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All Blacks current form XV

Started by Brycy15 REPLIES295 VIEWS· 29 Apr 2014, 15:13
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BR
Brycy
Pro4,671 posts
BR
BrycyPro4,671 posts
29 Apr 2014, 15:13
#1
29 Apr 2014, 15:13#1

Yahoo Controversy Corner


At this half-way point in a Super 15 tournament, it’s always intriguing to come up with an All Blacks XV plus reserves that’s chosen with the series against England only five weeks away.


In turn, that inevitably promotes the choice between form versus reputation.

Form should always count but it is equally naive to dismiss proven experience.


All Black XV plus reserves is as follows:

15. Charles Piutau. Showing his huge attacking potential at fullback for the Blues and is ahead of a mostly lack-lustre Israel Dagg.

14. Ben Smith. Was the world’s best winger before that silly experiment at centre.

13. Conrad Smith. [Vice Captain]. One of the smartest and most reliable All Blacks of all time.

12. Ma’a Nonu. Showed all his ferocity and class against the Waratahs – a rock.

11.Julian Savea. Starting to rival Jonah Lomu in all respects I reckon.

10. Aaron Cruden. His absence from the Chiefs underlines what a contributor he is. Still pips Beauden Barrett at this stage.

9. Aaron Smith. An alarming gap between him and the rest. Let’s hope he stays injury-free.

8. Kieran Read. [Captain]. A mainstay in the All Blacks for a long time to come.

7. Richie McCaw. His experience and aura still puts him ahead of Sam Cane but injury becoming a regular companion.

6. Liam Messam. Has never dropped below full-on exertion since becoming the first-choice blindside in the black jersey.

5. Brodie Retallick. A colossus for the Chiefs.

4. Sam Whitelock. As important an All Black heavyweight as we have.

3. Owen Franks. Experience a factor as he needs to fire on all cylinders soon.

2. Dane Coles. The best hooker option amongst a fairly mediocre lot.

1. Charlie Faumuina. I like his physicality and work rate.

Reserves: Ben Franks, Keven Mealamu, Jeremy Thrush, Sam Cane, T.J. Perenara, Beauden Barrett, Malakai Fekitoa.

Some of the notable omissions who just signify the wonderful depth we have in many positions are: Israel Dagg, Cory Jane, Ryan Crotty, Steven Luatua, Jerome Kaino, Matt Todd, Tony Woodcock.

Your thoughts please.


Plenty of options for dopey Hansen to ponder...loads of depth..the biggest problem we have is who to leave out...

MD
Monkey D Luffy
Pro6,277 posts
MD
Monkey D LuffyPro6,277 posts
29 Apr 2014, 22:39
#2
29 Apr 2014, 22:39#2
@brycy,

dont know if i would call hansen dopey, o_O
only coach to coach a team to a 100% winning season, a feat that is much harder to do then winning the RWC.
this is even more impressive cos the All Blacks didnt stack their fixtures with easy beat teams the way the Boks did in the same year.

but regarding this team of urs,,,,

first of, u got the captain all wrong.
if king richie is playing, then hes the captain end of story. this the All Blacks, not the crusaders.

i would call it the All Blacks XV, but leave the form out of it. form while a key component is not the bottom line and it never has been under hansen.

has faumuina even played loosehead??? regardless, woody will be the No1 for the All Blacks IMO.
but it should be ben franks who is in the All Blacks No1 jersey, hes been the best loosehead in the entire spXV.

not a big thing but retallick and whitelock will be the starting locks, but whitelock will always wear the No5 when hes in the starting XV.

no way will dagg not be in the starting XV, let alone ur crazy exclusion from the 23, o_O
dudes not in form, but many people seem to forget how much he contributes to the All Blacks, especially on attack with the quantopius amount of line break and try assists he racked up.

i cant see thrush getting picked ahead of romano??? but with the return of kaino who looks even better now then he did before he left, luatua might be the All Blacks new preferred lock replacement???

no chance that fekitoa will be picked in the series against england.
hansen will use the games now to continue building the All Blacks and the ton of new players we have introduced the last two seasons.

barlow will still be ahead of tj perenara who dosent even have a test cap just yet.
ur right about the gap between aaron smith and the rest, but barlow is IMO still the clear 2nd best choice despite a 2014 season saying otherwise.
i would also select brynn hall ahead of tj.
IMO tj makes too many dumb rugby mistakes, a very poor option taker.

Hansens All Blacks XV
1 t woodcock, 2 d coles, 3 o franks

4 b retallick, 5 s whitelock

6 l messam, 7 R McCaw (c), 8 k read

9 a smith, 10 a cruden

12 m nonu, 13 snake

11 j savea, 15 i dagg, 14 b smith

16 k mealamu, 17 b franks, 18 c faumuina, 19 l romano, 20 sluatua/j kaino, 21 t kerr barlow, 22 b barret, 23 c piutau

uichiha clan All Blacks XV
1 b franks, 2 d coles, 3 o franks

4 b retallick, 5 s whitelock'

6 l messam, 7 R McCaw (c), 8 k read

9 a smith, 10 a crudz

12 m nonu, 13 snake

11 j savea, 15 i dagg, 14 ben smith

16 g robinson, 17 t woodcock, 18 c faumuina, 19 s luatua, 20 j kaino, 21 t kerr barlow, 22 b barret, 23 c piutau

only one difference in the starting XV i expect to see and  mine, while the core bench remains intact too.
IMO kaino will have a role to play with hansen, his experience and current form is too great to ignore at the moment, a major 180 in opinion on my part.
BE
Beeno1
Captain40,032 posts
BE
Beeno1Captain40,032 posts
29 Apr 2014, 23:08
#3
29 Apr 2014, 23:08#3
 I am afraid brycy and saSue none of the above selections augurs well for the wee abs. Surely you have forgotten some players?
Front row looks fragile and loose trio lacks class. Conrad carthorse is over the hill and nonu a fading force. Ditto dagg.Nope things not looking good. Crude will have his world rattled no doubt as well. 
Probably means OZ and Boks will fight it out?
MO
Mozart
Captain49,914 posts
MO
MozartCaptain49,914 posts
29 Apr 2014, 23:11
#4
29 Apr 2014, 23:11#4
The only problem I see with Ben Smith is pace. Habana gassed him on the kick ahead at Ellis Park.....and then hilariously he never closed a step chasing Etzebeth up the touchline.
BR
Brycy
Pro4,671 posts
BR
BrycyPro4,671 posts
29 Apr 2014, 23:15
#5
29 Apr 2014, 23:15#5

...Sas if you read the heading it's just an opinion piece from Man i n the Stand I think but he's changed his name to Controversy Corner,,i'd have Richie as captain as well as including Dagg ...gotta fly but will go over the rest later

BE
Beeno1
Captain40,032 posts
BE
Beeno1Captain40,032 posts
29 Apr 2014, 23:17
#6
29 Apr 2014, 23:17#6
 Hahhahahaha yes I recall that but Moz perhaps he didnt fancy closing in on Etzebeth.
Old man Woodcock eeeeks! A patched up Ritchie. Wee messum!. Reads okay but has been off the boil this season. 
No I dont have high hopes for the wee abs. They were beaten on all but the scoreboard a number of times last year and it will translate to the scorebaord unless they come up with some players.

MO
moolaa
Pro2,380 posts
MO
moolaaPro2,380 posts
30 Apr 2014, 00:54
#7
30 Apr 2014, 00:54#7
 Moz, you're not saying Itsabutt is fast are you? Who was it that Kieran Read ran away from at Ellis Park to score between the posts last year?? Now that was hilarious!!
MO
Mozart
Captain49,914 posts
MO
MozartCaptain49,914 posts
30 Apr 2014, 01:06
#8
30 Apr 2014, 01:06#8
Well moola I do recall something like that...I guess Kieran must be a whole lot faster than Smith. But in fairness I think Eben just recognized he had to have a go at making a tackle otherwise the try was on.  
AB
ABasquefan
Pro2,549 posts
AB
ABasquefanPro2,549 posts
30 Apr 2014, 05:01
#9
30 Apr 2014, 05:01#9
 I would play with:

1 b franks, 2 d coles, 3 o franks

4 b retallick, 5 s whitelock

6 j kaino, 7 r mccaw (c), 8 k read

9 a smith, 10 b barret

12 m nonu, 13 c smith

11 j savea, 15 i dagg, 14 b smith


16 ?????  17 w crockett  18 c faumuina   19 l romano   20 l messam  

21 tkb   22 a cruden   23 c piutau


It's worrying that there is no clear sustitution for Mealamu. He just played 2 games this season as starter but if there's no other hooker ready....
Kaino was by far the best blindside of the world when he left and his last performances point that he is regaining his best form. Besides he used to step up when wearing the black.
Barret has clearly improved his defense and i s the best attacking 10
3K
3ku1
Pro2,580 posts
3K
3ku1Pro2,580 posts
30 Apr 2014, 06:13
#10
30 Apr 2014, 06:13#10

Beeno keep harping your bs maybe you well start believing it, NZ only wan on the scoreboard? Stats beg to differ, NZ kicked Aussie and Yarpie butt in the RC, scoring more tires, linebreaks, clean breaks, then SA and Aus combined. And have you already forgotten that hiding NZ gave your Yarpies in the RC final? I know it hurts. Yet you reckon after the first undefeated season in the professional era, Nz are on the downward spiral, hypothetically if that's true, doesn't say much that SA have yet to beat NZ over the past 3-4 years. You can use any outlet, or excuse in the book; Bent refs, cheating at breakdown, conspiracy theories e.t.c. Simple fact is NZ is far ahead of the pack, at the top, skill, top two inches, breakdown, attacking, defense e.t.c. If anything the question well be have SA and Aussie caught up enough to be competitive. Anyway heres my form NZ team. Some of these players cant represent NZ, but its a form team.


15. Andre Taylor

14. Jane

13. Fekiatoa

12. Nonu

11. Savea

10. Barratt

9. Peranara

8. Vito

7. Todd

6. Kaino

5. Whitelock

4. Retilluck

3. Tamifuna

2. Coles

1. Hames


16. Marshall

17. Hames

18. Broadhurst

19. Messam

20. Hall

21. Slade

22. Dagg 

BE
Beeno1
Captain40,032 posts
BE
Beeno1Captain40,032 posts
30 Apr 2014, 12:43
#11
30 Apr 2014, 12:43#11
 3 IQ I am not convinced. Seems to much dead wood in the wee abs side. Obvioulsy they dont think there are better palyers.
We shall have to see how it goes 3 IQ but the signs right now are not good. The picture will be clearer when the first squad is announced. 
Meanwhile we have has beens like woodcock, mealamu, mcaaw, conrad and even Dagg has not been as good as in past years. Nonu also has lost a bit. Looks like the coach will stick to these guys?
RO
Rooinek
Captain18,117 posts
RO
RooinekCaptain18,117 posts
30 Apr 2014, 13:09
#12
30 Apr 2014, 13:09#12
The heading says "current form XV" and you guys are including players like Richie McCaw and Luke Romano?

My current form AB team would be as follows:

15 Piutau, 14 Jane, 13 Fekitoa, 12 Nonu, 11 J Savea, 10 Barrett, 9 A Smith, 8 Read (c), 7 A Savea, 6 Kaino, 5 S Whitelock, 4 Retallick, 3 O Franks, 2 Coles, 1 B Franks.

16 Marshall, 17 Crockett, 18 King, 19 Tuipolotu, 20 Vito, 21 Perenara, 22 Sopoaga, 23 B Smith
3K
3ku1
Pro2,580 posts
3K
3ku1Pro2,580 posts
30 Apr 2014, 13:24
#13
30 Apr 2014, 13:24#13
 I see your point Beeno,.alot of players are over the hill. But its not all bad, the england team of 03 Average age was 35 and they wan the wc. I think Nz do have the right balance of youth and exp. I think woodcock, mealamu, nonu wont be at the next wc. If i was picking a all black team for next years wc.

1. Crockett 2. Coles 3. O Franks 4. Whitelock 5. Retilluck 6. Kaino 7. Mccaw/walking stick (c)  8. Read 9. Smith 10. Carter 11. Savea 12. Sbw 13. Fakitoa 14. Jane 15. Smith
16. Afeaki 17. Elliot 18. Romano 19. Messam 20. Peranara 21. Cruden 22. Dagg

3K
3ku1
Pro2,580 posts
3K
3ku1Pro2,580 posts
30 Apr 2014, 17:55
#14
30 Apr 2014, 17:55#14
 Of course nz could feild another team
1. Hames 2. Marshall 3. Tamifuna 4. Thrush 5. Donnelly 6. Vito 7. Todd 8. Luatua 9. Hall 10. Baratt 11. Buckman 12. Saili 13. Smith 14. Naa nai williams 15. Piatau
16. Coltman 17. Toomaga-Allen 18. Broadhurst 19. Braid 20. Eliss 21. Slade 22. Robinson
MD
Monkey D Luffy
Pro6,277 posts
MD
Monkey D LuffyPro6,277 posts
30 Apr 2014, 20:19
#15
30 Apr 2014, 20:19#15
@brycy,
my bad cuzzie, should have know that wasnt ur team, not enough chiefies, LMAO,

@mozter,
ben smiths been gassed a number of times like that, i remember last years chiefs vs highlanders match where tim nani williams left ben smith eating dust.

watch what happened in the 5 mins before lady elizabeth did a runner from smith, and it becomes clear why lady elizabeth did it so easily.
it might take u a while though, after all saffas genteic make up means u dont know much about the responsibilities of the backs, 
MD
Monkey D Luffy
Pro6,277 posts
MD
Monkey D LuffyPro6,277 posts
30 Apr 2014, 20:26
#16
30 Apr 2014, 20:26#16
if i was to pick an All Blacks team where form is the only criteria,,,

Form All Blacks
1 ben franks, 2 dane coles, 3 chris king

4 jared hoeata, 5 brodie retallick

6 tanerau latimer, 8 jerome kaino, 7 shane christie

9 aaron smith, 10 beauden barret

12 ryan crotty, 13 malakai fekitoa

11 julian savea, 15 charles piutau 14 george moala

16 rhys marshall, 17 kane hames, 18 ben taumafuina, 19 sam whitelock, 20 liam messam, 21 brynn hall, 22 lima sopoaga, 23 ben smith
— END OF THREAD —

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