This Year in Black...
Winter is almost upon us, and that means the International rugby season is about to kick off - and we, for two, can't wait.
We've decided that, with the naming of the All Blacks just around the corner, we'll give you a run-down on how we believe the squad should look.
With so many of last years All Blacks plying their trade in Europe, it's now time to blood some of the next generation. Having said that, we need to blend them with more experienced players, and we think we've got the mix just right...
Props: Tony Woodcock (Auckland), Greg Somerville (Canterbury), Neemia Tialata (Wellington), Jaime McIntosh (Southland).
Missing out: John Afoa (Auckland), John Schwalger (Wellington).
Hookers: Kevin Mealamu (Auckland), Andrew Hore (Taranaki).
Missing out: Cory Flynn (Canterbury)
Locks: Ali Williams (Tasman), Jason Eaton (Taranaki), Brad Thorn (Tasman).
Missing out: Ross Filipo (Wellington), Tom Donnolly (Otago).
Loose Forwards: Richie McCaw (Canterbury), Chris Masoe (Wellington), Jerry Collins (Wellington), Rodney So'oialo (Wellington), Liam Messam (Waikato).
Missing out: Daniel Braid (Auckland), Jerome Kaino (Auckland), Sione Luaki (Waikato), Mose Tuiali'i (Canterbury).
Half Backs: Brendon Leonard (Waikato), Piri Weepu (Wellington).
Missing out: Jimmy Cowan (Southland), Andy Ellis (Canterbury).
First-Fives: Daniel Carter (Canterbury), Stephen Donald (Waikato).
Missing out: Nick Evans (Auckland).
Second-Fives: Stephen Brett (Canterbury), Ma'a Nonu (Wellington).
Missing out: Benson Stanley (Auckland), Isaia Toeava (Auckland).
Centres: Mils Muliaina (Waikato), Conrad Smith (Wellington), Richard Kahui (Waikato).
Missing out: Casey Laulala (Canterbury).
Wings: Sitivini Sivivatu (Waikato), Anthony Tuitavake (Auckland).
Missing out: Scott Hamilton (Canterbury), Lelia Masaga (Waikato).
Fullback: Leon MacDonald (Canterbury).
Note that this is a 26-man squad. If Mr Henry decides to go with a 30-man squad, we'd add Jimmy Cowan (Southland), Sione Luaki (Waikato), Lelia Masaga (Waikato), and Casey Laulala (Canterbury).
Joe Rokococo has been omitted because of his injury, and we've deliberately left out Nick Evans due to the two year deal he's signed to play in Europe, and the fact that Carter will be back (and lets face it - he's indispensable). We also feel that if Jerry Collins signs overseas he shouldn't get selected - as much as it pains the Hurricanes-half of the Attic team to say. At the end of the day, though, we've always had the talent to replace players heading overseas, and Messam and Kieran Reid are just two of the many new stars on the rise.
We feel that Benson Stanley is too inexperienced at the moment, but we also feel we'll see him in the black jersey in the not-to-distant future.
McIntosh gets the nod ahead of Afoa, because we feel he's a player with a long future ahead of him. And, we'll put our necks out again, and say that he'll one day captain the All Blacks (2011?? - watch this space).
We believe our squad has a good balance of experience and young talent, capable of winning both the Tri Nations and Bledisloe Cup.
Remember, though, sports fans - this is OUR preferred squad. We're all ears as to what you would change...
May 22, 2008 at 1:30 PM
I think that is fair 26 man sqaud you have chosen. In my opinion Conrad Smith isn't worth the persistance he has been getting. He is injury prone, doesn't offer much on offence and is there on reputation. I would of included another winger.
I know that Nonu can play on the wing but i think another out and out wigner would need to start and not a fill in (if injury occured of course. I would either pick Masaga or Hamilton. The advantage Hamilton has is that he can play fullback.
I see that you are not bold enough to name a starting 15.
1. Woodcock
2. Hore
3. Tialalta
4. Eaton
5. Williams
6. Collins
7. McCaw
8. So'oialo
9. Weepu
10. Carter
11. Sivivatu
12. Nonu
13. Muliania
14. Tuitavake
15. McDonald
16. Mealamu
17. McIntosh
18. Brad Thorne
19. Messam
20. Kaino/Hamilton
21. Leonard
22. Brett
I would either have Kaino or Hamilton depending on whether it is a 5-2 or 4-3 split on the bench
May 22, 2008 at 10:01 PM
You make a good point about Smith, and although it's tough to say (one of us being a die-hard Hurricanes fan) - we'd drop him in favour of Masaga.
Sorry Smithy.
Kaino was left out because he has failed to make any real impact in his step up to international level (much the same as Toeava), and we feel that he's some way down the list of loose forwards in NZ.
(Although we wouldn't mind seeing him give league a crack, if the rumours surrounding him are true...)
This is also why Tuiali'i did not make the list.
This, then, would be our AB's lineup:
1. Woodcock
2. Hore
3. Sommerville
4. Eaton
5. Williams
6. Collins
7. McCaw (c)
8. So'oialo
9. Leonard
10. Carter
11. Tuitavake
12. Brett
13. Muliana
14. Sivivatu
15. MacDonald
16. Mealamu
17. McIntosh
18. Thorn
19. Messam
20. Weepu
21. Nonu
22. Masaga
Mils can cover fullback if needed, and we think Nonu's greatest impact at international level would be off the bench.
Thanks for the comment - appreciate your thoughts!
May 23, 2008 at 12:45 PM
I see two flaws with this side.
1. Stephen Brett can't even make the Crusaders starting 15.
2. the 3 props can only scrummage on one side. If you were to exclude Tialata then you'd need two props on the bench to cover injury.
I am too a Hurricanes supporter but i would prefer Tuitavake at centre than Smith
May 25, 2008 at 4:31 PM
We would like to see Mcintosh play a similar role to Hayman - Jaime has the size to do so - and if he can manage it we would have a scrum similar to the one that has dominated world rugby for the past few years.
Tuitavake has expressed an interest in playing on the wing, and we cant see Mils missing out to him (just yet).
Brett is a guy with a lot of potential, and he can move into 1st five to cover Carter if needed, whereas Nonu (for us) would have a bigger impact off the bench, coming on with 20-25 mins to go when his impact will be most beneficial.
In saying all of this - we're sure Henry will trial a few combinations to see what works best anyway... rotation, rotation, rotation.
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