All Black team

Reuben Thorne Captain

Forwards
Greg Sommerville
Kees Meeuws
Dave Hewitt
Carl Hoeft
Anton Oliver
Keven Mealamu
Chris Jack
Ali Williams
Richard McCaw
Marty Holah
Jerry Collins
Rodney So'olialo
Brad Thorn



Backs

Justin Marshall
Steve Devine
Carlos Spencer
Aaron Mauger
Daniel Carter
Tana Umaga
Mils Muliaina
Ma'a Nonu
Caleb Ralph
Joe Rokocoko
Leon Macdonald
Doug Howlett

Interesting team, but where the hell is Cullen. Can't see how he could possibly be left out. Daniel Carter is the real bolter but not unhappy to see him there. Good to see So'olialo and nonu in the team.

Can't understand them not picking Cullen either, was very surprised that Mehrts didnt get picked aswell.

This team is only for the first 3 games, then they name another 26 for the tri nations... meurts will probably get in for that.. dunno about cullen... they have 3 players that can cover fullback already...

not a bad team... besides caleb ralph, there's no one there who doesn't deserve to be...

Merhtons hasn't played, so he can't be picked.
Cullen is not suprising, but a shame.

After Saturday, I'm guessing Daniel Carter is only there to learn how to not choke and will be one of the four cut.

well, actually Reuban Thorn is lucky to be there too... I don't know how you can pick a captain who's only a borderline selection

Ah yes, absolutely, mutant.
What's the biggie opinion on Thorne vs Randall for blindside?

no debate Collins all the way

I would have Collins as blindside. There is no way thorne was a better blindside over the super12. Taine is a surprise omission in some ways, but so'olialo has skills randall doesn't that will be useful if the AB's want to play a more attacking game which they need to do to win the world cup.

Obviously it won't be Collins though. I was thinking more as a head-to-head between the two, rather than which player overall was best for the position.


Interesting that Brad Thorn's snob of the All Blacks has not been held against him.

Thorne has played well in the last 3 weeks since the game against the Brumbies in Canberra, getting involved more in the broken/loose play instead of just burying his head in mauls and rucks. He's quite a bit taller than Randell aswell so he offers a better lineout option. Still a bit of a tradesman though for mine.

Randell is a much more dynamic blindside and he's punishing on defence aswell. Tends to drop his bundle a bit hough I reckon if things dont quite go his way.

Personally I would choose Randell.

To me Cullen is the biggest omission

he's been in great form this year, scored a heap more tries than McDonald, saved a heap of tries & a damn sight harder than McDonald who's head is a mashed potatoe, & he should retire before he does some serious damage

PFunk thats an interesting call you make about Carter choking. He is not as good a kicker as Merhtens and everyone can have an off game. he is how ever a very good defender and he can play either 1st five or 2nd five.

Very true about McDonald. he is a bit fragile and cullen is the next best option. Howlett MUST be one of the wings.

not the biggest fan of the macdonald/ralph type back... they don't strike me as the most talented of blokes, just slow and steady i guess... personally i'd have picked tuitupo and cullen, but especially cullen...

as for the whole randell vs thorne debate, i think randell has outplayed thorne this year, but for consistency the selectors have chosen thorne... and personally i think that randell would have to be exceptional for the rest of his life to get back in th blacks after his departure last time... maybe he's blown it for good??? who knows...

but yeah, would like to see collins there too

Can someone please explain why the hell Caleb Ralph's there?!? "One of the best wings in the country!" - I don't think so!!!

Re: McDonald/Cullen, you've got to go for Cullen. He's had a wicked season, and one more knock to the head for MacDonald & Howlett's forced off the wing...

sure Randell left as captain after the 99 world cup disaster

but they basically just used him on that end of season tour last year, & have nom dumped him.

All the best wings in the country play for Fiji.

Cullen...hmm...thats a huge call I think.

otherwise, I reckon its a good mix.

altho rueben thorne better not play like a cunt,or he will get dropped.

I think Thorne is there for his respect, he is a man that leads by example, you may not hear much about him, but he is a mistake free player...


and you cant knock a beard like that

Overall I'm quite happy with the team. Mitchell has recognised that he needs the flair players more than last year and about a third of the team didn't play tri-nations last year which I think is a good thing. When you add in the fact that the 4 extra players should be randall, cullen, mehrtens and maling (which are basically the positions where the gaps are) its hard to argue with that squad of 30 for the world cup.

I think its a team that can win the world cup. Its certainly picked to play to our strengths. Ralph may not be a great player, but who else has stood up this year as a winger? basically he is taking the place reihana or wilson should be in.

Ive been away from work so just now Ive seen this thread....

wiked team,imo !!

Ruben Thorne will never be dropped,Mitchell loves him, the only way Collins will get a start is if Thorne is injured or they try him @ #8 but hopefully Soi'olo will cement a place, either way its great that Collins is in the team.

Cullen being left out is hopefully a tactical move and I think he will be the fullback @ WC, he is way better than Mcdonald who should think about retiring before he gets seriously injured !

other than that Im happy with the team its a matter of who starts now ?

for the England test it should be

Hoeft
Oliver
Sommerville
Jack
Williams
R.Thorne
So'iolo (sp)
McCaw

Marshall
Spenver
Umaga
Nonu
Howlett
Rocokoko
McDonald

I think that Mauger and Umaga will probably be Mitchells 1st choice in midfield but I reckon Nonu will get a start in wellie !!

Muliaina could get a chance on the wing as Rocokoko's only 19 & hasn't had that much big game experience.

just an after thought...

if i were daniel braid i'd feel a touch unlucky after a stonking super 12, and also having been in the squad that went to england... and having done nothing wrong since...

We have 2 great opensides and that is unfortunate for Braid. Had a good season but still definitely doesn't rank in top 2.

theres no need use all our #7's, Braid will get his chance...

you could be right there fitzy but Im hoping its Rokococo !!

Yeah Richy,
Im not too worried who they put on the wing as long as Caleb Ralph doesn't start, that guy has to be the most boring winger in the world...

The other player that's got to be pretty unlucky (and doesn't even look like he figures long term) is Xavier Rush...

I think he should lead us to the 2007 WC

A solid no 8 but doesn't have the ability tobreak the line like so'olialo, who is more like our best number 8's from the past, particularly mexted. Rush is a notch below that level. Collins also has the ability to be a good number 8, but is better suited to 6.

Xavier Rush has grown on me recently, I think he is an awesome rugby player !

who watched him present the medals to his team? I thought he did an awesome job and he should consider public speaking as a career option after rugby......

Ruben thorne is too stupid if ya ask me.....

JOHN MITCHELL. Legendary Waikato number 8 and captain.

MARK SHAW. Legendary blind side flanker. Tough as they come. (was my fave when I was kid)

I think these two know a thing or two about the blind side flankers role.

Lets not forget that.

Um, excuse me, but what about Byron? Nobody has even mentioned him and I am not happy about it.

awright?

Byron Kelleher was at the AB's training camp over the weekend along with a few others from the wider WC squad.

I think with Devine & Marshall were sweet at halfback anyways but look for David Gibson to make some headlines in the near future, he's an awesome runner with the ball and when he gets his passing up to the level of those guys he's gona be a wiked halfback. an All Black in the making !

I think this is a squad that the general public are pretty happy with. It's got a bit of everything - youth & experience and solidity & excitement. Reuben Thorne WILL be the AllBlack captain for the world cup barring injury whether he is rated as a player or not. All though he is not as flamboyant and prominent as Jerry Collins, he probably does the tight stuff quite well. Certainly his peers and coachs rate him for doing something. I think Collins and So'ialo will probably interchange as the No. 8. Both are big strong players who can break the advantage line and pilfer the opposition ball. Holah was picked because he is similar to McCaw with his type of game rather than Braid. The Locks pick themselves with Williams and Jack and it'll be the first time in a while that the All Blacks have had 2 big tall locks. Williams ability to compete against the opposition throw is definitely an advantage he brings to the team. Brad Thorn will purely be an impact player off the bench. The front rows were as expected, with Oliver probably getting the nod ahead of Meleamu for the starting birth. The inside backs combination has to be Spencer and Devine. I don't think Marshall would give Spencer the space and time he needed to be effective. As well as that, the combination has worked consistently well for Auckland/Blues. The Merhtons omission was not a surprise. He needs more game-time to get back into it. The wings will be Howlett and Rocokoko and the full Back, MacDonald. Mitchell rated Cullen as the Number 4 full-back. Cullen being picked for the Maoris was probably influenced by Mitchell. So I think he is still in the frame of things. I think the midfield combination selection is most intriguing, with a number of permutations. I think Mitchell sees Umaga as the no.13 with probably Mauger as second five eigths as he has a kicking game. However on merit, I think Umaga should be tried with Muliana as centre. However, Muliana may unfortunately be labelled as a 'utility player' and only find himself on the bench. It can also be argued that the hurricane combination of Umaga and Nonu should also be tried as it was successful in the super 12. However that combination was not as effective when it came to the crunch games... Both Carter and Nonu are very talented and exciting players, however experience may count against them and they may only be in the squad to become familiar with All Black set-up. Time will tell. Overall I'm pretty happy with the make-up of the squad. All the positions are well covered (especially in the back-line) where the players are vewry versatile. It's still a long way out, but I think we can win the World cup with this core of players with the addition of others from the additional squad of 22.


There were also a number of players that I felt were hard done based on performances in the super 12. They include:

Xavier rush (not even in the extended sqaud of 22!)
Daniel Braid
Taine Randell
Sam Tuitupo (must have gone close)
Simon Maling
Christian Cullen

I wouldn't mind seeing these 2 teams up against each other...Pity there isn't a NZ A team this year.

TEAM A

1. Dave Hewitt
2. Anton Oliver
3. Greg Somerville
4. Chris Jack
5. Ali Williams
6. Ruben Thorne
7. Richie McCaw
8. Jerry Collins
9. Steve Devine
10. Carlos Spencer
11. Joe Rocokoko
12. Tana Umaga
13. Mils Muliaina
14. Doug Howlett
15. Leon MacDonald


TEAM B

1. Carl Hoeft
2. Kevin Meleamu
3. Kase Meeuws
4. Simon Maling
5. Christian Orsmby
6. Taine Randell
7. Daniel Braid
8. Xavier Rush
9. David Gibson
10. Andrew Merhtons
11. Caleb Ralph
12. Daniel Carter
13. Ma'a Nonu
14. Brad Fleming
15. Christian Cullen