New Zealand Super Squads

[Jets]

2012 Investec Super Rugby Squads

BLUES :

Gareth Anscombe, Anthony Boric, Daniel Braid, Luke Braid, Charlie Faumuina, Michael Hobbs, Jerome Kaino, Chris Lowrey, Tevita Mailau, Pauliasi Manu, Alby Mathewson, Tom McCartney, Keven Mealamu, Brad Mika, George Moala, Liaki Moli, Lachie Munro, Ma’a Nonu, Filo Paulo, David Raikuna, Rene Ranger, Peter Saili, Benson Stanley, Sherwin Stowers, Angus Ta’avao, Isaia Toeava, Piri Weepu, Ali Williams, Tony Woodcock, Rudi Wulf

CHIEFS:

Ben Afeaki, Alex Bradley, Sam Cane, Craig Clarke, Shane Cleaver, Aaron Cruden, Hika Elliot, Mike Fitzgerald, Romana Graham, Andrew Horrell, Richard Kahui, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Tanerau Latimer, Fritz Lee, Brendon Leonard, Lelia Masaga, Liam Messam, Tim Nanai-Williams, Maritino Nemani, Declan O’Donnell, Brodie Retallick, Robbie Robinson, Mahonri Schwalger, Toby Smith, Ben Tameifuna, Sona Taumalolo, Kane Thompson, Asaeli Tikoirotuma, Scott Waldrom, Sonny Bill Williams, Jackson Willison

HURRICANES:

Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Beauden Barrett, Tim Bateman, Michael Bent, James Broadhurst, Richard Buckman, Dane Coles, Jason Eaton, Chris Eaton, Reggie Goodes, David Hall, Jayden Hayward, Cory Jane, Daniel Kirkpatrick, Jack Lam, Alapati Leiua, Faifili Levave, Karl Lowe, Motu Matu’u, Ben May, Tristan Moran, Charlie Ngatai, TJ Perenara, Tusi Pisi, Mark Reddish, Julian Savea, Brad Shields, Conrad Smith, Chris Smylie, Andre Taylor, Jeremy Thrush, Victor Vito

CRUSADERS:

Nicholas Barrett, Tyler Bleyendaal, Daniel Carter, Wyatt Crockett, Ryan Crotty, Israel Dagg, Tom Donnelly, Andy Ellis, Corey Flynn, Ben Franks, Owen Franks, Robbie Fruean, Ben Funnell, Zac Guildford, Willi Heinz, Ross Kennedy, Quentin MacDonald, Sean Maitland, Tom Marshall, Richie McCaw, Patrick Osborne, Kieran Read, Luke Romano, Tom Taylor, Matt Todd, Joe Wheeler, Sam Whitelock, George Whitelock, Adam Whitelock, Luke Whitelock

HIGHLANDERS:

Kurt Baker, Josh Bekhuis, Jimmy Cowan, Nick Crosswell, Elliot Dixon, Tamati Ellison, Ma’afu Fia, Hosea Gear, John Hardie, James Haskell, Jarrad Hoeata, Andrew Hore, Chris King, Kendrick Lynn, Jamie Mackintosh, Nasi Manu, Bronson Murray, Chris Noakes, Siale Piutau, Kade Poki, Culum Retallick, Jason Rutledge, Colin Slade, Aaron Smith, Ben Smith, Lima Sopoaga, Adam Thomson, Doug Tietjens, Shaun Treeby, Telusa Veainu

http://www.allblacks.com/news/17943/2012-Investec-Super-Rugby-Squads-announced

 

[Jay]

HIGHLANDERS:

Kurt Baker
Josh Bekhuis
Jimmy Cowan
Nick Crosswell
Elliot Dixon
Tamati Ellison
Ma’afu Fia
Hosea Gear
John Hardie
James Haskell
Jarrad Hoeata
Andrew Hore
Chris King
Kendrick Lynn
Jamie Mackintosh
Nasi Manu
Bronson Murray
Chris Noakes
Siale Piutau
Kade Poki
Culum Retallick
Jason Rutledge
Colin Slade
Aaron Smith
Ben Smith
Lima Sopoaga
Adam Thomson
Doug Tietjens
Shaun Treeby
Telusa Veainu

Interesting....probably only for the season, I'd imagine.

Also, Tamati Ellison signing with the Highlanders - so basically, even Hurricanes who've never even played under Hammett don't want to play in Wgtn.

 

[Jets]

Yeah a few interesting members of squads.

James Haskell seemed to have signed on with no fan fair at all. I knew he was keen to play Super rugby after finishing up in Japan but thought it might have received more press.

4 Whitelock brothers in the Crusaders squad. That has to be a record for most siblings in a super squad.

Doug Tietjens has to be the son of the Great NZ 7's coach Gordon. Anyone know for sure?

 

[Brumby Jack]

That Auckland backline looks very dangerous for next year.

 

[Antony]

Shame nobody picked up Dominic Bird on a full-time contract; I imagine he's still in the wider Crusaders squad. 20 years old, 112kg, 206cm - got to be worth a look right.

And Tim Bateman to the Hurricanes. I rate him pretty highly.

 

[SaderCheif]

Chiefs looking solid. Good backline.

 

[qwerty51]

Finally gave Chris Noakes a contract.

 

[Blue]

Chiefs looking solid. Good backline.

Forwards look a bit dodge, no?

 

[Jay]

Forwards look a bit dodge, no?

Deja Vu.....

 

[Antony]

Workmanlike, but not bad when you think about it - Afeaki, Elliot, Taumololo, Waldrom, Sam Cane, Messam, Latimer.. The issue is really just the second row.

 

[truckandtrailor]

Blues, Chiefs and Highlanders look stronger on paper. Crusaders are on par with last year and Wellington looks like they will be anchored to the bottom of the NZ conference. I've heard (like everyone) that they had problems in the management.... but I didn't expect such an mass exodus! I just thought Nonu, Weepu and Hore we're getting out.

 

[SaderCheif]

Workmanlike, but not bad when you think about it - Afeaki, Elliot, Taumololo, Waldrom, Sam Cane, Messam, Latimer.. The issue is really just the second row.

True, no x-factor fowards but hard workers. Many said they had a weak front row at the start of 09 and look where they got....the final.

 

[Antony]

Wellington looks like they will be anchored to the bottom of the NZ conference. I've heard (like everyone) that they had problems in the management.... but I didn't expect such an mass exodus! I just thought Nonu, Weepu and Hore we're getting out.

Yeah, it's been pretty devastating. Having said that, they'll probably manage to be in the reckoning for the finals like they always are.

Who's going to play front row for the Canes? Ben May, Dan Coles + 1?

 

[Bowside]

Wasnt Issac Ross at the chiefs last year?

Has he gone overseas?

 

[Jay]

Wasnt Issac Ross at the chiefs last year?

Has he gone overseas?

Japan, I think.

Amazing story really, how quickly and how far he fell out of favour.

 

[qwerty51]

Just so much wing talent ahead of him I guess.

 

[SaderCheif]

Japan, I think.

Amazing story really, how quickly and how far he fell out of favour.

He's in South Korea. True Story.

 

[hammertimethere]

happy to see chris Noakes get a contract. Haskell has been shopping himself about and i figured he would probably end up at the rebels force or maybe cheetahs, highlanders will probably be a good fit though. Exciting as always

 

[Bullrush]

happy to see chris Noakes get a contract. Haskell has been shopping himself about and i figured he would probably end up at the rebels force or maybe cheetahs, highlanders will probably be a good fit though. Exciting as always

Haskell or Nasi Manu? Manu to 6?

 

[Ali's Choice]

So here's a formatted Crusaders squad.

Forwards

Corey Flynn
Quentin MacDonald
Ben Funnell
Nick Barrett
Wyatt Crockett
Ben Franks
Owen Franks
Sam Whitelock.
Luke Romano
Tom Donnelly
Ross Kennedy
Richie McCaw
Kieran Read
Matt Todd
Joe Wheeler
George Whitelock
Luke Whitelock


Backs

Andrew Ellis
Willie Heinz
Tyler Bleyendaal
Dan Carter
Tom Taylor
Robbie Fruean
Ryan Crotty
Adam Whitelock
Tom Marshall
Patrick Osborne
Sean Maitland
Zac Guildford
Israel Dagg

Some interesting selections. I'm stoked to see Blackadder has continued with the Crusader tradition of picking primarily from Canterbury and rewarding good provincial form with a S15 contract. This squad posseses an excellent balance of youth and experience. 10 RWC winning ABs, but also six players who are yet to play a game of Super Rugby.

Very happy to see Tyler Bleyendaal and Tom Taylor awarded full contracts. These are two future All Blacks, and are the future of the Crusaders. Bleyendaal was the Player of the Tournament at the 2010 u20s RWC, and Tom Taylor is the son of All Black Warwick Taylor and a preciously talented young man who can play 10, 12, 15 or wing. Also very happy to see Ben Funnell get a contract. He's a highly mobile and aggressive young hooker who impressed during this year's ITM Cup. He's also the cousin of the four Whitelock boys. I'm also extremely pleased to see Patrick Osbourne get a contract. The capped Fijian 7s rep was a revelation during this year's ITM Cup after a very disappointing provincial season for Canterbury in 2010.

I guess the only surprise is Ross Kennedy. Hopefully he can regain some of his provincial form from a few years back. As the 4th lock I can't see him getting much game time barring injury. I'd also like to have seen Mark Swanepoel as the 3rd halfback, but given the 17-13 split Blackadder has opted for, I guess there was no room for a third no.9. Overall a good squad. Not the strongest the Crusaders have selected in recent years, but one of the most exciting and certainly a squad that has one eye firmly focused on the future.