NZ Super Rugby squads 2011

[Te Kaha]

Crusaders to win it in a canter....

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-15/4329232/New-Zealand-Super-Rugby-squads-named

There are 40 players new to Super Rugby in the New Zealand squads named at Eden Park today. NZRU general manager of professional rugby, Neil Sorensen, said that another 12 existing players were moving to new franchises.
"The squads also see some young talent coming through with seven of this year's IRB Junior World Champion Under 20s team, being selected into squads."
The squads are:
Highlanders: Halani Aulika, Kurt Baker, Josh Bekhuis, Jimmy Cowan, Nick Crosswell, Elliot Dixon, Tom Donnelly, John Hardie, Harrad Hoeata, Chris King, Kendrick Lynn, Jamie Mackintosh, Nasi Manu, Brayden Mitchell, Bronson Murray, James Paterson, Siale Piutau, Robbie Robinson, Sean Romans, Jason Rutledge, Matt Saunders, Mahonri Schwalger, Colin Slade, Aaron Smith, Ben Smith, Alando Soakai, Lima Sopoaga, David Te Moana, Adam Thomson, Shaun Treeby, Joe Tuineau, Telusa Veainu. Coach: Jamie Joseph

Crusaders: Nicholas Barrett, Matt Berquist, Tyler Bleyendaal, Dan Carter, Wyatt Crockett, Ryan Crotty, Israel Dagg, Andy Ellis, Corey Flynn, Kahn Fotuali'i, Ben Franks, Owen Franks, Robbie Fruean, Zac Guildford, David Hall, Willi Heinz, Chris Jack, Quentin MacDonald, Sean Maitland, Tom Marshall, Richie McCaw, Andrew Olorenshaw, Jonathan Poff, Kieran Read, Luke Romano, Brad Thorn, Matt Todd, Joe Wheeler, Adam Whitelock, George Whitelock, Sam Whitelock, Sonny Bill Williams. Coach: Todd Blackadder

Hurricanes: Michael Bent, James Broadhurst, Dane Coles, Laurence Corlett, Aaron Cruden, Chris Eaton, Jason Eaton, Jacob Ellison, Bryn Evans, Hosea Gear, Andrew Hore, Cory Jane, Tyson Keats, Daniel Kirkpatrick, Jack Lam, Alipati Leiua, Faifili Levave, Serge Lilo, Karl Lowe, Charlie Ngatai, Ma'a Nonu, Anthony Perenise, Mark Reddish, Julian Savea, John Schwalger, Conrad Smith, Rodney So'oialo, Andre Taylor, Jeremy Thrush, Neemia Tialata, Victor Vito, Piri Weepu. Coach: Mark Hammett

Chiefs: Ben Afeaki, Colin Bourke, Craig Clarke, Mike Delany, Aled de Malmanche, Stephen Donald, Hikawera Elliot, Romana Graham, Richard Kahui, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Tanerau Latimer, Fritz Lee, Brendon Leonard, Lelia Masaga, Ben May, Liam Messam, Taniela Moa, Malili Muliaina, Tim Nanai-Williams, Dan Perrin, Culum Retallick, Isaac Ross, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Toby Smith, Dwayne Sweeney, Sona Taumololo, Save Tokula, Hayden Triggs, Tana Umaga, Scott Waldrom, Nathan White, Jackson Willison. Coach: Ian Foster

Blues: John Afoa, Anthony Boric, Daniel Braid, Luke Braid, Stephen Brett, Ash Dixon, Charlie Faumuina, Kurtis Haiu, Jerome Kaino, Chris Lowrey, Matthew Luamanu, Tevita Mailau, Alby Mathewson, Luke McAlister, Tom McCartney, Keven Mealamu, Brad Mika, Liaki Moli, Toby Morland, Lachie Munro, Filo Paulo, Jared Payne, Rene Ranger, Josevata Rokocoko, Peter Saili, Chris Smylie, Benson Stanley, Winston Stanley, Sherwin Stowers, Isaia Toeava, Ali Williams, Tony Woodcock. Coach: Pat Lam

 

[WaznTheGreat]

That Crusaders team is insane,they win the super 15 by the length of the Flemington straight.

 

[Alehana]

decent squads, i'm sure cantebury will do well, and highlanders will struggle (as usual, but not as much due to a decent coach), waikato will do well if they dont start donald, blue- so unpredictable, wellington- top 6 side.

my opinion of the selection of players

BLUES-

Many players missed out from the franchise areas
Northland- Mark Burman and dean Budd
North harbour- James Afoa, Richard Mayhew, Nafi Tuitavake
Auckland- Gareth Anscombe, Ben Atiga, Andrew Van Der Heijen, Onasia Avuava

I would have had most of these players in my squad if i were Pat Lam, with eith Dean Budd or Onasia Avuava taking a spot, and Andrew VDH or Dean Budd taking a spot.

Instead of Mark Burman or AVDH they've picked Filo Paulo from NH, Brad Mika, Laiki Poli- far enough about brad Mika, he's a quality player, but i question whether he's doing a Luke Macalister, in coming from a low grade competition to a high grade competition and whether he will bring what he claims to bring. Laiki Poli has been playing well and deserves his spot, and i havent seen any of Filo Paulo...

For James Afoa they've picked Tevita Mailau which is fare enough
Richard mayhew they've gone with Mat Laumanu and peter Sailia- I would have pick Richard for Mat, way more consistant and a good number 8.
Nafi Tuitavake has been lost out to a lock foreward i guess. unlucky.

CHIEFS

Players i thought had made it that didn't make it
Luke Andrews
Jack Lam
Stepehn Setephano
Tim Mikkilson

Luke Andrews was unlucky, hes been replaced by Romana Grahem, Jack Lam has gone to hurricanes, stepehen sete hasn't played any rugby and Tim Mikkilson didn't start enough games for waikato, chuck in Vern Camo who Dan Perrin got the nod over- wierd selection i thought

HURRICANES

Players who i picked to make the team but didn't

Scott Fuglistaller
Tajhon Mailata
george pisi,
david smith
Ross Kennedy
Michael patterson

Players chosen instead of them
Serge Lilo and Jack Lam
Alipati Leiua
Andre Taylor
James Broadhurst
Mark Reddish
Michael Bent

Ross Kennedy and Michael Patterson are very unlucky, however James Broadhurst is very good, so one of them should have been picked ahead of mark Reddish. Andre Taylor i dont rate at all, hes too small and cant tackle or not good under the high ball, At least David smith can beat a man and has speed and power, but to not pick him at all, is a bad decision. Geroge Pisi is a samoan international FFS, why not? who is Alipati Leiua?
Tajhon Mailata, well i'm dissapointed in this, he should have been picked, hes an australian schoolboy and u21 representative and former WF player, what other credentials do you need? he had a great itm cup, where he earned his position, i guess he missed out due to the need for more forewards.

CRUSADERS

Adam Whitelock, Tyler Bleyendaal, Johnathon Poff, Willie Heinz, are all names that have destroyed Blackadders credibility,
Adam Whitelock hasn't played any games this year in the itm cup, and hes terrible in S14, why he was picked and someone like Kade Poki, whose semi decent at S14 level, and can hold down an ITM cup position wasn't picked is beyond me,
Tylet Bleyendaal, Who is this?? oh he played NZ under 20's, did he play itm cup? alot of players played NZ under 20's that played itm cup that didn't get a spot, why this guy?
JOhnathon Poff, well hes a number 7 whose not very good, so thats Richie McCaaw, george Whitelock, Matt tod and this guy, 4 players for 1 position, thats all i can say
Willie Heinz, he looks about 30, yet somehow hes only 24, and hes not up to S14, if they wanted to develope a aspiring player, they should have gone to the draft, but at the very least give it to Steve Alfed from Makos, at least he can kick goals.
PLayers to miss out- Tasi Laufotu, a big number 8 who used to play for the reds, why not? better than Poff
feki pelenese, nz under 20 player who played itm cup, who he have been picked if he didn't play itm cup?

HIGHLANDERS

Jayden hayward- v.suprised he didn't make the team, he signed for the highlanders didn't he? guess they chose Matt Saunders instead
Good to see David Te Moana i nthe squad, was a WF player who came back home and has (finally) been rewarded.
Sean Romas has been playing well and deserves his spot as does John Hardie, feel sorry for Tim Boys he deserved a contract but where to put him? Brayden Mitchell, is he the Taranki Foreward who cant start a game due to Ben Soundness? why not ben Soudness? hes won a gold medal at the commonwealth games is that too much achievement? Good to see Siali Piutau get a run, hes a very good 13.

UNLUCKY PLAYERS

Tony koonwaiyou, JOhn Hardie, Chris Noakes, James Wilson, Glen Horton, Brent Ward, Solomon King.

Initial XV are good, but i have to question the selection policy of the rest of the squad, coaches should only pick players from the XV of the itm cup squads then the rest of the squad, then they can start bringing in players from OS, then if last resort club rugby players that didn't make ITM cup, in this case theres plenty of talent to choose from and some quality missed out for some very average (at best) players.

 

[shiznit]

sooo shattered for Dean Budd... i thought he deserved a call up... him and young Frtiz Lee from Counties were my top flankers in the ITM cup this season.

 

[Alehana]

he should make the entended training squad,