The All Blacks Team for the World cup is...

[Te Kaha]

Named at 2pm today...

Gear and Messam have missed out for Guildford and Vito... Wont be any other surprises.

 

[ParraE]

gees, i was saying this in the begining of the super rugby season that gear was the only winger that was certain to make it.

 

[Silent But Deadly]

gees, i was saying this in the begining of the super rugby season that gear was the only winger that was certain to make it.

yeah a bit surprised that Gear didn't make it. I guess that just highlights the AB depth. Thompson deserves to be there ahead of Messam...

 

[Te Kaha]

And Sivi gone now too...

From AllBlacks.com

Forwards:

Hookers
Corey Flynn Canterbury (14)
Andrew Hore Taranaki (54)
Keven Mealamu Auckland (85)

Props
John Afoa Auckland (33)
Ben Franks Tasman (11)
Owen Franks Canterbury (23)
Tony Woodcock North Harbour (75)

Locks
Anthony Boric North Harbour (20)
Brad Thorn Canterbury (51)
Samuel Whitelock Canterbury (17)
Ali Williams Auckland (65)

Loose forwards
Jerome Kaino Auckland (41)
Richie McCaw (capt) Canterbury (97)
Kieran Read Canterbury (31)
Adam Thomson Otago (21)
Victor Vito Wellington (7)


Backs:

Halfbacks
Jimmy Cowan Southland (47)
Andy Ellis Canterbury (20)
Piri Weepu Wellington (48)

First five–eighths
Daniel Carter Canterbury (82)
Colin Slade Canterbury (5)

Midfielders
Richard Kahui Waikato (12)
Ma’a Nonu Wellington (58)
Conrad Smith Wellington (48)
Sonny Bill Williams Canterbury (7)

Outside backs
Israel Dagg Hawke’s Bay (7)
Zac Guildford Hawke’s Bay (6)
Cory Jane Wellington (24)
Mils Muliaina Waikato (97)
Isaia Toeava Auckland (31)

 

[Silent But Deadly]

That's a pretty decent squad...all bases coved. The Braid boys and Matt Todd are very unlucky not to get a look in though.

 

[shiznit]

That's a pretty decent squad...all bases coved. The Braid boys and Matt Todd are very unlucky not to get a look in though.

looks like we went the same way as you guys... one outstanding number 7(but ours is better than yours )... with no specialist back up.

decent squad... im not fussed really... we have a top team which is very good... but the back ups are pretty much interchangeable.

 

[Silent But Deadly]

looks like we went the same way as you guys... one outstanding number 7(but ours is better than yours )... with no specialist back up.

decent squad... im not fussed really... we have a top team which is very good... but the back ups are pretty much interchangeable.

haha yeah Richie is a better number 7 (marginally), though this year will signal a changing of the guard. Pocock to be the premier number 7 this time next year!

 

[shiznit]

haha yeah Richie is a better number 7 (marginally), though this year will signal a changing of the guard. Pocock to be the premier number 7 this time next year!

your dreaming buddy... Richie McCaw is on the cusp of becoming the greatest player in the history of the game... if he manages to hold up the big one at eden park it will be his crowning glory.

Pocock is a good young talent... but he's got a million miles to go before he can be even spoken of in the same breath as McCaw

 

[Silent But Deadly]

your dreaming buddy... Richie McCaw is on the cusp of becoming the greatest player in the history of the game... if he manages to hold up the big one at eden park it will be his crowning glory.

Pocock is a good young talent... but he's got a million miles to go before he can be even spoken of in the same breath as McCaw

Yes and no. Sure Pocock needs to prove himself over the next 5 or 6 years before he can be go down in the books as one of the greatest open side flankers ever. McCaw is possibly THE greatest number 7 ever so a fair enough point when it's put into that context...BUT that's not to say Pocock isn't far off being better than him at present. He's an absolute animal and provided he stays fit, I can see him being better than McCaw this time next year. McCaw has peaked, Pocock hasn't.

Greatest player in the history of the game? Hmmm...he'd be up there but i'm not about to start saying that. That's a massive call!

 

[shiznit]

Yes and no. Sure Pocock needs to prove himself over the next 5 or 6 years before he can be go down in the books as one of the greatest open side flankers ever. McCaw is possibly THE greatest number 7 ever so a fair enough point when it's put into that context...BUT that's not to say Pocock isn't far off being better than him at present. He's an absolute animal and provided he stays fit, I can see him being better than McCaw this time next year. McCaw has peaked, Pocock hasn't.

Greatest player in the history of the game? Hmmm...he'd be up there but i'm not about to start saying that. That's a massive call!

nahh if he captains the all blacks to the RWC he would easily be the greatest... shortlisted as a finalist for IRB world player of the year in 2002, 2003, 2005 & 2007. winner of the IRB world player of the year in 2006, 2009 & 2010... no one else has won the award more than once... McCaw has won it 3 times.. as well as 2 consecutive seasons. if we win the RWC he would be a big chance for 3 straight seasons.

he's also the most capped all black captain of all time... hes also equal with mills as the most capped all black of all time.

he captained the crusaiders to a super title... he's got over 100 super caps.

and he will probably be the first player in history to play 100 tests for the All Blacks... which is probably the most amazing feat of all because the All Blacks are by far the most competitive side in world rugby and the all black jersey is the toughest jersey in the world to hold.

he's dominated every side in world rugby... including the Lions.

his crowning glory will be the RWC...

 

[Silent But Deadly]

nahh if he captains the all blacks to the RWC he would easily be the greatest... shortlisted as a finalist for IRB world player of the year in 2002, 2003, 2005 & 2007. winner of the IRB world player of the year in 2006, 2009 & 2010... no one else has won the award more than once... McCaw has won it 3 times.. as well as 2 consecutive seasons. if we win the RWC he would be a big chance for 3 straight seasons.

he's also the most capped all black captain of all time... hes also equal with mills as the most capped all black of all time.

he captained the crusaiders to a super title... he's got over 100 super caps.

and he will probably be the first player in history to play 100 tests for the All Blacks... which is probably the most amazing feat of all because the All Blacks are by far the most competitive side in world rugby and the all black jersey is the toughest jersey in the world to hold.

he's dominated every side in world rugby... including the Lions.

his crowning glory will be the RWC...

Hard to argue with all of that. Like I said - he'd be up there. Maybe it's the Aussie in me that just can't admit it, but there are others like John Eales, Gareth Edwards, Larkham and my favourite Chris Latham...then there's Dan Carter, Brian O'Driscoll and Sege Blanco.

 

[Te Kaha]

Yes and no. Sure Pocock needs to prove himself over the next 5 or 6 years before he can be go down in the books as one of the greatest open side flankers ever. McCaw is possibly THE greatest number 7 ever so a fair enough point when it's put into that context...BUT that's not to say Pocock isn't far off being better than him at present. He's an absolute animal and provided he stays fit, I can see him being better than McCaw this time next year. McCaw has peaked, Pocock hasn't.

Greatest player in the history of the game? Hmmm...he'd be up there but i'm not about to start saying that. That's a massive call!

Unless they change the laws pococks biggest strength is going to be is downfall... the pure "fetcher" is on the way out... with ALL players trained to turn ball over and the hold the ball for a few more seconds in the tackle, the "fetcher" is now becoming redundent... Look at the world cup squads.. nobody has a backup 7... they are going for bigger stronger players with players who "can" play 7 .. except Aussie, they have noone to cover... unless things change the 7 needs to be a link man, tackler, fetcher, and ball carrier... Pocock is really only good as a fetcher and tackler(ad not a dominant tackler either)... McCaw saw this coming, he has greatly changed his game in the last couple of years, Pocock needs to do this or he wont last very long.

 

[Thomas]

Unless they change the laws pococks biggest strength is going to be is downfall... the pure "fetcher" is on the way out... with ALL players trained to turn ball over and the hold the ball for a few more seconds in the tackle, the "fetcher" is now becoming redundent... Look at the world cup squads.. nobody has a backup 7... they are going for bigger stronger players with players who "can" play 7 .. except Aussie, they have noone to cover... unless things change the 7 needs to be a link man, tackler, fetcher, and ball carrier... Pocock is really only good as a fetcher and tackler(ad not a dominant tackler either)... McCaw saw this coming, he has greatly changed his game in the last couple of years, Pocock needs to do this or he wont last very long.

True, but plenty of teams have a superb specialist 7.

Pocock
Brouseaw (sp)
McCaw
Sean O'Brian

Pocock isn't a dominant tackler? Are you kidding me? The guy smashes people...then gets his hands on the ball. That's his major skill.

 

[Parra]

.. Pocock is really only good as a fetcher and tackler(ad not a dominant tackler either)...

You are kidding.

There will always be a place in any rugby side for a big, agile forward who can beat everyone else to the tackle.

 

[Te Kaha]

You are kidding.

There will always be a place in any rugby side for a big, agile forward who can beat everyone else to the tackle.

Funny how the top coaches dont seem to agree with you... these days backs are becoming just as good as forwards in turning over the ball.. if you have every tackler doing it why do you need a specialist to do it???? the amount of penalties given away for hands in the ruck is also changing the usefullnes.. why do you think there is more moving towards counter rucking to win the ball these days??? having someone who is always there to support a ball carrier is going to be much more important. Preventing a ruck or allowing a few more seconds for the other forwards to arrive is going to be more important then someone who is a straight out "fetcher".

 

[Parra]

Preventing a ruck or allowing a few more seconds for the other forwards to arrive is exactly what these players do. You seem to be very taken in by the term 'fetcher' as opposed to what good 7's really do.

 

[Te Kaha]

Preventing a ruck or allowing a few more seconds for the other forwards to arrive is exactly what these players do. You seem to be very taken in by the term 'fetcher' as opposed to what good 7's really do.

Which is what Pocock isnt at this stage... he is always trying to get hands on the ball... last Test against the ABs he was blown off the ruck so many times he was almost useless.. and you never saw him linking in general play.. thats what Mccaw has developed and is what is needed going forward...

 

[Silent But Deadly]

Unless they change the laws pococks biggest strength is going to be is downfall... the pure "fetcher" is on the way out... with ALL players trained to turn ball over and the hold the ball for a few more seconds in the tackle, the "fetcher" is now becoming redundent... Look at the world cup squads.. nobody has a backup 7... they are going for bigger stronger players with players who "can" play 7 .. except Aussie, they have noone to cover... unless things change the 7 needs to be a link man, tackler, fetcher, and ball carrier... Pocock is really only good as a fetcher and tackler(ad not a dominant tackler either)... McCaw saw this coming, he has greatly changed his game in the last couple of years, Pocock needs to do this or he wont last very long.

I reckon Polota-Nau can do anything. He'd back up at 7 and do a half decent job (joking of course...sort of). 15 of him running around and you have yourself an unbeatable team. I am a Reds fan but I can't help but love this guy.

 

[Te Kaha]

I reckon Polota-Nau can do anything. He'd back up at 7 and do a half decent job (joking of course...sort of). 15 of him running around and you have yourself an unbeatable team. I am a Reds fan but I can't help but love this guy.

he could be a great player... if he wasnt so fragile... the problem with guys who throw themselves into everything is they tend to get hurt... I still cant understand the Aussie lose forward mix for the WC... Other than Pocock you have interchangable 8's and 6's but none of them who can play at 7 or who are "speedsters"... the Yarpies even have players who can play 7 as do the AB's but the Wannabies dont... you better hope like hell Pocock doesnt get injured in pool play...

 

[Thomas]

Funny how the top coaches dont seem to agree with you... these days backs are becoming just as good as forwards in turning over the ball.. if you have every tackler doing it why do you need a specialist to do it???? the amount of penalties given away for hands in the ruck is also changing the usefullnes.. why do you think there is more moving towards counter rucking to win the ball these days??? having someone who is always there to support a ball carrier is going to be much more important. Preventing a ruck or allowing a few more seconds for the other forwards to arrive is going to be more important then someone who is a straight out "fetcher".

Pocock isn't just a fetcher, despite what some people think.