TRC squad

pakman

Luatua and Squire for me. Dixon is a quality player, but just doesn't add enough at the top level.
On form Bird would be my third lock -- his combo with BBBR has been exceptional -- witness the performance against the Springbok/Stormers incumbents, who were a clear second last week. Not sure Patrick T or Romano have set the house on fire but one of the two has to be the 'power' lock. PT has age on his side.
Fifth prop a conundrum. Ofa T is very impressive around the park but scrummaging is not top rate. Not sure any other clear candidate who can play TH. For me the biggest weakness until Laulala recovers. 
DMac put on ice till EOYT -- Nadolo/Smith/Dagg/Savea/Barrett cover all the bases.

Billy Tell

I disagree about patrick T. Every time he pulls on black he adds great impact off the bench. A stonewall selection.

rotated

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To the first one: Eh? I think you mean Taylor, though I'd say the second choice spot is still up for grabs between him and Harris.
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You are right I meant Taylor.
 
 
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To the second one: EH?! No thanks, we already tried that once and it failed. We've got more than enough quality midfielders in the country now (SBW, Crotty, Ngatai if he recovers, Fekitoa, Tamanivalu, ALB and Moala) to waste our best outside back by shoehorning him into a position he's not great in. I don't think Ranger is even close to that list at this point btw.
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It is not ideal, but we were poor in the centres in the June internationals and Hansen has said as much - this is the only area of concern and question marks he has outside Savea.
 
Hansen floated it after the second test, but said Smith already had enough on his plate currently. That could change in a new camp.
 
I like you hope we can find a solid centre combo out of the list you provided, but the reality is Crotty/Fekitoa was shit, SBW for me is still unproven in the role he will be put in and Ngatai who I have the highest hopes for is still injured. If the woes continue in the centres at some point the improvement Smith can make will outweigh the drop off with Barrett starting/NMS returning/Dagg.
 
We tried Nonu and Smith a few times until it worked too.

Billy Tell

I'd be happy to try Crotty and moala again. 
I don't want a bar of Crotty Fekitoa so if Fekitoa starts someone else at 12.

sparky

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Billy Tell" data-cid="601943" data-time="1469993868">I disagree about patrick T. Every time he pulls on black he adds great impact off the bench. A stonewall selection.</blockquote>
 
Brodie Retallick and Sam Whitelock with Patrick T off the bench are about the easiest selections in the squad. If a 4th lock is needed (I don't think it is), I'd go from Dominic Bird ahead of Luke Romano.

Billy Tell

Yeah I'd either go with luatua covering 4th lock. Or else maybe give bird another (final) shot. Barrett looked very promising but really faded in the last few weeks.

sparky

Midfield:I'd go with Crotty/ Moala with Fekitoa off the bench for now, then SBW/Ngatai with Moala off the bench once they're available.

Wurzel

I can't see them throwing Ngatai straight into the squad once his concussion issues have cleared. I'd imagine he's going to have to go back to NPC and play his way to back into the form that had him selected in June.

Duluth

Are people discussing who they would select, or who they think the panel will select? This selection panel doesn't change its mind about players often.
 
I suspect Moala will be the only player who has moved past a fit player selected in the June squad.
 
Despite Fekitoa's poor form I think they will stick with him because they have invested so much time in him already. Tamanivalu is my pick to miss out in the midfield. (SBW to return for Ngatai but he was always ahead of him in the selectors rankings)
 
There's lots of talk about Luatua, but I'll be surprised if he makes it. Particularly at the expense of Dixon.. more likely Squire is under threat. They can claim he hasn't been getting enough time in a starting role.

KiwiMurph

Following on from Tim, According to the Herald there aren't going to be too many changes.

JK

Squad named:
 
Forwards:
Hookers 
Dane Coles (Wellington / Hurricanes, 39) 
Codie Taylor (Canterbury / Crusaders, 5) 
Nathan Harris (Bay of Plenty / Chiefs, 4)
Props 
Wyatt Crockett (Canterbury / Crusaders, 48) 
Charlie Faumuina (Auckland / Blues, 36) 
Owen Franks (Canterbury / Crusaders, 80) 
Joe Moody (Canterbury / Crusaders, 14) 
Ofa Tu'ungafasi (Auckland / Blues, 1)
Locks 
Brodie Retallick (Hawke's Bay / Chiefs, 50) 
Luke Romano (Canterbury / Crusaders, 24) 
Patrick Tuipulotu (Auckland / Blues, 9) 
Samuel Whitelock (Canterbury / Crusaders, 75)
Loose Forwards 
Sam Cane (Bay of Plenty / Chiefs, 34) 
Elliot Dixon (Southland / Highlanders, 1) 
Jerome Kaino (Auckland / Blues, 69) 
Kieran Read, captain (Canterbury / Crusaders, 87) 
Ardie Savea (Wellington / Hurricanes, 2) 
Liam Squire ( Ta$man / Highlanders, 1)
Backs:
Halfbacks 
Tawera Kerr-Barlow (Waikato / Chiefs, 21) 
TJ Perenara (Wellington / Hurricanes, 19) 
Aaron Smith (Manawatu / Highlanders, 50)
First five-eighths 
Beauden Barrett (Taranaki / Hurricanes, 39) 
Aaron Cruden (Manawatu / Chiefs, 39) 
Lima Sopoaga (Southland / Highlanders, 2)
Midfielders 
Ryan Crotty (Canterbury / Crusaders, 18) 
Malakai Fekitoa (Auckland / Highlanders, 15) 
George Moala (Auckland / Blues, 2) 
Sonny Bill Williams (Counties Manukau / Chiefs, 33)
Outside backs 
Israel Dagg (Hawke's Bay / Crusaders, 51) 
Waisake Naholo (Taranaki / Highlanders, 6) 
Julian Savea (Wellington/ Hurricanes, 43) 
Ben Smith (Otago / Highlanders, 51)
 
Five additional players will also attend the camp: Damian McKenzie, Seta Tamanivalu and their fellow Chiefs back Anton Lienert-Brown as well as Blues loose forward Steven Luatua, Blues outside back Melani Nanai and Crusaders loose forward Matt Todd.

Hooroo

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<div>Forwards: Hookers 
Dane Coles (Wellington / Hurricanes, 39) 
Codie Taylor (Canterbury / Crusaders, 5) 
Nathan Harris (Bay of Plenty / Chiefs, 4) Props 
Wyatt Crockett (Canterbury / Crusaders, 48) 
Charlie Faumuina (Auckland / Blues, 36) 
Owen Franks (Canterbury / Crusaders, 80) 
Joe Moody (Canterbury / Crusaders, 14) 
Ofa Tu'ungafasi (Auckland / Blues, 1) Locks 
Brodie Retallick (Hawke's Bay / Chiefs, 50) 
Luke Romano (Canterbury / Crusaders, 24) 
Patrick Tuipulotu (Auckland / Blues, 9) 
Samuel Whitelock (Canterbury / Crusaders, 75) Loose Forwards 
Sam Cane (Bay of Plenty / Chiefs, 34) 
Elliot Dixon (Southland / Highlanders, 1) 
Jerome Kaino (Auckland / Blues, 69) 
Kieran Read, captain (Canterbury / Crusaders, 87) 
Ardie Savea (Wellington / Hurricanes, 2) 
Liam Squire ( Ta$man / Highlanders, 1) Backs: Halfbacks 
Tawera Kerr-Barlow (Waikato / Chiefs, 21) 
TJ Perenara (Wellington / Hurricanes, 19) 
Aaron Smith (Manawatu / Highlanders, 50) First five-eighths 
Beauden Barrett (Taranaki / Hurricanes, 39) 
Aaron Cruden (Manawatu / Chiefs, 39) 
Lima Sopoaga (Southland / Highlanders, 2) Midfielders 
Ryan Crotty (Canterbury / Crusaders, 18) 
Malakai Fekitoa (Auckland / Highlanders, 15) 
George Moala (Auckland / Blues, 2) 
Sonny Bill Williams (Counties Manukau / Chiefs, 33) Outside backs 
Israel Dagg (Hawke's Bay / Crusaders, 51) 
Waisake Naholo (Taranaki / Highlanders, 6) 
Julian Savea (Wellington/ Hurricanes, 43) 
Ben Smith (Otago / Highlanders, 51)</div>

Hooroo

I don't know why but I'm a little surprised Julian Savea made it.

Duluth

<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11685001'>http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11685001</a>
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote">Five additional players will also attend the camp: Damian McKenzie, Seta Tamanivalu and their fellow Chiefs back Anton Lienert-Brown as well as Blues loose forward Steven Luatua, Blues outside back Melani Nanai and Crusaders loose forward Matt Todd.</blockquote>

Wurzel

I'd have taken Luatua for Squire, but aside from that I can't complain about those selections. Of course, it would be nice to have another option instead of having to pick Ofa T.

Nepia

So only Taminivalu has got the axe? Dom Bird must have gone close (can't believe I'm saying that as he was so overrated and shit for so long).

Frye

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="JK" data-cid="601959" data-time="1470003485">
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Additional players will also attend the camp: Damian McKenzie, Seta Tamanivalu and their fellow Chiefs back Anton Lienert-Brown as well as Blues loose forward Steven Luatua, Blues outside back Melani Nanai and Crusaders loose forward Matt Todd.
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That's about the only interesting thing about the squad naming.

Stargazer

Not surprised by the squad. Good to see that Nanai and Todd have been included in the AB's camp this week. Wondering whether they shouldn't/won't also include Reg Goodes after the final.

Frye

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Nepia" data-cid="601964" data-time="1470003631">
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So only Taminivalu has got the axe? Dom Bird must have gone close (can't believe I'm saying that as he was so overrated and shit for so long).
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McKenzie as well but both him and Seta will be training anyway.

Duluth

Good to see Nanai is next in line

The Silver Fern

TRC squad