All Blacks Team for the first test

[Te Kaha]

Fairly predictable... Very defensive backline.. All Blacks will attack up the middle where Aussie are still crap.

From All Blacks. com

All Blacks team announced
04/07/2006
allblacks.com

The All Blacks selectors have named their strongest side of the 2006 season for the opening Philips Tri Nations Test against Australia at Christchurch on Saturday.

In naming the team All Blacks coach Graham Henry said he expects a stern challenge. “We face a resurgent Australia and a big battle to retain the Bledisloe Cup. We hope Cantabrians will fill Jade Stadium and lend vocal support.”

Meanwhile, the versatile Mils Muliaina starts at centre for the All Blacks. “Mils and Leon MacDonald are both in good form,” noted Henry. “This week, we have both in the starting line-up which we think is best for this particular match against Australia.” Muliaina has most recently played at center for the Chiefs during the Rebel Sport Super 14 and for Auckland during the Air New Zealand NPC.

The Team:

Leon MacDonald
Rico Gear
Mils Muliaina
Aaron Mauger
Joe Rokocoko
Dan Carter
Byron Kelleher
Rodney So’oialo
Richie McCaw (captain)
Jerry Collins
Jason Eaton
Chris Jack
Carl Hayman
Keven Mealamu
Tony Woodcock

Reserves:

Andrew Hore
Greg Somerville
Ali Williams
Chris Masoe
Piri Weepu
Luke McAlister
Isaia Toeava

 

[douglasallen91]

aussie team
Chris Latham, Mark Gerrard, Stirling Mortlock, Mat Rogers, Lote Tuqiri, Stephen Larkham, George Gregan (captain), Rocky Elsom, George Smith, Mark Chisholm, Dan Vickerman, Nathan Sharpe, Guy Shepherdson, Tai McIsaac, Greg Holmes. Reserves: Jeremy Paul, Al Baxter, Scott Fava, Phil Waugh, Sam Cordingley, Ben Tune, Matt Giteau

 

[aussies1st]

Thats a good ABs team. MacDonald was the form fullback.
Wallabies team looks good too, at least they keep Shepherdson over Baxter.

 

[lockyno1]

Tune back, well done!

 

[Jackal Dog]

Tune?! he did nothing in the S14 where is Cameron Sheppard or Scott Staniforth?

 

[brendothejet]

Which All Blacks Team Is This, As There Seems To Be A Few Of Them Playing Around The World At The Moment...

 

[warrior123]

All Blacks should look to dominate the Aussies at scrum time, as they far the far more superior pack, especially in the front row.

The battle I'll find most interesting is in the backs especially in the centres with Stirling Mortlock and Mat Rogers up against Mils Muliaina and Aaron Mauger, I may be a tad baised but I'll think the NZder's will win by 7-15 points.

 

[warrior123]

Which All Blacks Team Is This, As There Seems To Be A Few Of Them Playing Around The World At The Moment...

LOL, this is the best of the best, this a combination of the two teams that played against Argentina and Ireland in those two tests.

PS: Getting interested are we?? ;-)

 

[lockyno1]

Tune?! he did nothing in the S14 where is Cameron Sheppard or Scott Staniforth?

Tune allows them to cover the centres a bit easier. Staniforth is seen by Connolly as a winger. Shaeppard I am not sold on. I think he is erractic!

 

[skeepe]

Glad to see King George retain his throne under the new coach. Whilst Jones should never have been sacked, I'm pleased to see that Knuckles at least appears to know what he is doing. He knows, no George = no win.

 

[aqua_duck]

lol george still=no win

 

[lockyno1]

Glad to see King George retain his throne under the new coach. Whilst Jones should never have been sacked, I'm pleased to see that Knuckles at least appears to know what he is doing. He knows, no George = no win.

LOL, Jones was rubbish. He was righfully sacked. He had the players, just had no idea how to coach them. Then we have the fact that he continued picking Dunning! He had no idea what to do with the forwards!:lol:

 

[aussies1st]

Jones was rightfully sacked. His game plan wasn't going to win us the World Cup. The new plan of using the forwards like they should has gone well thus far.
I've got no problems with Gregan being there, been much better this year.

Staniforth well you can't really send an inexperienced man like him against the ABs. Tune has tons of experience.

 

[kia ora storm]

It will be a good centres battle and Muliana could be a weak link for the AB's. Having said that we will beat them with a mobile forward pack and strong front row.

AB's by 10.

 

[ozbash]

agree kia ora, mils at center doesnt excite me.

i,d say the AB,s will run away with it all the same.

AB,s by 22

 

[Dr Crane]

Thats the best f**k you haka i've seen.

 

[douglasallen91]

i agree, man that got the juices flowing.