All Black squad named for IRC,,,

The squad is: (with province and Test caps. * denotes a new cap)

Hookers
Andrew Hore - Taranaki (65)
Keven Mealamu - Auckland (93)

Props
Wyatt Crockett - Canterbury (6)
Charlie Faumuina - Auckland*
Ben Franks - Canterbury (18)
Owen Franks - Canterbury (34)
Tony Woodcock - North Harbour (86)

Locks
Brodie Retallick - Bay of Plenty (3)
Luke Romano - Canterbury (1)
Samuel Whitelock - Canterbury (28)

Loose forwards
Sam Cane - Bay of Plenty (2)
Richie McCaw (C) - Canterbury (106)
Liam Messam - Waikato (10)
Kieran Read - Canterbury (38)
Adam Thomson - Otago (27)
Victor Vito - Wellington (14)

Halfbacks
Aaron Smith - Manawatu (3)
Piri Weepu - Auckland (59)

First five-eighths
Daniel Carter - Canterbury (87)
Aaron Cruden - Manawatu (11)

Midfielders
Tamati Ellison - Otago (2)
Ma'a Nonu - Wellington (66)
Conrad Smith - Wellington (58)

Outside backs
Israel Dagg - Hawke's Bay (15)
Hosea Gear - Wellington (9)
Cory Jane - Wellington (31)
Ben Smith - Otago (5)
Julian Savea - Wellington (2)

3 locks, 2 hookers, 2 halfbacks, 6 loosies,,,,
all in all its a good squad, but something dosent seem quite right here with the number of players in certain positions.
would have liked to have seen more players like hoeata or clarke for a 4th lock and maybe hika elliot for a thrid hooker. they dont need to play, but just be aware of the All Blacks general ins and outs, just in case.

also feel for ben taumafuina, would have loved to have seen him get a crack, but if his spXV form continues in the ITM, then a EOYT should be a bankable prediction.

one good thing about only having aaron smith and weepu is the game time that aaron should be getting.
despite the rise of tj and barlow, smith is the ABs incumbent and weepu is playing on borrowed time.
i think it would be fair to expect we wont be seeing ellis in black ever again, unless injuries come a knocking.

ive also been critical of messams performances in black in the past, obviously excluding his last, but it was only ireland. but 2012 has seen meesam play IMO, career best footy and thats something i would like to see hansen captalise by giving a starting berth to messam wether reads fit or not with either,,,
6 l messam, 7 McCaw, 8 k read, 19 s cane or 6 v vito, 7 McCaw, 8 l messam, 19 s cane.
IMO messam is the most improved player in 2012, rennie and the chiefs culture has done wonders for him.

also looks like a nonu/ellison midfiled combo is up against the wallabies which is a bonus for the All Blacks, cos nonu and ellison are familiar with each others game thanx to their hurricnae connection and i cant wait to see what ellison does with this opportunity. based on his spXV performance, hes going to carve up, cos ellison along with conrad was spXVs form 13 easy peasy IMO.

GOOD LUCK TO HANSEN AND OUR MIGHTY MIGHTY ALL BLACKS!!!

pretty predictable SAS but still scary to see the talent the AB's have particarly in that back line...I see the critical first five berth between DC and Cruden being shared mixing up their game plan or more worrying for everyone changing it up a gear.

SA dont have that luxury yet but Goosen will hopefully even things up when hes available.

I think the Kiwis were smart to bring Hansen on after his last 4 years in the system and having had the results he knows what needs to be done already to bethe very best were HM is starting afresh.

But dont count the BOKS out we will be there

@radtad,

there are a lot of issues with the Boks No10 department for the present, but ur right, once goosen starts rolling, its only a matter of time before he takes over and leaves everybody in their wake.
the real question is who will be his back up??? lambies performance at FB on sat only added weight to the argment htat hes no fullback, but i dont think this is true, i think hes a class flyhalf and fullback, but just had a real bad game.

i will also never rule out the Boks and the wallabies for that matter, despite the triNat titles the All Blacks have accumulated, both our SANZAR bros have caught the ABs with their pants down on a number of ocassions and left me with an upside smile.
i will say that i am quietly confident that the All Blacks are in a position to go the callender year undefeated, but it will take one thing from hansen to this and that is field the All Blacks strongest team possible when they face the Boks and wallabies, if they do this and try new combos and moves on the pumas, then we should be more then fine.
i guess we will have to wait and see what happens, but im already excited and cant wait to see what happens, :)

GO ALL BLACKS!!!

Sasu

I can only ask whether Meyer is in fact a closet All Black supporter?  He has to be - since his team selection is a nightmare beyond understanding.     It is evident that his game plan is built entirely around a ten men game plan and nothing else. 

A key  for that game plan is Morne Steyn - whose under-performance is constantly ignored by the Springbok selectors.   Goosen will not fit into that game plan and he would keep on selecting modest Ble Bulls players ahead of meritorious other contenders.

Pu your money on the All Blacks to beat that lot by at least 20 points in any given test.  I know I will. 

Sadly Mike,

WE knew exactely what was coming at us with HM with his conservative selections and that worries me that most guys on here picked that. However we  didnt see the likes of Kankowski, Jordaan, Olivier etc not being included...yet we see odd selections such as Kolisi, Cilliers being thrust into the threshold.

I really really hope we dont settle into a 10 man game Australia will beat us let alone what damage the AB's will inflict upon our inexperienced squad....nonetheless wehave to start somewhere.......