All Black Training Squad

Hansen has named the following  training squad of 38 players for the upcoming tests against the French:-

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Backs: Israel Dagg, Ben Smith, Charles Piutau, Frank Halai, Hosea Gear, Julian Savea, Rene Ranger, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Francis Saili, Tom Taylor, Dan Carter, Aaron Cruden, Beauden Barrett, Piri Weepu, Aaron Smith, TJ Perenara, Tawera Kerr-Barlow.

Forwards: Kieran Read, Victor Vito, Sam Cane, Liam Messam, Steven Luatua, Brad Shields, Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Luke Romano, Ali Williams, Dominic Bird, Owen Franks, Ben Afeaki, Tony Woodcock, Ben Franks, Wyatt Crockett, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Andrew Hore, Keven Mealamu, Dane Coles.   

Not being critical overmuch - some of the named players have played yo-yo in Super 15 this year and player performances of some has ben desperately poor and unconvincing.   Some has seriously performed below their previous standards and some really are funny inclusions.   I am now going to open myself up widely by the following analysis:-

BACKS

Good Performances on Regular basis

Charles Piutau, Tom Taylor, Dan Carter, TJ Perenara

Yo-yo Players

Rene Ranger, Piri Weepu

Not living up to Reputaion

Israel Dagg, Ben Smith, Frank Halai, Hosea Gear, Julian Savea,  Aaron Cruden, Beauden Barrett, Aaron Smith, Tawera Kerr-Barlow.

Funny Bunnies

Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu

There was one noticeablenon-inclusion and that is Fruean - but I really thought the guy has too many negatives - so I am not surprised by that ommission.

FORWARDS

Good Performances on Regular basis

Kieran Read, Steven Luatua, Luke Romano, Ben Afeaki    

Yo-yo Players

Victor Vito, Sam Cane, Owen Franks,  Ben Franks, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Dane Coles.   

Not living up to Reputaion

Brad Shields, Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Wyatt Crockett, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, .   

Funny Bunnies

Liam Messam, Brad Shields,Ali Williams, Dominic Bird, Tony Woodcock, Wyatt Crockett, Andrew Hore,

I did not inclyde Kevin Mealamu - since he had very little game time.

When dealing wih the Not living up to reputation players there are some players who really are disappointing in elemets of the game.   Somebody must tell Retallick that line-out jumping is expectd from a lock forward as well - he really was poor n that component of the game.  Wyatt Crocket apparantly gave up on ever grasping the fact that giving away penalties is not an absolute requirement of the game.   To even a larger extend Ben Franks must also learn that basic fact of life.   I was hessitating about whether Liam Messam should be on the list of players under funny bunnies and Not living up to reputation - and ended up with the category as indicated.   He had a few good games - but then went badly sour in others..

THE ABOVE BEING SAID THE POOR PERFORMANCES OF SOME TEAMS IN CERTAIN MATCHES COULD HAVE IMPACTED ON INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCES.  THAT MEANS THAT THE SITUATION COULD IMPROVE WHEN PLAYING IN THE ALL BLACK TEAM - SO I AM NOT BLINDED NECESSARILY BY THE PERFORMANCES OF PLAYERS ON SUPER 15 LEVEL.

The All Blacks are having a series of tests against the French - who were desperately poor in the 6-Nations - so they shoud not have too many problems in beating hem easily.

In any event - from that training group the only selections based on Super `15 performances to my mind are a given:-

Charles Piutau, Tom Taylor, Dan Carter, TJ Perenara, Kieran Read, Steven Luatua, Luke Romano, Ben Afeaki    

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Ou Maaik, some of your calls are a bit puzzling.

Not sure why you'd consider Rene Ranger to be a "yo-yo" player when his form has been consistently good.

Frank Halai didn't have much of a reputation before this season so to say that the tournaments top try scorer is not living up to expectations is a bit weird. I think most people would agree he's been one of the finds of the season.

Not quite sure what a "funny bunny" is but whatever it is, it's a bit harsh on Conrad Smith if he's bracketed with the hopeless Ma'a Nonu. If Smith is over his concussion and wants to continue playing then he'll be one of the first names on Hansen's team sheet.

As for the forwards, I wouldn't have called Victor Vito or Sam Cane "yo-yo" players, both have been reasonably consistent . . . certainly no less consistent than the likes of Ben Afeaki and Kieran Read who've had injuries and form lapses. You've listed Brad Shields as a "funny bunny" and also someone who's not living up to reputation and I think both are unfair. Liam Messam could also hardly be called a "funny" selection.

I think Hansen's done a pretty good job of mixing form and experience. I just think 4 scrumhalves is bit odd and they look a bit thin at inside centre. Ma'a Nonu in particular wouldn't have made my B squad if I was picking this lot.

Rene Ranger, the standout centre of the competition is on Mike's yo-yo list. That single comment sums up Mike's rugby analysis - case closed as they say.

Spot on R'nek

One of the things Steve Hansen does quite well is reward some of the young players who've shown some form, however one thing he doespoorly in mu opinion was axe some of the players who don't show S15 form (Williams, Nonu) - I guess he has faith in the 'environment' to snap some players out of a slump, although Ali WIlliams has been shithouse for some time now.

Luke Braid is probably unlucky to miss out, but the rest I'm OK with, it's a pretty good squad - should be able to get enough out of that to be more than competitive with the French.

Saffex

Ranger had some very poor games and some very good ones.   For instance he was not really up to standard  against the Chiefs, the Waratahs and the Stormers - hence my description of him as a Yo-Yo player.   Your analysis based purely on tries scored is rubbish as per normal - case closed as a stuffed up criterium by you again is in evidence.  Time to start learning about rugby as a game taking into account all components of the game is urgently needed in your case.

Jantjies on par with Lambie and better than Catrakillis is a true reflection of your ability to deal with analysis of performances LOL.  .  

 DomFuckingMike, you have clearly demonstrated that you are as thick as pigshit - case closed yo-yo man

im very happy with hansens squad selection, woodcock, nonu, mealamu and ali williams can consider themselves lucky to play, but hansen has always said the form is not the only preresquite for selections, evideny last year when he selected very out of form weepu.

i dont expect tj perenara to make the final squad & wouldnt be surprised to see barlow left out too, four halfbacks is too much, but they might take three, for the irish series last year though they only took two.

hansen has identified the problems at 12, so he has included francis saili, a wise choice in terms of developing, but hes far from the finished product. id expect saili to make the bench maybe agaisnt the french, but this would mean having to play ben smith on the wing, som that we have decent cover outsideback cover,
i also think we should try ranger at 12, he has the power to be a real weapon on both attack and defence.

the rwo players i really want to see get a decent crack is steven luatua and ben afeaki, both have been very consistent in 2013 and luatua i rate the best 6 in the comp, so freaking mobile for a big mand and his workrate is very All Blackesque.

@mikey,
tj hasnt been consistent in 2012, very hot cold, wtach his game against the buklls and then against the cheetahs and that pretty much sums up his 2013 season.

ranger is the form 13 IMO, against the chiefs he was solid as, i rememebr coming away from that match thinking rnager did well against kahui and if he keeps that up, hes going to be the conrads sucessor for sure.
against the stormers kirwan put him out on the wing where he was starved from the ball. he touched the ball four times and ran twice making 15 meters, a linebreakd, a tackle break and an offload, ive seen plenty of backs do a lot less with a lot more ball.

dominic bird has been a revelatio IMO, hes complimented sam whitelock and romano to make them the best locking combo in the comp.
brodie retallick, has made the most tackles in the competition out of any tight 5 forward, the only non looseforward in the top 20, his other regular locking numbers are right up there too.

IMO messams had real good games the last few weeks, but hes been very average for most of the season, nothing like his 2012 performance when he was the man.

barlows been real good too for the chiefs, injury slowed his momentum, but his first game back saw a lot more glimpses of that spark which gave the chiefs the best halve pairing in 2012, something both leonard and pulu werent able to replicate.

all in all, good squad, All Blacks should whitewash the series against france and win the IRC and retain the bledisloe and freedom cup anything less will be a failure.

In terms of Ranger, I would put him in the top category. Its not possible for a player to be great EVERY game. Some games everything he touches will turn to gold and others he will be pretty good without setting the world alight. Mike, I think in this case you have expected "great" from Rene all the time because you know he can do it. Sometimes credit must be given to the defensive team to stop him. I think, for the most part, Rene has been one of the best centres all year. Definately top 3 and probably at number 1 this year in the comp. One must remember that against the Stormers, Rene was played on the wing which is not his preferred position. He admits to preferring 13. Blues best attacking games this year have come with Rene at 13 and not on the wing!

Frank Halai, we dont have much to go on, but what I can see is this man can play. Sevens has set him up perfectly and he seems to know how to score. You give me Bryan Habana and 3 tries all season vs Sean Robinson and 15 tries for the season and I am gona take Sean every day of the week. Name does not matter when the man is racking up the points. In my opinion, in his 1st year at this level, not only has Halai not lived up to reputation, he has far exceeded it. Good on you Frank. I wish you well on the wing for the AB's (except for when you play the Boks!) ;-)

Papa moaner I think it wise not to underestimate the unpredictable Frogs. Especially given the state of the abs. If its true you are only as good as your last game.

Hansen had better be careful not to load the team with the geriatrics. Guys like Mealamu etc are nowhere near what they used to be.