link – http://www.therugbysite.com/blog_posts/202-75-dan-is-still-the-main-man-by-graham-henry

Graham Henry
Former New Zealand Coach
about 18 hours ago

Steve Hansen has been around the All Blacks too long to make the mistakes I made when picking my first New Zealand squad in 2004. We went with too many players who had been around. We were finding our way as coaches and thought that test match experience was all-important. It helps, but when players are coming to the end, they are not going to get any better. Steve is already looking to the future.

I still expect him to pick his experienced players for the first test against Ireland this summer. I imagine Sam Whitelock will pair up with Ali Williams in a pack without surprises and that Andy Ellis will start at half back. But the young players that have been brought into the squad are all part of the evolution.

I don’t think you could call it a surprise to say that Sonny Bill Williams is likely to start. It is sensible to give Ma’a Nonu a rest. He’s hitting a wall. He’s played 18 months of football without a break. So Sonny will probably start against Ireland. That will get Ma’a moving again and by the Tri Nations he will be raring to go.

There has been talk of moving Dan Carter out to 12 and, looking back 8 years, that is where he started in my first match in charge against England. But I’m sure Dan will be selected at 10. At the moment there is a subconscious protection of his body going on that even he may not be fully aware of. Dan is playing 75% with the reins on.

But as the international season comes around and championship football returns, Dan will get back to his best. He’s not lost the ability. I am sure Steve sees him as a 10 who can cover 12. That gives selection flexibility, but Dan will be selected at first five, as well as Aaron Cruden is playing.

Cruden has been outstanding for the Chiefs and it is good to see so many young players coming through in positions where we have been thin in recent years. At 10 Beauden Barrett and Tom Taylor are also part of the future. Steve continues to look ahead by bringing in Sam Cane even though he hasn’t been starting at the Chiefs. With Richie now 31, the coach has to give himself that cover.

And of all the young players coming through, Brodie Retallick has been perhaps most impressive of all. Canterbury must wonder how they let him go. That’s a surprise. Retallick has been outstanding and is going to play a great deal of international football. It is just a question of when. International football brings the best out of Ali Williams and he will probably get first crack.

With Piri Weepu struggling, Kerr-Barlow or Aaron Smith will probably start on the bench as the back-up for Ellis. In the pack Luke Whitelock and Brad Shields will have to wait a little longer. Their time may even by a couple of years away still, but it is all part of the evolution.

When I picked my first team Xavier Rush and Jono Gibbes were in the back row. They had both been playing well at Super 12 and were both captains of their franchises. But they didn’t last. Before long Jerry Collins and Rodney So’oialo had come in. The beauty for Steve is that he doesn’t have to find his way. He has already been there for 8 years.

11 of the All Blacks 14 strong management team at the World Cup are back from last year. 20 of the World Cup squad are back, with several of the absent 10 either injured or retired. Steve has a wealth of experience there and he has brought in a lot of youngsters. He has the best of both worlds. Long live the evolution.

agree.

thats what the Argies are saying about the PrickBoks.

symptoms include inane ramblings, delusions of grandeur and in some extreme cases coulrophobia, severe cases found in some examples indicate the victims willingness to be subserviant, which can be sub-categorised by the health industries applicable euphemism of ” ruled by the fat boys club”..

I think the cooler climes of NZ may limit its effect somewhat, but it has been known to exist there also

totally agree.

I am big Manu fan – deserves a place.

@mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-66:

agree. Boric lacks aggression alround. Lot of hype around him which has not brought fruit. Boric one of those special Henry projects.

Yeah Savea looks very good so far.Should bench and be blooded with time.Cruden also better this year but decision making still a concern.Butchered so many tries this season with wrong option.

Yeah some very nice young selections by Hansen,some yeah very left field.We shall see

Tamati Ellison has been phenomenal, fact he hasnt really taken a break from japan and slotted in so seamlessly.Arguably the most consistent 13 in comp in first 12 rounds. Very very good player.Always like him,versatile too

Cheers mate.

I agree about Savea, seems to have come on much like Cruden has lifted his game… both have obviously worked hard to overcome their deficiencies..not sure he’ll get to start though, probably a bench option at this stage, to be blooded throughout the series..

I do like the fact Hansen has quite a few youngsters who played in the WC under 20s a season or two ago in his squad, shows he is planning ahead but some selections are a real concern..

The bloke I am most pleased for is tamati Ellison, really deserves to be there..

gotta run Mish, cheers..

Agreed.Clarke has been very good for a while now,hard worker.Any of Donnelly,Eaton etc would be better than Ali.

Manu plays more like a blindside anyway. If u watch Landers he is their physical leader at ball carries and attrictional play. Thompson is the link player and covers at the back more so actually he plays the 8 role.Manu can fulfill blindside role better than Vito who is a racehorse type…lacks hard edge than manu has.Read wouldnt have to move at all. Vito played more 8 than blindside as well so why would he be a better fit at 6 than Manu and not move Read???(same dynamic if we look at it from your analysis)

Thompson & Vito are not blindsides. Vito will have to be forced and groomed to make transition to that attrictional blindside like Kaino was but itll take a couple season like Kaino.manu already plays that way.

both teams will feel they can out muscle the AB pack now..

Whats so impressive about Savea is his IMPROVED skillset in less than a year.Last yr he was a wee bit raw,weak under high ball,missed tackles and knocked on balls.Error rate was high. This yr he seems alot more polished and his option taking has been top class…And well with ball in hand he is a STUD period. Often the transition for the poerful backs takes longer from age group to seniors(ex: Rene Ranger,Robbie Freuan,Isaia Toeava etc) and sometimes never at all..Savea looks to be different.

Blindside is our weakness for sure, and personally think Vto gives much better balance with Read/McCaw then Thompson, but Thompsons form probably demands a start… I am a fan of Manu, and am uncertain as to moving Read to his original position as blindside to accomodate Manu at 8.. dont think you can move Read who is amongst the best in the 8 position these days

Boric….He is mo better especially when your looking for a 4 lock with some physicality…Boric isnt that. Only Romano & Hoeatta fit that role..Strange bot picking Hoeatta.

Retallick,Boric,Williams,Whitelock-all 5 athletic lineout locks.