Winners and losers from All Black squad naming

The All Blacks and Junior All Blacks squads were announced on Friday, and while they were largely predictable, there were some surprises inclusions and omissions.

At the end of last season the NZRU announced they were holding back a squad of 20 All Blacks from the first seven rounds of Super 14 to take part in a reconditioning program. When NZRU chairman Jock Hobbs named the 30-man All Black squad, it came as no surprise to most that all 20 reconditioned players were included.

The only players from within that group whose places could have been in jeopardy were Blues’ lock Ali Williams who was sent home by his team for disruptive behaviour and Blues’ winger Joe Rokocoko who had very little Super 14 game time playing behind two in-form wingers.

Two players who were not considered due to injury but likely would have made the team are Chiefs’ loose forward Sione Lauaki and Chiefs’ centre Richard Kahui who sources quote All Blacks’ assistant coach Steve Hansen as saying, “would definitely be going to the World Cup if he wasn’t injured.”

With three half-backs to be named in the squad, it was widely thought that Crusader Andy Ellis and Highlander Jimmy Cowan would be battling for the third spot behind incumbents Piri Weepu and Byron Kelleher. Instead Ellis and Cowan find themselves in the Junior All Blacks squad and Chiefs’ half-back Brendon Leonard is in the All Blacks, to the surprise of many.

The other surprise inclusion in the squad is Hurricanes’ prop John Schwalger. Able to play both sides of the scrum, he gives the team back the flexibility it lost when Greg Sommerville was injured on the end of year tour.

The inclusion of Rokocoko means there is no room in the All Blacks for wingers Rico Gear and Caleb Ralph. Both players showed patches of good form during the Super 14 but in the end lost out to the consistency of Doug Howlett, the only winger selected from outside the reconditioning squad.

Many commentators had Hurricanes’ utility back Ma’a Nonu in their All Blacks squad and were surprised to find him in the Junior All Blacks. While Nonu makes an excellent impact player off the bench, too often his defence has been found wanting at international level. His recent displays of ill-discipline on the field did not help his cause either.

Another selection which is sure to have people talking is Crusaders’ flanker Reuben Thorne. Thorne is a polarising name in New Zealand rugby, loved by some and hated by others.

This 30-man All Blacks squad will play two test matches against France, Australia and South Africa and one against Canada before the World Cup squad is finalised. Barring injuries or dramatic losses of form, this squad will stay largely the same for the World Cup but the door is not completely closed for players outside the squad.

While the All Blacks embark on their international season, two other New Zealand teams are competing in international competitions. The Junior All Blacks, essentially New Zealand A, are competing in the Pacific Nations cup and New Zealand Maori are competing in the Churchill Cup. Any players added to the All Blacks squad for the World Cup will certainly come from these two teams.

All Blacks Squad:  Dan Carter, Jerry Collins, Nick Evans, Troy Flavell, Carl Hayman, Andrew Hore, Doug Howlett, Chris Jack, Byron Kelleher, Brendon Leonard, Luke McAlister, Richie McCaw (Captain), Leon MacDonald, Chris Masoe, Aaron Mauger, Keven Mealamu, Malili Muliaina, Anton Oliver, Keith Robinson, Josevata Rokocoko, John Schwalger, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Conrad Smith, Rodney So’oialo, Reuben Thorne, Neemia Tialata, Isaia Toeava, Piri Weepu, Ali Williams, Tony Woodcock

Similar Posts:

• All Blacks Squad Named
• Junior All Blacks Squad Named
• Reuben Thorne: Invisible man or misunderstood grafter?
• All Blacks locking woes deepen
• All Black World Cup squad named

The Winners and losers from All Black squad naming by Hamish McBrearty, unless otherwise expressly stated, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.