I think this is the full squad minus wider training group players:
BLUES SQUAD
Backs: Outside backs: Frank Halai, Waisake Naholo, Charles Piutau, Rene Ranger, Marty McKenzie. Centres: Malakai Fekitoa, George Moala, Francis Saili, Jackson Willison. First-fives: Baden Kerr, Chris Noakes. Halfbacks: Bryn Hall, Piri Weepu, Jamison Gibson-Park.
Forwards: Flankers: Kane Barrett, Luke Braid, Steven Luatua, Brendon O'Connor, Ronald Raaymakers, Peter Saili. Locks: Anthony Boric, Liaki Moli, Culum Retallick, Ali Williams. Props: Charlie Faumuina, Tom McCartney, Tim Perry, Angus Ta'avao, Ofa Tu'ungafasi. Hookers: Keven Mealamu, Quentin MacDonald, James Parsons
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strange seeing a blues squad with only 6 All Blacks, only three of them being current All Blacks.
Usually the blues squad can roll out 13 All Blacks in a starting 15. and even have a one or two on the bench.
Happy to see Boric is included and will play. I still think he's one of NZ's best locks.
Though the squad does lack for big names with the balance of Rugby Power in the north moving south of the bombay hills. This squad does have some serious talent and classy young players.
Moli - starting to look really good in the ITM cup, was the backbone of the Auckland pack effort.
Charles Piutau - A standout ITM cup player and right up there in terms of potential and impact on the ITM cup as a whole as Ardie Savea was for wellington.
Steven Luatua - Probably only a matter of time till he has All Black in his CV, one positive to come out of the Blues 2012 effort.
Kane Barrett - Young, Big and looked pretty awesome for the Naki at times.
Ofa Tu'ungafasi - actually looks like he will be able to do more than just hold his own as a huge young prop
Malakai Fekitoa - just 20 and apparently was Aucklands best defensive player in the ITM cup, more than solid on attack as well.
On a side note I hope we get to see a lot of Quentin MacDonald, he had one massive game for the Crusaders last year but for some reason it was not enough for him to get more gametime ahead of Flynn.
few missed chances with the squad. Lost out on Nonu but they did manage to pickup Jackson Willison who looked superb during the last half of Waikato's ITM cup and has been unlucky not to get mroe gametime at the chiefs.
Strange not to see Sean Polwart, I thought he had some massive games for Auckland recently. wondering where he is going now? maybe wider training group....
What ever way I look at it cutting Anscombe was a bad idea. Simple fact is Nokes and Kerr just dont seem to me to have the class or potential of Anscombe.
