All Black squad to play France.

[FrankLind]

Forwards

Hookers
Dane Coles - Wellington (4)
Andrew Hore - Taranaki (74)
Keven Mealamu - Auckland (102)

Props
Ben Afeaki North Harbour
Wyatt Crockett - Canterbury (11)
Ben Franks - Hawke-s Bay (23)
Owen Franks - Canterbury (45)
Tony Woodcock - North Harbour (96)

Locks
Brodie Retallick - Bay of Plenty (13)
Luke Romano - Canterbury (11)
Jeremy Thrush - Wellington
Samuel Whitelock - Canterbury (39) (only available in the 3rd test)

Loose Forwards
Sam Cane - Bay of Plenty (5)
Steven Luatua - Auckland
Liam Messam - Waikato (20)
Kieran Read, captain - Canterbury (48)
Victor Vito - Wellington (20)

Backs

Halfbacks
Tawera Kerr-Barlow - Waikato (2)
Aaron Smith - Manawatu (13)
Piri Weepu - Auckland (69) (possible concussion)

First five–eighths
Beauden Barrett - Taranaki (5)
Daniel Carter - Canterbury (94)
Aaron Cruden - Manawatu (20)

Midfielders
Ma'a Nonu - Wellington (76)
Rene Ranger - Northland (3)
Francis Saili - North Harbour
Conrad Smith - Wellington (66)

Outside backs
Israel Dagg - Hawke's Bay (25)
Charles Piutau - Auckland
Julian Savea - Wellington (9)
Ben Smith - Otago (12)

Injury replacement:
Matt Todd - Canterbury

 

[tigerland12]

I thought Conrad Smith was taking this series off?

 

[Bruwheresmycar]

Has any country, ever, had such good depth in their halves?

 

[FrankLind]

I thought Conrad Smith was taking this series off?

No, end of year tour.

 

[FrankLind]

Has any country, ever, had such good depth in their halves?

We lack depth at hooker (both really getting on) and at 12.
In a few other positions there is a bit of drop down, but not too bad.

There is some exciting new talent in there (Luatua, Sailli, Piutau).
Hopefully the AB environment can refine their skills and give them some work-ons.

I really like how the NZ system brings players through and develops them.

 

[Ruggo]

Some lucky players in there. Aaron Smith is lucky to get ahead of Perinara. Hore and Mealamu lucky due to their wealth of experience. Whitelock is a big loss for the first two tests. I rate him as the best lock in the world at the moment.

 

[tigerland12]

Big loss is Richard Kahui who would have been great at 12 with Conrad at 13.

Would love to see Rene Ranger given time off the bench at least (or even starting on the wing with Savea). He has been brilliant this year

 

[Shiggins]

Why didn't they just name every NZ player. Jesus

 

[Hugh Jarse]

How is Gimli Hore playing for Taranaki?

I saw something on the IRB rugby show Total Rugby with a feature of him on the farm in the Deep South of NZ.

And doesn't he look like his old man?

 

[RoffsChoice]

So the team for the first game would be:

1. Ben Franks
2. Dane Coles
3. Owen Franks
4. Brodie Retallick
5. Luke Romano
6. Liam Messam
7. Sam Cane
8. Kieran Read (c)
9. Tawera Kerr-Barlow
10. Daniel Carter
11. Julian Savea
12. Ma'a Nonu
13. Conrad Smith
14. Rene Ranger
15. Ben Smith

16. Keven Mealamu
17. Wyatt Crockett
18. Tony Woodcock
19. Jeremy Thrush
20. Steven Luatua
21. Piri Weepu/Aaron Smith
22. Francis Saili
23. Israel Daag

 

[Inside Shoulder]

We lack depth at hooker

180 caps between 3 players - one of whom I cannot recall ever having seen play (but has 4 caps to prove he has)?
Twice as many as Moore + Fainga - in fact Meealamu has more than both ours.
You guys are getting greedy

 

[Antony]

Pretty exciting squad.

I've learned my lesson about having scoreboard-based hopes when playing France, so I'm hoping for some other outcomes instead. If Luatua and/or Coles show a hard edge and that they can step up, then I think we can consider the series a success. I'm not too worried about the midfield. Someone will crop up.

 

[Inside Shoulder]

I really like how the NZ system brings players through and develops them.

I dont

 

[RoffsChoice]

180 caps between 3 players - one of whom I cannot recall ever having seen play (but has 4 caps to prove he has)?
Twice as many as Moore + Fainga - in fact Meealamu has more than both ours.
You guys are getting greedy

Dane Coles was EOYT. Did very well.

 

[Inside Shoulder]

Dane Coles was EOYT. Did very well.

Of course he bloody did

 

[Dan54]

I like the team, sure someone will be upset, but basically what most expected I think, perhaps Saili a little bit of a surprise, but of most interest from here in next week will be B Smith, Ranger or Piatau on right wing, not sure there will be anything else, won't play too many new boys as they only got a 5 day prep time basically.

 

[Dan54]

Ori

How is Gimli Hore playing for Taranaki?

I saw something on the IRB rugby show Total Rugby with a feature of him on the farm in the Deep South of NZ.

And doesn't he look like his old man?

Hore played for the Naki,came from down the deep dark south on farm, but north for rugby.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

^^^^Tough gig to get to training. Makes the Sydney daily commute look easy.

Guess he takes a share house during ITM Cup season.

 

[tigerland12]

Dagg does not deserve to be starting at this stage. Ben Smith has been the best 15 in the competition in a side that has been poor for most of the season, it would not be the right decision to put him on the wing just to accomadate an under-performing Dagg.

 

[Athilnaur]

Only surprise for me of note was no Matt Todd. Very good player and a good opportunity to build a bit of depth. Guess they plan on giving Cane every minute they can, but I'd have argued give Todd some time and exposure while they can too.