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The All Blacks Squad - The Rugby Championship 2014
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<blockquote data-quote="nickdnz" data-source="post: 660025" data-attributes="member: 38640"><p>Ben Smith has been proven to be pretty average at centre...</p><p></p><p>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.</p><p></p><p>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.</p><p></p><p>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.</p><p></p><p>Also great to see Julia Savea in there, not sure who she plays for but it speaks volumes for the All Blacks progressive thinking.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="nickdnz, post: 660025, member: 38640"] 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. [/QUOTE]
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