Incredibly predictable squad. The likes of Matt Todd and Ryan Crotty will be disappointed as they have both had very strong Super Rugby seasons and have performed for the AB's when given a chance, but there is only so many spots available in the squad.
As Mr Fish mentions the players called in to train with the AB's is probably the more interesting thing. I think people should be careful not to read too much into these selections though. These are not necessarily the 'next in line' but rather a selection of players that the AB's selectors would like to have a further look at. A few of them may well earn an AB's call-up in future, but most of them will probably never be AB's IMO.
Ben Smith has been proven to be pretty average at centre...
He looked great at fullback. I'd keep Conrad Smith at centre as he is still clearly the best centre in the world. Fekitoa in my opinion didn't show he could make good enough decisions on a regular basis, or have a decent passing game for me to consider him starting at this stage. I'd rather see him get some time from the bench at centre or the wing. Dagg still wouldn't be near my fullback list despite a reasonable game on the weekend, Ben Smith has clearly done more in the last two years to have earned that starting spot, including being probably the player of the series against England. I love Carter - but he hasn't been playing 10 for the Crusaders and has been out of action for the All Blacks for a while, so I'd probably give Cruden a shot at the first few starts.
In terms of Woodcock - I don't know how long he will be out but Crockett should do fine at scrummaging over the series (In fact he looked very good last weekend). Ben Franks may also be given a shot, and Joe Moody is a good scrummager too. I'd worry more what would happen if Owen Franks is injured as I don't rate Ben Franks at TH (thought Hansen seems to), while Faumuina I think has been very poor in the scrums.
The training squad must be something to do with where they are training. Kane Hames is a terrible, terrible, terrible scrummager. Probably the worst in super rugby. I wouldn't think Shane Christie would be near the team either, not that he is bad but it's very left field. Luke Braid must have slept with Hansen's wife.
Also great to see Julia Savea in there, not sure who she plays for but it speaks volumes for the All Blacks progressive thinking.
I agree with most of that. I think Ben Smith was slightly above average at centre - he started to show some good signs towards in the last few games of end of year tour (he was arguable man of the match in the final game vs Ireland), but I agree he is far more valuable at fullback (and both C Smith and Fekitoa are better 13's). He is by some margin the best fullback in NZ (and has been for the last 3+ years), so it would be good if he was actually played there for a change....
Like you I would start Cruden at 10 for at least first two matches. Carter hasn't played that much rugby over the last few years, and even when fit hasn't exactly been the Carter of old. I'm certainly not writing him off, I'm just not convinced he is our best 10 at this moment in time. If Carter does start it will be interesting to see who they pick as cover from the bench. Though I rate Cruden higher than Barrett as a starter I think Barrett offers more off the bench with his pace and versatility.
I agree that Crockett should do a reasonable job while Woodcock is out. I'm still a bit nervous whenever Crockett is on the field but the new scrum engagement laws have meant he is not longer the penalty magnet he once was at scrum time. He still gets penalised a bit, but not 2-3 times as match as he seemed to under the old laws. I actually quite like Ben Franks at LH (though, like you, not so much at TH). He is a solid scrummager, has a massive work-rate, is a strong ball running option too - the only thing holding him back is his discipline in my opinion. I actually think Faumuina is a pretty solid scrummager these days - not as good as Owen Franks obviously, but I seldom see him get dominated at scrum-time.
The only thing I really disagree on is Hames scrummaging ability. The Highlanders scrum this season was been the best it has been in a number of years, and a big reason for this is Hames. Apart from the last two matches (against the Crusaders and the Sharks - the two best scrummaging sides in the competition) the Highlanders have had parity in most matches at scrum time, and dominance in several too. I remember Hames giving big Ben Tameifuna a hard time in a couple of matches, something few LH's are able to do! I don't think Hames was to blame for the poor Highlanders scrummaging these past two matches either. Almost all the pressure was on the other side of the scrum (on King, who is an average at best scrummager). When we had our strongest scrummaging front row (Hames, Coltman, and Fia) had a surprisingly good scrum, but the absense of Fia (out with seizures) and Coltman (out because he couldn't throw the ball in straight) were the major reasons we struggled so much at scrum-time in Durban.
Hames is a pretty interesting case. This time last year few people would have even heard of him. He hadn't even played ITM Cup rugby and was the 4-5th best prop in Bay of Plenty club - he only got serious game time for Bay of Plenty due to serious injuries to a couple of their top props. I certainly don't think he is near AB's selection at this stage but he made a very promising start to his Super Rugby career, and if he continues to develop he could well make the AB's one day (especially considering our dearth of quality LH's at the moment).
Like you I suspect Luke Braid must have slept with Hansen's wife, but as Mr Fish mentions he wasn't available (he's had shoulder surgery). Christie clearly isn't the next 7 in line (that's Todd), but I can see why the want to have a look at him. He has an excellent season for the Highlanders - for me he was our most best forward. He's also has the attributes that he AB's are looking for in a 7 - size, physicality strong ball running skills, a massive tackle rate. I would certainly pick either Todd or Braid (when fit) ahead of him for the AB's if either McCaw or Cane were injured, but he would be the next in line in my opinion (Savea will almost certainly be an All Blackl, but I still think he needs a bit more rugby before he is ready for the international stage).