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International Test Matches
Get your bets in for the All Black Squad for the june tests
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<blockquote data-quote="TRF Mr Fish" data-source="post: 501477" data-attributes="member: 20892"><p>Training Squad:</p><p></p><p>UT: R Kahui, T Ellison, B Barrett</p><p>OB: I Dagg, B Smith, C Jane, J Savea</p><p>CT: C Smith, M Nonu, S Williams</p><p>FH: D Carter, A Cruden</p><p>HB: A Ellis, P Weepu, A Smith, T Kerr-Barlow</p><p>LF: R McCaw, K Read, A Thomson, V Vito, S Cane, B Shields, L Whitelock</p><p>SR: A Williams, S Whitelock, L Romano, B Retalick</p><p>PR: O Franks, B Franks, T Woodcock, C Faumauina, B Tameifuna, W Crockett</p><p>HK: K Mealamu, A Hore</p><p></p><p>Major talking points are the omission of Guildford, Taylor, Perenara, Messam, Todd, Hoeata, Donnely, Elliot and Coles. Of those guys, I was almost 100% sure that Guildford and Elliot would be in the squad, and Taylor, Messam, Todd, and one of Donnely and Hoeata I was around 80% sure we'd see them. As this is a 35 man squad we can basically assume the the careers of the older international guys omitted are over (Messam, Donnely) unless there is an exceptional run of injuries.</p><p></p><p>I'll start with the loosies, as that's the largest part of the team at the moment. Whitelock and Shields haven't played much Super Rugby (Whitelock has had a few runs, primarily off the bench, and Shields has been injured for quite a period of time), so have obviously been selected on potential. I am a big fan of Shields, so it's nice to see him in there, he's big and powerful. I think Whitelock's presence probably doesn't bode too well for Vito, if Read is injured Vito will have to play out of his skin. Cane looks to have won the race to be McCaw's successor over Todd and Braid, at least for now. It's interesting because Cane is a very similar player to McCaw, less of a fetcher at 7 than guys like Gill, Pocock and Brussouw. </p><p></p><p>Not many outside backs have been selected, with only two specialist wings (Jane and Savea). Ellison will probably be included in the 30 man squad if Kahui is injured, he's played very well but isn't particularly young. I think all the backs selected, bar some halfbacks, will be in the 30 man squad. I thought Guildford would be selected, and Taylor had a good chance too. Both are reasonably young. Halfback will be interesting, as Hansen originally said there would only be two in the main squad - so Smith, Kerr-Barlow and Weepu will be fighting it out for the last spot. KB won't make it, so it's probably between Weepu and Smith. I know who I'd choose. With Barrett in the squad, you won't need a goal kicking halfback.</p><p></p><p>In the tight forwards there are few surprises. I didn't expect to see two new locks, but that looks to be where they've gone. Both Retalick and Romano are great prospects though. Crockett will probably make the final squad if Faumauina isn't over his injury, but otherwise the tight forward pick themselves. Tameifuna is one for the future, he won't be in there just yet. No third hooker is stupid in a squad of this size. I am very surprised to not see Elliot in there.</p><p></p><p>Assuming that only players from this 35 man squad are selected in the squad for the Ireland tour, the squad will probably end up as:</p><p></p><p>UT: B Barrett*, R Kahui + T Ellison</p><p>FB: I Dagg, B Smith</p><p>WG: C Jane, J Savea*</p><p>CT: C Smith, M Nonu, S Williams</p><p>FH: D Carter, A Cruden</p><p>HB: A Ellis, P Weepu, A Smith* (yes, I've gone for three)</p><p>LF: R McCaw, K Read, A Thomson, V Vito, B Shields*, S Cane* + L Whitelock*</p><p>SR: A Williams, S Whitelock, B Retalick*, L Romano*</p><p>PR: O Franks, B Franks, T Woodcock, C Faumauina* + W Crockett</p><p>HK: K Mealamu, A Hore</p><p></p><p>That's a 14/16 split for the backs and forwards, with three guys on call by for injuries to aforementioned players. Quite a few new caps(*).</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="TRF Mr Fish, post: 501477, member: 20892"] Training Squad: UT: R Kahui, T Ellison, B Barrett OB: I Dagg, B Smith, C Jane, J Savea CT: C Smith, M Nonu, S Williams FH: D Carter, A Cruden HB: A Ellis, P Weepu, A Smith, T Kerr-Barlow LF: R McCaw, K Read, A Thomson, V Vito, S Cane, B Shields, L Whitelock SR: A Williams, S Whitelock, L Romano, B Retalick PR: O Franks, B Franks, T Woodcock, C Faumauina, B Tameifuna, W Crockett HK: K Mealamu, A Hore Major talking points are the omission of Guildford, Taylor, Perenara, Messam, Todd, Hoeata, Donnely, Elliot and Coles. Of those guys, I was almost 100% sure that Guildford and Elliot would be in the squad, and Taylor, Messam, Todd, and one of Donnely and Hoeata I was around 80% sure we'd see them. As this is a 35 man squad we can basically assume the the careers of the older international guys omitted are over (Messam, Donnely) unless there is an exceptional run of injuries. I'll start with the loosies, as that's the largest part of the team at the moment. Whitelock and Shields haven't played much Super Rugby (Whitelock has had a few runs, primarily off the bench, and Shields has been injured for quite a period of time), so have obviously been selected on potential. I am a big fan of Shields, so it's nice to see him in there, he's big and powerful. I think Whitelock's presence probably doesn't bode too well for Vito, if Read is injured Vito will have to play out of his skin. Cane looks to have won the race to be McCaw's successor over Todd and Braid, at least for now. It's interesting because Cane is a very similar player to McCaw, less of a fetcher at 7 than guys like Gill, Pocock and Brussouw. Not many outside backs have been selected, with only two specialist wings (Jane and Savea). Ellison will probably be included in the 30 man squad if Kahui is injured, he's played very well but isn't particularly young. I think all the backs selected, bar some halfbacks, will be in the 30 man squad. I thought Guildford would be selected, and Taylor had a good chance too. Both are reasonably young. Halfback will be interesting, as Hansen originally said there would only be two in the main squad - so Smith, Kerr-Barlow and Weepu will be fighting it out for the last spot. KB won't make it, so it's probably between Weepu and Smith. I know who I'd choose. With Barrett in the squad, you won't need a goal kicking halfback. In the tight forwards there are few surprises. I didn't expect to see two new locks, but that looks to be where they've gone. Both Retalick and Romano are great prospects though. Crockett will probably make the final squad if Faumauina isn't over his injury, but otherwise the tight forward pick themselves. Tameifuna is one for the future, he won't be in there just yet. No third hooker is stupid in a squad of this size. I am very surprised to not see Elliot in there. Assuming that only players from this 35 man squad are selected in the squad for the Ireland tour, the squad will probably end up as: UT: B Barrett*, R Kahui + T Ellison FB: I Dagg, B Smith WG: C Jane, J Savea* CT: C Smith, M Nonu, S Williams FH: D Carter, A Cruden HB: A Ellis, P Weepu, A Smith* (yes, I've gone for three) LF: R McCaw, K Read, A Thomson, V Vito, B Shields*, S Cane* + L Whitelock* SR: A Williams, S Whitelock, B Retalick*, L Romano* PR: O Franks, B Franks, T Woodcock, C Faumauina* + W Crockett HK: K Mealamu, A Hore That's a 14/16 split for the backs and forwards, with three guys on call by for injuries to aforementioned players. Quite a few new caps(*). [/QUOTE]
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