Is having the All Black trial still relevant ?

[Siva Tau]

I know this game has been dispensed with in recent years but with the advent of the World Cup and debate on a number of positions maybe it would have been worthwhile. I always thought it ramped up the competition and made clear who the next choices were.

That said who would make up a 1st & 2nd XV AB's or Probables v Possibles. Be interested to know peoples thoughts/pics. Allow 22 players for each. Given all available.


1st---------------------2nd

1. Crockett-------------Franks
2. Mealamu-------------Elliott
3. Franks---------------Afoa
4. Thorn----------------Hoeata
5. Whitelock------------Donnelly
6. Kaino----------------Messam
7. Mc Caw-------------D Braid
8. Read----------------Vito
9. Cowan--------------Ellis
10.Carter--------------Slade
11.Gear----------------Sivivatu
12.Nonu----------------SBW
13.Smith---------------Freuen
14.Jane----------------Guildford
15.Dagg---------------Muliaina

16.Hore---------------Flynn
17.Woodcock----------Faumuina
18.Williams-------------Boric
19.Thomson------------K Lowe
20.Weepu-------------A Mathewson
21.Toeava-------------Mc Allister
22.Kahui---------------Ranger

 

[nickdnz]

I wouldn;t mind the idea, but I'd have made that the test instead of Fiji. For my two squads I'd have had (providing all were well):

Probables
1. Wyatt Crockett
2. Kevin Mealamu
3. Owen Franks
4. Brad Thorn
5. Sam Whitelock
6. Jerome Kaino
7. Richie McCaw (C)
8. Kieran Read
9. Piri Weepu
10. Daniel Carter
11. Hosea Gear
12. Ma'a Nonu
13. Conrad Smith
14. Cory Jane
15. Mils Muliaina

16. Andrew Hore
17. Ben Franks
18. Anthony Boric
19. Liam Messam
20. Jimmy Cowan
21. Colin Slade
22. Isaia Toeava

V

1. Tony Woodcock
2. Cory Flynn
3. John Afoa
4. Ali Williams
5. Jarred Hoeata
6. Adam Thompson
7. Matt Todd/Dan Braid/Luke Braid
8. Victor Vito (C)
9. Andy Ellis
10. Aaron Cruden
11. Zac Guildford
12. Sonny Bill Williams
13. Richard Kahui
14. Sean Maitland/Joe Rokocoko
15. Israel Dagg

16. Hika Elliot
17. Jamie Mackintosh
18. Chris Jack
19. Daniel Braid
20. Alby Mathewson
21. Luke McAlister
22. Sitivini Sivivatu/Ben Smith

 

[Darwin]

It would be great if they still did AB's trials - I really used to enjoy them back in the day....
Anywys I'd picks something along the lines of:

1st XV ----------------- 2nd XV
1. Woodcock ----------- 3. Afoa
2. Mealamu ------------ 2. Elliot
3. O Franks -------------1. Crockett
4. Thorn --------------- 4. Hoeata
5. S Whitelock---------- 5. A Williams
6. Kaino-----------------6. Messem
7. McCaw---------------7. D Braid/ L Braid/ Todd
8. Read ---------------- 8. Vito
9. Cowan ---------------9. Mathewson
10. Carter ------------- 10. Cruden
11. Gear -------------- 14. Guildford
12. Nonu -------------- 12. Bill-Williams
13. C Smith-------------13. Kahui
14. Toeava-------------11. Sivivatu
15. Muliaina-------------15. B Smith

16. Hore--------------- 16. Flynn
17. B Franks----------- 17. Tialata
18. Boric -------------- 18. Donnelly
19. Thomson----------- 19. D Braid / L Braid / Todd
20. Weepu------------- 20. Ellis
21. Slade-------------- 21. Donald
22. Jane--------------- 22. Dagg

If it was a trial though, you probably wouldn't pick a full strength 'Probables' bench, but rather have these players starting for 'Possibles'....

 

[nickdnz]

I think moving Crockett to tighthead would mess things up. Better off moving Afoa to TH, as he is just as good there. Other than that, I agree with most of the team.

 

[Darwin]

I think moving Crockett to tighthead would mess things up. Better off moving Afoa to TH, as he is just as good there. Other than that, I agree with most of the team.

Crockett isn't meant to be at tighthead - my intention was to show the matchups involved e.g. Woodcock at loosehead facing Afoa at tighthead (likewise I reversed the wings in my 2nd XV team). I will add numbers to avoid confusion (or, more likely, confuse people further )

 

[Siva Tau]

Not many apart from me rate Freuen or Ranger. Very interseting to see different views. Maybe I need to watch them more closely

 

[Darwin]

Not many apart from me rate Freuen or Ranger. Very interseting to see different views. Maybe I need to watch them more closely

Fruean is a liability on defense, and his work-rate is poor - he certainly has the potential to be very good All Black in future though if sorts out these deficiencies. Ranger just needs to cut down his error rate, both on attack and defense - teams scored a lot of tries down his wing during the Super Rugby season when he drifted in-field rather than staying with his man on the wing. Like Fruean if he sorts these things out he too has the potential to be a very good All Black.

 

[Siva Tau]

Yeah saw Ranger drop a few balls for Northland two games ago but I honestly he is a big game player. Hopefully the cartel can sort these two out

 

[nickdnz]

Yeah saw Ranger drop a few balls for Northland two games ago but I honestly he is a big game player. Hopefully the cartel can sort these two out

They probably won't stay on after the RWC.

I certainly rate them both, but they both have defensive problems to sort out (Ranger more a positional thing than anything else). I'd proably say they'd both be in contention for the next RWC if they keep improving.