Henry vows to pick powerful side
14 Jun 2011
Graham Henry says there will be no wholesale changes for the All Blacks’ Tri-Nations campaign.
The Springboks plan to rest many of their first-choice players at some stage in the Tri-Nations, but Henry confirmed that the All Blacks wouldn’t follow suit. While the coach has one eye on the World Cup, he wants to build some momentum in that Sanzar tournament.
Henry did admit that alternatives to Richie McCaw and Dan Carter would have to be tested in a pressure environment. For the sake of development, he will give other players some starting opportunities in the key positions of openside flank and flyhalf.
Henry added that players coming back from injury like McCaw, Colin Slade, Isaia Toeava, Israel Dagg, Daniel Braid and Tony Woodcock would have to play some domestic rugby to improve their match fitness.
44 Comments
14 Jun 2011, 11:25 am
Except for the odd game without Dan, Richie and some others.
Salesman dragons
14 Jun 2011, 11:26 am
Heres what I would go for:
15 Israel Dagg (Crusaders)
14 Lelila Masaga (Cheifs)
13 Richard Kahui (Cheifs)
12 Ma’a Nonu (Hurricanes)
11 Zac Guilford (Crusaders)
10 Stephen Donald (Cheifs)
9 Alby Mathewson (Blues)
8 Liam Messam (Cheifs)
7 Daniel Braid (Blues)
6 Adam Thompson (Highlanders)
5 Ali Williams (Blues)
4 Anthony Boric (Blues)
3 John Afoa (Blues)
2 Hika Elliot (Cheifs)
1 Wyatt Crockett (Crusaders)
16 Corey Flynn (Crusaders)
17 Charlie Faumauina (Blues)
18 Chris Jack (Crusaders)
19 Tenarau Latimer (Cheifs)
20 Piri Weepu (Hurricanes)
21 Luke McCalister (Blues)
22 Rene Ranger (Blues)
23 Aled De Malmanche (Cheifs)
24 Jamies Mackintosh (Highlanders)
25 Tom Donnelly (Highlanders)
27 Brendon Leonard (Cheifs)
28 Mike Delany (Cheifs)
29 Robbie Freuan (Crusaders)
30 Ben Smith (Highlanders)
Rested:
Kieran Read, Jerome Kaino, Sonny Bill Williams, Dan Carter, Richie McCaw,
Keven Mealamu, Owen Franks, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Joe Rokocoko, Andrew Hore,
Mils Muliaina, Conrad Smith, Jimmy Cowan, Tony Woodcock, Ben Franks, Brad Thorn.
Even with the rest 17 players this squad is still a very strong squad and should highlight who the backup players to the first 15 should be..
14 Jun 2011, 11:29 am
@Rhys7(Rhys7)-2: A lot of depth there
14 Jun 2011, 11:33 am
The AB’s will have a great squad at the WC, as they do every time. The test will be how they play on the day.
I think personally that this tournament is theirs to lose, not win. The stars are aligning and all that….
14 Jun 2011, 11:34 am
@scar(scar)-3:
Maitland, Toeava & Slade also to return…
14 Jun 2011, 11:42 am
Last time Henry rested his players through the S14 now he is reversing that trend and playing his strongest squad every game, except injured players!!
I just hope this doesn’t influence PDV and PDV sticks to his plan of rotating players during the 3N. Only the game in New Zeland should PDV play his strongest team!!!!!
14 Jun 2011, 11:45 am
GH is right to play the crux of the squad right thru, let the others rest their players and combinations and Pray for Fiji.
@Rhys7(Rhys7)-2:
So this is your ‘development’ squad, ie the one you hope Boks face instead of will ?
Dagg is out and will be very fortunate to make RWC – as indicated, he will need time in NPC/ITM
Masaga’s D simply not good enough for test rugby.
The Duck, f*ck !
Braid is avvvverage, give it to Todd the Tearaway – shades of Josh’95
Shaggy just not a test player
14 Jun 2011, 11:54 am
@Black Panther(Black Panther)-7:
btw- dont let anyone tell Premenstrual at Dawn I posted ‘negative’ comments here about NZ players, I have a hard-earned reputation to uphold !
14 Jun 2011, 12:08 pm
BP – Graham does have to find alternatives to DC and Mcaw!! Last RWC they both let the ABs down, too much pressure on 2 players! You need mor ethan 2 leaders in a sqaud. The ABs of 95 had loads of leaders and came very close to a win. Since then they have hope on too many individuals to win a game etc!
14 Jun 2011, 12:13 pm
@race of tan(race of tan)-9: Daniel Braid for McCaw would be adequate. Carter has a very capable equivalent in Nick Evans – but sadly he won’t be considered. Luke McAlister, despite being more suited to 12, may be a surprise inclusion. Doubt Donald will even be considered in anycase
14 Jun 2011, 12:19 pm
Henry’s approach in ’07 was to underplay his team. In ’11 it will be to overplay them. My hunch is that a balancing act between these two extremes will be needed.
14 Jun 2011, 12:26 pm
@race of tan(race of tan)-9:
They now have leaders throughout the team
McCaw
DC
Read
Mils
Mealamu
able support from
Thorn
Cowan
C.Smith
14 Jun 2011, 12:56 pm
@Black Panther(Black Panther)-7:
How about more like:
15.Toeava
14.Sivivatu
13.Smith
12.SBW
11.Gear
10.McCallister
9.Ellis
8.Reid
7.Todd
6.Messam
5.Whitelock
4.Donnely
3.O.Franks
2.Mealamu(c)
1.B.Franks
16.Hore
17.MacIntosh
18.Williams
19.Vito
20.Mathewson
21.Freaun
22.B.Smith
14 Jun 2011, 12:57 pm
One change on bench: Weepu for Mathewson.He also will be backup 10 over
14 Jun 2011, 13:17 pm
play them, don’t play them. the all blacks are still going to choke at the world cup
14 Jun 2011, 13:19 pm
How good is Slade really? The back up 10 berth is wide open. Cruden looks like a good prospect.
14 Jun 2011, 13:23 pm
What happened to Zac Guildford?? When he was an emerging youngster at the Hurricanes he was much much muuucccchhhh bigger and more aggressive. He has seemed to slim downed and become much calmer….he might be the most serene rugby player there is. Transformation maybe?
14 Jun 2011, 13:26 pm
@Black Panther(Black Panther)-7: Yip, Henry is right. He knows how to prepare a winning WC team. You go Henry.
14 Jun 2011, 13:41 pm
@TheAgent(TheAgent)-18: lol – yeah Henry keep it up – try pick up a few more injuries to Carter and McCaw and maybe Read and Sonny Bob Jimson – they can blame themselves then instead of Suzy. heheh
14 Jun 2011, 13:47 pm
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-4: That is the case every WC – 2007 squad had 30 top international players and we all know what happened – death to the French !!!!
14 Jun 2011, 13:49 pm
@mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-13: Nice team mish but i think Kieran will be the next captain in the making – he has done a great job at the Saders this season and has now cemented his place in the AB squad
14 Jun 2011, 13:52 pm
@Rhys7(Rhys7)-2: Not the Duck – please please please !!!!!
14 Jun 2011, 13:57 pm
@Slumtown(Slumtown)-19: LOL. Yes, leave him. Let him show his hand, let him scor 50 points each game. That’s just perfect.
14 Jun 2011, 14:01 pm
This is a big mistake from Henry.
If he feels that he knows his best 22 (which I don’t think he does, certainly not in midfield) then they should all have a rest, not only Carter and McCaw.
This years 3N will not provide them with a pressure environment, simply because it is not a knock-out competition and its value is significantly diluted due to the WC.
The end result will only be to play their players into the ground.
14 Jun 2011, 14:03 pm
@Sasuke(Sasuke)-17: He is playing great rugby now for the Saders – he did have injuries at the beginning of the season but is now getting back to form – it is a real shame with the injuries they have picked up …. a back three of Maitland , Daag and Guilford is dynamite , they can run backwards faster than any SA wing can run forwards – evil lol
14 Jun 2011, 14:08 pm
@willievz(willievz)-24: Pressure on the players is already huge so practising to deal with pressure in the Tri nations is neither here nor there, it is gettin past the bloody semi finals ! Always seems to be our achilles – i have no worries if they reach the finals …… And guess who we should meet in the semi – SA
14 Jun 2011, 14:10 pm
@stew(stew)-25: lol. I know i am talking about when he was playing for the Hurricanes….I remember him being much more muscular and taller also with a red hot streak of aggression. It seems to have disappeared.
14 Jun 2011, 14:32 pm
@stew(stew)-26: Better than the French., ne?
14 Jun 2011, 14:58 pm
mshiniwami – Cannot bellieve Weepu didn’t goto the RWC2007. Kelleher was never any good anyhow, just a muscle bound buffoon. Infact Marshall should have been playing instead then
14 Jun 2011, 15:08 pm
Henry go and put your bst side in the trinations and get hopeful then we will wait for you in the semis…aus and NZ are bound to meet then.
England will be the boks.
14 Jun 2011, 15:16 pm
@Sasuke(Sasuke)-27: Taller? Yes pal, he didn’t want to be seen to be suffering from tall poppy syndrome, so he went to his local hospital and asked them to take a couple of inches out of his shins. That did the trick.
14 Jun 2011, 15:25 pm
Still convinced Slade will backup Carter. GH will anticipate much more kicking at RWC, Slade’s all-around skillset is far superior to the rest — pace, defense, tactical kicking, and most importantly, kick receipt. Notice how the first-fives have been drifting back in defence to receive bombs and launch attacks.
14 Jun 2011, 15:33 pm
@DAS(DAS)-32:
Slade is definitely better than Duck & McCallister but is he really international quality? Has done little if anything to warrant selection. A poor mans version of a Tony Brown type player.I think if Michael “Butcher” Hobbs hadnt gotten injured he would have impressed.Very direct player.
14 Jun 2011, 15:41 pm
@stew(stew)-26: Theres a slim chance we could meet in the quarterfinals too
14 Jun 2011, 17:43 pm
@Slumtown(Slumtown)-19:
a common theme around these parts – hoping the opposition pick up injuries in order to increase your own hopes. And yet happy to accuse others of ‘mental weakness’…….um, yeah, right.
Hopefully the Boks turn up with every member of their 1st-choice squad fit and available, and all ther other teams too. The RWC stage deserves its Big Names.
Meanwhile, pray for Fiji.
14 Jun 2011, 17:46 pm
@TheAgent(TheAgent)-18:
A good coach learns from his mistakes, which Henry appears to have done.
meanwhile Krusty continues to shoot from the lip, as he has from the start, and in doing so has convinced himself that he’s winning the ‘mind games’. Sir Alex Ferguson is not the only one laughing.
14 Jun 2011, 18:01 pm
@mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-13:
I like that team, Mish.
Coupla changes I would consider – Tarzan or B.Smith at FB, Id give the nod to Smith. Made some poor decisions late vs Lions tho….
Nonu starts and finishes matches unlike the softy hyp-o. And he’s the best no12 on the Planet. Combinations are so important and he has a brilliant one with Conrad. Until Nonu has 2 bad Tests in succession, he stays, and softy hyp-o comes off the bench unless his “sore ribs” are still bruisey-woozey.
Cool Hand Luke aint no flyhalf. I know he’s had no chance to shine but Slade would remain my pick if he can pick up 2-3 games prior to selection. He’s not ‘the answer’, but he has a cool head and is more physical than Cruden.
Kaino is King of the Blindside and is the type of player and in a position that requires more games, less rest. And he’s tough as teak. Liking Messams form tho.
Locks ? tricky one. I have a soft spot for Ali, a great lineout forward who is slowly returning to his best. Its gametime thats getting him there, he needs mileage on the clock. I would start him with the tyro Whitelock and brew the competition between them. I would like to think there is a bit of fisticuffs at training too, Ali has the lip.
Like your front row. On the bench Im liking Hika the Hooker, a bit of youth in the mix. The Franks’enstein Monsters just thrill me to bits, and Woody & Hayman have been superceded with Davey Crockett a beast too ready to pounce. Woody will be back tho, cunning as a fox.
Not a fan of Vito, he’s had almost as many chances as Afoa and have flattered to deceive, bin him.
14 Jun 2011, 18:03 pm
@mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-14:
yep, and Weepu needs LOTS of gametime to get rid of the Tia-lumpa excess.
14 Jun 2011, 18:06 pm
@Sasuke(Sasuke)-17:
His current form is very good and thats all you need from wingers who should be playing on instinct first and foremost. I havent laughed so hard when GH made the ‘JK’ comparison – JK was famous for his step off both sides and a monster fend, Guildford has neither – but his speed is there and he’s playing like someone who was dropped and wants the jersey back. He’ll deserve a squad spot if his form continues.
14 Jun 2011, 18:08 pm
@stew(stew)-21:
If McCaw is not on the pitch, Keiran definitely gets the armband. And not one of those customized Sth African versions either.
Read is looking like a great Captain.
14 Jun 2011, 18:10 pm
@willievz(willievz)-24:
Pray for Fiji !
14 Jun 2011, 18:31 pm
Sure Graham, it’s not like you believe in resting players after all, yeah right.
He may be a humourless (unless he’s chuckling at his own snidey jokes), leathery old bulldog but GH isn’t stupid. He knows he won’t be able to field a full-strength side through to the WC, it’s just that he won’t say it in public because they’ll turn against him.
15 Jun 2011, 04:17 am
@Big Hit(Big Hit)-42:
Yip, was thinking semantics when I read that. He won’t be resting players but at certain convenient times players will pick up ‘slight injuries’ that will lead to them not being selected. Each to his own…
All said and done I do wonder how that favorite tag is feeling around their necks…?
15 Jun 2011, 07:41 am
Dagg, guilford, nonu, SBW, gear, Carter, Mathewson, Vito, macaw, Reid, Williams, thorn, tiealata, mealamu, woodcock Bench franks, hore, jack, messam, weepu, mcalister, Stanley …….. Fear da all blacks, but BOKKE ain’t scared of ****!!!!!!
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