Captain Invisible dumped..... First AB squad

[Te Kaha]

From AllBlacks.com

Daniel Carter - Canterbury
Jerry Collins - Wellington
Nick Evans * - North Harbour
Jono Gibbes * - Waikato
Carl Hayman - Otago
Marty Holah - Waikato
Andrew Hore - Taranaki
Doug Howlett - Auckland
Chris Jack - Canterbury
Byron Kelleher - Waikato
Simon Maling - Otago
Richard McCaw - Canterbury (Vice Captain)
Justin Marshall - Canterbury
Keven Mealamu - Auckland
Kees Meeuws - Auckland
Andrew Mehrtens - Canterbury
Mils Muliaina - Auckland
Keith Robinson - Waikato
Joe Rokocoko - Auckland
Xavier Rush - Auckland
Greg Somerville - Canterbury
Carlos Spencer - Auckland
Mose Tuiali?I * - Auckland
Sam Tuitupou * - Auckland
Tana Umaga - Wellington (Captain)
Tony Woodcock - North Harbour

 

[Te Kaha]

After last night... the team I would like is.....

15. Mils Muliaina - Auckland
14. Doug Howlett - Auckland
13. Tana Umaga - Wellington (Captain)
12. Daniel Carter - Canterbury
11. Joe Rokocoko - Auckland
10. Andrew Mehrtens - Canterbury
09. Justin Marshall - Canterbury
08. Jerry Collins - Wellington
07. Richard McCaw - Canterbury (Vice Captain)
06. Jono Gibbes * - Waikato
05. Chris Jack - Canterbury
04. Simon Maling - Otago
03. Kees Meeuws - Auckland
02. Andrew Hore - Taranaki
01. Greg Somerville - Canterbury

16. Tony Woodcock - North Harbour
17. Carl Hayman - Otago
18. Keven Mealamu - Auckland
19. Marty Holah - Waikato
20. Byron Kelleher - Waikato
21. Nick Evans * - North Harbour
22. Sam Tuitupou * - Auckland

 

[ThrashViking]

:? what a strange looking bench
At a hunch im guessing it will look like this:
Meeuws, Hore, Somerville, Gibbes, Jack, Collins, McCaw, Rush;
Marshall, Spencer, Rokocoko, Carter, Umaga (C), Howlett, Muliaina
Bench: Hayman, Melamu, Robinson, Holah, Kelleher, Evans, Mehrtens/Tuitupou

 

[ozbash]

byron had marshall on a p[late last night.
he has a better pass, is quicker,stronger and thinks faster.

great to see jono gibbes get his call up. he deserves it.
how did bloody carlos get picked and brad thorn not ?

 

[ThrashViking]

Because Brad Thorn wouldnt look good as a back ;-)
I think it's a good squad, I like it.

 

[That Guy]

:? what a strange looking bench
At a hunch im guessing it will look like this:
Meeuws, Hore, Somerville, Gibbes, Jack, Collins, McCaw, Rush;
Marshall, Spencer, Rokocoko, Carter, Umaga (C), Howlett, Muliaina
Bench: Hayman, Melamu, Robinson, Holah, Kelleher, Evans, Mehrtens/Tuitupou

Yep, thats how I see it.

 

[Anonymous]

Kelleher dominated Marshall in all aspects during the trial. He should get the no.9.

 

[ThrashViking]

Marshall has always been slow with one of the crapest passes for a halfback at international level
I'd like to see Byron start but i somehow think Marshall will get the nod

 

[CanadianSteve]

On RugbyHeaven there's speculation that not getting selected may push Brad Thorn into going back to the Broncos.

 

[ozbash]

he might just do that steve.
see the maoris are going to canada again.

 

[Meth]

If I were the selector, from that squad, to face England....

15 Carlos Spencer
14 Doug Howlett
13 Tana Umaga
12 Daniel Carter
11 Joe Rocokoko
10 Andrew Mehrtens
9 Justin Marshall

8 Xavier Rush
7 Richard McCaw
6 Jerry Collins
5 Chris Jack
4 Johnno Gibbes
3 Greg Somerville
2 Andrew Hore
1 Tony Woodcock

Res...Mills Muliaina, Nick Evans, Byron Kelleher, Marty Holah, Keith Robertson, Kevin Mealamu, Kees Meeuws

 

[CanadianSteve]

he might just do that steve.
see the maoris are going to canada again.

The Maoris - I'll have to check that out. I had seen a poster for a game in Toronto between France and Canada this July or August. Not sure if it's France's best side or not. Maybe I'll see a couple of good games live this summer.

 

[CanadianSteve]

The Maori are plying in a tournament in western Canada, too far for me to go. But I'll go to the France match in Toronto.