2013 All Blacks

[RoffsChoice]

Rugby Championship squad

Note: Chiefs players in contention for the All Blacks will not attend the camp as they are preparing for the Investec Super Rugby Final.
The players attending the camp are as follows:
Forwards
Hookers: Dane Coles, Andrew Hore and Keven Mealamu.
Props: Wyatt Crockett, Charlie Faumuina, Ben Franks, Owen Franks and Tony Woodcock.
Locks: Luke Romano, Jeremy Thrush and Samuel Whitelock.
Loose Forwards: Steven Luatua, Richie McCaw, Kieran Read, Brad Shields, Matt Todd and Victor Vito.
Backs
Halfbacks: TJ Perenara, Aaron Smith and Piri Weepu.
First five-eighths: Beauden Barrett and Daniel Carter.
Midfielders: Ma'a Nonu, Rene Ranger, Francis Saili and Conrad Smith.
Outside backs: Israel Dagg, Charles Piutau, Julian Savea and Ben Smith.

 

[RoffsChoice]

So you'd expect Brodie Retallick, Liam Messam, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Aaron Cruden and maybe Gareth Anscombe to come into the mix after the Super Rugby Final?

Predicted lineup for TRC opener
B. Franks, Coles, O. Franks, Romano, Whitelock, Messam, McCaw, Read, A. Smith, Carter, Savea, Nonu, Ranger (Heard that C. Smith was taking a sabbatical), B. Smith, Dagg.
Hore, Woodcock, Faumuina, Thrush, Luatua, Weepu, Cruden, Saili.

 

[Dan54]

So basically we would add to that ,Brodie Retallic, Ben Afekai, Liam Messam, Kerr-Barlow, Cruden and Sam Cane!!
All the usual suspects in there, may manage to scrape together a competitive team with a tad of luck!!

Sorry RC, was slowly typing mine as you were. Naa can't see Anscombe making it.

 

[Braveheart81]

I think Retallick, Messam, Cruden, Anscombe, Cane, Tameifuna and Kerr-Barlow will all be added.

 

[Dan54]

And I personally would start Retallick ahead of Romano, just because I fancy him in lineouts a bit more.

 

[RoffsChoice]

Forgot all about Cane Dan54! Retallick is pretty solid but I think that they'd get Luatua at 6 before Retallick at 4 for lineouts.

 

[Deputy Van Halen]

Another strong squad of course. I think Luatua needs to get at much game time as possible as 6 has been relative (for the AB's) weakness for a couple of years and he looks like the real deal.

From a wobs perspective I really only see 2 and 9 as positions where we have an advantage and perhaps parity in a couple of others. The midfield and backrow in particular are a bit worrying when you start comparing man to man.

 

[RoffsChoice]

Robinson v Franks, Horwill v Whitelock, Mowen v Read, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) v Smith, Folau v Smith, Mogg v Dagg - all close.
Probably edge to the All Blacks though, they've had the coach for a while and have played together a few times.

 

[Deputy Van Halen]

Agree all are close bar Mowen v Read, while Mowen has had a strong season and a couple of good tests Read is arguably the form player in the world at the moment.

 

[Eyes and Ears]

Robinson v Franks, Horwill v Whitelock, Mowen v Read, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) v Smith, Folau v Smith, Mogg v Dagg - all close.
Probably edge to the All Blacks though, they've had the coach for a while and have played together a few times.

I can't agree that Mowen vs Read and Mogg vs Dagg are close. If Higginbotham and Beale were fit, there is a reasonable chance that neither Mowen or Mogg would make our starting XV. The respective Kiwis are world class.

 

[Dan54]

I don't actually think Horwill is that close to Whitelock who I think is best lock in world at moment. Just an opinion, but I also personally think that Brad Shields is not far off Luatua as AB 6.
Roff's C, I thing Retallick will be first choice starting lock ahead of Romano, he's a bloody top lineout man, apparently very good scrummager and pretty handy around field.

 

[RoffsChoice]

I'm not decided on anything yet, just going on super form. Agree about Read being best in the world.