Yes, yes it is a trifle too early to be tipping the All Blacks squad for the June internationals but what the heck, it is pretty fun to do it anyway especially given the number of players from last year's Rugby World Cup winning squad who have now buggered off overseas.
If you didn't know already, the Super Rugby competition will follow its spherical ball counterparts and impose an international break for 3 weeks in June to enable international test matches to be played between the NH and SH countries.
This year, the All Blacks will play Ireland in 3 tests for the first time ever with tests in Auckland, Christchurch and Hamilton on 3 consecutive weekends between 9 and 23 June.
So given current form and short-term future potential, who would make the All Blacks squad of say 32 for the June internationals?
Here is my tip:
Props:
Tony Woodcock, North Harbour/Blues
Jamie Mackintosh, Southland/Highlanders
Owen Franks, Canterbury/Crusaders
Ben Franks, Canterbury/Crusaders
Mackintosh should be in simply because his form for the Highlanders warrants it, and he has the look of a born leader and possibly a future All Black captain. He has improved leaps and bounds as a prop since he was first selected in 2009 - I guess the litmus test for him will be how he performs against the South African sides but Ireland is probably a good start for him to rebuild his All Blacks career. The other three should be in if they're fit. However, a call-up for young Ben Tameifuna is possible if one of those is injured.
Hookers:
Keven Mealamu, Auckland/Blues
Andrew Hore, Taranaki/Highlanders
Dane Coles, Wellington/Hurricanes
The first two pick themselves. Dane Coles has been in electric form for the Hurricanes this season and this could finally be the year he can show of his talents in the black jersey. Coles has always been a prodigious talent since bursting onto the scene as a teenager for Poneke and Wellington but behavioural issues have been a problem. However, this season, Coles appears to have sorted those out and is ready to take his career to the next level. Other options, well there is always the perenially injured Corey Flynn and inconsistent Hika Elliott but I'd take a wildcard punt on the Hurricanes' young hooker, Motu Matu'u who has been brilliant coming on as a sub for the Canes.
Locks:
Sam Whitelock, Canterbury/Crusaders
Brodie Retallick, Hawkes Bay/Chiefs
Ali Williams, Auckland/Blues
Craig Clarke, Taranaki/Chiefs - my tip for bolter
Whitelock is an automatic selection while Williams will probably make the squad for his experience despite the Blues' poor form at lineouts this season. However, the Chiefs locking duo of Craig Clarke and Brodie Retallick will be snapping at their heals after impressive starts to the season. Clarke for me will be the bolter this June; a true servant of provincial rugby, the former Cantab deserves a few All Blacks caps after working his way through the grit of NPC and Super rugby to earning the captaincy of the Chiefs. Retallick on the other hand, appears to be the new Sam Whitelock and has burst onto the scene in his first few professional rugby games. He's big and menacing in the air and also his defence has been huge. Other options? Anthony Boric and Jarrad Hoeata must prove they are over their injury woes to force their way back in. Josh Bekhuis could be an outside tip for All Blacks bolter.
Loose forwards:
Richie McCaw, Canterbury/Crusaders (captain)
Kieran Read, Canterbury/Crusaders
Adam Thomson, Otago/Highlanders
Victor Vito, Wellington/Hurricanes
Sam Cane, Bay of Plenty/Chiefs
Liam Messam, Waikato/Chiefs
Even without Jerome Kaino, there will be quite a bit of experience at the back and sides of the scrum. Expect Read or Thomson to slot into blindside in the absence of Kaino allowing Vito or Messam to play at the back. With Hansen at the helm now and McCaw heading into the autumn of his great career, expect the coaches to pick a future prospect to replace him. Matt Todd may have gone a bit off the boil and is fighting McCaw as it is at the Crusaders so how about the in-form Sam Cane at the Chiefs? Cane has had as many plaudits as Todd has had through the age-groups and is a former player of the tournament at the Junior World Cup. And he's also been a key part of a highly impressive Chiefs team. Others knocking on the door? John Hardie has been on fire for the Highlanders but is competing for Richie McCaw's spot so he's quite a long shot. However, with Kaino out, there will be competition for the blindside spot, and the Hurricanes' Brad Shields could be in the mix.
Halfbacks:
Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Waikato/Chiefs
Aaron Smith, Manawatu/Highlanders
Andy Ellis, Canterbury/Crusaders
So many good young halfbacks to choose from but will the selectors still stick with the trio of Weepu, Ellis and Cowan who won the World Cup? Maybe Weepu and Ellis for their experience but I wonder if Cowan might have played his last game in black - it is clear that he is in the autumn of his career with the Highlanders much more potent when Aaron Smith is at halfback. Smith is the sort of halfback who would suit the All Blacks and might be worth a punt against the Irish's athletic and nimble halfbacks. Back in Chiefs country, Tawera Kerr-Barlow is also shaping up nicely for a tilt in the black top. He could be the Maori Mike Phillips - a big halfback yet nimble and quick on his feet and also a great passer and deadly around the rucks. Others? TJ Perenara at the Hurricanes although he might still be a year away. My tip is for quite a clean-out at the halfback position.
First fives:
Dan Carter, Canterbury/Crusaders
Aaron Cruden, Manawatu/Chiefs
Carter is a no-brainer and so is Cruden in my opinion in what is turning out to be an area of future strength for New Zealand rugby after several fallow seasons. Cruden has to be in there simply because of his form this season and the massive improvement he's shown - once he couldn't kick to save his own life, now he's near perfection there. And of course there are those displays at the World Cup which probably have sealed Cruden's future in the black jersey. Of course, the race will be close with Gareth Anscombe, Beauden Barrett and Colin Slade snapping at Carter and Cruden's heels but Cruden's experience should earn him the understudy pass to Carter. However, Barrett's time isn't too far off after his impressive starts against rugged South African sides for the Hurricanes.
Midfielders:
Sonny Bill Williams, Canterbury/Chiefs
Conrad Smith, Wellington/Hurricanes
Ma'a Nonu, Wellington/Hurricanes
Richard Kahui, Waikato/Chiefs
This picks itself really - it's the Rugby World Cup winning guys still doing the business although Tamati Ellison has been impressive since returning from Japan for the Highlanders and could fit in if there are injuries. Maybe Jackson Willison or Phil Burleigh could force themselves in but don't expect any surprises here - not that that's a bad thing given we do have one of the best centre pairings in world rugby in Nonu and Smith.
Outside backs:
Israel Dagg, Hawkes Bay/Crusaders
Cory Jane, Wellington/Hurricanes
Hosea Gear, Wellington/Highlanders
Robbie Robinson, Southland/Chiefs
Ben Smith, Otago/Highlanders
Tim Nanai-Williams, Counties-Manukau/Chiefs
Fullback will be interesting to watch now that Milsy has gone overseas. Dagg and Jane have probably become our premier wingers and it remains to be seen if the All Blacks coaches will pick Guildford given his recent indiscretions - it will come down to the next few months to see if his rehab has worked. In the meantime, Hosea Gear is set to return to the side after initially missing out on the Rugby World Cup action as will the in-form Ben Smith who could play for one of the fullback/utility positions due to Toeava's injury problems. Nanai-Williams and Robinson have been electric for the Chiefs and would be perfect understudies to Jane and Dagg. Other contenders? Julian Savea has made a stunning return to form for the Canes and might be an outside chance.
