All Blacks Rugby Championship Squad

[Lizard]

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 (Tasman / Highlanders, 1)

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) - joining after Olympics SCRATCHED
Anton Lienert-Brown - replacing SBW

Outside backs
Israel Dagg (Hawke's Bay / Crusaders, 51)
Waisake Naholo (Taranaki / Highlanders, 6)
Julian Savea (Wellington/ Hurricanes, 43)
Ben Smith (Otago / Highlanders, 51)

[Lizard]

So that's SBW in, Tamanivalu and McKenzie out. (NMS, Ngatai not considered due to injury)

The first two calls were predictable but gutting for D-Mack - surely he will be capped in November then?

The only tricky match-day squad issues will be balancing the outside backs and having proper bench cover for them.

[rowan]

I just counted 10 Saders, 8 Landers, 7 Chiefs, 6 Blues & 5 Canes. Could that be right?

[rowan]

Thanks. Seems a bit odd, doesn't it, given this year's Super Rugby standings. Wellingtonians in particular have always got the rough end of the stick in terms of All Blacks selections. I remember Ivan Vodanovich saying they weren't suited to the harsh environment of touring South Africa, and indeed he declined to take any on the ill-fated 1970 tour. It's a bit strange, and dates back to the sport's traditional stronghold in the farming communities. But times have changed, there has been a major population shift to the cities, and with a major influx of Pacific Islanders to Auckland and Wellington, in particular, that's where the sport's stronghold lies in the modern era. Although admittedly the Blues have been battling lately and appear conversely over-represented as usual.

[morepork]

Ben from accounts isn't getting any younger. If Israel Dagg decides to follow his hip hop career in the near future, we will need a hardened DM. Plus someone else.

When are some new wingers going to start coming through to cover for the Big Pork Pie Bus?

[Eugene Wrayburn]

Disappointingly stable.

[Eugene Wrayburn]

Thanks. Seems a bit odd, doesn't it, given this year's Super Rugby standings.

Not really, no. The Crusaders players selected are all proven internationals that have earned their keep at the test level.

It's a bit of an indictment of Blackadder. Those players may be experienced internationals but there are a fair few who are being outperformed

[rowan]

I haven't watched the Canes too much this season, apart from the highlights on Youtube, but usually when you have a team in winning form like this there are new players coming through and pressing their claims for national selection. And this is exactly the time when you want to be selecting those emerging players, just a year after a World Cup. Look at the Wallabies squad. That's what they've done, and everyone knows that, regardless what they do in between, the Aussies invariably show up for Rugby World Cups. Fact is, I don't think the Wellington region has produced any top coaches for a few decades and isn't get much input into the selection process. When was the last time the Wellington region had a representative on the national selection panel, just out of interest?

[rowan]

Still, the Aussies got to the final, and are statistically the second most successful team at Rugby World Cups, having played in 6/8 semis and 4/8 finals. That's a pretty good record for a team that is generally the All Blacks' punching bag in between...

[Lizard]

MacKenzie aside, I like the steady-as-she-goes approach from Hansen. Although there is plenty of talent burning up the NZ Super franchises, let's not lose sight of the fact that the All Blacks are, without exaggeration, the most dominant team in history. There's absolutely no need to make changes for the sake of it. Sure, there are players who would probably be fine All Blacks who are not getting a shot but unless they will be clearly better than an incumbent, why take a punt. Modern substitution regs and injuries will provide enough opportunities for new players to come through without forcing it.

This is actually a pretty raw squad as it is - 10 out of 31 have fewer than 10 caps.

Breaking it down:
0-9 caps: 10
10-19: 4
20-29: 2
30-39: 6
40-49:2
50-59: 4
60+: 4

[Len]

Elliot is actually a Cantabrian, he just plays his rugby down there

[Lizard]

Elliot is actually a Cantabrian, he just plays his rugby down there

Oi! Careful, or someone might apply the same logic to Naholo.

[Len]

Elliot is actually a Cantabrian, he just plays his rugby down there

Oi! Careful, or someone might apply the same logic to Naholo.

Bring it on. Chances are said person would he British, can't really throw stones from a glass house and all that. Morons are headed straight towards a recession because they're dead set against immigration too, despite their sports teams being packed with economic migrants.

[zer0]

Kieran Read is an Aucklander.

[morepork]

Kieran Read is an Aucklander.

Quiet there, at the back of the class.

[Lizard]

Kieran Read is an Aucklander.

Bullshit. He's from Counties and played for Drury Rugby Club as well age-group cricket for Northern Districts.

[Mellsblue]

Elliot is actually a Cantabrian, he just plays his rugby down there

Oi! Careful, or someone might apply the same logic to Naholo.

Bring it on. Chances are said person would he British, can't really throw stones from a glass house and all that. Morons are headed straight towards a recession because they're dead set against immigration too, despite their sports teams being packed with economic migrants.

Wow.

[Len]

Oi! Careful, or someone might apply the same logic to Naholo.

Bring it on. Chances are said person would he British, can't really throw stones from a glass house and all that. Morons are headed straight towards a recession because they're dead set against immigration too, despite their sports teams being packed with economic migrants.

Wow.

Exactly!

[morepork]

Is NMS going to have a chronically rooted shoulder or what?

[morepork]

Sonny Bill is out, probably for the year, with an Achilles' tendon rupture.

That's not the full story.


Japan just rolled NZ in the Lympics. Rock and Roll.

[morepork]

Oh yes, that too.

Presumably, one of Tamanivalu or Lienert-Brown will be called up from the WTG.

Natto for all my friends brother.

[morepork]

I've never had that. I like Mozuku too. Would I like the cum dish?

[morepork]

I absolutely dig the unpretentious sophistication of Japanese cuisine. I spent a few months at Jichi Medical School in Tochigi in 2009 and just dug eating out and around. The locals were phenomenal at local restaurants, giving me a taste of this and that and encouraging me to try all manner of culinary delights. I had natto for the first time at a tiny bed and breakfast in Nikko national park after a massive night, waking up in a communal sleeping place after a night of smelling everyone's farts.It was like a marae. The day before we went to Toshugu shrine where there was a white horse (Koha) gifted to Japan by NZ via Piggy Muldoon in '76, and his replacement was there (Kotuku) sent on by Helen Clarke in '05. It was a nice unexpected synergy with my hosts.Good time.

[zer0]

Anton Lienert-Brown has taken William's place in the squad.

[Lizard]

Good call-up. Lizard, update the OP.

I've done it this time, but next time you better say "please."