All Blacks Squad for France

[Stargazer]

Hookers:
Codie Taylor and Nathan Harris; Liam Coltman also training with squad

Props:
Owen Franks, Joe Moody, Tim Perry, Ofa Tu'ungafasi, Jeff To'ogama-Allan

Locks:
Scott Barrett, Brodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock (c)

Loosies:
Sam Cane (vc), Vaea Fifita, Shannon Frizell (new), Ardie Savea, Liam Squire, Jordan Taufua (new), Luke Whitelock
Akira Ioane also training with squad

Halfbacks:
TJ Perenara, Aaron Smith, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi (new)

First-fives:
Beauden Barrett, Damian McKenzie, Richie Mo'unga

Midfielders:
Ryan Crotty, Jack Goodhue, Ngani Laumape, Anton Lienert-Brown, Sonny Bill Williams

Outside backs:
Jordie Barrett, Rieko Ioane, Waisake Naholo, Ben Smith (vc), Nehe Milner-Skudder

Not picked: Luke Romano, Matt Todd, Julian Savea

[Bovidae]

Harris' partner is expecting so Coltman is his replacement if he isn't available.

What I find interesting is that a player like Frizzell won't even be in the Highlanders starting XV when Squire is back.

[taniwharugby]

SO Perry, Frizell, Taufua, Tahuriorangi, MOunga and Goodhue all potential new caps.

Hookers
Nathan Harris (26, Chiefs / Bay of Plenty, 11)
Codie Taylor (27, Crusaders / Canterbury, 29)

Props
Owen Franks (30, Crusaders / Canterbury, 95)
Joe Moody (29, Crusaders /Canterbury, 31)
Tim Perry (29, Crusaders / Ta$man, uncapped)
Jeffery Toomaga-Allen (27, Hurricanes / Wellington, 1)
Ofa Tuungafasi (26, Blues / Auckland, 14)

Locks
Scott Barrett (24, Crusaders / Taranaki, 16)
Brodie Retallick (26, Chiefs / Hawke's Bay, 68)
Samuel Whitelock (29, Crusaders / Canterbury, 96) - Captain

Loose Forwards
Sam Cane (26, Chiefs / Bay of Plenty, 53) - Vice-captain
Vaea Fifita (25, Hurricanes / Wellington, 5)
Shannon Frizell (24, Highlanders / Ta$man, uncapped)
Ardie Savea (24, Hurricanes / Wellington, 22)
Liam Squire (27, Highlanders / Ta$man, 15)
Jordan Taufua (26, Crusaders / Ta$man, uncapped)
Luke Whitelock (27, Highlanders / Canterbury, 2)

Halfbacks
TJ Perenara (26, Hurricanes / Wellington, 42)
Aaron Smith (29, Highlanders / Manawatu, 71)
Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi (23, Chiefs / Taranaki, uncapped)

First five-eighths
Beauden Barrett (27, Hurricanes / Taranaki, 62)
Damian McKenzie (23, Chiefs / Waikato, 12)
Richie Mo'unga (24, Crusaders / Canterbury, uncapped)

Midfielders
Ryan Crotty (29, Crusaders / Canterbury, 32)
Jack Goodhue (22, Crusaders / Northland, uncapped)
Ngani Laumape (25, Hurricanes / Manawatu, 4)
Anton Lienert-Brown (23, Chiefs / Waikato, 22)
Sonny Bill Williams (32, Blues / Counties Manukau, 46)

Outside backs
Jordie Barrett (21, Hurricanes / Taranaki, 2)
Rieko Ioane (21, Blues / Auckland, 13)
Nehe Milner-Skudder (27, Hurricanes / Manawatu, 11)
Waisake Naholo (27, Highlanders /Taranaki, 18)
Ben Smith (30, Highlanders /Otago, 64) - Vice-captain

[pukunui]

Wow no Akira. WTF is going on there? Does he fail the no dickheads test?

No Todd is a surprise. Thought he had gone well past Savea by the end of last year.

Not hugely surprised that Lam didn't make it with NMS fit again.

Happy they picked TTT ahead of other alternatives and happy they picked Goodhue in midfield.

Overall its a pretty underwhelming squad. Especially the forwards. A few key injuries and we might be scraping the barrel a bit (Whitelock, BBBR, Cane)

[taniwharugby]

@pukunui yeah the Savea over Todd and Frizell over Akira are 2 very big ones IMO

[Machpants]

Akira is not in because he still doesn't graft - he's got the most upsides of any in the squad IMO but needs to calm down (another tussle last night) and needs to put the graft in. The ABs will be able to bring that out in him, I reckon

So overall odd squad balance 2 hookers, 5 props (normally 3 6) 3 locks normally 4, but 7 loose forwards (normally 5, tho 1 covers lock), 5 instead of 4 midfielders.

[kiwiinmelb]

Fairly predictable everywhere , except the loose forward mix I guess ,

I tend to trust Shag though , he is subject to a bit more information than us I guess

[taniwharugby]

@machpants haha just wait...

expect the extra mid-fielder named with Crotty expected to get injured.

[mariner4life]

Shit squad. Selectors have lost it.

[African Monkey]

Whether people like Akira or not, it's a bit of a kick in the guts to see Shannon Frizell named ahead of him I really feel for him atm as he's been a lone hand for the Blues this season. He might have to change teams to get a look in. Not huge on Taufua but well done to him. He's hung around and finally gets a go. Prefer Todd over Savea personally but I'm sure he'll be back.

[Bovidae]

Hansen also said that the 2 extra players (Ioane and Coltman) won't be picked unless there is an injury.

TTT will be happy he moved to the Chiefs as you don't get many minutes behind TJP at the Canes.

[Machpants]

@taniwharugby said in All Blacks Squad for France:

@machpants haha just wait...

expect the extra mid-fielder named with Crotty expected to get injured.

Yeah concussed last night, so who knows

[Machpants]

@mariner4life What's your's?

[rotated]

@taniwharugby said in All Blacks Squad for France:

@pukunui yeah the Savea over one is a head scratcher.

More upside in getting Savea going than Todd in the long term and more impact off the bench in the short term.

It's a squad very much picked with the World Cup in the back of their mind, they are clearly hoping to solve the loose forward and various bench spot questions.

Todd is always going to be ready to go as a break glass in case of injury guy.

[booboo]

Well I'm wondering if the RWC squad was picked today if that is the squad they'd go with.

The loosies are an interesting mix.

A bit of experiment and testing IMO.

Frizzell is a selection I like. We need another big boofer and he has potential. Think they are testing the water with him but keeping Akira close. Reckon that would be swapped if they were picking there absolute number 1 squad.

Similarly Savea and Todd. I think Savea gets the nod for linger term potential and now is the time to develop that.

Taufua ... yeah well I can see an argument for him ... but not my favourite selection. Whitelock L and Ioane A would be my preferences.

The rest? Fairly stock standard. Shame Lam misses out.

Who will replace Crotty?

[booboo]

@rotated said in All Blacks Squad for France:

@taniwharugby said in All Blacks Squad for France:

@pukunui yeah the Savea over one is a head scratcher.

More upside in getting Savea going than Todd in the long term and more impact off the bench in the short term.

Exactly

[taniwharugby]

@booboo I disagree, but thats just me, as above, I expect Hansen and the gang have access to alot more info on them that us, so have to trust they are basing it on the Thorne work he does

[Stargazer]

No need for a replacement for Crotty. They picked all 5 potential AB midfielders.

[Tim]

Might well need another tighthead prop.

[ACT Crusader]

Not that surprised with the Savea over Todd selection. Todd’s been in better form and I prefer his type of game in a direct comparison with Ardie’s, but we’ve seen this before that Todd will only come in if Cane is injured/unavailable. I think they see a point of difference with Ardie with his ability to cover 8, he’s a better fit for the squad.