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International Test Matches
All Blacks squad for their end of year tour
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<blockquote data-quote="ranger" data-source="post: 342274" data-attributes="member: 40555"><p>Hookers: Hore (Elliot), Mealamu</p><p> Props: Woodcock, Ben Franks, Owen Franks, Afoa</p><p> Locks: Thorn, Donnelly, Boric, Sam Whitelock</p><p> Loosies: Kaino, Vito, Read, McCaw, Daniel Braid</p><p> Halfbacks: Weepu, Cowan, Mathewson</p><p> First-fives: Carter, Slade, Cruden</p><p> Mid-field: Nonu, Kahui (Toeava/Fruean), Conrad Smith, SBW</p><p> Wing/Fullbacks: Sivivatu (Rococoko), Jane, Dagg, Ranger, Muliaina</p><p></p><p>-I have never really rated Flynn and he has done nothing so far to change my mind, i thought it was a poor decision taking him over Anton Oliver in 2003 and i think its a poor decision to continue with him now. If Hore doesnt recover id go with Elliot. He has the ball running skills the All Blacks have grown to depend on from Mealamu,he really gets around the park hitting breakdowns and making tackles and his lineout throwing is suspect but probably the best in NZ behind Rutledge (who seems to be out of contention). If ADM improves his lineout throwing drastically then he would get my vote.</p><p></p><p>-I've chosen one less loose forward as i think the current lot plus Braid can handle the work load and to be honest neither Messam or Thompson have done enough to seriously challenge for a 22 spot.</p><p></p><p>-Cruden has to stay on, he had a poor game but it wasn't enough of a shocker to rule him out of the 30 man squad completely. First five is too much of a critical position to just develop one backup and there has been so much effort put into him already. There are plenty of matches on the tour and i would like to see Slade and Cruden start the majority of them with Carter on the bench as a safety net.</p><p></p><p>-I would give SBW a run on this tour, he hasn't been the best player on the planet as the media have made out in his first few games, but at the same time he hasn't been as bad as some of the posters here make out. Watching his games objectively you can tell that he is a class above at ITM cup level, that much is obvious. I say he should be taken on the tour and thrown into the deep end against the likes of Scotland or Wales to see if he really is up to international standard. </p><p></p><p>-I'd love to make room for Gear but that doesn't look like its going to happen. Toeava has been out of the game for too long to command a position IMO, especially considering the depth in the backfield. He needs to come out of the blocks on fire to be in serious contention.</p><p></p><p>I'd really love to see this team lineup at least once on the end of year tour;</p><p></p><p>1)Tony Woodcock</p><p>2)Kevin Mealamu</p><p>3)Owen Franks</p><p>4)Sam Whitelock</p><p>5)Brad Thorn</p><p>6)Jerome Kaino</p><p>7)Richie McCaw</p><p>8)Keiran Read</p><p>9)Piri Weepu</p><p>10)Dan Carter</p><p>11)Sitiveni Sivivatu/Richard Kahui</p><p>12)Sonny Bill Williams</p><p>13)Rene Ranger</p><p>14)Corey Jane</p><p>15)Israel Dagg</p><p></p><p>16)Ben Franks</p><p>17)Andrew Hore/Hika Elliot</p><p>18)Tom Donelly</p><p>19)Daniel Braid</p><p>20)Alby Matthewson</p><p>21)Colin Slade</p><p>22)Conrad Smith</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="ranger, post: 342274, member: 40555"] Hookers: Hore (Elliot), Mealamu Props: Woodcock, Ben Franks, Owen Franks, Afoa Locks: Thorn, Donnelly, Boric, Sam Whitelock Loosies: Kaino, Vito, Read, McCaw, Daniel Braid Halfbacks: Weepu, Cowan, Mathewson First-fives: Carter, Slade, Cruden Mid-field: Nonu, Kahui (Toeava/Fruean), Conrad Smith, SBW Wing/Fullbacks: Sivivatu (Rococoko), Jane, Dagg, Ranger, Muliaina -I have never really rated Flynn and he has done nothing so far to change my mind, i thought it was a poor decision taking him over Anton Oliver in 2003 and i think its a poor decision to continue with him now. If Hore doesnt recover id go with Elliot. He has the ball running skills the All Blacks have grown to depend on from Mealamu,he really gets around the park hitting breakdowns and making tackles and his lineout throwing is suspect but probably the best in NZ behind Rutledge (who seems to be out of contention). If ADM improves his lineout throwing drastically then he would get my vote. -I've chosen one less loose forward as i think the current lot plus Braid can handle the work load and to be honest neither Messam or Thompson have done enough to seriously challenge for a 22 spot. -Cruden has to stay on, he had a poor game but it wasn't enough of a shocker to rule him out of the 30 man squad completely. First five is too much of a critical position to just develop one backup and there has been so much effort put into him already. There are plenty of matches on the tour and i would like to see Slade and Cruden start the majority of them with Carter on the bench as a safety net. -I would give SBW a run on this tour, he hasn't been the best player on the planet as the media have made out in his first few games, but at the same time he hasn't been as bad as some of the posters here make out. Watching his games objectively you can tell that he is a class above at ITM cup level, that much is obvious. I say he should be taken on the tour and thrown into the deep end against the likes of Scotland or Wales to see if he really is up to international standard. -I'd love to make room for Gear but that doesn't look like its going to happen. Toeava has been out of the game for too long to command a position IMO, especially considering the depth in the backfield. He needs to come out of the blocks on fire to be in serious contention. I'd really love to see this team lineup at least once on the end of year tour; 1)Tony Woodcock 2)Kevin Mealamu 3)Owen Franks 4)Sam Whitelock 5)Brad Thorn 6)Jerome Kaino 7)Richie McCaw 8)Keiran Read 9)Piri Weepu 10)Dan Carter 11)Sitiveni Sivivatu/Richard Kahui 12)Sonny Bill Williams 13)Rene Ranger 14)Corey Jane 15)Israel Dagg 16)Ben Franks 17)Andrew Hore/Hika Elliot 18)Tom Donelly 19)Daniel Braid 20)Alby Matthewson 21)Colin Slade 22)Conrad Smith [/QUOTE]
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All Blacks squad for their end of year tour
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