I hadn't seen anyone put this out there yet. Edit: Bugger, I've put this in the wrong section... Mods?! International section please .
http://www.newshub.co.nz/sport/all-blacks-squad-named-for-end-of-year-tour-2016102312
---- Forwards ----
Hookers:
Dane Coles (Wellington, 46)
Codie Taylor (Canterbury, 11)
Liam Coltman (Otago, uncapped)
Props:
Wyatt Crockett (Canterbury, 55)
Charlie Faumuina (Auckland, 42)
Owen Franks (Canterbury, 87)
Joe Moody (Canterbury, 20)
Ofa Tu’ungafasi (Auckland, 2)
Locks:
Brodie Retallick (Hawke’s Bay, 57)
Luke Romano (Canterbury, 26)
Patrick Tuipulotu (Auckland, 10)
Samuel Whitelock (Canterbury, 82)
Loose Forwards:
Sam Cane (Bay of Plenty, 37)
Elliot Dixon (Southland, 2)
Jerome Kaino (Auckland, 74)
Steven Luatua (Auckland, 14)
Kieran Read, captain (Canterbury, 94)
Ardie Savea (Wellington, 9)
Liam Squire (Tasman, 6)
Matt Todd (Canterbury, 5)
---- Backs ----
Halfbacks:
Tawera Kerrâ€"Barlow (Waikato, 24)
TJ Perenara (Wellington, 26)
Aaron Smith (Manawatu, 54)
First fiveâ€"eighths:
Beauden Barrett (Taranaki, 46)
Aaron Cruden (Manawatu, 43)
Lima Sopoaga (Southland, 5)
Midfielders:
Ryan Crotty (Canterbury, 24)
Malakai Fekitoa (Auckland, 20)
Anton Leinert-Brown (Waikato, 5)
George Moala (Auckland, 3)
Outside backs:
Israel Dagg (Hawke’s Bay, 58)
Rieko Ioane (Auckland, uncapped)
Damian McKenzie (Waikato, 1)
Waisake Naholo (Taranaki, 8)
Julian Savea (Wellington, 49)
Ben Smith (Otago, 58)
Injury Cover: Scott Barrett.
Apprentice: Jordie Barrett.
Notable players not included due to injury: Nehe Milner-Skudder, Charlie Ngatai, Sonny Bill Williams, and Nathan Harris.
The most interesting part was the apprentice All Black: Jordie Barrett. Wow, what a big thing for someone who hasn't even played Super Rugby yet. It shows what Hansen believes, and it confirms my suggestion, and others, that he'll probably become an All Black.
But, this is a strong team, there is no denying it. I feel this tour is going to hinge on how our 10 plays. Beauden Barrett, what will we see from him? We honestly cannot afford to go venturing up there, and he starts missing the uprights... Like he did versus Australia. I guess it's hard to critique a team who have done what they have in the last couple of years, and then this year's team, having done what they have done so far. I'm worried that, if our 10 has a ****-poor game, we've always had someone like Nonu to cover it up. But right now, we have Lienert-Brown, who, well... The kid has just been great so far... The more likely is Fekitoa however, and Crotty. When Carter was playing bad during games vs good teams, Nonu was fantastic, the catalyst, and got us by until Dan got it together. IF this happens, we're relying on Ben Smith, depending on if he is playing fullback, which he should be, or a spark from somewhere else. I'm not confident if other teams shut down our starting 10, lets just put it that way. I didn't expect to see Luatua in the team, but can see how viable he is, he's been in that environment and he covers more positions than Akira Ioane.
As for a personal thing I'd like to see... Hell, I'd love to see Rieko Ioane have a whack at some team. As well as McKenzie. I'm still not sure what Rieko is going to specialise in... He's been doing very well at centre for Auckland. One of only 4(I think it was) players in the history of the provincial game, having scored a hat-trick 2 games in a row. And we've got such an abundance of wingers, with Milner-Skudder coming back next season too. You've gotta believe that he should have a crack at centre, with Fekitoa and Lienert-Brown currently there, as opposed to the previously mentioned Nehe, Naholo, and Hansen choosing Ben Smith/Israel Dagg at 14 too.
http://www.newshub.co.nz/sport/all-blacks-squad-named-for-end-of-year-tour-2016102312
---- Forwards ----
Hookers:
Dane Coles (Wellington, 46)
Codie Taylor (Canterbury, 11)
Liam Coltman (Otago, uncapped)
Props:
Wyatt Crockett (Canterbury, 55)
Charlie Faumuina (Auckland, 42)
Owen Franks (Canterbury, 87)
Joe Moody (Canterbury, 20)
Ofa Tu’ungafasi (Auckland, 2)
Locks:
Brodie Retallick (Hawke’s Bay, 57)
Luke Romano (Canterbury, 26)
Patrick Tuipulotu (Auckland, 10)
Samuel Whitelock (Canterbury, 82)
Loose Forwards:
Sam Cane (Bay of Plenty, 37)
Elliot Dixon (Southland, 2)
Jerome Kaino (Auckland, 74)
Steven Luatua (Auckland, 14)
Kieran Read, captain (Canterbury, 94)
Ardie Savea (Wellington, 9)
Liam Squire (Tasman, 6)
Matt Todd (Canterbury, 5)
---- Backs ----
Halfbacks:
Tawera Kerrâ€"Barlow (Waikato, 24)
TJ Perenara (Wellington, 26)
Aaron Smith (Manawatu, 54)
First fiveâ€"eighths:
Beauden Barrett (Taranaki, 46)
Aaron Cruden (Manawatu, 43)
Lima Sopoaga (Southland, 5)
Midfielders:
Ryan Crotty (Canterbury, 24)
Malakai Fekitoa (Auckland, 20)
Anton Leinert-Brown (Waikato, 5)
George Moala (Auckland, 3)
Outside backs:
Israel Dagg (Hawke’s Bay, 58)
Rieko Ioane (Auckland, uncapped)
Damian McKenzie (Waikato, 1)
Waisake Naholo (Taranaki, 8)
Julian Savea (Wellington, 49)
Ben Smith (Otago, 58)
Injury Cover: Scott Barrett.
Apprentice: Jordie Barrett.
Notable players not included due to injury: Nehe Milner-Skudder, Charlie Ngatai, Sonny Bill Williams, and Nathan Harris.
The most interesting part was the apprentice All Black: Jordie Barrett. Wow, what a big thing for someone who hasn't even played Super Rugby yet. It shows what Hansen believes, and it confirms my suggestion, and others, that he'll probably become an All Black.
But, this is a strong team, there is no denying it. I feel this tour is going to hinge on how our 10 plays. Beauden Barrett, what will we see from him? We honestly cannot afford to go venturing up there, and he starts missing the uprights... Like he did versus Australia. I guess it's hard to critique a team who have done what they have in the last couple of years, and then this year's team, having done what they have done so far. I'm worried that, if our 10 has a ****-poor game, we've always had someone like Nonu to cover it up. But right now, we have Lienert-Brown, who, well... The kid has just been great so far... The more likely is Fekitoa however, and Crotty. When Carter was playing bad during games vs good teams, Nonu was fantastic, the catalyst, and got us by until Dan got it together. IF this happens, we're relying on Ben Smith, depending on if he is playing fullback, which he should be, or a spark from somewhere else. I'm not confident if other teams shut down our starting 10, lets just put it that way. I didn't expect to see Luatua in the team, but can see how viable he is, he's been in that environment and he covers more positions than Akira Ioane.
As for a personal thing I'd like to see... Hell, I'd love to see Rieko Ioane have a whack at some team. As well as McKenzie. I'm still not sure what Rieko is going to specialise in... He's been doing very well at centre for Auckland. One of only 4(I think it was) players in the history of the provincial game, having scored a hat-trick 2 games in a row. And we've got such an abundance of wingers, with Milner-Skudder coming back next season too. You've gotta believe that he should have a crack at centre, with Fekitoa and Lienert-Brown currently there, as opposed to the previously mentioned Nehe, Naholo, and Hansen choosing Ben Smith/Israel Dagg at 14 too.
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