Bledisloe IV 2010 Hong Kong

[Hugh Jarse]

The evil Lords of the Darkness have nominated their touring squad for EOYT:

Only one new All Black - SBW.

The All Blacks squad (with province and Test caps in brackets) is:
Forwards:

John Afoa Auckland (25)
Anthony Boric North Harbour (16)
Daniel Braid Auckland (4)
Tom Donnelly Otago (13)
Hikawera Elliot Hawke's Bay (0)
Ben Franks Tasman (7)
Owen Franks Canterbury (17)
Andrew Hore Taranaki (47)
Jerome Kaino Auckland (33)
Richie McCaw (capt) Canterbury (89)
Keven Mealamu Auckland (80)
Liam Messam Waikato (5)
Kieran Read Canterbury (25)
Brad Thorn Canterbury (46)
Samuel Whitelock Canterbury (8 )
Tony Woodcock North Harbour (69)

Backs:

Andy Ellis Canterbury (14)
Daniel Carter Canterbury (74)
Jimmy Cowan Southland (41)
Stephen Donald Waikato (19)
Hosea Gear Wellington (2)
Cory Jane Wellington (20)
Alby Mathewson Wellington (1)
Mils Muliaina Waikato (89)
Ma'a Nonu Wellington (52)
Josevata Rokocoko Auckland (66)
Sitiveni Sivivatu Waikato (43)
Conrad Smith Wellington (41)
Isaia Toeava Auckland (26)
Sonny Bill Williams Canterbury *

* new All Black


All Blacks' schedule
30 Oct - All Blacks v Australia, Hong Kong, 9:30 pm
7 Nov - All Blacks v England, London, 3:30 am
14 Nov - All Blacks v Scotland, Edinburgh, 6:15 am
21 Nov - All Blacks v Ireland, Dublin, 6:30 am
28 Nov - All Blacks v Wales, Cardiff, 6:15 am


Players not considered for selection due to injury include: Israel
Dagg (quadricep), Corey Flynn (calf), Richard Kahui (shoulder), Luke
McAlister (jaw), Piri Weepu (ankle) and Ali Williams (Achilles).

Daniel Braid makes return. Will be familiar to the Reds fans.
There was no place for Aaron Cruden or Colin Slade with Stephen Donald being picked as Dan Carter's backup.

 

[cyclopath]

...or Rene Ranger

 

[#1 Tah]

DO we think they can get a grand slam?

 

[cyclopath]

DO we think they can get a grand slam?

Hmmm, number one team in world against teams ranked 5th and lower, 3 of whom haven't beaten the ABs for ages if ever, and England.
I'd be very surprised if they don't.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

Anyone hazard a guess as to the Darkness 22 for Honkers:

1. Woodcock
2. Mealamu
3. O. Franks
4. Thorne
5. Donnelly
6. Kaino
7. Sir Ritchie
8. Read
9. Ellis
10. Carter
11. Jane
12. Nonu
13. Smith
14. Rokocoko
15. Muliaina

Bench
16. Hore
17. Afoa
18. Messam
19. Donald
20. Cowan
21. SBW
22. Whitelock

 

[Blue]

DO we think they can get a grand slam?

No thinking needed.

 

[Blue]

Donald ahead of Slade.

That's nuts.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

If they don't get the GS, then Graham Henry ought to be looking for another job. They are the hottest possible favourites in every game.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

If they don't get the GS, then Graham Henry ought to be looking for another job. They are the hottest possible favourites in every game.

Darkness GS is at shorter odds than King Canute vs Tidal Energy.

 

[DPK]

If they don't get the GS, then Graham Henry ought to be looking for another job. They are the hottest possible favourites in every game.

After a clean sweep of the Tri Nations? I hope you're jesting BH. Safe as houses.

 

[en_force_er]

Good call to drop Cruden, he just isn't there yet and was rushed.

Bad call to drop Slade, he proved himself when given a AB chance and is a good 15 as well.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

Good call to drop Cruden, he just isn't there yet and was rushed.

Bad call to drop Slade, he proved himself when given a AB chance and is a good 15 as well.

Does anyone think that they might be a bit vulnerable in the backs, especially if they suffer an injury to one of their run on stars? @ 10, 12, 13?

 

[Hawko]

I haven't seen Donald in the ITM cup but I reckon taking him is a big mistake. Slade and Delaney should be in front of him. Looks like he will be the understudy to Carter so all NZ will be praying for an injury free tour for Dan.

Braid is a huge plus, they now have a class back-up at 7. Leaving Ranger behind was a tough call but who would you drop to put him in? Same goes for Fruen, I guess they talked long and hard around the table before choosing Nacewa.

That is a classy squad. Compared to the Aussie squad there are not many weaknesses. Most of the AB squad would win a head-to-head analysis with their counterparts.

 

[Jnor]

DO we think they can get a grand slam?

Would the Bled count as part of a GS or is it different? That's the only one i can see them losing (being optimistic much?)

 

[Moses]

The Grand Slam is the four "home nations", England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland.
The Bledisloe would have no effect on their Grand Slam

 

[Epi]

Doesnt count as part of the GS

edit: Oops.. late. (playing online poker while posting...)

 

[Groucho]

Would the Bled count as part of a GS or is it different? That's the only one i can see them losing (being optimistic much?)

I'm quietly confident. We're on a good trajectory and have Alexander back.

 

[Langthorne]

Anything is possible, well I sure hope so.

 

[Blue]

I haven't seen Donald in the ITM cup but I reckon taking him is a big mistake. Slade and Delaney should be in front of him. Looks like he will be the understudy to Carter so all NZ will be praying for an injury free tour for Dan.

Braid is a huge plus, they now have a class back-up at 7. Leaving Ranger behind was a tough call but who would you drop to put him in? Same goes for Fruen, I guess they talked long and hard around the table before choosing Nacewa.

That is a classy squad. Compared to the Aussie squad there are not many weaknesses. Most of the AB squad would win a head-to-head analysis with their counterparts.

Opinion in NZ suggests that with the loss of Weepu they decided to swap Slade and Donald because of experience.

Donald sucks but the coaches seem to have a thing for him.

 

[Ham]

Opinion in NZ suggests that with the loss of Weepu they decided to swap Slade and Donald because of experience.

Donald sucks but the coaches seem to have a thing for him.

The All Blacks Richard Brown?