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2011 Squad Predictions

Australia could have a great back line lots of depth and options from #10-15. Is there a consensus pick right now for who will take the kicks at goal for the Wallabies? Its been a weakness for some time and you can't leave points on the board at an RWC those conversions, penalties and even droppies are crucial.
 
I pretty much agree there darwin_23. I think that Donnelly will get the nod as the 3rd lock, and i think that Kahui or Sivivatu will miss out for the inclusion of Slade.

I really rate MacIntosh, he'll be in the starting XV next season.
 
selecting props is going to be a nightmare, MacIntosh & Crockett are in the firm of their lives and Woodcock isn't in great form, Afoa has been pretty solid for the AB's over the last couple of years and it would be a big call not to include him.

Woodcock, Franks x2, Afoa

Hooker isn't set in stone either where behind mealamu it's hard to see what's going on. Hore is well below his best. Elliot was great on the EoY tour but hasn't impressed this Super season. Aled is still the best hooker in NZ at everything but lineout throwing. And jason rutledge is in great form again but lacks test experience.

Mealamu, Hore, Elliot

Locks are more clear cut IMO. Thorn, Boric & Whitelock are automatic selections and Jack, Donnelly & Williams will fight for the last spot (I put jack in the lead right now)

Loosies: McCaw, Kaino, Read - automatic selections
Messam - because he's the best and most experienced #8 of the current top loosies
Thompson - The form 6 in super rugby will mainly cover 7 - because he plays more like a 7 than a 6.

9: Weepu (please please please be fit!) Cowan & Elis - Leonard is in great form and would not look out of place in this squad if he stays injury free but Elis has the advantage of playing alongside Carter & Read week in and week out.

10: Carter then IMO it really comes down to a battle between slade & donald and if neither of them do enough McAlister will get the nod. Goal kicking will be an important factor. Donald has his haters but reality is he is a quality player and will be considered if in good form. An important aspect for me is that Donald has always played very for the AB's on NZ soil with the only sore point the first test against france in 2008 when the whole AB's team failed to fire.

Midfield: IMO all automatic selections if fit
Nonu, Smith, Sonny Bill, Kahui

Outside backs, I can't see room for Sivivatu or Rokocoko, Hard to believe. But the AB coaches like these guys and Rok's in particular has always been a player that performs better for the AB's than he does for the blues
Mills, Jane, Gear, Toeava, Dagg
 
i would do a full all black squad but i am not the most equiped with knowledge of forward and im kinda tired so i will do my choice of backs :)

Scrum halfs : Weepu without doubt the best and most suited scrum half for the team, his backup i would say has to be Cowan he is not spectacular but is a good player and will do the job if called upon :) third Ellis his partnership with carter wins it for me tbf

Fly halfs : Carter obviously second slade best and probably best given game time against teh weeker teams for when he takes over at flay half mcalister should fill in if carter is injured for any big games amaznig player in my opinion

Centres : nonu & SBW both similiar players but i think sbw starts for me becasue of his parternership with carter his pace and his amazinf offloading skills on teh other side i would have smith & fruen smith starts he is a more inteligetn player and would compliment sbw very well eve if fruen is an amazing player that plays alongside sbw

Wingers : gear & jane are both obvious starters tbh and for good reason but as back up goes i would take maitland his form is to much to ignore i also like masaga he is powerfull and incredibly fast and wel i like him :) but rocks and sivivatu tried tested proven at this level and also guildford very good aswell i just dont think hes done enough to be included

Full back : mills & dagg no explanation neeede tbh but i do preffer dagg because of his pace and style of play but mills will obviously get the call


alot of people will say what about toeava and Kahui i do liek them alot i just prefer the players i included and i like ranger but just not enough room and kade poki i also rate him highly just not enough room as said
 
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selecting props is going to be a nightmare, MacIntosh & Crockett are in the firm of their lives and Woodcock isn't in great form, Afoa has been pretty solid for the AB's over the last couple of years and it would be a big call not to include him.

Woodcock, Franks x2, Afoa

Hooker isn't set in stone either where behind mealamu it's hard to see what's going on. Hore is well below his best. Elliot was great on the EoY tour but hasn't impressed this Super season. Aled is still the best hooker in NZ at everything but lineout throwing. And jason rutledge is in great form again but lacks test experience.

Mealamu, Hore, Elliot

Locks are more clear cut IMO. Thorn, Boric & Whitelock are automatic selections and Jack, Donnelly & Williams will fight for the last spot (I put jack in the lead right now)

Loosies: McCaw, Kaino, Read - automatic selections
Messam - because he's the best and most experienced #8 of the current top loosies
Thompson - The form 6 in super rugby will mainly cover 7 - because he plays more like a 7 than a 6.

9: Weepu (please please please be fit!) Cowan & Elis - Leonard is in great form and would not look out of place in this squad if he stays injury free but Elis has the advantage of playing alongside Carter & Read week in and week out.

10: Carter then IMO it really comes down to a battle between slade & donald and if neither of them do enough McAlister will get the nod. Goal kicking will be an important factor. Donald has his haters but reality is he is a quality player and will be considered if in good form. An important aspect for me is that Donald has always played very for the AB's on NZ soil with the only sore point the first test against france in 2008 when the whole AB's team failed to fire.

Midfield: IMO all automatic selections if fit
Nonu, Smith, Sonny Bill, Kahui

Outside backs, I can't see room for Sivivatu or Rokocoko, Hard to believe. But the AB coaches like these guys and Rok's in particular has always been a player that performs better for the AB's than he does for the blues
Mills, Jane, Gear, Toeava, Dagg

Yeah you're right about that, the props I believe is going to be a tough decision. You also had Ben May playing well before his injury and you have a well respected player in Neemie Tialata with AB history who will do the job even if he is on the decline. I personally love Jamie Mackintosh but darwin_23 is right with his diversity in the front row. Graham Henry has usually gone with the four you said and I don't really see why he wouldn't now.

Chris Jack luckily gets a start this week to press a substantial WC claim, however from now on I don't think he will be chosen on his form but his experience. If it was chosen on form you would have to put Hoeata or Bekhuis in. I love Anthony Boric though.

Messam for me is too erratic and even if you get great stability with McCaw and Read, Messam's form is so bipolar. He's had some real blinders this year but has also had some shockers, at some instances Scott Waldrom has played better than him. I would take Victor Vito as the number 8 cover because he was fourth in the pecking order for most of the Autumn internationals and his form hasn't warranted a drop, his form is actually very high.

I've always rated Donald but when he puts that Black jersey on. He. Is. Shocking. I'll never forgive him for his contribution in the dying stages in the final Tri-nations game against Australia. Even though Fitzpatrick is starting in Wellington, Cruden hasn't had a bad past 2 weeks and although I think he is constantly not living up to expectation Graham Henry will somehow see a place in his squad for him. Sigh.

I honestly don't think Kahui will make it, he had such a horrible season last year and has only recently come back from injury. Jarrad Payne is in much better form, Robbie Fruean is setting Super Rugby alight and you could even try and fit Kendrick Lynn in there who is an under rated player. If you were really mad and a betting person, Tana Umaga might get a spot :p
 
Yeah you're right about that, the props I believe is going to be a tough decision. You also had Ben May playing well before his injury and you have a well respected player in Neemie Tialata with AB history who will do the job even if he is on the decline. I personally love Jamie Mackintosh but darwin_23 is right with his diversity in the front row. Graham Henry has usually gone with the four you said and I don't really see why he wouldn't now.

Chris Jack luckily gets a start this week to press a substantial WC claim, however from now on I don't think he will be chosen on his form but his experience. If it was chosen on form you would have to put Hoeata or Bekhuis in. I love Anthony Boric though.

Messam for me is too erratic and even if you get great stability with McCaw and Read, Messam's form is so bipolar. He's had some real blinders this year but has also had some shockers, at some instances Scott Waldrom has played better than him. I would take Victor Vito as the number 8 cover because he was fourth in the pecking order for most of the Autumn internationals and his form hasn't warranted a drop, his form is actually very high.

I've always rated Donald but when he puts that Black jersey on. He. Is. Shocking. I'll never forgive him for his contribution in the dying stages in the final Tri-nations game against Australia. Even though Fitzpatrick is starting in Wellington, Cruden hasn't had a bad past 2 weeks and although I think he is constantly not living up to expectation Graham Henry will somehow see a place in his squad for him. Sigh.

I honestly don't think Kahui will make it, he had such a horrible season last year and has only recently come back from injury. Jarrad Payne is in much better form, Robbie Fruean is setting Super Rugby alight and you could even try and fit Kendrick Lynn in there who is an under rated player. If you were really mad and a betting person, Tana Umaga might get a spot :p

Kahui didn't have a great season for the Chiefs, but he was outstanding for the AB's (before injury). He always seems to step up for the AB's, so I'd be surprised if he doesn't get picked (assuming he's not injured). Whether he will be fit of not is definitely another question though!
 
Messam for me is too erratic and even if you get great stability with McCaw and Read, Messam's form is so bipolar. He's had some real blinders this year but has also had some shockers, at some instances Scott Waldrom has played better than him. I would take Victor Vito as the number 8 cover because he was fourth in the pecking order for most of the Autumn internationals and his form hasn't warranted a drop, his form is actually very high.

If i was a selector i'd be thinking the same... I'm a big fan of Vito and he is actually playing very well. I'd have Thomson on the bench and Vito in the reserves
 
The thing is, Thompson plays almost like a 7, but has never played well there. You can't take him as the reserve 7 at this stage because he has never proven that he can actually play there.
The way i see it, Messam, Thompson and Vito are all competing for one spot (6/8 reserve) and Todd, Braid, Latimer and Waldrom for the other.
 
When Thomson plays, his sevens background is very evident, he has such a huge work load and also adds a bit of stable flair to the game. I honestly don't see many flaws in his game, especially this Super season. Vito for me is a shoe-in, he has been groomed for this WC for the past two seasons and has covered openside numerous times when So'oialo was in good touch. I'll be greatly disappointed if Messam makes the team, he tries to force the play far too much and I can see him being a liability against quality teams.
 
The thing is, Thompson plays almost like a 7, but has never played well there. You can't take him as the reserve 7 at this stage because he has never proven that he can actually play there.
The way i see it, Messam, Thompson and Vito are all competing for one spot (6/8 reserve) and Todd, Braid, Latimer and Waldrom for the other.

I do agree that Thomsom has never excelled at 7 like he does at 6, however I'm not sure that Henry and co. see the need for a specialist 7 to backup McCaw in the squad, as they didn't pick one during last years tri-nations (Kaino, McCaw, Vito, Read, and Messem where the 5 loosies). They changed their minds during the end of year tour (when they took Braid), but I have no idea on what their current thinking on the issue is....
 
I do agree that Thomsom has never excelled at 7 like he does at 6, however I'm not sure that Henry and co. see the need for a specialist 7 to backup McCaw in the squad, as they didn't pick one during last years tri-nations (Kaino, McCaw, Vito, Read, and Messem where the 5 loosies). They changed their minds during the end of year tour (when they took Braid), but I have no idea on what their current thinking on the issue is....

The way i see it, the AB selectors would be blind if they don't recognise the importance of a backup 7. The predominant tactics of rugby have changed since the last trinations; Ever since the referees started coming down so hard on the tackler releasing players have felt more comfortable to have a go on attack and break the line without fear of turning it over, the game is being played at a frenetic pace so link and support players like Todd and Braid have become invaluable. Come the world cup, SBW is going to be throwing offload all over the show, we are going to need a guy right there on his shoulder when that happens.
 
Well I would love to see this team go to the world cup.

1.J.Marler
2.D.Hartley
3.D.Cole
4.C.Lawes
5.T.Palmer
6.T.Croft
7.L.Moody
8.J.Haskell

9.B.Youngs
10.T.Flood
11.M.Cueto
12.B.Barritt
13.M.Tuilagi
14.C.Ashton
15.B.Foden

16.A.Sherdian
17.S.Thompson
18.L.Deacon
19.T.Wood
20.D.Care
21.J.Wilkinson
22.N.Abendanon

R.A.Corbisiero
R.D.Wilson
R.S.Shaw
R.H.Fourie
R.J.Simpson
R.O.Farrell
R.R.Flutey
R.M.Banahan
R.Alex Goode
 
This would be my All Blacks squad:

1. Tony Woodcock
2. Kevin Mealamu
3. Owen Franks
4. Sam Whitelock
5. Brad Thorn
6. Jerome Kaino
7. Richie McCaw
8. Kieran Read
9. Piri Weepu
10. Daniel Carter
11. Hosea Gear
12. Sonny Bill Williams
13. Conrad Smith
14. Corey Jane
15. Mils Muliaina

16. Andrew Hore
17. Ben Franks
18. Ali Williams (if fit)
19. Adam Thompson
20. Alby Mattewson
21. Isaia Toeava
22. Luke McAlistar

23. Hikawera Elliot
24. Jamie Mackintosh
25. Chris Jack
26. Daniel Braid
27. Jimmy Cowan
28. Colin Slade
29. Ma'a Nonu
30. Robbie Fruean

I thnik Toeava would be the most suitable replacement as he covers all the backline departments. I think Williams has more attacking potency than Nonu, not to mention that he and Carter have formed a great combo for the Crusaders. This was also why I put Fruean in there as it adds another proven midfield dynamic. On that note I'd like to see Williams/Fruean start a few matches in the Tri Nations just to test their skills at international level.
 
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1. Gethin Jenkins
2. Richard Hibbard
3. Scott Andrews
4. Bradley Davies
5. Alun Wyn Jones
6. Sam Warbuton
7. Martyn Williams
8. Ryan Jones

9. Dwayne Peel/ Mike Phillips
10. James Hook
11. Shane Williams
12. Gavin Henson
13. Jamie Roberts
14. Leigh Halfpenny
15. Lee Byrne

Well, thats what I'd like to see anyway :p
 
1. Gethin Jenkins
2. Richard Hibbard
3. Scott Andrews
4. Bradley Davies
5. Alun Wyn Jones
6. Sam Warbuton
7. Martyn Williams
8. Ryan Jones

9. Dwayne Peel/ Mike Phillips
10. James Hook
11. Shane Williams
12. Gavin Henson
13. Jamie Roberts
14. Leigh Halfpenny
15. Lee Byrne

Well, thats what I'd like to see anyway :p

Where's Adam Jones?
 
MY team:

1 beast
2 bismarck
3 jannie
4 rossouw
5 bekker
6 brussouw
7 smith
8 alberts

9 either du preez (experience) or pretorius (exceptional form)
10 probably steyn
11 mvovu
12 JdV
13 fourie
14 pietersen
15 steyn/aplon

16 pork chop (smit)
17 steenkamp/oosthuizen
18 matfield
19 burger/spies
20 again du preez or pretorius
21 grant or lambie
22 again aplon or steyn

my starting 15 is based more on form than experience, but P "helium" dV's team will prob be:

1 beast
2 smit
3 jannie
4 bakkies
5 matfield
6 burger
7 smith
8 spies

9 du preez
10 steyn
11 habana
12 JdV
13 fourie
14 pietersen
15 aplon

16 bismarck
17 steenkamp
18 flip
19 alberts
20 hougaard
21 grant
22 steyn
 
my NZ team right now, I've also listed if players are selected on either form or reputation, or both.

1, Crockett (form) Woodcock can't stand up to this form right now.
2, Mealamu (Form and Rep)
3, Owen Franks (Form and Rep)
4, Chris jack (Form and Rep)
5, Boric (Form & Rep) injured but not out for long as far as I know.
6, Kaino (Mostly on Reputation but form is OK)
7, McCaw (Rep)
8, Read (Rep with ok form)
9, Cowan (Mostly on Rep with ok form)
10, carter (Form and Rep)
11, Gear (Mostly Rep)
12, Sonny Bill (Form)
13, Kahui (Form and Rep)
14, Jane (Rep)
15, Mills (Rep)

16, Ben Franks - not sure how long he's out with injury. Suprised to see Tialata has found some form though - he may be knocking on the door as well. I didn't expect he would this season.
17, Andrew Hore (mostly Rep but has found some form in the last couple of weeks)
18, Jared Hoeata (Form) with Thorn & Whitelock out injured he would be my next pick.
19, Liam Messam (Great form)
20, Leonard (Form) Ideally want Weepu back, but till he's proved himself Leonard is #2 IMO.
21, McAlister (Form & Rep)
22, Ben Smith (Form)

To Round Out a 30 Man Squad:
Hika Elliot
John Afoa (afoa needs to be careful, Tialata is pushing)
Tom Donnely
Adam Thompson
Conrad Smith
Nonu
Best out of Weepu/Elis/Mathewson
Dagg (about to take 4 weeks rest by the sounds)
Toeava
 
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Well I would love to see this team go to the world cup.

1.J.Marler
2.D.Hartley
3.D.Cole
4.C.Lawes
5.T.Palmer
6.T.Croft
7.L.Moody
8.J.Haskell

9.B.Youngs
10.T.Flood
11.M.Cueto
12.B.Barritt
13.M.Tuilagi
14.C.Ashton
15.B.Foden

16.A.Sherdian
17.S.Thompson
18.L.Deacon
19.T.Wood
20.D.Care
21.J.Wilkinson
22.N.Abendanon

R.A.Corbisiero
R.D.Wilson
R.S.Shaw
R.H.Fourie
R.J.Simpson
R.O.Farrell
R.R.Flutey
R.M.Banahan
R.Alex Goode

Really like your squad there, especially the starting 15. Shame its highly unlikely because MJ is extremely conservative with his selections and it seems that Hape would need to score an own-try before MJ would even consider dropping him.

I think that team could give most teams a great game, though I think Sheridans experience could be key come world-cup time. Glad to seen delon armitage is nowhere to be seen. abendanon is doing most things better at the moment - particularly the not punching and pushing people for no reason thing. Not sure Deacon is our 3rd best lock? Attwood?
 
If neither of Charlie Sharples of James Simpson-Daniel don't go to the WC then there is something seriously wrong with the RFU/Martin Johnson (I'm hoping one or both will be involved with the BaaBaas match at the end of the month, if Gloucester don't make the prem final)
 

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