The All Black team to play Ireland in Chrisrchurch on Saturday night has been announced; the All Blacks' website reports:
The starting XV features just the one change with loose forward Adam Thomson replacing the injured Victor Vito at blindside flanker, while his place on the bench has been taken by new cap Sam Cane.The team is as follows: (with Test caps in brackets. * denotes a new cap)
Starting XV:
1. Tony Woodcock (84)
2. Andrew Hore (63)
3. Owen Franks (32)
4. Brodie Retallick (1)
5. Samuel Whitelock (26)
6. Adam Thomson (25)
7. Richie McCaw – captain (104)
8. Kieran Read (37)
9. Aaron Smith (1)
10. Daniel Carter (86)
11. Julian Savea (1)
12. Sonny Bill Williams (15)
13. Conrad Smith (56)
14. Zac Guildford (9)
15. Israel Dagg (13)
Reserves:
16. Hikawera Elliot (3)
17. Ben Franks (16)
18. Ali Williams (74)
19. Sam Cane *
20. Piri Weepu (57)
21. Aaron Cruden (10)
22. Ben Smith (3)
It's great to see Steve Hansen and his fellow selectors opting for consistency in selections. The side performed well in its first-up match in Auckland, and will be better this weekend for having had the run last week.
5 comments:
Only when they stop picking Piri to lead the haka. I never really appreciated previous comments about how slow Wepu's passing is, Smith's is just visibly flatter and faster.
Had an interesting chat with one of the All Black franchises players yesterday.
Interesting not just because he was whingeing about the cold on the warmest day of the winter (13 -14C ) so far but when I asked him of his chances of being named in the team he told me he didn't particularly want to be.
What a shame the franchise no longer represents New Zealand.
Thats disgusting. If he doesn't want to be there, I'm sure there are plenty others who would charge the gates of hell for a black jersey
Tinman - can you clarify please. Is this player in the AB squad of 30 or is he a Super XV player?
AB squad pdm.
Not named by me for obvious reasons.
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