It's a good squad. Some suprises and there was always going to be some disapointed players who missed out with it being only a 30man squad - not 40 like Aussie.
Props: Shame Crockett didn't make the main squad but he is sure to get some gametime with Woodcock not due back for some time. If Woodcock doesn't come back strong then I hope Crockett gets a real shot.
Locks: Ali Williams was a sure thing and I think he should be in the starting 15 with Brad Thorn. Good on Hoeata but I expect Boric will reclaim that spot when he's back from injury. Boric has grown in to a top shelf lock over the last 2 years - I expect him to be part of the WC squad.
Hooker: Not happy with Flynn's selection. He's an ok player surrounded by all blacks at the crusaders. I thought Elliot made an awesome impression on the EoY tour last year. His lineout throwing is great, better I think than any of the current All Blacks hookers - Mealamu and Hore included.
Loosies: No suprises here though I really dont see the point in selecting thompson. Even though he's fast even most of his biggest supporters will agree that he's not good at 7 and from what I've seen this year he's not good at 8 either. So I dont understand the reason for having a 2nd specilist 6 when McCaw, Kaino, Read and Messam are all just as good or better at 6 tham Thompson. I also really question Thompsons Physicality as well. The gain line is critical in Rigby right now and that's about forwards being able to push through tackles to get the ball going forward and also hit the oposition on defense to hold them behind the gain line. Physicality and dicipline are thompson's weak areas and they are so critical to test rugby. Messam is very gifted and he's really starting to show his potnetial, he's also just as good at any position 6, 8 or 7. I think his best position is 8 and his best game this season was the one game he played at 7. Stats show messam has been strong in every aspect of loose forward play, not just a couple of areas like other players.
I was a big supporter of the use of thompson as McCaw's backup in 2008 but it just hasn't worked. Not even at super level. I see two better options. 1 - get a spec 7 into the squad, Luke Braid and Matt Todd have been very good. Right now I'm leaning a little toward Braid. 2 - Tell Liam Messam his main Job is going to be to backup McCaw at 7 - and bring Vito into the squad to backup #8 having watched Messam for years he adapts his body to whatever position he's been asked to play. Because he had to play 8 alot this year he's carrying a bit of extra bulk. if asked to cover 7 I bet he would trim down and speed up in 3-4 weeks and be ready for world cup. Where right now his main job in the squad should be to cover #8 for Read - as he's the most experienced 8 in the squad.
Halfback: I've said this for months and I still believe it 100% that getting Piri weepu fit is critical to NZ's world cup chances. When fit he's the best 9 in the world - right now he's far from ideal fittness. I also know from a bit of inside knowledge that uncle Ted feels the same way.
I'm also worried about Andy Elis. The super15 final once again showed how elis's slow clearance can affect a backline. Elis picks the ball up. Pauses, takes a step then passes. That delay means that by the time the 2nd 5 has it there is no room for anyone further out because the defense is right up with them. It's most obvious when Elis was replaced by Kahn who passes the ball straight out of the breakdown and all of a sudden the backs have time and room to move. Which enabled Sonny Bill to make some linebreaks late in the game. I've seen the exact same thing happen for the AB's. in 2008 Elis was the #1 halfback and the backline struggled outside him in the early tests. Then Elis got injured and Cowan & Weepu got their chance and the rest is history - the backline flourished big time. Weepu is very good at clearing the ball. Cowan is ok, better than Elis but not express. Leonard and Mathewson ar both much better than Elis in this area.
10: I agree I like slade for dan's backup. A fully fit and match ready slade is better than Cruden. But Slade still has a way to go to get test match ready. So it's a bit of a risk. He has mostly been selected off the back of his ITM cup winning form late last year which was very impressive. Slade is also very experienced for his age. Much More experienced than Cruden who is only a bit younger.
Midfield: No suprises here. Kahui is a proven test player and 100% chance of selection when fit in my books. I also think he will shine once again when he gets his chance. He's also brilliant on the wing. I think better than some of the top spec wingers around. He has the ability to put his game into overdrive for big matches which will be a great asset.
Outside backs: This is where the big suprise is. This is an all black squad without Rokocoko, Sivivatu or Cory Jane. These guys have been used more than any other wingers over the last 4 years. it does thugh reflect that during this super15 the experienced test wingers havn't been in as good form as the young guys coming through. Infact Cory Jane lost his starting position to Toeava late last year. He needed a big super campaign to secure his spot and it didn't happen. Which I think is a shame, I remember back at the start of the super season Jane saying he was in the best shape he has been at that time in the season and he looked it. But honestly it didn't translate to the field.
In Contrast Guildford has had a stellar season, his workrate is through the roof and considering just how much he does his error rate is pretty low. he will be better off after a couple weeks rest for the AB's. he's had a huge workload for the crusaders since coming back from injury.
I hope Toeava comes right and has a good season. He was devastating for the blues and the blues were a pretty average team without him. His ability to run on a curve at speed into gaps is mind blowing. Shame he didn't make it back for the finals. I think the blues would have beaten the reds with him there.
Same story for Dagg, he was a little error prone at the begining of the season but get better as time went on. Scored a lot of tries and once again displayed his ability to make something from nothing. Much like that try against SA last year that no one can forget. Doubt he will be ready straight away which will give Kahui or maybe Jane a chance to impress before the WC.
Mills - automatic selection. had an ok season. Bit up and down. But he has a habit of coming good at the business end of the season and I bet in the last few weeks he will have been working hard to make sure that is the case.
Some Unlucky Players: Joe Rokocoko - the tryline has eluded him but he has still proved to be very hard to defend and on defense he is arguably the best winger in the world. AB's will miss that and his size, reliability and power with the crash ball.
Sivivatu - AB's may have missed a trick, he has shown again this year that he has the ability to unlock a modern defense like no one else. Also very good under the high ball. But his top speed is down and he has a habit of bouncing off tackles in defence.
Fruen - Good season, can't find room for him though.
Payne - see above. though a shocker semi final vs. the reds and the fact he's going overseas wount have helped.
Leonard - best season in years, best and most consistant back for the chiefs this season. Great kicking game and big workload on defnense and attack. Better than any NZ 9 he came up against in head to head matchups. Superb kicking game. And all behind the weakest tight 5 of the NZ teams.
Vito - He's had a good season. Proved to be a great lineout option but at times when the Canes were under pressure he bent - seemed to struggle which isn't a good sign in my books. For the AB's you need guys who shine when the pressure goes on.
Cruden - Had a good end to the season with some brilliant play. Though still prone to mistakes as well. Even though he works hard on defense his lack of size means he will always be a Big target.
Donald - Real shame for him, hasn't had a bad season though he did go through a quiet patch after his back injury where he also missed some goal kicks he should have got though he still finished the season well over 70%. The fact he wasn't clearly behind slade or Cruden this year suggests that his non selection has a lot to do with that one missed kick at goal in hong kong which would have secured the game. It was a tough situation - carter had missed his first two kicks at goal that day. But he should have got it - he was in better form than even carter at the time and kicking over 90% in ITM cup.
Elliot - Honestly dont know what else he could have done. Best lineout thrower around. Tough as hell in contact and fast around the field.
MacIntosh - Uber start to the season but dropped off as the highlanders season took the same route. Wasn't able to rest and rotate like his counterparts at the Crusaders. He and other top props in NZ suffer because there is only room for one spec for each side. If if guys like jamie want to improve their chances they need to show they can prop both sides of the scrum like Ben Franks, Tialata or Afoa. In future guys like Toby Smith and Charlie Faumuina are going to have an edge bcause of that.
Tom Donnelly - been a tough season for him. Served the AB's well in the past and I dont think he would have let them down this year either.
Chris Jack - Bit ****** off with blackadder for keeping Jack out of the business end of the season. He was brilliant at times and had the better of some of the best locks in the world when he had his chance. Such an experienced player he would not let the AB's down if given the chance. He should have moved to the chiefs, they dont really have a top class lock and he would have got the gametime he needed to prove himself.
Ben Smith - unlucky not to make the main squad. has had a golden season. His kicking game in particular has been brilliant. AB's could have really used that to their advantage.
