All Blacks named for IVECO series

John Afoa - Auckland
Jimmy Cowan - Southland
Wyatt Crockett * - Canterbury
Stephen Donald - Waikato
Andrew Hore - Taranaki
Cory Jane - Wellington
Richard Kahui - Waikato
Jerome Kaino - Auckland
Tanerau Latimer * - Bay of Plenty
Brendon Leonard - Waikato
Keven Mealamu - Auckland
Liam Messam - Waikato
Mils Muliaina - Waikato
Ma'a Nonu - Wellington
Kieran Read - Canterbury
Josevata Rokocoko - Auckland
Isaac Ross * - Canterbury
Conrad Smith - Wellington
Adam Thomson - Otago
Brad Thorn - Canterbury
Neemia Tialata - Wellington
Isaia Toeava - Auckland
Piri Weepu - Wellington
Ali Williams - Auckland
Tony Woodcock - North Harbour
Rudi Wulf - North Harbour

Notable absence of Rodney So'oialo. Presumably Kaino will be playing 8 for the most of the season.

I'm gutten for Masanga not picked. Wulf and Rokocoko? Really? Guys who did not hit the form, nor played whole lot of rugby this season.

*gutted

Feel so bad for Scotty Waldrom...

The Juniors could give them a good run!

Yeah, Henry said that too. It's fucking tough enough keeping up with these young guys on the field with the able body. Bummer indeed.

Good to see Ross and Crockett in there, very good form for the Crusaders this season

Wulf? Really?

No Rodney, the workhorse?

Wow...

Henry said rodney was being rested from his high workload and to get his neck right. only reasons he isnt there

Ah I see, good option then.

Everyone was surprised at how well the All Blacks did last year, given the number of new players. Hiwever, this year really exposed the weakness of the professional base in New Zealand rugby - I think the the South African team in paerticular played better basic rugby right through the Super 14.

Given that last years weak team has been further weakened with the loss of McCaw and Carter (the two players that carry the rest of the squad) and some VERY average players are in this squad, I think the Munster performance might be a good guide to how this team goes. I get the feeling Henry is desperately trying to uncover some new talent ahead of the 2011 world cup.

I think the Springboks will well beat us this year. Their preparation is better (they'll thrash the Lions) than ours and they have a bigger, more experienced and more settled team with greater depth than the All Blacks. Pride will keep the scores down, but I don't see us having many answers this year.

I am not worried about the Aussies. There rugby is very weak at the moment, and even Robbie Deans won't be able to get silk purse out of a sows ear.

Agree re: Saffas.

The Aussies will get at least one game of us this year though.

I think you couldn't be anymore right Fishboy.

Here is SA team:

Backs: J de Villiers (Stormers), F du Preez (Bulls), J Fourie (Lions), B Habana (Bulls), A Jacobs (Sharks), E Januarie (Stormers), O Ndungane (Sharks), J Nokwe (Cheetahs), W Olivier (Bulls), R Pienaar (Sharks), JP Pietersen (Sharks), E Rose (Lions), F Steyn (Sharks), M Steyn (Bulls).

Forwards: J Smit (Sharks), V Matfield (Bulls), A Bekker (Stormers), B Botha (Bulls), S Burger (Stormers), D Carstens (Sharks), B du Plessis (Sharks), R Kankowski (Sharks), T Mtawarira (Sharks), C Ralepelle (Bulls), D Rossouw (Bulls), J Smith (Cheetahs), P Spies (Bulls), G Steenkamp (Bulls).

As you see, they will have plenty of experience behind them.

Aussies are due to name their team today. Although I doubt that they will be a "bad" team.

Just bare in mind that this is an IVECO series team only. So the squad will be picked again for the Tri Nations.

Oh and it's gonna be a cracker of a game this Saturday, Barbarians vs Australia. SBW is set to play also.

Wallabies named for Baabaas game:

WALLABIES: 15 Adam Ashley-Cooper , 14 Lachie Turner, 13 Stirling Mortlock (c), 12 Berrick Barnes, 11 Drew Mitchell, 10 Matt Giteau, 9 Luke Burgess, 8 Richard Brown (Western Force), 7 George Smith (Brumbies), 6 Matt Hodgson (Western Force), 5 Nathan Sharpe (Western Force), 4 James Horwill (Queensland Reds), 3 Al Baxter (NSW Waratahs), 2 Stephen Moore (Brumbies), 1 Benn Robinson (NSW Waratahs). Reserves: 16 Tatafu Polota-Nau (NSW Waratahs) 17 Ben Alexander (Brumbies) 18 Dean Mumm (NSW Waratahs) 19 David Pocock (Western Force) 20 Josh Valentine (Western Force) 21 Quade Cooper (Queensland Reds) 22 James O'Connor (Western Force).

Strong team and what I think would be a Wallabies side for the Tri Nations also.

I am seriously worried about the slow erosion of depth in our game, something the NZRFU either doesn't see or doesn't want to see. The "new" super 15 will just accelerate the destruction of our player base as the ANZ Cup descends to Club Rugby quality. Our base is being eroded at the same time as our top is being strip mined by the Europeans.

Whereas once we argued over who should be first five and confidently known from Mourie on there would be a great Number seven out there to take thier place now there is a void filled with journeymen professional players.

It is a total indictment of our coaching and our system. The NZRFU's obsession with the All Blacks and their top-down view of the game has gutted the broad base out in the provinces, and in Auckland rugby is fast becoming a second rate game behind professional League and soccer mums.

I just think they only care about $, tbh.

I mean why would you have a plan in place, that pretty much destroys provincial rugby?

On the other hand I can understand that they have no choice, if the other two nations involved in Super Rugby want it longer/bigger. In the end of the day, Super 14 is still brings in $. Maybe not through attendance (not in NZ anyway), but through TV rights and advertising.

I was well impressed by crowds in pretty much every South African home game. People still love and most importantly support their teams.

Barbarians team for the weekend:

15 Ben Blair (Cardiff Blues/New Zealand), 14 Doug Howlett (Munster/New Zealand), 13 Josh Lewsey (London Wasps/England), 12 Gordon D'Arcy (Leinster/Ireland), 11 Iain Balshaw (Gloucester/England), 10 Glen Jackson (Saracens), 9 Justin Marshall (Saracens/New Zealand); 8 Rocky Elsom (Leinster/Australia), 7 Serge Betsen (Wasps/France), 6 Jerry Collins (Toulon/New Zealand), 5 Chris Jack (Saracens/New Zealand), 4 Martin Corry (Leicester/England, captain), 3 Greg Somerville (Gloucester/New Zealand), 2 Schalk Brits (Stormers/South Africa), 1 Clarke Dermody (London Irish/New Zealand). Reserves: 16 Sebastien Bruno (Sale/France), 17 B J Botha (Ulster/South Africa), 18 Paul Tito (Cardiff Blues), 19 Phil Waugh (Waratahs/Australia), 20 Chris Whitaker (Leinster/Australia), 21 Mike Catt (London Irish/England), 22 Ratu Nasiganiyavi (Waratahs).

Fuuuuuck! Looks like a very strong team. Will be an awesome game!

Oh oops, this is last weekend line up...

Anyone know when/if this game will be televised?

http://www.myp2p.eu/channel.php

I hope SBW drops his left shoulder into Mortlock -- "look ref no arms" steez :>

Barbarians team for this weekend:

15 Geordan Murphy (Ireland), 14 Iain Balshaw (England), 13 Sonny Bill Williams (uncapped, NZ), 12 Seilala Mapusua (Samoa), 11 Josh Lewsey (England), 10 Luke McAlister (NZ), 9 Chris Whitaker (Australia); 8 Rocky Elsom (Australia), 7 Phil Waugh (captain, Aus), 6 Jerry Collins (NZ), 5 Paul Tito (uncapped, NZ), 4 Chris Jack (NZ), 3 BJ Botha (South Africa), 2 Sebastien Bruno (France), 1 Clarke Dermody (NZ). Reserves: 16 Schalk Brits (SA), 17 Greg Somerville (NZ), 18 Martin Corry (England), 19 Serge Betsen (France), 20 Justin Marshall (NZ), 21 Glen Jackson (uncapped, NZ), 22 Ben Blair (NZ).



It's gonna be a mean game!

I tihnk it's fucked that Phil Waugh is playing for the baabaas and then 12 hours later joining the wallaby squad?

Is this the norm for barbarians games or sometihng?

There is no rule for who you can play for after/before the Baabaas.

And it doesn't effect player's eligibility to play for their home nation again.

Cool concept.

Yeah I know it's not against the rules -- it's just, well, fucked up imo

I reckon not. Purely for the fact that Australian public can go to a match and enjoy the rugby, as much as other nations, as so many of them involved in the team.

You're right tho, usually the current players (eg Phil Waugh) are not picked to play against their country of origin. Although it might be the case with this game, because it's played on Australian soil.

I also think these games should be televised more. Good for rugby imo.

Yeah, I think I'll hit up that myp2p site you linked earlier. Watched the S14 final on that and it's good enough for me

Fully bro.

I watched State of Origin on it last night.

Mortlock is a winner, unlike SBW

Is it not gonna be screened by Sky?

He won a premiership in the toughest football comp in the world :>

Sky Sport 2 9:20pm

:thumbsup:



Baa baa's 12-

Kahui out

Conrad not training at the moment either........

Mortlock singlehandedly beat the ABs in 2003 and won Australia a world cup

DNT

Is NRL tougher than NFL? The English premiership? How do you define "football"?

Mortlock is a hard bastard. Harder than SBW.

Laueki should be in there. He can blow games apart. Pity he can have shockers too. He owned Soaolio (fuck dunno how to spell it) in that semi, fended him off and out paced him.

He's like a bigger version of Zinzaan Brooke, who is easily the best number 8 we've had in the last 30 or so years. If only he could play like that all the time.

Lauaki is too much of a liability.

He has brain explosions and snaps too easily under pressure. Hey is great running with the ball but has tits for hands.

Yeah, apart from size and speed, he's got nothing else. While other players in his position (loosie, No might be smaller and slower, they poses much higher ball handling skills.

it's just his catching tho, and the fact that he always runs one handed...if he could get that under control...himself and sivivatu are two of the few players in nz who can break games apart in an instant.

Catching, loosing the ball when tackled, not catching high ball, passing, turning ball over...

Luaki you talk some shit codpiece!

No, he didn't? Mortlock has never won a WC.

Yeah correct England won the worldcup, but he did singlehandedly beat the AB's in the 2003 WC Semi

MORTLOCK'S GOING TO FUCK SONNY BILL SO HARD TONIGHT THAT SONNY BILL'S ASSHOLE WILL BE PISSING BLOOD

Few things about the game:

McAlister is not a fly half. He played so much better as soon as he moved out to 2nd 5 8.

SBW has so much to learn about union. Running too high (when Luke Burgess driven him back and saved a try). Good defence one on one, but useless when it comes to defending against set plays. Again, I reckon has to do with his inexperience in union. Good points: awesome support player (always on the shoulder of the man with the ball); mean off loader; fucking tough (taken at least three massive hits due to receiving hospital passes).

Mortlock is a machine. Running most beautiful offensive lines. Is he the most complete/best centre in the world? I think so.

Awesome game. Massive score in the end, but it was played in the style it should have been.

I thought it was boring. The Barbarians are about exhibition rugby, not for Robbie Deans and the rest of his merry men to try and exorcise their inferiority complex against.

SO FUCKING BORING!

If you watch a replay, watch what happens to SBW at the breakdown. The Wallabies were targeting him and smashing him every time because his body position was so poor, he was flying out the back of rucks all game. Was funny as fuck!!

I don't think he did much really. In fact, most of the players (on both sides, but especially the Barbarians) were clearly pulling their punches. In the modern era, no professional wants to get hurt in a meeaningless encounter.

I think the experiment of playing the Barbarians at the beginning of the season has been a big fat failure. Traditionally the Baa Baa's game is played to celebrate the end of something, when the reputations have alrteady been made or lost, the series won or lost and the players know that after this last bit of razzamatazz its time for a holiday. They should tell John O'Neill to fuck and keep it a end of season celebration.

Agreed. What an absolute shitter of a game. At least the referee let all those infringements go to keep things moving, otherwise it could've been worse!

Only thing kept me watching was the fact that SBW was in there somewhere.

did you watch the blues vs chiefs game?

how about the hurricanes vs chiefs semi?

when he is on, he is ON!

many of which could be rectified if he didn't insist on holding the ball the way he does.

his passing is actually not bad.

Lauaki has been given plenty of opportunities at the next level, and has been found wanting every time.

He isn't good enough.

he only got one didn't he? and he had a shocker admittedly.

but he has been playing better this season. in the games where he has been a bit quiet, he's been suffering from an injury (in my understanding).

Yeah, I agree with that.

At the same time I've enjoyed the game.

McAlister in squad to cover Kahui

yeah that is a bad signal. From now on, New Zealand rugby (including the Super 14/15) will become a second rate competition gutted of all it's best players for the two years after each world cup, with players returning from fat contracts in Europe for selection 24-18 months out.

Txt from Vadz @ 7:31 am: " Fucking McAlister".

ABs team for the weekend:

1. Tony Woodcock
2. Andrew Hore
3. Neemia Tialata
4. Brad Thorn
5. Isaac Ross
6. Kieran Read
7. Adam Thomson
8. Liam Messam
9. Jimmy Cowan
10. Stephen Donald
11. Rudi Wulf
12. Ma’a Nonu
13. Isaia Toeava
14. Josevata Rokocoko
15. Mils Muliaina – captain

Reserves:

16. Keven Mealamu
17. John Afoa
18. Bryn Evans
19. Tanerau Latimer
20. Piri Weepu
21. Luke McAlister
22. Cory Jane.

A good mixture I reckon.

Best rugby player in NZ. Lucky as hell to have him back!

Comparing him to Zinny though?

Puhlease, Zinny had more skills in his left earlobe than Lauaki.

I don't trust him in an ABs jersey at all.

Another Hawke's Bay All Black!!!!

How did ya work that one out

was born in Ashburton, went to Timaru Boys' High School, and is New Brightons 4th All Black.

Anyone else a little concerned about the lack of 'Mongrel' in our 4,5,6,7 ????

Thorn has a bit of fiest but nothing to scare the opposition

Hmm... no, not too much concern about mongrel. More concern about lack of experience.

Even with that in mind, I don't think this french side will be a threat.

So fishboy got nacowned?

18. Bryn Evans

From Hawkes BAy

:>

13 combined games for the loosies I believe....

Def concerned. Also concerned about Thompson playing 7...what was the point in picking a specialist 7 in Latimer then chosing a lock to play 7? Weird. And dangerous. The AB's are used to being spoilt my quality posseion which they may not get so much.

I also think the midfield combo could just as easily be terrible as awesome

I wouldnt be at all suprsied to see the French win/scare the AB's. All this talk about the French players left behind is mostly bollix as only 2 of them would have made the starting 15 anyway. The are a decent side

30+ pt win

you heard it here first

Wulf out, Masaga in...


http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10577850

Not taking away the fact that Wulf must be gutted, but this is a massive opportunity for Masaga.

Great chance for Masaga, I hope he replicates his Super 14 form.

Thats the fellow I meant!

Masaga should have been in from the get go.

Both teams are now named:

NEW ZEALAND: 15 Mils Muliaina (c), 14 Joe Rokocoko, 13 Isaia Toeava, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Cory Jane, 10 Stephen Donald, 9 Jimmy Cowan; 8 Liam Messam, 7 Adam Thomson, 6 Kieran Read, 5 Isaac Ross, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Neemia Tialata, 2 Andrew Hore, 1 Neemia Tialata. Reserves: 16 Keven Mealamu, 17 John Afoa, 18 Bryn Evans, 19 Tanerau Latimer, 20 Piri Weepu, 21 Luke McAlister, 22 Lelia Masaga.

FRANCE: 15 Maxime Medard, 14 Cedric Heymans, 13 Mathieu Bastareaud, 12 Vincent Clerc, 11 Damien Traille, 10 Francois Trinh-Duc, 9 Julien Dupuy; 8 Louis Picamoles, 7 Fulgence Ouedraogo, 6 Thierry Dusautoir (c), 5 Romain Millo-Chluski, 4 Pascal Pape, 3 Sylvain Marconnet, 2 William Servat, 1 Fabien Barcella. Reserves: 16 Dimitri Szarzewski, 17 Nicolas Mas, 18 Thomas Domingo, 19 Sebastien Chabal, 20 Remy Martin, 21 Julien Puricelli, 22 Dimitri Yachvili, 23 Yannick Jauzion, 24 Alexis Palisson (two to be omitted).

All Black tackling

France are playing very well, great in defense-reading our lays and making BIG turnovers.


Toeava- why do his hands turn nto breasts when he plays for the All Blacks??

Jane looking sharp

Woop woop. Jane for president. He did everything right.

France are up VERY flat.

Messam with great pace. Well played Jane.

Dunno about Adam Thompson at 7...bring him off imo.

That call against Thompson entering the ruck was bullshit- looked even more bullshit when shown on replay......

Refereeing is terrible.

McAlister!!!!!!!!

the french had pretty awesome defence. i don't think i've ever seen the all blacks driven back so far whilst attacking.

owned Z

My "sack graham henry" group has its first applicant since 2007!

Well if anyone could tackle or Donald could kick goals we'd have won by 12+. As it was we look like the bunch of amateurs we are at the moment.



gc.

I bet Murray Deaker's gonna sell a few bio-mags today.

Well even though I predicted this result mid week....I knew for sure something was very wrong when I picked up the Saturday herald, and there on the front cover is a picture of the All Black coach... KISSING the All Black captain




About a gazillion ex-blacks, who didnt even smile when they scored a try, wept into their morning coffee.

Honestly. what....the.....fuck

Probably the worst ABs performance I've ever seen. Easily the worst ABs team anyway. French were good and thoroughly deserved the win.

Caught a bit of the Aussie game, they would've put another 20pts on us by the looks.

It could be worse, you could have a French flat mate... Oh wait I do

23 Turnovers





One positive (if you can scrape to call it that), we didn't look quite so shit with Weepu on.

Cowan was throwing pies out the back of the scrum...

Australia definately stepped it up a few nothches from their Baa Baa's game.

The ref wasn't too good was he, not saying he made a difference, but how many forward passes and knock ons did he let go?

We struggled readapting to rules we have not played in a while and were destroyed by the mauls.

Weepu was great when he came on, Nonu looked good too, would of been better if he had more space. Jane is yet another in a long line of awesome wingers, the way he set up the defence to make room on his outside was great.

In the Forwards, have not seen our front row dominated like that for a long time, thought the line outs were pretty solid though compared to last year, where they were a weakness, Ross impressed IMO. We were let down by our loose forwards as well, completely dominated. 6 played alright, but needed a 7 and 8 with more impact and agression.

The French did play well though, there defense killed us, up very flat, gave us no room at all, would of used more chip kicks and gone wide quick, as was a very compact d line.

When he wasn't falling over or dropping the ball.

He slipped a couple of times and wasn't the only player too.

Reropping the ball, he received two shocking passes - one from Messam and one from Thompson

He wasn't the only player to slip, and if you noticed, it was always in the centre of the field where the wicket block is, most players have trouble there, the passes he recieved were shite IMO, he caught a lot that he shouldn't of too.

Mr Fumbley was Toeva, now he played like crap

Yeah, he received a couple of bad passes. But you should still expect a player at this level to reel them in.

Anyway, should shift Muliaina to the midfield and move Jane to fullback. Nonu/Toeava in the midfield is just asking for trouble as I see them both as flakey players prone to being crap.

Oh dear




Yeah lets put the World's best Fullback in the midfield....

Toeava has tits for hands, he can't seem to replicate his Super 14 form at an International Level.

Did you watch the Super 14 and last years International Series- I would hardly be calling Nonu a flakey player these days.

Well, how is him being the worlds best fullback going to help the team as a whole if there are problems in other areas of the field? Where we have a bunch of players injured ...and Cory Jane seems to be playing pretty damn well at the moment.

I wouldn't call Nonu a shit player at all. He played well imo.

As for shifting Mils to the center, I can see good and bad. Good, it will give Masaga an opportunity to start on the wing. Bad, trying a new combination one week out of the second test can not be that great.

Toeava needs to step the fuck up. Simple as that. Henry needs to spend less time getting upclose and personal with his captain and more time saying harsh shit to his players. Such words can be: "oh hey Toeva, how about you play like you mean it, or fuck off back to Super 14 level and will call you Luaki from now for not being able to step up!"

Seriously tho, young guys were not expecting such intensity from French. This article http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/2501393/Steep-learning-curve-for-outmuscled-All-Blacks seem to confirm this. French are just mentally tougher. And AB's coaching stuff are not doing their job in preparing the team. And that Henry's brain explosion, kissing AB's captain on the national TV is the proof of that.