AB squad selected

[ozbash]

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howlett,ali williams and anton shouldnt be there.

what the hell does marty hollah have to do ?

i,m afraid tana is past his use-by date.





Backs: Mils Muliaina (Auckland), Leon MacDonald (Canterbury), Doug Howlett (Auckland), Rico Gear (Nelson Bays), Sitiveni Sivivatu (Waikato), Ma'a Nonu (Wellington), Conrad Smith (Wellington), Tana Umaga (captain, Wellington), Aaron Mauger (Canterbury), Daniel Carter (Canterbury), Byron Kelleher (Waikato), Justin Marshall (Canterbury).

Forwards: Rodney So'oialo (Wellington), Mose Tuiali'i (Canterbury), Richie McCaw (Canterbury), Jerry Collins (Wellington), Sione Lauaki (Waikato), Chris Jack (Canterbury), Ali Williams (Auckland), James Ryan (Otago), Carl Hayman (Otago), Campbell Johnstone (Canterbury), Greg Somerville (Canterbury), Tony Woodcock (Auckland), Keven Mealamu (Auckland), Anton Oliver (Otago). Training with squad: Derren Witcombe (Auckland), Jono Gibbes (Waikato).

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[ThrashViking]

"howlett,ali williams and anton shouldnt be there."
Yes they should.
Especially Oliver, he's vital for the All Blacks pack.

 

[Scott]

They should all be there, Howlett has never let the jersey down, Oliver is crucial, Williams is a class player as long as his head is in the right place.

 

[Scott]

As for Holah, very unlucky, but the selectors did say it isn't a form issue. He is simply a victim of circumstances, McCaw is so far infront of him, and will always play. If he gets injured during a game then Rod goes to 7.

Shame for Holah, he'd walk into every other side in the world including Australia.

 

[JTR]

The wing choice was tough, but I assume they picked Howlett over Rokocoko as he can also provide fullback cover. Also, with Sivivatu there they probably didn't want two guys in the squad who can only play wing.

Surely though, it is a poor decision to go in without a specialist goalkicker & No.7 as backups?

If McCaw gets injured, the next best option is Holah. No question about it.
I'm sure So'oialo could do a good job, but there is no way he'd be as effective as Holah who should be there... probably at the expense of Lauaki.

With no Lauaki to cover 6, I would pick Gibbes and drop Johnstone.
Sommerville can cover both sides of the scrum so we don't really need four props.

If Carter gets injured in the first 10 of a test we are stuffed.
I have little confidence in Mauger or MacDonald knocking over the tough ones in pressure situations. I would drop Smith for Evans/Mehrtens as we already have plenty of midfielders in Umanga, Nonu and Mauger with Muliaina as a capable backup.


My changes

OUT
S. Lauaki
C. Johnstone
C. Smith

IN
M .Holah
J. Gibbes
N. Evans/A. Mehrtens

 

[Scott]

Conrad Smith should be in there - he is the best centre in NZ. Our wingers will be lethal with smith in 13. Very intelligent player.

 

[ThrashViking]

Damn straight.
Best support player in the southern hemisphere easily, the guys a vital play maker.
Edit: Nonu's starting at centre for wellington & Smith is being rested along with the other All Blacks, he'll be playing in the tests

 

[Southern Warrio]

Not happy that Ol man Henry didn't release any of the Otago tight forwards, he has turned our main strength in an area of concern.

 

[ozbash]

Not happy that Ol man Henry didn't release any of the Otago tight forwards, he has turned our main strength in an area of concern.

hayman, sommerville and kev mealamu would have to be the starting front row , wouldnt it.
cant wait to see sommerville straighten out those big , cocky lion props.

lauaki will scare the sh*t out of the lions loosies. gotta be on the bench.

 

[Southern Warrio]

Oliver will definetly start, if fit.

He would be partnered by Woodcock and hayman, Sommerville would come off the bench.

 

[douglasallen91]

gibbes should be their agree with holah not been their, as he is the number two but if mccaw gets injured he wil lbe straight in the next game.

gibbes over the unlucky ryan (hes awesome but prefer gibbes agaisnt the lions)

 

[ozbash]

Oliver will definetly start, if fit.

that would be pretty unfair imo.
he,s only had a couple of games all season and walks into the AB hookers spot.

 

[ThrashViking]

A couple of games all year? :s He played in nearly all of the Highlanders matches, when he was injured otago turned into a pile of nuff nuff's.
He'll be selected because he's easily been the form New zealand hooker over the past 12 months.

 

[ozbash]

so hes selected on reputation ?

whitcombe, flynn and mealamu all had good s12 seasons, linklater went extra well too but i wont mention him, hes a chief.

 

[ThrashViking]

No, He's picked on form.
He's played just as much rugby as the rest of the hookers this year, he wasnt injured in the first half of the year.

 

[ozbash]

he still cant throw a ball into a lineout

 

[Scott]

Oliver has played plenty of rugby ozbash. It a no-brainer - if fit, he will start. Best hooker in the country by the a mile!

 

[ThrashViking]

he still cant throw a ball into a lineout

Yes he can:lol:

 

[Southern Warrio]

he still cant throw a ball into a lineout

The Highlanders actually had one of the highest lineout efficency rates in the super 12, His trowing has improved alot over the last couple of years.

He is the best thrower in the country, atm.

He also has plenty of provincal team mates in the tight five, with jimmy and the missing link.