All Black World Cup Squad

[FrankLind]

The All Blacks 30-man squad to contest the Rugby World Cup was unveiled today by coach Graham Henry.

Captained by Richie McCaw, the squad features a 16-forward, 14-back split.

The contentious winger positions have been won by Zac Guildford, Cory Jane and Isaia Toeava, leaving no room for Hosea Gear and Sitiveni Sivivatu.

The most notable inclusion in the forwards is Wellington loose forward Victor Vito, who is selected ahead of Waikato's Liam Messam.

John Afoa is the fourth prop, selected ahead of Wyatt Crockett while Anthony Boric - who has been sidelined for two months with injury - wins the fourth locking spot ahead of Jarrad Hoeata.

Squad:

Backs: Mils Muliaina, Israel Dagg, Isaia Toeava, Corey Jane, Zac Guildford, Conrad Smith, Richard Kahui, Ma'a Nonu, Sonny Bill Williams, Dan Carter, Colin Slade, Jimmy Cowan, Piri Weepu, Andy Ellis

Forwards: Kieran Read, Victor Vito, Richie McCaw (capt), Adam Thomson, Jerome Kaino, Ali Williams, Brad Thorn, Sam Whitelock, Anthony Boric, Owen Franks, John Afoa, Ben Franks, Tony Woodcock, Keven Mealamu, Andrew Hore, Corey Flynn

 

[FrankLind]

Henry just mentioned Dagg might become the starting 15 full-back.

 

[chriscullen]

All Black squad announced for world cup

Missed out.... Hosea Gear, Sivivatu, Crockett, Messam
Got in..., Cory Jane, Guildford, Victor Vito, Boric

 

[chriscullen]

Full Squad is
Flynn, Hore, Mealamu
Afoa,Franks,Franks, Woodcock
Boric, Thorn,Whitelock,Williams
Kaino,McCaw,Read,Thompson,Vito
Cowan,Weepu,Ellis,Slade,Carter
Kahui,Nonu,Smith,SBW
Dagg,Mulianina,Guildford,Jane,Toeava

 

[chriscullen]

I think most supporters would agree

 

[antipodean]

Jane is a big game player. Guildford is lucky imo - he didn't do much and Sivi played well in his limited opportunities. I guess they know Zac's workrate is always good and he has outright speed. Gear simply didn't do enough to shine. Unfortunate if the game doesn't come to you. Crockett's work around the park will be missed, but in his primary job he has become Baxterish. Messam's chance against the Springbok showed he needs another 10kg; athletic as a back, but doesn't dominate the collision against other loose forwards. Probably why Vito got the nod instead. Boric fit should be a starting lock with Brad Thorn.

 

[qwerty51]

So why is Vito there and not Messam? Seems the only bad selection.

I don't rate your locks apart from Thorn. Hopefully Thorn can't hold up the whole tournament.

 

[chriscullen]

Sivivatu is going overseas at the end of the season, Guildfords staying, I'd say Henry is just investing in the future.

 

[tigerland12]

Not sure how Vito makes it over Messam? Boric must be making a quick recovery also

 

[tblackadder]

"Boric fit should be a starting lock with Brad Thorn." = worst lineout ever

cant remember boric performing well in the lineout ever... and he couples that with weak running and tacking...which leaves restarts...and then remember he plays for auckland (which is without williams the worst lineout in nz)...he is like norm maxwell wihtout the lineout ability

well thorn is not the strongest there either but he brings alot to other areas of the game the scrums, runs and tackling..

the fact that ab coaches are trying to play williams into form this year shows you how much they are worried about their other lineout forwards...

boric seems to be the ab coaches pet forward.......

 

[fatprop]

Jane is a big game player. Guildford is lucky imo - he didn't do much and Sivi played well in his limited opportunities. I guess they know Zac's workrate is always good and he has outright speed. Gear simply didn't do enough to shine. Unfortunate if the game doesn't come to you. Crockett's work around the park will be missed, but in his primary job he has become Baxterish. Messam's chance against the Springbok showed he needs another 10kg; athletic as a back, but doesn't dominate the collision against other loose forwards. Probably why Vito got the nod instead. Boric fit should be a starting lock with Brad Thorn.

I reckon Guildford is a fantastic player, the guy works his arse off, Gear doesn't

 

[Ash]

As a supporter of a team that could likely be playing the All Blacks at the World Cup, I am overjoyed at the selection of Woodcock over Crockett. It's also arguably one of the weakest second rows in a long time that the All Blacks have picked. I also would've gone for Messam over Vito, but it's a shadow player spot anyway so it's not too contentious.

Biggest surprise was Sivi being left out, and Toeava's inclusion. While Toeava may be a "backline utility", I reckon he's best at fullback, and anyway, they have the midfield well covered with Nonu, SBW, Smith and Kahui. With Dagg and Mils the preferred fullbacks, Toeava's selection is a bit of a mystery to me. I would've taken a specialist wing instead - like Sivi or Gear.

 

[antipodean]

I reckon Guildford is a fantastic player, the guy works his arse off, Gear doesn't

As I said he has a high workrate; better than both Sivi and Gear. BUt he's awful at beating a player one-on-one. I'm not sure he knows what a sidestep is.

the fact that ab coaches are trying to play williams into form this year shows you how much they are worried about their other lineout forwards...

Given Donnelly is unwanted, Boric, fit, is a good pick. He certainly offers more than Williams is on the park. I'm hoping the Triumvirate were working on Ali because there was no certainty Boric would be fit.

It's also arguably one of the weakest second rows in a long time that the All Blacks have picked.

?

Biggest surprise was Sivi being left out, and Toeava's inclusion. While Toeava may be a "backline utility", I reckon he's best at fullback, and anyway, they have the midfield well covered with Nonu, SBW, Smith and Kahui. With Dagg and Mils the preferred fullbacks, Toeava's selection is a bit of a mystery to me. I would've taken a specialist wing instead - like Sivi or Gear.

Toeava can play anywhere in the backline at an excellent level. He is the perfect bench player. He'd be a god-damn genius if he could stay fit and be selected in one position.

 

[FrankLind]

"Boric fit should be a starting lock with Brad Thorn." = worst lineout ever

cant remember boric performing well in the lineout ever... and he couples that with weak running and tacking...which leaves restarts...and then remember he plays for auckland (which is without williams the worst lineout in nz)...he is like norm maxwell wihtout the lineout ability

well thorn is not the strongest there either but he brings alot to other areas of the game the scrums, runs and tackling..

the fact that ab coaches are trying to play williams into form this year shows you how much they are worried about their other lineout forwards...

boric seems to be the ab coaches pet forward.......

The ABs have multiple line-out options, with Kaino and Read frequently being used. Henry and co. have done the video analysis on each lock, cut them a bit of slack.

 

[ACT Crusader]

Toeava can play anywhere in the backline at an excellent level. He is the perfect bench player. He'd be a god-damn genius if he could stay fit and be selected in one position.

And yet the cartel have never played him at 10 or 12. Also has not played center for the ABs for some time. It seems he is only seen as a winger now, where as the cartel are leading more towards Kahui covering centre/wing and Dagg covering wing/FB.

 

[Ash]

?

Boric is just returning from a very long injury lay off, and I don't rate him as highly as NZers seem to do.

Williams is a shadow of the player he was prior to that horror run of injuries.

Thorn is a very tough, hard, tight lock who does a lot of work. I rate him highly - but I still think he's not the player he was the last few years.

Whitelock is a young, looser lock who I think has a lot of potential, but is not there yet.

Out of that lot, there is no stand out experienced lineout general, either.

You may call be biased (which I may well be), but the only lock out of that lot I would even consider for the Aus WC team would be Thorn.

Thinking back a few years, there was a younger Thorn, a fit(ter) Williams, a fit and in form Boric, I even think that a Chris Jack of yesteryear would walk into that WC squad.

For some reason TSF seems to rank their locking stocks highly, but I don't see it - I think that both SA and Aus have much betting locking choices right now.

 

[fatprop]

As I said he has a high workrate; better than both Sivi and Gear. BUt he's awful at beating a player one-on-one. I'm not sure he knows what a sidestep is.

so like Howlett ....................................

 

[qwerty51]

I agree with Ash's summation of the AB locks. I predicted they would be the downfall of the ABs last game and I reckon I was right.

Although I still rate Thorn as high as ever.

 

[antipodean]

And yet the cartel have never played him at 10 or 12.

Yes they have.

For some reason TSF seems to rank their locking stocks highly, but I don't see it - I think that both SA and Aus have much betting locking choices right now.

Currently I'd agree that the Springbok and Wallabies look better. Sharpe and Horwill fufill the better Wallaby locking platform IMO. Vickerman may add a tighter edge to Sharpe, losing very little in aerial capability. Time will tell. Sharpe is definitely playing better than Williams and Thorn is not as sprightly as he used to be, although he's still got a hell of an engine.

Boric, fit, is miles better than Simmons who does nothing on the field. So too Whitelock who if he finds his form from last year.

so like Howlett ....................................

Hope so.

 

[Dan54]

I like young Whitelock, he has a hell of a workrate, would certainly rate him higher than Simmons, Vickerman, who has done nothing since returning from NH, and equal with Sharpe. Just look at his work rate against Boks on Sat,think he was in first 3 to almost all rucks. I agree Williams has become a liabilty, seems to think he is a bcak. All in all I can't argue with team, feel for Gear, but think Guilford just offer pace.