How time flies. After 11 rounds of Super Rugby, we're now just over a month from the beginning of the international season.
The Lions series in Australia is likely to garner most of the interest from world rugby fans but there is plenty of other international rugby games to be played including France's tour of New Zealand which will be completed by the time the Wallabies play their first test against the British & Irish Lions.
So it's time now to look at contenders for the first All Blacks squad of the year. It has been an interesting season for New Zealand rugby so far - the emergence of the Blues has really spiced things up for selectors although the poor form of the All Black laden Highlanders has really given them headaches too.
While the New Zealand Super Rugby sides haven't quite lit up the night sky as we would have liked, the prospects for the international rugby season are still very bright.
So here are my thoughts on the make up of the first All Blacks squad of 2013 - I'll name 32 players as the selectors often name a squad of that size nowadays and factoring current injuries.
Props - Tony Woodcock, Wyatt Crockett, Owen Franks, Ben Franks, Ben Tameifuna
Hookers - Keven Mealamu, Andrew Hore, Dane Coles
Locks - Ali Williams, Sam Whitelock, Luke Romano, Brodie Retallick
Loose Forwards - Liam Messam, Steven Luatua, Sam Cane, Matt Todd, Kieran Read, Victor Vito
Halfbacks - Piri Weepu, TJ Perenara, Aaron Smith
First fives - Dan Carter, Aaron Cruden
Centres - Ma'a Nonu, Tamati Ellison, Conrad Smith
Wingers/Fullbacks - Hosea Gear, Julian Savea, Israel Dagg
Utility Backs - Beauden Barrett, Rene Ranger, Ben Smith, Tim Nanai-Williams
It is always hard to know what size squad the selectors will name, 32 seems a bit big doesn't it? I think Conrad Smith may now be out of the team with injury. I would go for Ben Afeaki ahead of Tameifuna. It will be interesting to see if Mealamu is still injured or not. I like the look of James Parsons at hooker.
ReplyDeleteIt will be interesting to see if the like of Nanai Williams and Ranger get much gametime or are just in the extended squad?
Pick your All Blacks starting XV here and win!
http://www.superrugbytips.com/2013/05/pick-your-all-blacks-rugby-starting-xv.html