All Black Training Squad

[Ripper]

http://nz.sports.yahoo.com/rugby/news/arti...soe-axed-blacks

Obviously missing the Canterbury Players. Collins obviously not named, Evans probably dropped because he's gorrrrrn.

John Afoa, Anthony Boric, Daniel Braid, Jimmy Cowan, Stephen Donald, Tom Donnelly, Andrew Hore, Richard Kahui, Jerome Kaino, Sione Lauaki, Brendon Leonard, Keven Mealamu, Mils Muliaina, Ma'a Nonu, Kevin O'Neill, John Schwalger, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Conrad Smith, Rodney Soâoialo, Adam Thomson, Neemia Tialata, Anthony Tuitavake, Paul Williams, Tony Woodcock, Rudi Wulf.

26 man squad to be named after the final.

Ali Williams and Brad Thorn will probably come in at the expense of Boric and one of the Otago loose fowards. McCaw and Read will replace the other Otago loosie and O'Neill. Carter and Brett will replace Donald and either Foodbill or Nonners. Sommerville will give the boot to Schwalger and Panadol will be added as the 26th man so the squad will probably be along the lines of.

Afoa, Braid, Cowan, Donnelly, Hore, Kaino, Fat Lump, Leonard, Mealamu, Muliania, Schwalger, Sivivatu, Smith, Rodney, Tialata, Tuitavake, Woodcock, Wulf and Foodbill or Nonu

with

Williams, Thorn, McCaw, Read, Carter, Brett and Panadol coming in. Donald could possibly make the cut as fly half cover off the bench, rather just keep Evans and hope Ripia is ready by the end of year tour than trust Donald with any assignment harder than Canada.

What we will probably see for the first test.

Woodcock
Hore
Afoa
Williams
Thorn
Kaino
McCaw ©
Rodney

Cowan (Think he's personally more suited for starting tests more than Leonard)

Carter
Tuitavake
Brett
Nonu (Can't pair Brett up with a lightweight like Smith - Same reason the Cartel only ever rolled Smith with McAlister, rather have Brett/Foodbill until McAlister comes back, hopefully by the end of the year that's the combo we see)
Sivivatu
Panadol

Tialata
Mealmau
Donnelly
Read or Braid
Leonard
Mils
Donald or Foodbill depending on who they pick

 

[HarryPeters]

hope Ripia is ready by the end of year tour than trust Donald with any assignment harder than Canada.


[/b]

That is the dumbest thing I have ever seen on this website.

Ripia is a shocking first five, and no where up to All Blacks standards.

 

[nam97]

Am I missing something? Who the f***'s Foodbill? Lol.

I'm with you on Ripia. Hope to god he's ready to make a step up sooner rather than later, I don't think I could cope having Donald to rely on.

hope Ripia is ready by the end of year tour than trust Donald with any assignment harder than Canada.


[/b]

That is the dumbest thing I have ever seen on this website.

Ripia is a shocking first five, and no where up to All Blacks standards.
[/b]

Funny because I really feel the same way about Donald but meh.

 

[Ripper]

Kahui

That is the dumbest thing I have ever seen on this website.

Ripia is a shocking first five, and no where up to All Blacks standards.[/b]

Your basing that on what - 3 or 4 Super 14 games where he was dumped into the deep end? On talent alone he is worth the investment, much more than Donald who we all know is just going to fold like Mauger did at the MCG last year... just on a weekly basis.

 

[HarryPeters]

No I'm basing it on being a Waikato fan and watching him stuff up while Donald was injured in last years Air New Zealand cup.

He had a few good games with the Hurricanes this year, big deal.

If he really was so good, why would Taranaki buy him? Surely a big club would have.

 

[darwin_23]

A few surprising omissions in Toeava, Masoe, and Eaton - they don't really deserve to be there on form (though Masoe has played ok) but I thought they would be in the squad because of there recent AB's experience...

Only person who I feel was really unlucky not to make the squad was Masaga - perhaps he needs to do some more work on both defense and catching the high ball before he makes it too the top level...

Only real surprise inclusions was O'Niell - I wasn't expecting Paul Williams or Thomson to make it either but I suppose they had to include a few Highlanders

 

[O'Rothlain]

I was impressed by Hore this Super 14. Also, I'm glad Nonu is back up in contention.

 

[ChiefsFan]

No I'm basing it on being a Waikato fan and watching him stuff up while Donald was injured in last years Air New Zealand cup.

He had a few good games with the Hurricanes this year, big deal.

If he really was so good, why would Taranaki buy him? Surely a big club would have. [/b]

Amen.



No disrespect to him or anything, but he is nowhere near up to standard.



There are two reasons why he appears to play well with Canes.

1) Good players supporting him (Weepu, Rodders, Smith)

2) He wasn't exatly replacing the greatest first five. Anyone would have looked good compared to Gopperth



I'm suprised Messam didn't make it, he's been playing consistently well for a good two/three years. Also it's a shame Masaga didn't make it. No doubt he'll be on the EOY tour though. I'm happy for Kahui, I wasn't really expecting him to get a 'call-up' after being out for the last (two?) week(s).



Oh, by the way Ripper, when you're posting your thoughts on the team and what not it would be nice if you could clearly state who each player is. I had no idea who Panadol was and the only reason I'd heard of Foodbill is because you mentioned it somewhere else.



Oh, yeah, good to see three Hlanders in the squad

 

[nam97]

Oh, by the way Ripper, when you're posting your thoughts on the team and what not it would be nice if you could clearly state who each player is. I had no idea who Panadol was and the only reason I'd heard of Foodbill is because you mentioned it somewhere else.
[/b]

Yeah... on that, why do you call Kahui "Foodbill" Ripper?

 

[Jer1cho]

Squad sure looks different without those regular names. . . .

 

[Caledfwlch]

It looks like a Super 14 team

 

[ChiefsFan]

Remember, it doesn't include any Saders.

So that means...
Sommerville
Thorn
Williams
McCaw
Carter
Macdonald

From a startin squad (although Mulianina and Macdonald are about equal)

I'd imagine that after seeing this the game day 22 will be...
15 - Macdonald/Muliaina
14 - Nonu
13 - Kahui/Smith
12 - Brett/Kahui
11 - Sivivatu
10 - Carter
9 - Leonard
8 - So'oalo
7 - McCaw ©
6 - Kaino/Reid
5 - Williams
4 - Thorn
3 - Sommerville/Afoa
2 - Hore/Mealamu
1 - Woodcock

Like Ripper said, I can't imagine the selectors having both Brett and Smith on the field, there needs to be a great tackler like Kahui or a 'large' guy like Nonu. I don't see them giving Wulf much game time if he is in the 26, and as I've mentioned in some other topic the selectors don't seem to like Tuitavake. I imagine that Masaga will be the next serious AB winger, although Wulf has a chance. He's not the kind of guy to stand up say 'I should be an AB' though. He probably should be if he really wants a spot.

BTW WC, Ripper calls Kahui foodbill because of his non frequent playing and the fact that he saps money from the team to pay for his food.

Have the selectors said anything about players not in the squad nor the final but still have a chance of getting in the squad? ie. Masoe, Eaton. I can't imagine them getting rid of Masoe just because he's been in the set up for a while. Also, I don't think Braid will replace him as they don't seem to want a second specialist openside (Like Holah was) so I don't exactly get why Masoe ain't there...

 

[Incredible Schalk]

Dissapointed not to see Masaga in the squad, he has been the standout New Zealand winger for me this season.

Still the team looks very strong, im hoping Nonu starts against England. He deserves the place more than Brett or Kahui and constantly creates problems for defenses.

 

[carlosisgod123]

[/quote]

Good one ripper. Guess you'll be wanting to see Toeava in the ABs next. Twat.

 

[nam97]

We are looking very scarce in the wing department. I hope to god they're not thinking of putting Nonu at wing. He's a 12, f***ing leave it.

 

[Dmx#1]

I'd prefer Nonu @ 14 than 13 because he'll make less fatal mistakes. Although he has had a solid season @ 12 I think England will be a good team to experiment against. Nonu will do good on wing regardless as long as he doesnt face off against Habana as his opposite he should be good.

 

[Wally]

All Blacks looking exposed and very beatable this year.

 

[Fushitsusha]

All Blacks looking exposed and very beatable this year.
[/b]

Well, it's going to depend on who Deans selects for the games.

The Wallabies scrum is still fairly average, but hopefully Deans will improve the fitness of the Wallaby forwards in general.

 

[bjok]

Ripia..another embarrassing call!! He's got less chance than Toeava ever had.
Nonu, Kahui, Tuatuvake (can't spell it, I'm not Samoan..actually most Samoans probably can't spell it either) are all just hot head show boaters. Make a couple of breaks and then go missing..or maybe get sent off for a senseless shoulder barge and cost the country another four years.
After last Saturdays master class surely Dopey Henry doesn't need to look further than Ellis, Carter, Bateman, Laulala, Hamilton, Sivivatu and McD. Now that's just the mix of talent, experience and rugby brains that the AB's need against what will undoubtably be a much improved Aussie team; now they have the God coach. Oh, lament the great loss!!

 

[InsaneAsylum]

masaga should be in the sqaud and so should donald over brett.