ALL BLACKS: Mils Muliaina, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Hosea Gear, Dan Carter, Piri Weepu, Kieran Read, Richie McCaw, Jerome Kaino, Brad Thorn, Ali Williams, Owen Franks, Keven Mealamu, Wyatt Crockett.
Reserves: Andrew Hore, Ben Franks, Sam Whitelock, Adam Thomson, Andy Ellis, Colin Slade, Sonny Bill Williams.
On first impression, this looks like almost a first-choice All Black forward pack. Keven Mealamu, Owen Franks, Brad Thorn and Kieran Read return after a post-Super Rugby break. Wyatt Crockett has another chance to impress while Tony Woodcock gets fit in the ITM Cup (and Woodcock had a good 40 minute hit-out on Tuesday), and Brad Thorn's wish to play another test with his mate Ali Williams has been granted. The loose forward trio is undoubtably our best one.
Piri Weepu gets the nod at halfback, with Jimmy Cowan sitting this week out. Weepu looked much sharper than we have seen for a while in the time he got last Saturday night, and will be keen to impress on his new home ground. Ma'a Nonu and Conrad Smith play their 29th test together in the midfield, the most ever by an All Black midfield pairing, and it looks as though Sonny Bill Williams' lot is going to be as an impact player. Hosea Gear and Sitiveni Sivivatu will have to have big games to catch up on Zac Guilford and Cory Jane, so both should be primed for this match.
There's an interesting aside to this selection. Richie McCaw and Mils Muliaina will both play their 97th test match. With two more matches to go in the Tri-Nations, is it safe to assume that both will see game-time in both matches? We reckon that it is, and that the opening match of RWC 2011 against Tonga will carry extra significance when both players become the first All Black test centurions.
Wings apart, we really like the look of this team. This is going to be a big occasion, with the match to be played in front of the biggest crowd for many a year, and the All Black team is stacked with big-occasion players. Roll on Saturday night; this one is going to be a thriller!
6 comments:
I disagree with regard to the loose trio Inv, (looks to pdm for support) swap Kaino for Thomson for my money.
And swap Williams out as well. I think Whitelock is the furture rather than the past.
Disagreement is good James. I would have Kaino in my starting side every time. He is the workhorse of the All Black loose trio; a fearsome tackler with a big work-rate. It is the tight, unsung stuff that Kaino does which allows Read to play the slightly looser role at which he excels. Kaino also has an intimidation factor that cannot be underestimated IMHO.
Thompson makes up a great All Black loose forward quartet. His versatility and ability to cover all three positions complements the starting trio.
JS - I tend to agree against Australia where the game will be more free flowing but would probably go with Kaino against SA and England.
One of the flaws of the squad is that they have only one right wing and rightfully Sivivatu has to shift. Can he contain Ioane?
How long before Weepu is taking 5 or more paces before clearing the ball - I say within 10 minutes of kick off and the backline will suffer. A shame Williams is not at 12 and this is an area the Aussies will (again) expose especially if their scrum holds up.
It looks like Ali Williams is being given every chance to play his way back but he was the weakest of the tight forwards last week so has a long way to go.
Weepu, sharp, hate to see him blunt
Delivering the ball to people who are not there is not the sign of a good halfback
This will be a shape-up or ship out game for him
Ray I agree with you re Weepu except for your last line.
Like Toeava he is one of Henry's favoured - never good enough to be an All Black but we like him so we will pick him anyway players. Messem is starting to creep into that lot as well.
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