all blacks top 22

[douglasallen91]

a bit early but wil lupdate after every 3 -4 rounds. mainly on form but since its only 4 and a bit rounds old their may be some on name. (* = on name)

15. leon macdonald
14. rico gear
13. mils muliana
12. sam tuituipoi
11. siteveni sitavatu
10. daniel carter
9. piri weepu
8. sione lauaki (wtf how the hell did i forget the beast)
7. richie mccaw
6. jerry collins
5. james ryan
4. chris jack
3. carl hayman
2. andrew hore
1. tony woodcock*

16. anton oliver
17. greg sommerville (plays both sides)
18. jason eaton
19. chris masoe
20. byron kellaher*
21. aaron mauger
22. ma'a nonu or doug howlett*

 

[kia ora storm]

I would have Tialata and Nonu starting...Muliana has been average this year so far.

Scott Hamilton has been impressive as well but hard to shift the wingers you have chosen.

 

[douglasallen91]

I would have Tialata and Nonu starting...Muliana has been average this year so far.

Scott Hamilton has been impressive as well but hard to shift the wingers you have chosen.

hamilton was the most unlucky one to miss out.

mils has been good for the chiefs as the link man, and unleashing sitavatu

 

[ozbash]

i,d have byron instead of weepu, just going on form.

no jono ??????

 

[douglasallen91]

i,d have byron instead of weepu, just going on form.

no jono ??????

close call but no halfbacks have standed out yet.

jono not in yet but jack will have to step up as eaton and ryan are going good guns. will ali williams be back in black.

 

[Iafeta]

Oz, I thought Kelleher cost the Chiefs the game v the Crusaders with one dumb piece of play when there was a penalty in the offing.

15 Mils Miliaina
14 Doug Howlett
13 Ma'a Nonu
12 Aaron Mauger
11 Sitivini Sivivatu
10 Daniel Carter
9 Piri Weepu
8 Rodney So'oialo
7 Richie McCaw (captain)
6 Jerry Collins
5 Jason Eaton
4 Chris Jack
3 Carl Hayman
2 Keven Mealamu
1 Tony Woodcock

Bench

Joe Rockocoko
Byron Kelleher
I'd have said Conrad Smith but he's injured - Nick Evans

That gives you backline coverage at

9: Kelleher
10: Evans/Mauger
11: Rockocoko
12: Evans/Nonu
13: Miliaina
14: Rockocko
15: Evans

Greg Somerville
Anton Oliver - don't think he's gone too flash but he'll be there
Chris Masoe
Johno Gibbes

Gives you coverage at

1: Somerville
2: Oliver
3: Somerville
4/5: Gibbes
6: Masoe/Gibbes
7: Masoe
8: Collins/at a pinch Masoe

I had Williams on the bench, but he hasn't performed that well this year yet and Gibbes I thought was outstanding v the Crusaders, certainly an influential leader.

 

[Deleted member 10972]

(All in italics are mentioned twice in different positions. All underlined are not in the current squad i don't think :S)

* 1. Tony Woodcock (Greg Somerville, Saimone Taumoepeau)
* 2. Andrew Hore (Anton Oliver, Kevin Mealamu)
* 3. Carl Hayman (John Afoa, Neemia Tialata)
* 4. Ali Williams (James Ryan, Jason Eaton)
* 5. Chris Jack (Tom Donnelly, ---------------)
* 6. Jerry Collins (Sione Lauaki, Chris Masoe, Craig Newby)
* 7. Richie McCaw (Marty Holah, Craig Newby, Josh Blackie)
* 8. Rodney So’oialo (Mose Tuiali’i, Jerome Kaino, Nick Williams)
* 9. Byron Kelleher (Piri Weepu, Jimmy Cowan)
* 10. Daniel Carter (Luke McAlister, Nick Evans)
* 11. Sitiveni Sivivatu (Sosene Anesi, Scott Hamilton)
* 12. Aaron Mauger (Luke McAlister, Seilala Mapusua)
* 13. Conrad Smith (Ma'a Nonu, Anthony Tuitavake)
* 14. Joe Rocokoko (Doug Howlett, Rico Gear)
* 15. Mils Muliaina (Leon McDonald, Isaia Toeava)

* 1st Reserve - Jono Gibbes (best lock/flanker utility available - automatic selection as a utility reserve when fit)

Possible replacements:

Isaia Toeava [for Seilala Mapusua's spot]
Nick Evans [for Isaia Toeava’s spot]
Soseni Anesi [for Isaia Toeava’s spot]
Brent Ward [for Scott Hamilton's spot or Isaia Toeava’s spot]
Matt Saunders [for Scott Hamilton's spot]
Hosea Gear [for Scott Hamilton's spot]
Roy Kinikinilau [for Scott Hamilton's spot]
Lifeimi Mafi [for Seilala Mapusua's spot]
Neil Brew [for Anthony Tuitavake's spot]
Campbell Johnstone [for John Afoa's spot]
Kevin Senio [for Jimmy Cowan's spot]
Chris Masoe [for Josh Blackie's spot]
Angus MacDonald [for Craig Newby's spot or to fill Gibbes' role]
Casey Laulala [for Anthony Tuitavake's spot]
Derren Witcombe [for Kevin Mealamu's spot]

Talk about depth!

 

[ozbash]

Oz, I thought Kelleher cost the Chiefs the game v the Crusaders with one dumb piece of play when there was a penalty in the offing.

yea, poor old byron did it again. hes a funny player, bit like carlos. when hes hot he,s red hot but when hes having an off day...

 

[Scott]

Feka's side is spot on, although McDonald would have to be on the bench.

Anyone picking Lauaki over So'oialo is crazy. The Hurricanes captain is a complete number 8. Lauaki only looks good going forward and is still a boofhead who should be behind bars.

 

[aqua_duck]

I think they should stick with guys who did the job last year as a backbone for this years team. take for example guys like WIlliams and Mealamu, they tend to grow an extra leg when playing for the all blacks. I thought big Ali was one of the blacks best all through last year. Also guys like Gear have been piss poor for the all blacks in the past but will always give a good showing at super 14 because of the team they play in.

 

[Manu Vatuvei]

Anyone picking Lauaki over So'oialo is crazy. The Hurricanes captain is a complete number 8. Lauaki only looks good going forward and is still a boofhead who should be behind bars.

lmfao. Youse a hater.

 

[Iafeta]

I'll tell you what, Mauger reaffirmed himself as the #12 at test time tonight. Unbelievably wicked performance v the Cats, read the game perfectly.

Another player though to me is a major disappointment, Kevin Senio. Andrew Ellis completely outplayed him coming off the bench. Ellis looks a future AB for mine.