NZ B team, the poor guys who didn't quite make it

[azeli]

Not exactly a NZ B team but a 'Samoa' team with current/past/fringe/potential ABs.

Because I'm a proud NZer and Samoan, thought I'd compile a team of All Blacks with those of full, part or teaspoon samoan heritage and are current/past/fringe/potential All Black players - here goes....

1 - N.Tialata
2 - K.Mealamu (Capt.)
3 - J.Afoa; Ok not sure if Afoa is Samoan or Tongan...
4 - B.Mika; currently playing as a no. 8 but loads of experience as a lock
5 - F.Levi; Never an AB and now overseas but I believe each team needs at least one hitman/enforcer.
6 - J.Kaino
7 - S.Lilo; thought he was awesome for the Blues..
8 - V.Vito
9 - P.Weepu; I'm sure he's half Samoan as I heard his uncle was Earl Va'a...?
10 - I.Toeava; more than capable of playing at 10..
11 - M.Nonu; Gotta have a blockbusting winger in the team plus has been edged out of 2nd/five by the following midfield...
12 - S.B.Williams
13 - R.Fruean
14 - S.Stowers; I know there are loads of other wingers but when you have a blockbusting winger on one side, the other winger needs to have outright GAS....and Stowers' got plenty of it!!
15 - M.Muliaina (V.Capt)

16 - M.Schwalger
17 - J.Schwalger
18 - R.Filipo; played for NZ Maori but with a surname like Filipo has got to be part Samoan...
19 - R.So'oialo; not the player he was but still someone with a massive workrate and experience.
20 - K.Senio
21 - B.Stanley
22 - S.Anesi; would rather Masaga or savea but he can cover fullback and wing...

Unlucky: L.Masaga and J.Savea.

 

[Geoff_]

Rokocoko's failed to get his form back after being injured back in 2008 when he broke his wrist or he did something to his arm and after coming back to rugby he had to change his style of rugby to the kick and chase and then had to change it back to the "run it straight" style lol. But I would still pick him in my all black XV. He's got good work-rate but now he just needs to start scoring tries.

 

[Black Heart]

Because I'm a proud NZer and Samoan, thought I'd compile a team of All Blacks with those of full, part or teaspoon samoan heritage and are current/past/fringe/potential All Black players - here goes....

1 - N.Tialata
2 - K.Mealamu (Capt.)
3 - J.Afoa; Ok not sure if Afoa is Samoan or Tongan...
4 - B.Mika; currently playing as a no. 8 but loads of experience as a lock
5 - F.Levi; Never an AB and now overseas but I believe each team needs at least one hitman/enforcer.
6 - J.Kaino
7 - S.Lilo; thought he was awesome for the Blues..
8 - V.Vito
9 - P.Weepu; I'm sure he's half Samoan as I heard his uncle was Earl Va'a...?
10 - I.Toeava; more than capable of playing at 10..
11 - M.Nonu; Gotta have a blockbusting winger in the team plus has been edged out of 2nd/five by the following midfield...
12 - S.B.Williams
13 - R.Fruean
14 - S.Stowers; I know there are loads of other wingers but when you have a blockbusting winger on one side, the other winger needs to have outright GAS....and Stowers' got plenty of it!!
15 - M.Muliaina (V.Capt)

16 - M.Schwalger
17 - J.Schwalger
18 - R.Filipo; played for NZ Maori but with a surname like Filipo has got to be part Samoan...
19 - R.So'oialo; not the player he was but still someone with a massive workrate and experience.
20 - K.Senio
21 - B.Stanley
22 - S.Anesi; would rather Masaga or savea but he can cover fullback and wing...

Unlucky: L.Masaga and J.Savea.

Good side. That's the first I've heard of Weepu being Samoan but in saying that I saw a photo of his mum recently and she looks like a real Palagi lol, so I guess he could have anything in him.

Rokocoko's failed to get his form back after being injured back in 2008 when he broke his wrist or he did something to his arm and after coming back to rugby he had to change his style of rugby to the kick and chase and then had to change it back to the "run it straight" style lol. But I would still pick him in my all black XV. He's got good work-rate but now he just needs to start scoring tries.

It's interesting to note how often he gets the ball these days and how little he scores and yet Cory Jane might touch the ball 3 times and score 2 tries...

 

[azeli]

It's interesting to note how often he gets the ball these days and how little he scores and yet Cory Jane might touch the ball 3 times and score 2 tries...

That is interesting...I have been a Roks fan since his debut and would still want him selected in the current side BUT he seems to have lost that killer edge..? Loss of pace...? Dunno but definitely not the same from 2007 onwards. Looking at some of his feats on youtube, especially the try against the wallabies (2006 I think) where he's running from his own 22 chips over drew mitchell then collects and gases someone else...da man! Will the real smokin joe please stand up.....

 

[Black Heart]

That is interesting...I have been a Roks fan since his debut and would still want him selected in the current side BUT he seems to have lost that killer edge..? Loss of pace...? Dunno but definitely not the same from 2007 onwards. Looking at some of his feats on youtube, especially the try against the wallabies (2006 I think) where he's running from his own 22 chips over drew mitchell then collects and gases someone else...da man! Will the real smokin joe please stand up.....

No good living in the past though. Not with Hosea breathing down your neck.

 

[azeli]

No good living in the past though. Not with Hosea breathing down your neck.

Yeah too right...hate to admit it but may finally be time to drop the rocketman....a whole host of wingers coming through...Gear,Jane,Guildford,Savea,Stowers....still got Sivivatu coming back too (although personally I've never liked him...)....unless of course in his next test he proves us all wrong and scores 2+ smokin tries...???!!!

 

[Larksea]

Siti hasn't been a big try scorer for the AB's over the last two years but he's easily been the most dangerous attacking player over that time. Lots of line breaks and started a lot of movements that end in trys.

Roko has been good but maybe not good enough, with the welth of wing tallent in NZ good doesn't cut it really. He's not scoring many trys at all but Guys like Gear & Dagg have and Even the short time Ranger & Kahui got playing on that wing they scored trys.