All Blacks Rugby World Cup squad: Who I’d pick and why, by Brad Moran, the ROAR

The potential All Blacks Rugby World Cup squad has been under rampant speculation for months, with talks heating up recently as we approach the impending announcement on August 30th.

Steve Hansen and his fellow selectors face some extremely tough decisions, as a new crop of bolters are playing their way into contention and look to usurp a number of players firmly established in the All Blacks fold.

So without any further adieu here are my selections for the All Blacks 2015 Rugby World Cup squad.

First XV
1. Tony Woodcock
2. Dane Coles
3. Owen Franks
4. Brodie Rettalick
5. Sam Whitelock
6. Jerome Kaino
7. Richie McCaw (c)
8. Kieran Read
9. Aaron Smith
10. Dan Carter
11. Julian Savea
12. Ma’a Nonu
13. Conrad Smith
14. Nehe Milner-Skudder
15. Ben Smith

Bench
16. Keven Mealamu
17. Wyatt Crockett
18. Ben Franks
19. Luke Romano
20. Victor Vito
21. TJ Perenara
22. Beauden Barrett
23. Malakai Fekitoa

Reserves
Codie Taylor
Nepo Laulala
Jeremy Thrush
Sam Cane
Colin Slade
Lima Sopoaga
Sonny Bill Williams
Charles Piutau

The squad offers a few points of contention. At blindside Jerome Kaino is struggling to find his form of years gone by. Should he find his 2011 form he will be immovable from the starting side, but until then he will face stiff competition from a resurgent Victor Vito who has more than made the most of his opportunities in the black jersey this year. In doing so Vito has pushed a reliable performer in Liam Messam out of the squad altogether. Kaino keeps his spot for the time being on account of his ability as an enforcer.??

Flyhalf has been a position of hot debate, I have chosen none other than Dan Carter as my starter. He proved to the doubters in the second Bledisloe Test that he still has the big game temperament and lethal attacking game we’ve become so accustomed to.

Beauden Barrett provides cover at both flyhalf and fullback from the bench, while a successful Super Rugby campaign and strong Test debut catapult Lima Sopoaga into the squad. Colin Slade provides optional utility cover at the cost of a third specialist scrumhalf.

Spots in the outside backs were perhaps the most fiercely contested in the squad. Julian Savea and Ben Smith were no-brainers while the emergence of Nehe Milner-Skudder during the Super Rugby season and his scintillating form in his first two Tests gift him the right-wing berth in my squad ahead of the ever dangerous Charles Piutau.

Malakai Fekitoa provides cover in the centres and wing from the bench. Cory Jane and Israel Dagg are big name casualties whose struggles with form and fitness ultimately cost them a place in the squad.

 Sounds reasonable. Milner-Skudder over Dagg, Jane & Piutau is a big call but that is one we will watch with interest. It would be a shame if Messum didn't make it. There is also talk of Charlie Faumuima as he has recovered from his head knock & brings skills, speed, weight & muscle to prop as a backup.

 Jw give your image consultant a bonus cheque for finding that new avatar!!! Hehehehehe
Lets face it the wee abs have problems. 
Pity to see carol jane go who has become an iconic ab player!
Enough said. Far be it for me to ruffle kbbs fearthers!

 Bee no: "fearthers" a clever play on words, Mozart would applaud you  although I am not sure it was intentional. Yes my new avatar at least is black (the winning RWC color I am told). That look on his face could be interpreted as devilish but that could be in the mind of the observer.ABs will name a strong team but the tournament format is a crap shoot so many teams have a shot. Sbbs have cause for optimism also.

 To include a fourth flyhalf, who besides only plays flyhalf, has no sense at all. What for?????
Sopoaga is still behind Barret and Slade and these 2 lasts has the plus of playing in more than one position. I don't think Sopoaga will make the 31.
The place left taking only 2 scrumies will be filled with an outside back, gives a lot more options.

"Cory Jane and Israel Dagg are big name casualties whose struggles with form and fitness ultimately cost them a place in the squad."

I n the case of Dagg, this is BS. He's been injured, yeah, but the SR he played was excellent and he recovered in time to play some tests. He's still one of the bests FB in the world and his kicking is unvaluable in a WC.
Savea, B. Smith, Dagg, Piutau and Milner-Skuder all will be included IMO

 JW
I think that the side listed above is the same I would have chosen.  I see Sopoaga, Fekitoa and Milner-Skudder as the future of AB backline play.  All of Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu and Dan Carter are on the way out of international rugby and could be blooded by playing in the round-robin pool games in the WC - preparing them for the 2019 WC.
Would not be surprised by the omission of Dagg and Jane.  Dagg is not the player he was in 2012 when he was undoubtedly the best full back in World Rugby.   Jane is still good in patches, but he is getting past it in age terms and not really a future player to bank on.
I initially believed that the squad announcement of the AB's was supposed to be made today - but on checking the official website it is now clear the squad announcement will only be finally made at 18:30 (NZ standard time) on Sunday.