All Black 30 named.

[FrankLind]

Surprises - Weepu and Ali Wiliiams are still there. Andy Ellis has been dropped. Why???

New Caps - Brodie Retallick(lock), Sam Cane(openside), Julian Savea(wing), Ben Tamiefuna(prop), Aaron Smith (halfback), Barrett (first-five), Luke Romano(lock).

Squad.
Hookers
Andrew Hore Taranaki (62)
Keven Mealamu Auckland (92)

Props
Wyatt Crockett Canterbury (6)
Ben Franks Tasman (15)
Owen Franks Canterbury (31)
Ben Tameifuna Hawke's Bay *
Tony Woodcock North Harbour (83)

Locks
Brodie Retallick Bay of Plenty *
Luke Romano Canterbury *
Samuel Whitelock Canterbury (25)
Ali Williams Auckland (73)

Loose forwards
Sam Cane Bay of Plenty *
Richie McCaw © Canterbury (103)
Kieran Read Canterbury (36)
Adam Thomson Otago (24)
Victor Vito Wellington (13)

Halfbacks
Aaron Smith Manawatu *
Piri Weepu Auckland (56)

First five-eighths
Daniel Carter Canterbury (85)
Aaron Cruden Manawatu (9)
Beauden Barrett Taranaki *

Midfielders
Tamati Ellison Otago (1)
Ma'a Nonu Wellington (66)
Conrad Smith Wellington (55)
Sonny Bill Williams Canterbury (14)

Outside backs
Israel Dagg Hawke's Bay (12)
Hosea Gear Wellington (8)
Zac Guildford Hawke's Bay (8)
Ben Smith Otago (2)
Julian Savea Wellington *

 

[Gnostic]

I have to say I am very surprised Weepu and Williams are there. I thought that there are well documented better performers and they themselves have been pretty poor this year.

 

[Antony]

Weepu over Ellis. What the fuck.

 

[maxdacat]

No Fruen - as an aussie i'm glad.

 

[chriscullen]

I'm shocked Ellis isn't there, I bet it has something to do with him shaving his mo off this season, cos his form has been great.

 

[ACR]

Piri Weepu, Luke Romano, Kevin Mealamu... Weepu is obviously surprising, over Ellis? No way in the world. Steve Hansen must be paranoid about losing Dan and Aaron as kickers (in a 22). What else could it be? Not that Ellis is anything special but... deserves it. Good for Aaron Smith though, he'll be starting. Is Kevin Mealamu even fit? Hasn't played super rugby for how long? He's not even ready for the first test so Elliot comes in as replacement... The rest are pretty expected really. This series a Swansong for Weepu and A.Williams?

No Fruen - as an aussie i'm glad.

This is only for Ireland, besides Tamati Ellison is better. Though Hansen hinted that him and Nonu won't get heavy workloads due to their Japanese stint at the start of the season. So SBW/Smith start probably...

My guess for Hansen's first selection.

1. Tony Woodcock 2. Andrew Hore 3. Owen Franks 4. Sam Whitelock 5. Ali Williams 6. Adam Thomson 7. Richie McCaw (c) 8. Kieran Read 9. Aaron Smith 10. Dan Carter 11. Zac Guildford 12. SBW 13. Conrad Smith 14. Julian Savea 15. Israel Dagg. 16. Ben Franks 17. Hika Elliot 18. Brodie Retallick 19. Victor Vito 20. Piri Weepu 21. Aaron Cruden 22. Ben Smith/Tamati Ellison

3 Stormers in the Bok squad...

 

[FrankLind]

No Fruen - as an aussie i'm glad.

I am guessing that is because you watched him tear it up against NSW and concluded he is doing that consistently. He isn't. He goes missing in some games.
He is half the player of Conrad Smith (eve on current form)

 

[teach]

Fruen has too many defensive lapses to make the jump to the black jersey.

 

[tigerland12]

That is a disgrace Weepu over Ellis. Ellis has been the best half back in the comp all year.

 

[The Red Baron]

On the topic of Fruen, it has been said before that a centre pairing of Nonu/Fruen or SBW/Fruen is totally unbalanced. I really have to agree there. Conrad Smith is the best 13 about, and it's not because he tries to run over people. With Nonu and SBW in the squad, who are better at what they do than Fruen, I can really see why he didn't make it.

 

[Brumbies Guy]

On the topic of Fruen, it has been said before that a centre pairing of Nonu/Fruen or SBW/Fruen is totally unbalanced. I really have to agree there. Conrad Smith is the best 13 about, and it's not because he tries to run over people. With Nonu and SBW in the squad, who are better at what they do than Fruen, I can really see why he didn't make it.

Worked well last year with Canterbury.

 

[Bullrush]

Weepu has proven performances in the Black Jersey - Ellis, not so much. I'm not surprised or disappointed by that selection at all - but I've never liked Ellis anyways.

Ali Williams. People love to hate this guy. He isn't playing terribly but he also has a history of playing pretty average in Super Rugby and then playing very well for the ABs. The only thing that makes me think that this year is different is that he's not a young guy anymore and he wasn't that impressive last year. May definitely be his swansong.

I think Vito may get the 6 jersey over Thompson. Adam has had a couple of chances to really make this spot his own but hasn't really taken them. I think Vito has done more in his appearances for the ABs than Thompson.

It must suck being an outside back in NZ. Masaga, Gear, Ranger, Wulf, Jane, Taylor, Maitland.......these guys would probably be in most other National teams easy....

 

[Jiggles]

Vito is in great form. You'd expect him to be Kaino v2.0 this year. He bitch slapped the Tah pack last night pretty much by himself. Thats scary because a lot of those jokers are going to be rewarded with a gold jersey.

 

[Bullrush]

This may the first time I have ever agreed with Rattue re Weepu:

Picking Piri for All Blacks a winner all around

By Chris Rattue

4:02 PM Monday Jun 4, 2012



Expand
Piri Weepu. Photo / Getty Images

Oh happy days for those of us who are still paid-up members of the Piri Weepu fan club.
Weepu's girth has been the cause of much mirth, and quite rightfully, but he's still the best test halfback candidate and the right bloke to hang on to the No9 jersey until TJ Perenara takes over. Steve Hansen and his mates have got it dead right, keeping Weepu in the test squad announced yesterday.
On one hand, you can understand the vitriol aimed at Weepu because fans feel let down and it is almost beyond comprehension how a professional sportsman can get that big that quick and turn up in the new season looking like a beach ball. There's a feeling Weepu hasn't put the effort in and deserves his comeuppance.
There has been speculation that, having realised during the off-season that he was struggling for condition to put it mildly, Weepu asked to join the Blues earlier than intended but was told by them to stick to his All Black return schedule.
Whether this is strictly on the mark or not, it has to be said that the central contract system allied to the All Black obsession creates this sort of confusion.

A major criticism of Blues coach Pat Lam is that he does not come across as ruthless and single-minded enough, so the idea of the Blues not taking the Weepu fitness situation in hand and sorting it out when they had the chance is a feasible scenario.
Beyond the 20-year-old Perenara, who is the future and one of the most exciting inside-back prospects New Zealand has produced, there is an over-optimistic air about the quality of halfbacks in this country.
But Hansen and Grant Fox are probably on the money, resisting the temptation to call Perenara into the test squad quite this early.
Perenara is an amazing talent but there isn't a history of players so young benefiting from having their progress fast-tracked, and he is in his first season of Super 15 rugby. There is also much to be gained by allowing Perenara to concentrate on helping to rebuild the Hurricanes - a strong franchise in Wellington will in turn be good for Perenara's future. But his call-up won't be far away.
The strongly built Perenara has the goods on every level and unlike many of our finest halfbacks he may have the full bag of tricks, which is more than can be said for the challengers to Weepu's position.
Selecting test squads isn't an exercise in determining who are the best Super 15 players. It's about understanding who has true test capabilities that also fit into the coaches' plans.
Handy Andy Ellis is just that - a reasonable fall-back option but not a top-drawer, long-term test prospect.
Aaron Smith, who has a lightning pass, is physically lightweight and will struggle in that department against the test big boys. Smith had a fast start this year but is not keeping up the pace.
Tawera Kerr-Barlow is an enigma. Judging by the terrific stoush between the Chiefs and Blues on Saturday night, Kerr-Barlow is not playing to his strength which involves making instinctive and brilliant runs. He had an okay game, but nothing special.
Weepu, when fit, is a class above that trio. The critics have every right to round upon the round one, but to go into a test series without Weepu or not do everything possible to get him up to speed for the Rugby Championship would have been a mistake. Whatever risk is involved is a risk well worth taking.
Crusaders v Chiefs dream finalThis punter's dream Super 15 final will be the Crusaders v Chiefs. Parochial, yes, for an international competition, so apologies to the South African and Australian contingents.
But the Crusaders were so noble in tragic circumstances last year that they deserve another crack at the title. With all due respect to the champion Reds, the travel and emotional drain of the earthquake aftermath proved too much for Todd Blackadder's side at the final hurdle.
The Chiefs are a revelation. Some of the interplay involving Aaron Cruden, Sonny Bill Williams and co on Saturday night was breathtaking. We awoke to an inevitable headline claiming the Blues had been brave, which is just another insult to a long-time Auckland supporter.
Calling the Blues brave is like telling Goliath he was only a stone's throw away from victory. The Chiefs were the team which did the business and claimed the points in a rugged local derby, not the Blues.
The final weekend of Super 15 rugby before a test break brought terrific action. The Crusaders were brutal in dismantling the Highlanders, who tried to cling on but were swept aside.
The Super 15 is set up for a strong New Zealand finish but there must be some concern that the competition landscape will be seriously affected by the month-long test break. Going on the weekend's events, though, the Crusaders have emerged from a confusing season to be favourites for a first title win since Robbie Deans left.
As for the Australian and South African teams, they have not matched the New Zealand standards for my money. The Stormers are probably the best of the South African sides and good enough to win the title but are to razzle-dazzle what Steve Hansen is to Toastmasters. None of the Aussie teams look contenders.
Point of order Chiefs coach Dave Rennie referred to his punchy lock Mike Fitzgerald as "Fitzy". There will only ever be one Fitzy in New Zealand rugby, the mighty Sean Fitzpatrick. Any other candidate needs to get another handle. On the subject of Fitzgerald, he threw the most genuine punches you will see on a rugby field these days. There wasn't any excessive provocation from the Blues, so one can only assume that Fitzgerald has a temper problem that he should try to sort out for his own sake if nothing else.
Mystery of the season What has happened to Owen Franks? A year ago he was on track to become the game's finest tighthead, and now he can hardly get a start for the Crusaders. Explanations are in short supply. Franks went hurtling in a ruck like a man very frustrated after coming on against the Highlanders.

 

[Antony]

Interesting take on Owen Franks at the bottom there - I hadn't got that vibe at all (probably because I don't want to admit it).

 

[ACT Crusader]

I think Vito may get the 6 jersey over Thompson. Adam has had a couple of chances to really make this spot his own but hasn't really taken them. I think Vito has done more in his appearances for the ABs than Thompson.

Make it his own?? How, when Kaino has had a mortgage on it for the past 2 years. Yes he's had a couple of starts as had Messam and even Vito, but they have been minders when Kaino has been injured.

 

[ACT Crusader]

Interesting take on Owen Franks at the bottom there - I hadn't got that vibe at all (probably because I don't want to admit it).

It's just a bit of spin. Blackadder has rotated his 3 frontline props quite a bit this season.

 

[Bullrush]

Make it his own?? How, when Kaino has had a mortgage on it for the past 2 years. Yes he's had a couple of starts as had Messam and even Vito, but they have been minders when Kaino has been injured.

The point was that Thompson hasn't really impressed in his chances in the black jersey. IMO, Vito has done more to push his case than Thompson has.

Bad wording on my part but I think it was still pretty clear what I was trying to say....

 

[Dan54]

I keen on Ellis, but can understand him missing,because although he has played well this year, he still takes a couple of steps before passing. Smith will probably start anyway, and that I am real pleased with, salivate at the thought of carter receiving ball quicker and with a half pace more room to move. Weepu is there as bench player, gives another option if a couple of 10s go down and can kick. Like I said would been just as happy with Ellis, but not too worried, same as Williams, wouldn't imagine they wanting to throw in young fellas against Irish locks without a bit of experience to call on. I prefer Vito at 6. just because he will give back row a good balance I think.