Quartet set for AB debuts
30 May 2010
Aaron Cruden, Israel Dagg, Victor Vito and Benson Stanley are the uncapped players in the All Blacks squad.
Graham Henry announced a 26-man group for the June Tests against Ireland and Wales. Cruden, 21, didn’t start for the Hurricanes at the start of the year but forced his way into that side, and has been named as Dan Carter’s national deputy.
Cruden was diagnosed with testicular cancer in 2008 but beat off the disease and has since been named an IRB Junior Rugby Player of the Year for his performances for New Zealand U20.
Highlanders fullback Dagg also earns a call-up, as does Blues centre Stanley due to a number of injuries in the midfield. Vito, a former sevens star, is added to boost the loose forward depth with his Hurricanes team-mate Rodney So’oialo dropped.
There are recalls for halfback Piri Weepu, wing Joe Rokocoko and prop Ben Franks, while the Chiefs trio of Richard Kahui, Aled de Malmanche and Mils Muliaina have been included but are still injury concerns.
Mike Delany (shoulder), Stephen Donald (shoulder), Jason Eaton (knee), Andrew Hore (shoulder), Ma’a Nonu (knee), Sitiveni Sivivatu (shoulder), Isaia Toeava (hip) and Ali Williams (Achilles) were players not considered due to injury.
All Blacks squad -
Forwards: Anthony Boric, Aled de Malmanche, Tom Donnelly, Ben Franks, Owen Franks, Jerome Kaino, Richie McCaw (c), Keven Mealamu, Kieran Read, Adam Thomson, Brad Thorn, Neemia Tialata, Victor Vito, Tony Woodcock.
Backs: Daniel Carter, Jimmy Cowan, Aaron Cruden, Israel Dagg, Zac Guildford, Cory Jane, Richard Kahui, Mils Muliaina, Josevata Rokocoko, Conrad Smith, Benson Stanley, Piri Weepu.
39 Comments
30 May 2010, 08:33 am
Suddenly the Blacks don’t have much depth to speak of.
30 May 2010, 08:33 am
a bit thin?
30 May 2010, 08:38 am
cruden has great talent but hardly set the s14 alight. Maybe a bit too soon to select him 4 the AB’s even though his just going to be DC deputy? Issy Dagg is pure class…going to be interesting to see how he handles the step up to international rugby.
30 May 2010, 08:48 am
without ma a the backs look average even carter . weres macallister
30 May 2010, 08:56 am
@mbaxman93(mbaxman93)-4: Injured, I think – atleast for a couple of games. Surprised there is no Rene Ranger.
30 May 2010, 09:05 am
How on Earth does Weepoo justify his selection ?
Great to see Vito in there; play him at 6 or 8.
Izzy Dagg – I dont care who is blowing smoke up yer @ss, but dont bother pulling on that Jersey until you can catch a bl**dy garryowen !
Happy for Benson Stanley. Far more consistent than the greater talent of McAlister and will bring different attributes to the role than Nonu. I like him.
has de Malmuncha REALLY proven he has it at S14 level let alone Tests ? neither nor ‘mfraid.
Boric gets in ahead of Sam Whiteklock ? on merit ?!
Thank God that Ted has gone for potential with Cruden and released the Duck back in to the wilderness. Cruden has the skillset for Test rugby but surely needed 1-2 more Super seasons. The cupboards of NZ talent pool have, truly, now been stripped bare. What next – selecting schoolboys ?
A distinctly average looking AB squad that will, still, no doubt demolish most opposition this year. What is important is that these players LEARN from their deficiencies this year – there will be the odd loss – and unlock the method of winning with less talent. It is digging out of these holes that will make the ABs so much stronger come next year.
30 May 2010, 09:21 am
Ouch, not a great squad.
30 May 2010, 09:55 am
@SKW(SKW)-3: I htink Henry is looking a little further a field than just this year with his selections…remembering that this year will pass and Cruden and others will be well blooded for the WC, Deans is taking the same approach, possibly a ‘sacrificial’ year in terms goals for this year, the next being the aim.
Still, even though we are a abit thin, it is still a team that has reckoning power and will be interesting to see how it all gels.
30 May 2010, 09:58 am
why has alby mathewson and rene ranger been left out? Both been good in this year
30 May 2010, 10:04 am
@captain fantail(captain fantail)-8:
We have reached the tipping point whereby the overseas-AB XV is stronger than the home-AB XV.
for eg – did you see the Heineken Cup Final ? Byron Kelleher proving, yet again, he is 3-4 times better than any scrumhalf in NZ.
30 May 2010, 11:20 am
Where’s Tanerau Latimer? or am I missing something?
30 May 2010, 11:38 am
A weak very weak looking squad. I think that this year the Aussies can take them.
30 May 2010, 11:53 am
Ah so basically we are looking at. Not as imposing as some AB squads I have seen, especially considering the injury concerns to Mils, Kahui and De Manmanche.
1. Woodcock/ Franks
2. Mealamu/ De Malmanche
3. Tialata/ Franks
4. Thorne
5. Donelly/ Boric
6. Kaino/ Vito/ Thomson
7. McCaw
8. Reid
9. Cowan/ Weepu
10. Carter/ Cruden
11. Rockoko
12. Stanley
13. Smith/ Kahui
14. Guilford / Jane
15. Muiliana/ Jane/ Dagg
30 May 2010, 11:56 am
@Oubaas2009(Oubaas2009)-13: Weakness at lock and inside centre IMO.
Donelly, Boric and Thorne vs Matfield, Roussouw, Bekker and Bakkies????
JDV, Wynand Olivier vs. Benson Stanley?
All Black lineout has been a joke for how many years now?
30 May 2010, 12:00 pm
@ROAR my beautiful Lions … ROAR!(RL)-12:
and why not. A weaker Wallabies team beat the Boks last year.
@Oubaas2009(Oubaas2009)-13:
Starting a Series with both McCaw and DC will be a 1st for the ABs in a few years. Of course, the Boks only faced DC once in ’09 and nearly lost in the last DC-throw of the dice.
And its also the basis of the team whose last match was snotting France IN France.
30 May 2010, 12:03 pm
@Oubaas2009(Oubaas2009)-14:
oh yes, that ‘indomitable’ Test centre, W.Olivier.
I’ll back Stanleys chances there. Who wouldnt ?
But your lineout summation is spot on. I think we should just give Big Vic the restart.
30 May 2010, 12:05 pm
@Oubaas2009(Oubaas2009)-14: Donelly is injured and will most likely miss the start of the test season. Grant should check his facts before clicking submit.
30 May 2010, 12:05 pm
vito & stanley were a shoe-in to make it…izzy dagg & cruden got in…dang i’m happy for them…
30 May 2010, 13:12 pm
1. Woodcock
2. Mealamu
3. Franks
4. Thorne
5. Whitelock
6. Vito
7. McCaw
8. Reid
9. Cowan
10. Carter
11. Dagg
12. Brett
13. Ranger
14. Jane
15. Muiliana
There I fixed it and gave them plenty of backs who can take the high kicks and who can play a kicking game as well.
30 May 2010, 13:19 pm
Liam Messam?
Robbie Freuan?
Ben Smith?
Chris Jack?
Vainikolo?
Masaga?
All Blacks have no depth cus henry picks favourites
30 May 2010, 13:38 pm
@Black Panther(Black Panther)-16: Yip. Lineout woes will continue.
Not convinced with Cowan and Weepu at 9. Either one of them can’t hold a candle to FDP or Genia.
Benson Stanley… Good season but will he make the step up. Since Mauger’s departure, no one has stood up. Luke, Ma’a both not up to it. And Smith will no doubt pick up an injury soon.
Reckon you should pick Guilford and Jane on the wings with Mils at 15 if not injured. Need some safe options under the high ball. Roko couldn’t catch a cold.
30 May 2010, 13:40 pm
Weepu and Januarie have the same dietician
30 May 2010, 13:46 pm
WHERE THE HELL IS RENE RANGER?!?!?!?! Are the ABs ret.arded? Ranger is head and shoulders above Stanley and even Conrad Smith for that matter. Poor John Afoa scrummed his heart out and he didn’t even make it.
My AB team with and without injuries:
With injuries:
1. Tony Woodcock
2. Aled de Malmanche
3. John Afoa
4. Brad Thorne
5. Tom Donnely (He’s actually a decent jumper)
6. Victor Vito (Such a good athlete. Got the pace of a wing)
7. Richie McCaw
8. Kieran Reid (I guess. He doesn’t impress me THAT much)
9. Andy Ellis (Cowan is a sad excuse for a scrumhalf)
10. Carter (Really am not impressed with his goal-kicking)
11. Sivivatu
12. Ranger (I know he plays 13 or wing, but just for while Nonu is injured)
13. Smith (Not impressed at all)
14. Joe Rockococo (Congrats on a fantastic S14 Joe!)
15. Corey Jane (Sooooooooo much better then Muliaina!!!!!!)
16. Mealamu
17. Ben Franks (Sorry Owen, Ben scrums better)
18. Anthony Boric
19. Jerome Kaino (I just don’t rate Adam Thomson)
20. Weepu (Also like Brendon Leonard and Albie Matthewson)
21. Cruden (ONLY because Donald and Delany are injured. Cruden is nothing special and didn’t impress anyone during this year’s S14)
22. Izzy Dagg
Without Injury:
1. Tony Woodcock
2. Andrew Hore
3. John Afoa
4. Ali Williams
5. Jason Eaton
6. Victor Vito
7. McCaw
8. Reid
9. Ellis
10 Carter
11. Sivivatu
12. Nonu
13. Ranger
14. Rockococo
15. Jane
16. De Malmanche
17. Ben Franks
18. Tom Donnely
19. Weepu (Eaton provides the flank cover)
20. Donald
21. Smith
22. Dagg (Time for Mils to retire unfortunately)
30 May 2010, 14:28 pm
@rugbywriter(rugbywriter)-23:
Selecting Ranger at 12 – a position he has neither played nor is suited to – discredits the rest of your selection. Cant kick, as far as we know, and his offloads are either miraculous or intercept-fodder. He’s either a winger or a bench-utility, no more.
Stanley will do well and could even make Ma’a sweat a little. Hopefully.
You have also selected John Afoa, the most cosseted tight-fwd of Teds squad. He’s a waste of space.
I would rather Vito at 8 – a position he could, and has, excelled at when asked. He has the speed and the hands to make it work and is a good lineout option. Reid is simply not dynamic enough as an 8. But he’s a clever player, a natural leader, and now required on the field. Im not a huge fan but he’s maturing nicely.
30 May 2010, 17:27 pm
@Black Panther(Black Panther)-6: De Malmenche gets in because of his name. What a great name he has. Undoubtedly one of the Knights of the Round Table.
30 May 2010, 19:09 pm
@Black Panther(Black Panther)-24: Whatever then Smith at 12 and Ranger at 13. Ranger deserves to be in the team.
30 May 2010, 22:53 pm
@rugbywriter(rugbywriter)-26:
Ranger deserves nothing other than a decent haircut. Ditch the rat-tail, sonny.
He’s a winger until he proves he has learnt something about ball retention and decision-making.
30 May 2010, 23:15 pm
BP
Why does nobody seem to rate Kaino? Had a massive season IMO.his physicality vs Bulls in a Test match like intensity in S14 was immense.He has matured well in 2010.
Benson Stanley is going to be a star at 12.maybe not immediately buy he is exactly what the AB’s need at 12.pragmatic,solid and smart.Mauger reincarnate.great lineage too.
Ranger is the best pure linebreaker in SH.but not ready for test footy.will do well playing for junior blacks.must play 13.Freuan shows promise.in a couple of yrs with Kahui/Freuan/Ranger/Toeava competing for 14 berth AB will be well stocked.at present too green
All those who think Mils is finished are short-sighted.28 yr old 80 Test FB don’t fall out the sky daily.He is a special player-will be the first AB 100 test cap player.needs to get fit.Dagg will push him but ultimately he will not displace Mils.
Lock,tighthead prop,eigthman,scrumhalf,inside centre at present are a concern.
Vito must play 8.AB’s play best with a dynamic 8.Read won’t do that.
30 May 2010, 23:43 pm
shocked that alby didnt make squad even. smith’s comments that they want ABs to play flatter hence the cruden selection means they should have taken a 9 who can play that way.
where is rutledte? one of the very rare few in nz who can throw to a lineout, and he is a good ruck time player. very steady at his core duties…something the AB pack is lacking with old timers like woodcock, tialata and thorn not exactly in form.
on form and fitness the ABs would have to look like this.
franks
mealamu
franks
thorn (only 2 fit locks available, unless read shifts in)
boric
kaino
mccaw
thompson
cowan
carter
joe
benson
smith
dagg
jane
30 May 2010, 23:47 pm
@mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-28:
Agree, 100%
My loosies would also be McCaw/Vito/Kaino.
Power, pace and size.
The only people writing off Mils as a Test FB are the ones who know the guy is class. Same with McCaw.
I recall idiots here, pre-Lions Series, saying Habana was history because he’d had 1 or 2 average games. What do these guys not get ?!
Im not sold on Freuan, slips off tackles. I am warming to Toeava as a centre tho, just a shame injury has struck as his form was on the up.
Ranger is a winger and could play the Lomu role of coming off the blind wing between 9 and 10 channel, or even as the dummy runner. He is no 13, too liberal with his turnovers, like Nonu when he 1st came on the scene.
I like Stanley. Does the little things well. Of course, its a huge step up and only time will tell, but he has had 2 good seasons now and deserves his chance.
Cruden has clearly been brought in as the development player. About time he spent some time upping his placekicking stats then.
30 May 2010, 23:51 pm
@Black Panther(Black Panther)-30:
What happened to Latimer?
Very solid defender.
31 May 2010, 00:25 am
BP
What happened to the Colin Slade experiment??I don’t rate him much but I remember u seemed content with him in AB squad and being understudy to Carter in future.now he had not been chosen and Cruden picked above him from nowhere with little gametime even if its developmental.
31 May 2010, 01:52 am
now that ellison and slade are not there. who will serve as utility on the bench. toeavo is also injured. hopefully it isnt mils being shunted about to cover 2nd 5. maybe its weepu?
31 May 2010, 07:34 am
Cruden may be a very talented ball player but he cant kick for posts! Massive weakness in his game.
31 May 2010, 08:28 am
@Black Panther(Black Panther)-10: Yep always liked Kelleher but he’s never been quite the same since he got king hit by big Matfield off the ball and out of site…I think all his off field activities have played against him as well. jimmy cowan is a tuff little f’r and I think faster all round than BK.Its good we have some strong tests with Wales and Ireland before the 3N starts and will give them time to heat up the iron..dont forget that they only have 10 days in AB camp before the first test.
What I find quite incredible is that Hosea Gear was overlooked!
31 May 2010, 10:11 am
@mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-32:
Ive never raved about Colin Slade. He looks no more than a S14-squaddie to me. He plays well now’n'then and wont let his side down however. But he’s no Test AB.
@captain fantail(captain fantail)-35:
Yes, Hosea had a good season, is big and fast, seems ideally suited to Tests. Cant pick em all tho I suppose.
BKs pass off the deck and the way he combines between pack and inside backs is a dream and just whats needed in Test rugby. His decisionmaking is excellent too. He is a dominant player and personality in Europes leading team, no less. Jimmy the Bogan will do in the ABs for now, he has to, but DC would have more space with each ball he would receive from BK.
BK remains a proud Kiwi. As he walked off the field, victorious Heineken Cup medal around his neck, he was asked by the tv commenator “what makes this victory so special ?”
BK simply said “to be a New Zealander representing NZ in Europe” before walking off.
I think Ted could do worse than whispering sweet nothings in BKs ear.
31 May 2010, 14:57 pm
To each of you that believes the ABs have issue at prop, you’re out of your mind. Owen Franks is set to become the best tighthead in the global game. If he, Woodcock and Hore are fit in a year from now the ABs have a front row without equal.
31 May 2010, 15:05 pm
@Black Panther(Black Panther)-6: Weepu is there for other talents such as kicking and experience, I think Boric selected for experience even though his form was not explosive but it was ok.
31 May 2010, 15:14 pm
@Black Panther(Black Panther)-36: BK played a very good game for the Baabaas angainst England yesterday. Was at the game. When he started taking it up and challenging the England forwards around the fringes they sh at themselves…
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