All Blacks to face the Lions

[Southern Warrio]

My team (may contain some bias)

1 Hoeft
2 Oliver
3 Hayman
4 Ryan (but it will be Williams)
5 Jack
6 Kaino
7 McCaw
8 So'oialo
9 Marshall
10 Carter
11 Rokocoko
12 Umaga
13 Smith
14 Gear
15 Mils

16 Mealamu
17 Sommerville
18 Williams (But Hopefully the take Ryan)
19 Blackie
20 Kelleher
21 Evans
22 Nonu

Whats yours?

 

[ThrashViking]

1.Carl Hoeft
2.Anton Oliver
3.Carl Hayman
4.Norm Maxwell (Is far better thanm any other option NZ has)
5.Chris Jack
6.Jerry Collins
7.Richie McCaw
8.Rodney So'oialo
9.Justin Marshall
10.Daniel Carter
11.Joe Rokocoko
12.Aaron Mauger
13.Tana Umaga (c)
14.Rico Gear
15.Leon MacDonald

16.Keven Melamu
17.Greg Somerville
18.Jono Gibbes/Ali Williams
19.Josh Blackie
20.Byron Kelleher
21.Andrew Mehrtens
22.Mils Muliaina/Ma'a Nonu

 

[Iafeta]

15 Mils Miliaina
14 Doug Howlett
13 Conrad Smith - this guy is what New Zealand has missed, his best aspect is his top two inches, incredily clever and always well positioned
12 Tana Umaga
11 Joe Rockocoko
10 Daniel Carter
9 Justin Marshall
8 Rodney Solialo
7 Richie McCaw
6 Jerry Collins
5 Ali Williams
4 Chris Jack
3 Carl Hayman
2 Anton Oliver (if fit)
1 Carl Hoeft

Bench

Forwards:

Keven Mealamu
Greg Somerville
Jono Gibbes
Marty Holah

Backs

Andrew Mehrtens
Byron Kellaher
Rico Gear

Very unlucky: Ma'a Nonu, Jerome Kaino

I think the only positions really up for grabs are lock, and centre in the starting line up, perhaps right wing but I can't see them going past Howlett on previous performances.

 

[ozbash]

nonu should make the run on side, kellehar is the best halfback we got with weepu not far behind him.
if "handbag" howlett and that low mongrel, ali ( i,ve seen the light ) williams get in then its a travesty.

 

[Timbo]

Wasn't Carter punted for Mehrtens last night?

 

[ozbash]

given the night off i think timbo, quite a few players were. both teams had made the semis so a few were rested,, umaga,jerry collins,carter,paku.

 

[Timbo]

Just a sidenote on Mehrtens-Why hasn't he left for another S12 franchise now that Carter has overtaken him as Canterbury fly-half? He'd be a walkup start everywhere else.

 

[ThrashViking]

Just a sidenote on Mehrtens-Why hasn't he left for another S12 franchise now that Carter has overtaken him as Canterbury fly-half? He'd be a walkup start everywhere else.

He doesnt want to.
The Hurricanes asked him to move to Wellington but he seems happy living in Christchurch and running his buisness.
If he wasnt happy at Canterbury he would of moved.

 

[ThrashViking]

Am I the only one thinking Rokocoko is horribly over-rated?
Hewett was having a field day against him & Gear simply HAS to be picked.
Sivivatu is more of a danger than Rokocoko but he tends to drop alot of ball.
I thought Howlett was also brilliant last night, he had a really good game

 

[Iafeta]

Just a sidenote on Mehrtens-Why hasn't he left for another S12 franchise now that Carter has overtaken him as Canterbury fly-half? He'd be a walkup start everywhere else.

He's a Canterbury boy through and through. The All Blacks tried to get him "drafted" to the Hurricanes so he'd get run on footy week in week out, but Mehrts wanted to stay with the Crusaders regardless of being a bench man and what it mgiht do for his All Blacks prospects.

On Carter being "punted", Carter's the world's best first five, and one of the top 3 or 4 players period, the Brits were lauding him as the world's best after the UK tour, there's no way he'd be dropped for anyone.

 

[ozbash]

sivi and rokokokokoko have just got to be the 2 starting AB wingers.

merts is big enough to realise his AB days are probably over.

 

[disco1]

Hi guys,
Whats the build up to the Lions tour been like in NZ? Over here in the UK it has dominated the sports press. I for one can't wait for the tour to start.

Are there any good NZ rugby forums?

I just hope that Woodward picks and exciting Welsh attacking style side rather than the usual English 'kick to the lines and drive' crap.

Hopefully my Welsh guys will get in the starting 15 for the tests. Look out for Gavin Henson and Martin Williams, they will be giving Umaga and McCaw and right good battle.

 

[bayrep]

Hey Disco1,

Every night for the last month on TVOne news they have been going over the history of the Lions vs AB's with a few interviews between past lions and AB players. Also there has been build up in the Herald for the last couple of months going over the lions vs AB's tour.

I also work for a company that is going through the consent process for the movements of the Barmy Army so I know how many of you guys are coming over and it is bloody huge!!!! so that builds a lot of the excitement.

Down side is that they did a ballot of tickets as they thought there wouldn't be enough tickets to go around and only half the tickets have gone in some of the provincial games. I think mainly becuase everyone didnt think they would get a ticket so they didnt apply. I know I was one that didnt put my name forward for that reason. I think the test tickets have gone. But there is a lot of talk that if kiwi's dont get the tickets now then the lion fans will and the the AB's will lose home advantage.

 

[ozbash]

this is a good site disco1 http://www.rugbyweb.co.nz/

 

[Iafeta]

Hey Disco1,

Every night for the last month on TVOne news they have been going over the history of the Lions vs AB's with a few interviews between past lions and AB players. Also there has been build up in the Herald for the last couple of months going over the lions vs AB's tour.

I also work for a company that is going through the consent process for the movements of the Barmy Army so I know how many of you guys are coming over and it is bloody huge!!!! so that builds a lot of the excitement.

Down side is that they did a ballot of tickets as they thought there wouldn't be enough tickets to go around and only half the tickets have gone in some of the provincial games. I think mainly becuase everyone didnt think they would get a ticket so they didnt apply. I know I was one that didnt put my name forward for that reason. I think the test tickets have gone. But there is a lot of talk that if kiwi's dont get the tickets now then the lion fans will and the the AB's will lose home advantage.

Consent process?

Whats that

"This is how you get consent from a New Zealand girl... go Baaa and slip her into a pair of gum boots and thats considered consent?"

 

[Manu Vatuvei]

sivi and rokokokokoko have just got to be the 2 starting AB wingers.

exactly! Jeez, imo it beggars belief that people could honestly think a jobber like Gear is even on the same planet as Rokocoko or Sivivatu. I'm actually a Gear fan and always have been, he is fast and reasonably dependable, but Sivivatu is a freak, and Rokocoko is 21 and has what, 20, 25 test tries already? He only has to go on for a few more years to be one of the great All Black wingers, and people want to drag him down and bring in a run of the mill provincial finisher like Gear. It's tragic. Sivivatu probably won't make the starting line-up, but he should be the first player picked, even if it means playing him on the right wing. He is incredible.

 

[Southern Warrio]

Rokocoko will be in the sevens team for the last two IRB sevens legs, If he shows some improvement he will remain in the squad. if he doesn't he won't.

 

[ThrashViking]

exactly! Jeez, imo it beggars belief that people could honestly think a jobber like Gear is even on the same planet as Rokocoko or Sivivatu. I'm actually a Gear fan and always have been, he is fast and reasonably dependable, but Sivivatu is a freak, and Rokocoko is 21 and has what, 20, 25 test tries already? He only has to go on for a few more years to be one of the great All Black wingers, and people want to drag him down and bring in a run of the mill provincial finisher like Gear. It's tragic. Sivivatu probably won't make the starting line-up, but he should be the first player picked, even if it means playing him on the right wing. He is incredible.

15 tries in 12 super 12 games? Thats your idea of a jobber? You've lost the polt.
For the record - Rokocoko has been punted to 7's where he'll match up against the might of Kenya & China because his super 12 form and come to think of it his NPC form was so damn abysmal.
Sivivatu & Gear will be starting, you can not leave Gear out of the All Blacks after what he did to Nonu.

 

[Timbo]

Having watched most of the S12, the AB's are mad if they leave Gear out.

 

[Resident Warrior]

1 Hoeft
2 Oliver
3 Hayman
4 Williams
5 Jack
6 Collins
7 McCaw
8 So'oialo
9 Marshall
10 Carter
11 Gear
12 Mauger
13 Umaga
14 Sivivatu
15 Mcdonald

16 Mealamu
17 Sommerville
18 Maxwell
19 Kaino
20 Kelleher
21 Mertens
22 Nonu