he's young but he's been on great form.

 

[bobbilycious]

Yep, but there are two wings Savea is on the other side.

15.Israel Dagg
14.Ben Smith
11.Julian Savea

 

[nickdnz]

Yep, but there are two wings Savea is on the other side.

15.Israel Dagg
14.Ben Smith
11.Julian Savea

Ben Smith on the wing is miserable. He's no where near quick enough. He's good at fullback because he makes the right options and has a good eye for the gap, but on the wing I don't rate him at all.

 

[bobbilycious]

While I agree with you that Ben Smith isn't the fastest, I don't think he is that slow. I would think he wouldn't be much slower than Jane at all. And more importantly, I think Steve Hansen is more likely to go with Smith than anyone else. I would like to see Taylor have a go, personally.

 

[austingtir]

Zac guildford into the squad is pretty pathetic look at Gears stats especially running meters and if you look at most of the others he's top 5 in super 15.

And hoeata i think needs to be there at some stage this year when Ali is proved to be past it in the ireland tests i hope he gets the call up.
The landers vs bulls game was a good example hoeata has that brad thorn mungrel to him and we need that enforcer type player. Imo this AB's team is pretty soft without kaino and thorn.

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

Dagg could be shifted to the wing, with Smith at fullback.

Hoeata I think it's a bit reckless, and needs to involve himself in the game a bit more. He made a big tackle yesterday, and instead of trying to take advantage of said tackle and hitting the ruck, he instead starts yelling at the tackled player - very helpful!

 

[austingtir]

I can recall thorn doing exactly the same thing after thumping some frenchmen around a couple of years back hoeata has alot to learn thats for sure i just think we are looking a little soft in some areas. Nothing wrong with rubbing a big armless shoulder charge in to an opposition player when the ref hasnt pulled you up on it....

 

[sonnench]

Was awesome how pumped up Stander was and trying to encourage Hoeta to come at him at the ruck, he did not seem overly keen though.

 

[Rhyer]

SBW or Nonu on the right wing?

 

[pd rugby]

SBW would be wasted on the wing, and don't think it would be the right direction having nonu on the wing. i think ben smith needs to have a go, as the Nh teams are a better testing ground than SA or Oz, as there wingers are of a different class.

 

[Larksea]

I'm looking forward to seeing Ben Smith back in the team, if anything now I think and the selectors may also think he should have been in the side the whole time. Poor old Toeava never really paid off or realised his potential in the All Blacks being selected at 19 and even though he's only 26 surely his Test Carrier is all but finished and Ben Smiths is beginning again. And Toeava's weakness is Ben Smiths strength, I got used to seeing Toeava make some amazing plays and some silly mistakes and knock ons. Ben Smith for the huge amount of work he does his error rate is very low, and when the Ball comes his way I wont be thinking is he going to catch it or drop it like I did every time the ball went towards Toeava.

11, Savea
14, Ben Smith
15, Dagg

I'd be fine with SBW on the wing but he's the best 12 in NZ so there is no reason why he shouldn't be selected there. Though if you have both Savea and SBW on the wings the kicking options look very slim, Ben Smith is a brilliant kicker so he should get the nod.