No shocks as Henry caps seven new ones
26 Oct 2008
All Blacks coach Graham Henry named seven new All Blacks in his touring squad of 35.
The All Blacks play five Tests, one against Australia in Hong Kong and four against the home unions, and a midweek match against European champions Munster.
Scott Waldrom was the biggest talking point as he has been picked as back-up to All Blacks captain Richie McCaw. Other newcomers are Wellington outside backs Corey Jane and Hosea Gear, as well as loose forwards Kieran Reid (Canterbury) and Liam Messam (Waikato), props Ben Franks (Tasman) and Jamie Mackintosh.
Corey Flynn gets a recall after four years of international inactivity and All Blacks Jason Eaton, Ross Filipo and Joe Rokocoko are all back in the fold after missing the Tri Nations through lack of form or injury.
Henry told the media Waldrom was a form selection.
“He’s always shown a lot of X-factor. He’s quick and has got good skills,” Henry said of his new specialist No 7. “He played well in the Super 14, particularly later in the tournament and he played exceptionally well in this (Air New Zealand Cup) tournament. He gives us some good presence at the breakdowns for turnover ball. He has got good hands and he gets to places most guys cant get to because he’s so quick.
“He’s 28, he’s mature, he’s not a baby. And he knows what’s required. He played in a Taranaki side that probably boxed above their weight in the finish. He was one of the major reasons they did that.”
Sione Lauaki was the major casualty, although it would have been more of a shock had he been selected.
“He would be the first to admit his form hasn’t been as consistent or as high as we’d like it,” said All Blacks forwards coach Steve Hansen. “He’s got to go away now and decide whether he wants to be part of this team (again).”
ALL BLACKS SQUAD
John Afoa – Auckland
Anthony Boric – North Harbour
Daniel Carter – Canterbury
Jimmy Cowan – Southland
Stephen Donald – Waikato
Jason Eaton – Taranaki
Andy Ellis – Canterbury
Ross Filipo – Wellington
Corey Flynn – Canterbury
Ben Franks – * Tasman
Hosea Gear – * Wellington
Andrew Hore – Taranaki
Cory Jane * Wellington
Richard Kahui – Waikato
Jerome Kaino – Auckland
Richie McCaw – Canterbury (captain)
Jamie Mackintosh – * Southland
Keven Mealamu – Auckland
Liam Messam – * Waikato
Malili Muliaina – Waikato
Ma’a Nonu – Wellington
Kieran Read – * Canterbury
Josevata Rokocoko – Auckland
Sitiveni Sivivatu – Waikato
Conrad Smith – Wellington
Rodney So’oialo – Wellington
Adam Thomson – Otago
Brad Thorn – Tasman
Neemia Tialata – Wellington
Isaia Toeava – Auckland
Anthony Tuitavake – North Harbour
Scott Waldrom – * Taranaki
Piri Weepu – Wellington
Ali Williams – Tasman
Tony Woodcock – North Harbour
*No overseas-based All Blacks were considered for selection
46 Comments
26 Oct 2008, 10:59 am
dragons
26 Oct 2008, 10:59 am
yes!! Carol whats the score!
26 Oct 2008, 11:22 am
Helleve schedule these guys have..Gransd Slam ???? Quite possibly!!
26 Oct 2008, 11:35 am
Pretty fine teams there
26 Oct 2008, 11:49 am
#2 grant10: Rats, I now have not idea! I think I have to admit defeat tho!
Hey, I have also got tickets to see this lot play Wales. Why don’t you join us?
See you later……….
26 Oct 2008, 11:56 am
Behold
the next generation of chockers come RWC 2011.
26 Oct 2008, 12:13 pm
#6 RedBull (formerly RedLion):
Chockers??
Anyway you wait for the next three years for a choke from NZ,but the last few months we have had the privilidge of watching the so called Champions choke against a new NZ team lol.Well done.
26 Oct 2008, 12:20 pm
#7 Hurricane:
our pain comes and goes anually – it does not linger for 4 years so as you can see it is bearable.
we have the ultimate cure though – we are the World Champions!
we are the champions my friend, the champions of the world.
26 Oct 2008, 12:37 pm
#8 RedBull (formerly RedLion):
Fine ,i didnt say you wernt the RWC holders.
All good that you can live of a win that happened a year ago,but me i like to live in the now,and sorry but we are the #1 team in the world.
26 Oct 2008, 12:37 pm
No surprises here, and a comprehensive squad.
Although, it has to be said, they are exceptionally thin at inside centre.
Only Nonu who, in my mind, isn’t really a 12.
Are they planning to use Ice as his back-up? Don’t think he’s a 12 either.
No matter what Henry’s said in the press, he must be looking forward to McAllister’s return.
26 Oct 2008, 12:44 pm
Glad to see Corey Jane in,what a player.
#10 puff:
Nonu is not the answer at 12.McAllistar would be nice but i am sure he would still need to play his way onto the team
26 Oct 2008, 13:07 pm
Oh the luxury of being able to select squads on merit alone… and not skin colour!
26 Oct 2008, 13:26 pm
#8 RedBull (formerly RedLion):
Yes annually, you were basically shite from 96′ until Oct 07 for four weeks. 98′ was the exception as the Ab’s had an off year.
26 Oct 2008, 13:48 pm
#12 bryce_in_oz:
Are you saying there are/have been black players that are not merit selections?
26 Oct 2008, 13:50 pm
#13 NZINCHINA:
I think he got the spelling wrong…I elieve he meant to say “his pain comes and goes analy..”
26 Oct 2008, 13:54 pm
#14 Wallabie. – Superbru S14 Champion:
Are you saying you spend so much time on a RSA rugby site yet don’t watch the likes of Ralepele, Rose and Mujati play during the year?
26 Oct 2008, 13:54 pm
Jees, why do certain people always bring up the choker thing…thought this was about the new AB players….Glad Jamie Mackintosh has been included.
26 Oct 2008, 14:13 pm
This is an exciting squad. They will have a clean sweep of victories..
26 Oct 2008, 14:28 pm
#16 bryce_in_oz:
Hence why I ask you the question?
26 Oct 2008, 14:42 pm
#17 Mary Lynn:
The guy is huge, when Hayman comes back it will be an unbelieveable front row.
26 Oct 2008, 14:44 pm
#19 Wallabie. – Superbru S14 Champion: The inclusion of Rose and Chilliboy can only be described as quota selections. Chilliboy hasn’t started for the Bulls once this season, he had basically no game time and he’s not even competing for the position against the likes of Bismarck or Smit. He’s competing against Kuun, who imo is a pretty shite hooker. A pure quota selection.
And then you get Rose. Where to start. He was basically named Sharks man of the match when the Sharks played the Lions a few weeks ago, after he gifted us two converted tries and missed another 10 points from the boot. He is beyond useless!!! Imo the worst flyhalf in the CC comp. A flyhalf has to be stable, and Rose is the most volatile player in SA. He is just terrible. So yea, there are the quota selections in our team.
26 Oct 2008, 16:04 pm
#21 BOKKE: Just those two though are quota players. I too was shocked to see Rose get selected. Chilliboy too. Has not played all season and gets a call up. I watched Chilliboy play under 19′s and he really is a great player when he is fit. PdV is under pressure here I think to put in players of colour. Chilliboy when fit I think is a great player but would have waited to see him play in the S14 next year. All the others were selected on merit. I just felt that Stefan done enough to get selected and Deysel too.
26 Oct 2008, 16:56 pm
#22 Puma: I think Chilli has been tipped as next Captain – which he was at Under 19 (or 21) level. Good chap, from good stock.
The quota player is of course… Rose. Disgusting
26 Oct 2008, 17:01 pm
#23 goyougoodthing2: Rose does cover many positions and would be a useful bench option. Every nation has a player a little below the required standard. Look at NZ with Andy Ellis.
26 Oct 2008, 17:02 pm
#24 Big Hit: A little below? A lot below the Namaqualand Girls’ XV 2nd choice IMO.
26 Oct 2008, 17:13 pm
They had to pick these guys to make up for Quota Luke
26 Oct 2008, 17:37 pm
#24 Big Hit:
And Ricky Flutey for England.
26 Oct 2008, 17:48 pm
#26 gerhard: Quotas for the Boks – quota coach, quota players quota result.
Perhaps we should ask for a handicap when running on.
26 Oct 2008, 21:26 pm
whether you consider these players quotas or not, this is a very good squad going North and I for one is happy to be shouting for them. EVERY SINGLE Springbok squad has it’s questionable selections. Some worse than others. Remember Gerrie Sonnekus. One of the most questionable selections of all time. And that happened decades ago. So, on balance, this is a good squad. Be thankful.
26 Oct 2008, 21:35 pm
#29 TASSIES: Somebody buy this man a drink. Well said Tassies.
26 Oct 2008, 21:41 pm
#24 Big Hit:
Exactly Big hit
Andy Ellis would not make a national team for any of the top 6 rugby nations(Even though he has).
Hopefully Leonard when ready takes Ellis place and not Weepu of the lineup.
26 Oct 2008, 23:22 pm
I agree Bighit Ellis is utter rubbish if you watched the semi final between hawkes bay and canterbury he let in both hawkes bay tries as the number 7 ran straight over the top of him, purely in the ABs becuase he has had an armchair ride with the crusaders. There is always one in the team although the team Mitchell took to the UK in 2002 had about 10!!
27 Oct 2008, 02:21 am
Steady on Hurricane and Hawkes – you guys have got worked up by Redwhatever’s attempt to use the c word. Your nics give you away anyway, you are seeing this through North Island spectacles. Ellis is “utter rubbish”??? On what grounds? It is not the half back’s job to prevent marauding #7′s from scoring so if you have an issue that Hawkes Bay scored twice against Canterbury, maybe you should ask what the Canty loosies were doing. Maybe McCaw and Read shouldn’t be AB’s either?
He was off colour after his injury but overall, had a good season – the Crusaders would not be S14 champions if he is as bad as you guys make out. Who would you replace Ellis with anyway? Please don’t tell me Alby Mathewson -he has done well , but not at S14 level. I agree with Henry on this one, the S14 is the proving ground, not Air New Zealand cup performances.
27 Oct 2008, 02:50 am
Out wide, yes I was a bit harsh hes average and i am not seeing it through North Island spectacles as i believe Cowen is by far our best half back. ( not in to any of that North island south island **** ) I must have watched a differnet Ellis this year I thought he had a poor season for the ABs and was average for the crusaders and you have to admit those efforts tackling karl lowe who isnt your biggest guy on the field were rather feeble , I just cant imagine someone like Marshall making that error. True there is no one else better than him to pick although leonard if fit would ahead of him. Dont worry we have Danny lee now thats lower than average
27 Oct 2008, 04:12 am
Scott who??
27 Oct 2008, 07:16 am
Good on you Hawkes and yes I would agree Cowen is the best half back around in NZ. He has that mongrel factor and on a personal note, you have to admire the guy for getting his life in order.
27 Oct 2008, 09:34 am
It is a bit surprising that the NZ-champions Canterbury only have
5 representatives in their squad while their opponents Wellington if
I have counted correctly have seven.Unlike South Africa where
victorious Springbok RW squad were built around core forwards
of certain provinces Henry has the luxury of picking players
from a a variety of franchises.
I sometimes wonder if this is not the downfall of the All Blacks
at RW-cup time that the squad does not have that cohesion that
comes from playing together for years at provincial level.
27 Oct 2008, 09:36 am
#35 greatest13gerber:
Thomas’s little Brother.
27 Oct 2008, 09:40 am
Good team picked.Happy for Gear,Messam and Read.Bit disappointed that Hika Elliot and Wyatt Crockett did not get a look in.Have not seen Eaton in action this ANZC but trust the Cartel’s judgement.The 10&12 backup not clear as yet.Would’ve love either one of Evans or McAllister there.Good to see Rock back.
27 Oct 2008, 12:22 pm
#33 out wide:
Outwide.
I live in Canterbury,dont let the name fool you.And even alot of fans down here were not happy with the way Ellis has played of late.To me he is to slow and makes some silly choices.You can get away with a few of those in super 14 but not International rugby against the best,this is where the next step needs to be made and for me he didnt step up.Leonard is ahead of him i believe.
#35 greatest13gerber:
You will find out next year probably,he will be the next one that….well….you know cheats the ball of you guys.
27 Oct 2008, 13:48 pm
Ellis is ok it is just that Cowan and Leonard are much better and Weepu is also back in form.
Donald and Borak are there because we don’t have much else at the moment.
Before the boot goes into Ellis remember that Toeava is the worst performing All Black ever
27 Oct 2008, 13:51 pm
Large number of Canterbury players off overseas
27 Oct 2008, 17:27 pm
Boric is poor,not international class
Donald is decent but not indicative of the pivot talent that has come out of NZ for the last 10 yrs…
Andy Ellis is also not international class.not even the best scrummie in canterbury
Isaia Toeava has been non existent for the last 2 seasons..
most improved AB is Jerome Kaino…Going to be a legend if he keeps fit
Glad to see Messam get a call up.Has hardened up the last 2 seasons.ready for test footy.Bye bye Lauaki
27 Oct 2008, 17:58 pm
#18 Tbozknows: Maybe….the grand slam ain’t that easy to achieve, and history proves that.
27 Oct 2008, 23:02 pm
#41 church – like chch but pronounceable:
And Lauaki,he and Toeava are going for the same honor of being the worst AB ever
28 Oct 2008, 12:55 pm
#45 Hurricane:
gee, the 20 yr old Toeava is now the ‘worst AB ever’ ?
I thought he was superb as a substitute in TriN ’08. Frank Bunce and Smokin Joe Stanley didnt even pull on the Black jersey before they were 29yrs old and both had superb AB careers. Imagine what Toeava will learn in the next 7/8 years ?!
As for Andy Ellis, he is distinctly average and should be NOWHERE near an AB squad !
what some conveniently forget is that due to NZRFU policy – no foreign players selected – that the ABs are now merely a domestic-leftovers XV. There are now significantly more overseas professionals (250) than NZ-based (200) to choose from. So for the Big Twits of this World who are just frothing at the bit to diss the quality of any AB squad, then perhaps they should just count themselves fortunate that they can select their BEST XV on for every match. What would England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland or France know about these same selection limitations ? NOTHING !
Strange, despite this huge advantage and despite now picking off the best of the rejects (Riki Flutey, Perry Freshwater, Stuart Abbott, Matt Stevens etc etc) they STILL cant find a team to beat the NZ Domestic XV.
No wonder theyre so bitter !
Have your say
You must be logged in to post a comment.