TRC squad

[JK]

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

[Hooroo]

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

[Hooroo]

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

[Duluth]

<p><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></p>
<p></p><p></p><blockquote class="ipsBlockquote"><span style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Calibri, Candara, Segoe, 'Segoe UI', Optima, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:16px;">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.</span></blockquote>

[Wurzel]

<p>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 <em>having</em> to pick Ofa T.</p>

[Nepia]

<p>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).</p>

[Frye]

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

[Stargazer]

<p>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.</p>

[Frye]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Nepia" data-cid="601964" data-time="1470003631">
<div>
<p>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).</p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<p> </p>
<p>McKenzie as well but both him and Seta will be training anyway.</p>

[Duluth]

<p>Good to see Nanai is next in line</p>

[Wurzel]

<p>Also being invited to train with the squad are schoolboys Caleb Clarke (MAGS) and Hoskins Sotutu (Sacred Heart) as a way of encouraging them not to sign with the NRL. And yes, those surnames do seem familiar.</p>

[Rembrandt]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Hooroo" data-cid="601960" data-time="1470003501">
<div>
<p> </p>
<div><strong>First five-eighths</strong><br>
Beauden Barrett (Taranaki / Hurricanes, <strong>39</strong>)<br>
Aaron Cruden (Manawatu / Chiefs, 39)<br>
 </div>
<p> </p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<p>Surely not!</p>

[hydro11]

<p>I'm glad to see Nanai is in the frame.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I think we all would have picked Luatua but it isn't much of a surprise that Hansen didn't. Luatua has been good all year but obviously hasn't been providing what the selectors want.</p>

[Rembrandt]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Rembrandt" data-cid="601971" data-time="1470004099">
<div>
<p>Surely not!</p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<p>Bloody hell they have played the same number of tests!</p>

[gt12]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="gt12" data-cid="599688" data-time="1469327828">
<div>
<p>Looking back at my earlier picks, I don't think much has changed. A few people might get lucky due to injuries (Fekitoa) or lack of really good alternatives (J. Savea).</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I'm not convinced that Lowe is ready yet, although as mentioned above, he could go on to good things if he gets brought in to the environment and continues to develop his decision making. His left boot is very handy. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>I'm now assuming that SBW will be picked, so the only real question marks are 4th lock (which I still think will be Romano), the 5th and 6th loosies (Is there room for Luatua, and if so, who gets left out?) and midfield (Fuck it that Ngatai is injured, because if so I think Fekitoa stays home).</p>
<p> </p>
<p style="color:rgb(40,40,40);font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><strong>Hookers:</strong> Coles, Harris, Taylor (Elliot if Coles injured would be my choice)</p>
<p style="color:rgb(40,40,40);font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><strong>Props:</strong> Crockett, Moody, Franks, Faimuina, Ofa</p>
<p style="color:rgb(40,40,40);font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><strong>Locks:</strong> Retallick, Whitelock, Pat T, Romano (under pressure by Franklin and Bird, but I think he'll be picked)</p>
<p style="color:rgb(40,40,40);font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><strong>Loose forwards: </strong>Kaino, Cane, Read, A. Savea, Luatua, & Dixon or Squire (One of who is really unlucky, but I can't go past Luatua's form)</p>
<p style="color:rgb(40,40,40);font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> </p>
<p style="color:rgb(40,40,40);font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><strong>Scrumhalves: </strong>A.<strong> </strong>Smith, Perenara, TKB</p>
<p style="color:rgb(40,40,40);font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><strong>Flyhalves:</strong> Cruden, Barrett, Sopoaga </p>
<p style="color:rgb(40,40,40);font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><strong>Centre:</strong> SBW, Crotty, Moala, Fekitoa (I'm picking Tamanivalu to miss out even though he's probably going better than Mala)</p>
<p style="color:rgb(40,40,40);font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><strong>Outside backs:</strong> Dagg, Naholo, F. Savea, B. Smith</p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<p> </p>
<p>Well, that was a bit boring. I'm surprised about Luatua, but I guess the other two haven't really had much of a chance yet and, as Duluth said, the selectors don't change their minds quickly. Plus, once they've changed it, it appears to take time to get back in, probably by being on stand by as one of the 'extras' on the way back - so at least Luatua remains in the picture.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>From now on, we should pick squads plus 4-5 'extras', as they always seem to, and it's the only real surprise.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>It's a great idea to get a look at Nanai.</p>

[pakman]

Good to see Luatua's form recognised, even if not in squad. Ditto Nanai.

[Wurzel]

<p>I'd feel far more comfortable with Nanai starting a Test as opposed to Dmac. There, I said it.</p>

[Canerbry]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Nepia" data-cid="601964" data-time="1470003631">
<p>So only Taminivalu has got the axe? Dom Bird must have gone close (<strong>can't believe I'm saying that as he was so overrated and shit for so long</strong>).</p>
</blockquote>
<br><p> :mocking: The wide-eyed wonderment at a hated former Crusader turning out actually be a good player after all...</p>

[hydro11]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Rembrandt" data-cid="601973" data-time="1470004177">
<div>
<p>Bloody hell they have played the same number of tests!</p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<p>Cruden had a 2 year head start but has had lots of injuries and Barrett has often been on the bench. I think Barrett has only started 6 tests or something.</p>

[Wurzel]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Canerbry" data-cid="601979" data-time="1470004526">
<div>
<p> :mocking: The wide-eyed wonderment at a hated former Crusader turning out actually be a good player after all...</p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<p> </p>
<p>I've seen windows less transparent than Nepia's rugby opinions.</p>