Who would pick in the All Blacks to build depth in the squad

[Shaggy]

Who would you pick in the All Blacks to build depth in the squad

I know that there has been some discussion about this already on other threads, but given the injury/surgery for Carter, the lack of a specialist open side to backup McCaw, who captains if he is absent.

I would like to see Colin Slade picked as a backup for Aaron Cruden (in Carter's absence), Robbie Fruen given a go at outside centre at some stage, Sonny Bill Williams a go at inside centre at some stage, and Karl Lowe given a run at open side flanker.

Not sure who the form No 8 is, but who ever it is probably needs a run as well.

What are your thoughts?

 

[Sam Owen]

Yeah I'd go with the guys you've mentioned. I'd love to see SBW out there but I think he has to prove himself in the ITM first and foremost. Slade has been running things smoothly for Canterbury. Fruean's playing well also. Karl Lowe's been a standout in a struggling team. As for no.8's Elliot Dixon, Faafili Levave and Fritz Lee would be capable also.

 

[Prestwick]

Short of raising the original Invincibles from the dead to add a Zombie continent to the All Black's 2011 campaign I haven't the foggiest.

This is kind of like asking "what part of Michael Schumacher's dominantion of the 2002 F1 World Championship season could he have improved on? Should he be labelled a failure for not winning all 17 races?"

 

[Shaggy]

Short of raising the original Invincibles from the dead to add a Zombie continent to the All Black's 2011 campaign I haven't the foggiest.

This is kind of like asking "what part of Michael Schumacher's dominantion of the 2002 F1 World Championship season could he have improved on? Should he be labelled a failure for not winning all 17 races?"

Hmmmn ... well that wasn't really my intention ... I wasn't really implying that the AB's season would be a failure if they lose a couple of test matches.

To use your Schumacher analogy, it's more like who would they have had in reserve to take Schumacher's place, if he had to be replaced at the last minute.

The AB's have certain players in certain positions where the replacements (in the event they are needed) are either not obvious or are inexperienced.

It's a little difficult to compare the two anyway, because formula one consists of a team of two drivers.

 

[Amobokoboko]

As I only see one/two ITM games a weekend my knowledge is a bit limited of the players who could give it a go.
Personally I would like to see Gear in the jersey but Henry has soo many options already on the attacking side.
A replacement for DC would be Evans ( if he would like to come back).

 

[Sam Owen]

As I only see one/two ITM games a weekend my knowledge is a bit limited of the players who could give it a go.
Personally I would like to see Gear in the jersey but Henry has soo many options already on the attacking side.
A replacement for DC would be Evans ( if he would like to come back).

Gear would be great but Evans Im sure wont be back for next years RWC...
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/3751561/Evans-denies-NZRU-World-Cup-offer

 

[Amobokoboko]

I reckon money is the issue here.

 

[Darwin]

Players outside the current squad that I would hope will be given a chance during the end-of-year tour (with and eye towards the RWC):

Hika Elliot (Huge potential, but apparently has a few off field issues)
Daniel Braid (I think we will need a specialist seven to cover for McCaw - I'd prefer Braid over Latimer, Lowe, or Whitelock)
Alby Mathewson (Has been in the squad covering injuries, but I think should be given a real go - could be devastating off the bench backing up Weepu)
Mike Delany / Colin Slade (I rate both highly - I'd probably pick Delany over Slade at this stage, but if Slade continues his good form he could be in with a chance)

There are also injured players (Kevin Mealamu, Ali Williams, Eaton, Toeava, Sivivatu) that will add depth to the squad once they return.

 

[nickdnz]

Players outside the current squad that I would hope will be given a chance during the end-of-year tour (with and eye towards the RWC):

Hika Elliot (Huge potential, but apparently has a few off field issues)
Daniel Braid (I think we will need a specialist seven to cover for McCaw - I'd prefer Braid over Latimer, Lowe, or Whitelock)
Alby Mathewson (Has been in the squad covering injuries, but I think should be given a real go - could be devastating off the bench backing up Weepu)
Mike Delany / Colin Slade (I rate both highly - I'd probably pick Delany over Slade at this stage, but if Slade continues his good form he could be in with a chance)

There are also injured players (Kevin Mealamu, Ali Williams, Eaton, Toeava, Sivivatu) that will add depth to the squad once they return.

Do you mean Andrew Hore?

 

[Sam Owen]

I reckon money is the issue here.

If it is then Evans passion to play for the ABs jersey is weak compared to others who've turned down huge offers for a shot at becomin an All Black, but thats if...

 

[Te Puke Thunder]

I know that there has been some discussion about this already on other threads, but given the injury/surgery for Carter, the lack of a specialist open side to backup McCaw, who captains if he is absent.

I would like to see Colin Slade picked as a backup for Aaron Cruden (in Carter's absence), Robbie Fruen given a go at outside centre at some stage, Sonny Bill Williams a go at inside centre at some stage, and Karl Lowe given a run at open side flanker.

Not sure who the form No 8 is, but who ever it is probably needs a run as well.

What are your thoughts?

It's a tough call with so many players yet to come back from injury... with them aside I agree that Colin Slade deserves a chance and I would definately have Robbie Fruean in there.

I still don't think SBW deserves a spot right now, he has to earn his patch! Openside is a tough one but these would be my top three picks: Daniel Braid, Karl Lowe, Tanerau Latimer.

I also agree with Sam Owen that Elliot Dixon looks the goods for No.8 at the moment.

 

[ranger]

It's a tough call with so many players yet to come back from injury... with them aside I agree that Colin Slade deserves a chance and I would definately have Robbie Fruean in there.

I still don't think SBW deserves a spot right now, he has to earn his patch! Openside is a tough one but these would be my top three picks: Daniel Braid, Karl Lowe, Tanerau Latimer.

I also agree with Sam Owen that Elliot Dixon looks the goods for No.8 at the moment.

Not sure about Elliot Dixon for 8, hes still only a baby, cant be far past 20 years old. Not only that but i think the fact that he is playing behind the most dominant pack in the competition flatters him, he would need to up his workrate if he played at a higher level. Hes definitely a top-drawer talent, but i think All Blacks talk is a bit premature for him.

Realistically, i think the AB coaches are looking at Vito to cover 8 with either Messam or Thompson as the 3rd string option. If they decide to go with another specialist 8, then on form it has to be Colin Bourke. Either that or i can see Graham Henry resurrecting Rodney So'oialo.
The extreme 1 in a million bolter for the 8 spot for me would be Taranakis Ben Souness, the guy has shown through his time on the sevens circuit that he has the talent to go places. He is inhumanly fit and hits more rucks than any player in the NZ side and still manages to make his share of strong carries. He played centre up until very recently and you cant tell from the lines he runs and the way he looks to create space and offload. His defense is great although to play 8 he probably needs to make a few more bruising tackles. So far this season he has been Taranakis standout forward. As i said the chances of him getting picked are more than slim and rightly so, but i don't think he would disgrace himself if he got a spot on the end of year tour.

 

[squirrel]

wonder how ali recovers from the achilles op, its the kind of injury that takes away acceleration which is kind of important for ali as he was a dynamic kind of player not the grunty type of lock

 

[Sam Owen]

Not sure about Elliot Dixon for 8, hes still only a baby, cant be far past 20 years old. Not only that but i think the fact that he is playing behind the most dominant pack in the competition flatters him, he would need to up his workrate if he played at a higher level. Hes definitely a top-drawer talent, but i think All Blacks talk is a bit premature for him.

Realistically, i think the AB coaches are looking at Vito to cover 8 with either Messam or Thompson as the 3rd string option. If they decide to go with another specialist 8, then on form it has to be Colin Bourke. Either that or i can see Graham Henry resurrecting Rodney So'oialo.
The extreme 1 in a million bolter for the 8 spot for me would be Taranakis Ben Souness, the guy has shown through his time on the sevens circuit that he has the talent to go places. He is inhumanly fit and hits more rucks than any player in the NZ side and still manages to make his share of strong carries. He played centre up until very recently and you cant tell from the lines he runs and the way he looks to create space and offload. His defense is great although to play 8 he probably needs to make a few more bruising tackles. So far this season he has been Taranakis standout forward. As i said the chances of him getting picked are more than slim and rightly so, but i don't think he would disgrace himself if he got a spot on the end of year tour.

Elliot Dixon is playing well but he is like you say, playing alongside a good pack which always helps. Colin Bourke Ive watched all his games in the ITM thus far and has been ok, showed some good chipping skills to score a great try. With all the ITM I watch I'd have to say Faafili Levave is the most consistent no.8 in terms of half-breaks and just all-round no.8 stuff. Probably the meter-eater of the comp. I feel he (Levave) is at the moment the no.1 no.8 in the ITM.

Fritz Lee had a blinder last week but like Dixon is still finding his feet in top grade Rugby. Messam's playin well breakin the line as usual. So'oialo's been watching the games. Ben Souness is yet to look like a real scary barnstorming no.8 but he gets around the paddock and works hard. Thompson like Dixon is as you say reaping the benefits of a strong pack but he is a very good player also. So Henry has a lot of 8's here in the ITM to choose from.

 

[Amobokoboko]

If it is then Evans passion to play for the ABs jersey is weak compared to others who've turned down huge offers for a shot at becomin an All Black, but thats if...

they used that money to get SBW back.
Also quite curious to see Ali Williams back on a rugbyfield.

 

[Sam Owen]

they used that money to get SBW back.
Also quite curious to see Ali Williams back on a rugbyfield.

We can only speculate but no real truth. One thing is true though if Evans really wanted to be an All Black he would've made his way here, regardless if Henry and co. showed interest or not. He seems happy in England anyway.

 

[Shaggy]

they used that money to get SBW back.
Also quite curious to see Ali Williams back on a rugbyfield.

Ali's still recovering from injury/surgery (it's a ruptured Archilles tendon)... I think he came back too soon after the last injury

Graham Henry is in close contact and will bring him back when he's ready (not sure when, but from the article below, it's probably soon)

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/u...-focusing-on-the-positives-20100211-nt96.html

Looks like he could be heading to Europe in the short term

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3551_6274371,00.html

 

[Amobokoboko]

True, DC is playing one step higher then him so it would have been very difficult anyway.

 

[admartian]

I know that there has been some discussion about this already on other threads, but given the injury/surgery for Carter, the lack of a specialist open side to backup McCaw, who captains if he is absent.

I would like to see Colin Slade picked as a backup for Aaron Cruden (in Carter's absence), Robbie Fruen given a go at outside centre at some stage, Sonny Bill Williams a go at inside centre at some stage, and Karl Lowe given a run at open side flanker.

Not sure who the form No 8 is, but who ever it is probably needs a run as well.

What are your thoughts?

I still think Braid is the best option, RIGHT NOW, with the possibility of having Adam Thomson being groomed for the medium term, and Luke Braid for the long term. All those guys seem to share similar physical traits and capabilities as McCaw - and the only thing stopping them is more time, experience, and technique.

In terms of first-five, Slade should definitely be given 2nd chance (at least behind Cruden), and then Brett, and then all the others (I still don't see the merits of Mike Delany).

SBW and Fruean are locks in terms of being picked (imo), and should be there or thereabouts by the EoY tour.

 

[Darwin]

Do you mean Andrew Hore?

Yes, yes I did.