All Blacks squad named for Steinlager Series - 6 new caps

All Blacks squad named for Steinlager Series - 6 new caps

The All Blacks selectors, Head Coach Steve Hansen, Assistant Coach Ian Foster and former All Black Grant Fox have named their squad for the three Steinlager Series Tests against France, with Kieran Read named as captain and six new caps selected.

The squad is as follows: (with province and Test caps. New caps are in bold)

Forwards

Hookers
Dane Coles - Wellington (4)
Andrew Hore - Taranaki (74)
Keven Mealamu - Auckland (102)

Props
Ben Afeaki North Harbour
Wyatt Crockett - Canterbury (11)
Ben Franks - Hawke-s Bay (23)
Owen Franks - Canterbury (45)
Tony Woodcock - North Harbour (96)

Locks
Brodie Retallick - Bay of Plenty (13)
Luke Romano - Canterbury (11)
Jeremy Thrush - Wellington
Samuel Whitelock - Canterbury (39)

Loose Forwards
Sam Cane - Bay of Plenty (5)
Steven Luatua - Auckland
Liam Messam - Waikato (20)
Kieran Read, captain - Canterbury (48)
Victor Vito - Wellington (20)


Halfbacks
Tawera Kerr-Barlow - Waikato (2)
Aaron Smith - Manawatu (13)
Piri Weepu - Auckland (69)

First five–eighths
Beauden Barrett - Taranaki (5)
Daniel Carter - Canterbury (94)
Aaron Cruden - Manawatu (20)

Midfielders
Ma'a Nonu - Wellington (76)
Rene Ranger - Northland (3)
Francis Saili - North Harbour
Conrad Smith - Wellington (66)

Outside backs
Israel Dagg - Hawke's Bay (25)
Charles Piutau - Auckland
Julian Savea - Wellington (9)
Ben Smith - Otago (12)

Injury replacement:
Matt Todd - Canterbury

The 32-man squad features six new caps, including the exciting Blues backline duo of North Harbour’s Francis Saili and Aucklander Charles Piutau, while there are three new caps in the forwards: Chiefs and North Harbour prop Ben Afeaki, Blues and Auckland loose forward Steven Luatua and Hurricanes and Wellington lock Jeremy Thrush. Meanwhile, Crusaders loose forward Matt Todd will also come into the Steinlager Series squad as an injury replacement for lock Samuel Whitelock who is recovering from a broken finger and is expected to be available for the Third Test. The squad also features the return of Northland and Blues back Rene Ranger, who played three Tests in 2010.

Players unavailable for selection due to injury include Charlie Faumuina (calf) and Cory Jane (knee) as well as wider training group member Dominic Bird (shoulder).

Kieran Read will captain the Steinlager Series squad and Daniel Carter is vice–captain.

The backs - forwards split for the squad sees 18 forwards selected (three hookers, five props, four locks and six loose forwards) and 14 backs (three halfbacks, three first five–eighths, four midfielders and four outside backs) and the squad has a combined total of 905 Test caps. Versatility is the key in the backs with a number of players able to play in multiple positions.

The squad is made up of five Highlanders players, eight Crusaders, seven Hurricanes, six Chiefs and six Blues while provincial representation is led by Canterbury (seven players) with Wellington (six), Auckland (four), North Harbour (three), Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Taranaki, Hawke’s Bay and Manawatu (two); and Northland and Otago (one).

All Blacks Head Coach Steve Hansen said: “In picking the side, the selectors have looked at, firstly, a combination of Super Rugby form and past All Blacks form and secondly, getting the balance right between experience and new blood.

“In doing that, we have looked to take the opportunity to introduce six new players (including Matt Todd) and the selectors would like to congratulate those young men on being selected. That means we have introduced 15 new players to our environment in the last 12 months thus accomplishing one of our goals of having a mixture of experience and enthusiastic new faces.

“It’s now about consolidating and narrowing our focus for this three–match Test series against what will be a very good French side. They are a team never to be underestimated.”

Hansen said the Series also gave the All Blacks the opportunity to grow their on–field and off–field leadership with Kieran Read being announced as captain an example of this.

“The selectors would like to personally congratulate Kieran on this great honour for both him and his family.”

Hansen said as with any All Blacks squad selection, there were a number of players who were unlucky to miss out either through non–selection or injury.

“But I would like to emphasise that we as selectors believe that over time a number of these players will be seen in the black jersey so our message to these young men is to keep striving and be ready for your opportunity when it comes.”

France returns to New Zealand for the first time since the thrilling Rugby World Cup Final in 2011 and the first three–match Series in New Zealand since 1968.

The All Blacks squad assembles in Auckland today to prepare for the first Test next Saturday at Eden Park. The second Test is at Christchurch's AMI Stadium (Addington) on Saturday 15 June and the third Test at Yarrow Stadium, New Plymouth, on Saturday 22 June.

The David Gallaher Cup, which the All Blacks and France have been contesting since 2000, will again be on the line. The All Blacks are the current holders.

The new All Blacks - mini biographies

BEN AFEAKI is a formidable force in the Chiefs front row. He made his first–class debut at 19 years of age and was part of the World Championship-winning New Zealand Under 19 and Under 20 teams. He was a standout player for the Maori All Blacks on last year’s European Tour, captained North Harbour in the 2012 ITM Cup Championship and has also represented New Zealand in water polo.

STEVEN LUATUA’s selection in the All Blacks recognises the impact the powerful young loose forward has made so far this season, his debut season in Super Rugby.
He made his first class debut in 2010 at 19 years old and in 2011 was part of the Junior World Championship-winning New Zealand Under 20 side alongside a number of his new All Blacks teammates.

CHARLES PIUTAU is a fleet-footed fullback and one of the fastest men in New Zealand rugby. Piutau was part of the 2011 Junior World Championship-winning New Zealand Under 20 team – he was the team’s top try scorer - and he also starred for the All Blacks Sevens team that won the World Series in 2011/12.

FRANCIS SAILI, who has been turning out at second five-eighth for the Blues in 2013, has earned All Blacks selection with a bustling display of strength and skill in the midfield. Saili is another new All Black who was part of the New Zealand Under 20 team that won the Junior World Championship in Italy in 2011.

JEREMY THRUSH, with close to 200 first class matches under his belt, brings plenty of experience to the All Blacks pack. He is now in his sixth season with the Hurricanes and captained Wellington last year. Thrush was the IRB Under 19 Player of the Year in 2004 and has also played for the Junior All Blacks.

MATT TODD. The injury replacement player has had an outstanding 2013 Super Rugby season with the openside flanker adding a strong ball-carrying game to the outstanding defensive skills. Todd played First XV rugby alongside Owen Franks and has won three ITM Cup titles with Canterbury. He joined the All Blacks training squad in the latter stages of Rugby World Cup 2011.

All Blacks Management

Steve Hansen – Head Coach / Selector
Ian Foster – Assistant Coach / Selector
Grant Fox – Selector
Darren Shand – Manager
Gilbert Enoka – Assistant Manager
Mike Cron – Forwards Coach
Brian "Aussie" McLean – Defence Coach
Mick Byrne – Skills Coach
Alistair Rogers - Performance Analyst
Dr Tony Page – Doctor
Peter Gallagher – Physiotherapist
George Duncan – Manual Therapist
Dr Nic Gill – Strength and Conditioning Coach
Katrina Darry – Nutritionist
Errol Collins – Logistics
Joe Locke – Media Manager
Bianca Thiel – Executive Assistant

very solid and predicatble squad, they all deserve their spots except thrush who is clearly there for cover to the injured whitelock and bird.

also glad to see them select barlow, last year they only went with two halfbacks, but given smiths up and dpwn form and barlows steady and consistent performances, they have seleted the perfect number of 9s.
i hope weepus all right though, hes clearly the ioncumbent IMO.

really want to see luatua get picked in the matchday team, he deserves to start and i hope hansen recognises that messams form just hasnt been what it was last year, it has been like it was every other year, average to solid performances, but with large patches of where hes missing all together, very un AB like.
i would put vito ahead of messam too on the bench, with  my loose forward trio being 6 s luatua, 7 s cane, 8 k read.

matt todd should have been included last year, was very unlucky to be snubbed for sam cane. cane may have worked out, but todd was the better No7 leading into that june test series.

all in all very happy with the squad, i wish we had more time together, but less then a week to go before we party into another international year.
time for that 100% win rate now All Blacks, we came close last year, but 2013 is a new year for us to try again, :o)

GO ALL BLACKS!!!

Sasue

Thanks for the info and I think as always the All Black will be a strong team and should easily run over the French.   However, purely based on form in Super 15 this year there are playes who indeed are lucky to be included and the situation is that in fact thr team should have been a move backwards from the highs of 2011 and 2012.,

Of the selected players - I would say the actual team to start should be as follows:-

15   Charles Piutau

14   Ben Smith

13  Rene Ranger

12  Dan Carter

11  Julian Savea 

10  Aaron Cruden

  9  Taweera Kerr-Barlow

  8  Kieran Reid

  7  Sam Cane

  6  Steven Luatua

  5  Luke Romano

  4  Brodie Retallick

  3  Owen Franks

  2  Dane Coles

  1  Wyatt Crocket 

Replacements :

16  Andrew Hore

17  Tony Woodcock

18  Jeremy Thrush

19  Victor Vito

20  Piri Weepu

21  Conrad Smith

22  Israel Dagg

I know the above is not the team that Hansen will select - but I think Hansen has some serious problems in some positions.   The props, hooker, locks, scrummie and center positions - based on performances in 2013 are seriously defective.  

Props :  Crocket and Ben Franks are penalty machines, and I think Hansens has no option but to select Crockett and Owen Franks.  How these two are going to perform on international level - is really a guess, but  am not overly optimistic.

Hookers :  Just a feeble joke as far as I am concerned.   Not really a top crew - that lot

Locks :  I know the New Zealanders like Retallick - but for me he is not up to standard in line-outs and poor in mauls.  Sorry Sam Whitelock is not available for the first two tests.  Thush is an insult to past All Blacks locks of repute.

Scrummies :  Even yesterday Perenera showed some gas.   Weepu started off like a house on fire - but under pressure he has not shown up at all.   Kerr-Barlow has the same problem and Smith was a joke this year.

Centers :   Hansen's choice would be Nonu and Smith - but both were questionable - if not downright poor - in Super 15.  

I hope the All Blacks perform well against th French and that they have a better crew to select from in the Championships.  

That looks like an experienced squad, with far fewer unproven players than the Bok squad. Advantage ABs.

Mozart

I agree about the experience comments - but some of the players are riding on experience and not performance in Super 15 this year.   I do not think you may have watched a lot of rugby of the New Zealand conference sides - I watched all their matches.

Take for instance Nonu - he was just as bad at 12 as was Francois Steyn.  Conrad Smith was poor in all the matches he played in.   Hore is no good at hooker.   Dagg was poor all year in  whatsoever position they played him - his defence was putrid and his attacking runs virtually non-existent.  The scrummies did not look good either.  Weepu started off like a house on fuire and became very average when under pressure.   The best one of the three was Kerr-Barlow - but he was not a house on fire either.   

Virtually every player had a patchy Super 15 this year - some bloody awful at times.   If they play on international level like they did in Supert 15 - the All Blacks might have a problem.

Expereience can bite you back - if you are not careful.   People are often enough kept in teams way past their sell by date - because of expereience and they do become an embarrassment in the end.   My advice always is watch experienced players carefully.   If they under-perform on a continuous basis during a seasn - signs are there for them to depart.  However, coaches leave that one until it is too late and the team gets humiliated as a result.  

All rhese players are excellent....and will even be better once they pull the All Blacks jersey on I'm afraid.

Arthur John

My comments are in the main only based on Super 15 form and the players are likely to perform better in the All Black environment,   However, I gained the distinct impression that some are past their prime - so all we can do is wait and see what happens later this year.  

Comment from Keo:

"All Blacks coach Steve Hansen selected six new caps for the three-Test series against France.

The World Chumpions look vulnerable at loose-forward and hooker and several out of form veterans have been included".

Ou maaaikie you seem to be putting your finger on something here. I did warn the abs that they needed to renew their side after the Boks munched them at Dunedin and the Poms showed them up big time at twicks. Have they done enough one wonders.

I see Hansen only inluded 6 wee chiefies in his squad. Ou brycy will be frothing at the mouth again! Please remember brycy and second string Stormers whipped the wee chiefies and hansen had to take that into account. Get some real perspective eh brycy.

Looks like the Forgs, provided they have a half decent team, could surprise the puffed up windbags from down under.

Beeno setting the record straight for the week ahead.

Bean Brain one Chief is the equivalant to 10 French players so we are keeping the Chiefs to a minimum so not to completely embarrass the Frogs...

From memory Bean Brain  your sorry arse team should be truly thankful to the Almighty Chiefs for giving them some rope to help them off the bottom of the table...

obviously too much rope though and they hung themselves  tooooo bad ....another sign that cheats like Peyper don't prosper - "diabolical reffereeing decisions" quoting yr hero Justin Marshall ,sunk the Chiefs at Newlands

...but i aint bovered coz the Mighty Chiefs are on top of Super XV mountain  to quote Big Chief fan sitting bull....

Go the Mighty Chiefs - hit us with some more of that  Mooloo Magic...

 Not too sure about Carter at 12 Mike. Why would you wana put the best 10 in the world (still is) at 12? I think Carter is slowing up a bit and will be exposed at 12. At 10, he has all the skills. If I was AB coach now, I would seriously have to assess whether or not Carter has 1 more WC in him. If he does, he must play every game that he is fit at 10. Cant wrap him up in cotton wool ala McCaw because he will start to lose his touch if he is not playing enough.

If Carter realistically will not show his normal attributes in 2015, he must move aside now and play a development role to Cruden and Anscombe maybe? Barrett can not be considered as long as his defence is weaker than Elton Jantjies!!

Ben Smith needs to play. Israel Dagg and Charles Piutau need to sit back and watch as long as Smith is fit. Ben Smith, unlike Dagg, is good enough to play multiple positions in the back line so he could be shifted onto the wing but I like to see him at 15. I think he is deadly from there and huge when he joins the line from depth. This kid is the next in line to become a great AB 15 and there is a history of great AB 15's. Dagg and Smith are both great players on attack. Difference between them is Smith is always great. Dagg, not so much. When he is poor, he looks like a headless chook on the field and he gets bounced a lot. Lack of strength in the tackle.

One must remember that AB's still need to welcome back their best back of all. Cory Jane! They will be the team to beat again in 2013. Make no error!

boklogic

Who has Hansen as potential no 12's in his squad?  Only Nonu and Saili.  Nonu was shit poor this year in Super 15  and Saili was not much better.   That was the reason why I thought Carter could play at 12

Center is one point where very little is coming through for the AB's.   After th departure of SBW they have only Nonu left and he is as I said - nothing to write home about,   I know Hansen will select Nonu and I think after his latest injury scre Carter will not be played on Saturday.   So my selection is based  on Super 15 form - so lets wait and see what happens.

I doubt not that the AB's wil beat the French - but I have nagging doubts about some of their players, 

Sasuke, are they going to look at a replacement for Piri Weepu? I'm expecting Taweera Kerr-Barlow to be the starting scrumhalf and I think Aaron Smith is very lucky to make the squad ahead of TJ Perenara.

Good squad but you guys have to be worried about 2nd 5. I know you say that Nonu always performs in an All Black jersey but it would require one of the most sudden form turnarounds in history if he were to do it this time. You also look a little thin at hooker.

@rooy,

regarding weepu, do u mean cos hes old and its time for new blood or cos of that concussion???
if concussion, then reports are hes perfectly fine but not doing any contact in training and a call will be made about him later on in the week.
if its about new blood, if this was last year then i would say hell yeah, cos he was shocking in the 2012 spXV, but ive been very impressed with his performance in 2013, so much so that i think hes the incumbent easy.
the thing is we dont need him against the french, so as long as hes all good for the Boks and especially the wallaby tests, its all good in the hood.
im not sold on tj perenara TBH, as a canes supporter im probably harder on the cane players then the rest, but he and barret have had me blowing gaskets too many times this season for me to not even be slightly bothered by his omission, lolz.

yeah im confident nonu will come through, but even in NZ circles his current form and super rugby form for the last 5 years has been wearing thin. i do go to bat often for the guy but we are looking very thin at 12.
IMO ranger could be one serious option there, he has all the necessary physicality to deal with the opponents on both attack and defence, plus many other tricks up his sleeve.
francis saili will benefit by being in the All Blacks squad, but hes still not ready for that next level, even against the french so i dont consider him a real option, though hansen might see it differently.
i dont like carter at 12 and if we were going to go down a more first reciever type of a 2nd 5, then i would want tom taylor there instead. IMO carter is the No10 end of story.
carters battaling a hand injury at the moment, but we dont need him for the french, like weepu, as long as hes ready for the IRC, its all good.

our hookers do look very thin, hansen needs to address this area big time and should have started with the irish last june, be that as it may, coles is familiar with the All Blacks, so hes the best for now.
IMO the 2013 EOYT will be great, as ged robinson is returning to NZ and if he performs well in the ITM, then he will be going on tour, hopefully geoff parsons from the blues is selected too, something tells me if he wasnt injured he would have been in serious contention for selection.

Sasuke, regarding Weepu, I meant the concussion. Glad to hear he's okay. I was quite worried because he lay very still for a long time!

Ranger at 2nd 5 is a very interesting idea because he seems to have all the skills for the position and he's very hard to bring down, but then he should have played a few games in the #12 jersey this season. Bit late now. Yes, I would also have included Tom Taylor in the squad if I was Hansen.

Sasue

I hope you are not mad about my comments above - most of the buggers i used in my fantasy selections cost me dearly and I have not forgiven them for that.  

I agree that Ranger would be a good option at 12 - but then I also think that Smith was poor this year and he will be a liability at 13 - unless there is a dramatic reversal of form. When will the final team be announced? 

@mikey,

i dont why u thougt i would be mad at any of ur comments, we all have opinons about the state of things, but u should know by now that even though i may not agree with all ur points of view, i have a lot of respect for u, rooy and many others here. i dont even mind ur needling as u put it, cos i have more then my fair share with lady elizabeth and the balme the ref saffa stereotype, LMAO, :oD
before i replied to rooy, i was originally going to reply to ur comments, but then i read rooy and got side tracked as i replied to him and my rugby train of thought was off on another track, LMAO, :oD

but enough of this embarassing bromance and lets get back to the rugger, regarding some of ur comments, ive got no rpoblems with that team against the french, but definately not against the wallabies or Boks, all except for carter at 12. IMO carter is still very valuable as i consider him the best 10 in the wolrd still, so putting him at 12 will betoo much of a test for his all ready aging body. if hes managed correctly, he can be of great value come the RWC, but hansens needs to cut his playing time now, meaning let cruden take the lions share of the tests, with carter to start all wallabies and Bok tests and the negland tes too, but play him off the bench for the rest.

it would be easy to say conrads been kak, cos he has been, but he was in great form for the first month and a half.
i dont mind having him there at the moment, but hansen really needs to start the phasing out of snake and phasing in of ranger at 13, as rangers form warrants it big time. its the one selection right now i dont mind seeing even for the main tests against our SANZAR bros.

ur right regarding crockett and ben franks, i went with ben franks as hes the lesser of two evils. IMO other then some brain explosions he had at the hurricanes, hes been generally very good, i think hes just been trying to do too much at the huuricanes cos of the fact that some of those hurricane forwards are lazy pricks and also him trying to make a stament to hansen, especially after 2012 saw ben franks fall out of the top 4 preferred props.

i disagree regarding weepu, IMO hes been great for the blues all season. his ball delivery and control around the ruck is 3nd to none, only genia IMO does it better. watch the way weepu acts to pressure around him when the oppoisition forwards are getting the better of the blues at the breakdown, hes very calm and makes wise decisions, all thanks to exepreince hes garnered over the years.
i cant see him in the RWC, but he has plenty of value in terms of the big tests this year and the still green young hlafbacks.
he definately dosent have the gas that the younger boys do, but hes a shit load stronegr then all of them and probably has forgeotten more trickes then the younger generation have ever known combined.

hookers are an issue, but hopefully parsons and robinon on the EOYT will help rectify that matter, but the immediate and long term future regarding the hooker is an area of concern.
i am surprised hika elliot didnt even geta mention, hes had some good games for the chiefs, but i guess if injury becomes a problem, hes an easy short term quick fix.

not worried about our locks, IMO romao and rettalick are world class who can handle their own against the worlds best, and it will only get stronger once sam returns from injury, so all good there.
i know u dont agree, but we will never see eye to ey on this topic, -_o

the most pleasing thing about the All Blacks is that we havent selected any players based overseas, or any players leaving for overseas, its baffaling as to how this simple mindset is something that NZ are lightyears ahead of SA of. its one thing to have depth, its another to do nothing constructive with that depth.

i am disappointed with saveas selection though, hes fallen out of my books completely since he hit his missus and i find his selection and embarassment.
i know hes a talent, but NZRU could have made a real statement by banning him from the All Blacks and shown not just NZ but the world a powerful message.

i would have slected frank halai, IMO frank halai is the very posterchild of the blues season. he has serious potential to be a worldbeater, but needs all the rough edges smoothed out, something some time in the All Blacks camp could do nicely.

My starting backline given Carter out with hand injury and lack of real winger other than Savea:

15 Smith

14 Ranger

13 Smith

12 Nonu

11 Savea

10 Cruden

9 Weepu

Sas - agree that Halai should have been given a serious look. Of the 4 outside backs selected, only one real specialist winger. With Halai on the wing would put Ranger at 13. Nonu there at 12 because of lack of other options. Ben Smith just too good this year to not start at 15 and he needs to be there where he can operate in space and also select where to join the line. He would be under-utilized on the wing. Nonu, Savea, Ranger, Halai would be some serious bulldozers with Cruden and B Smith providing the flair.

@oimatey,
very hard for me to condemn savea when u start naming backlines like that, LMAO, :oP

thats an awesome lineup all right, but i not select dagg, even though ben smiths form is better.

my carterless All Blacks backline would be,,,
9 p weepu, 10 a cruden, 11 r anger, 12 m nonu, 13 c smith, 14 b smith, 15 i dagg
21 a smith, 22 b barret, 23 c piutau

heres what i think the All Blacks backline might look like come the 2015 RWC,,,
9 a smith, 10 a cruden, 11 j savea, 12 SBW, 13 r ranger, 14 f halai, 15 i dagg/b smith
21 t kerr barlow, 22 t taylor, 23 b smith/i dagg

now now my saffa brus, that RWC backline is all hypothetical, no need to start soiling those pants, :oP
OMG that backline for the RWC will ensure the All Blacks victory in 2015, saffas have their monster forwards but the kiwis have their monster backs, :oD

 SBW needs to just box, or go to UFC. Heavyweight version of Jon Bones Jones. He just needs to give up on this rugby stuff - its not a good fit in my opinion :) haha !!

My Carterless AB backline (from the current AB squad):

15 C Piutau 14 R Ranger 13 C Smith 12 F Saili 11 J Savea 10 A Cruden 9 T Kerr-Barlow

I'd be very tempted to play Rene Ranger in the #12 jersey or even Conrad Smith at #12 (with Ranger at #13 and B Smith or Dagg on the right wing) but in the end I went for players in their current positions (Ranger is proven on the wing).

Agree with you guys that Frank Halai should have been in the squad. I commented very early in the season that in Julian Savea and Frank Halai, the All Blacks could unleash an incredibly powerful and strong wing combination.

I know Israel Dagg is regarded as the world's best fullback but he's been nothing short of crap in this year's S15 while Charles Piutau has been consistently brilliant. in fact I reckon Ben Smith would be my second choice at fullback with Dagg a distant third. I suppose it comes down to whether you're picking on form or reputation. I don't doubt Hansen is going to go with Dagg though.

I also think Taweera Kerr-Barlow offers more than Piri Weepu or Aaron Smith, especially on defence. Having said that, I would definitely consider Weepu's experience if I was missing Dan Carter.

 Rooi - can't disagree with that lineup. 12 is problematic for the AB's

Saili at 12 brings a creative attacking edge but I think he gives up some on defense. He would work against the Aussie backline, but I think the Boks would take advantage of him with big-bodied Serfontein / JDV. If I remember right JDV's try against the Blues was through a F Saili tackle.

If France starts the Bastard at center I wouldn't trot Saili out there either except to be eaten as roadkill after the match :)

Oimatey, Saili's opposite number would pobably be the excellent Wesley Fofana rather than the inconsistent Mathieu Bastereaud.

Bastereaud is either half decent or woefully crap and I suspect there's more likelihood of Saili making the Bastard look foolish rather than vice versa . . . especially on Saili's early season form when he was sensational at times. Fofana is a completely different kettle of fish though. If I was Hansen I'd get one of my loosies to run a slightly deeper line just to keep an extra eye on Fofana.

 Point taken Rooi and agree Saili has flair that would make him look foolish but Saili's defense is for me a trade-off that has to be considered and as you point out could be game planned by the AB's so maybe its not a concern. I would expect Basteroidrage at 13 if he is in the lineup.

Willison was getting some starts over Saili with the Blues which is a little bit of a flag. I expect Saili to be used as a super sub towards the end of the game in the AB setup.

@rooy,

i dont have any problem with that backline either, but only against the french, against the wallabies or Boks i want players who have been tried and tested at All Black level.

i would be really surprised if saili is selected in the All Blacks 22/23 period, IMO hes there as cover, but we might see him on the bench in the thrid or second test on the bench.
i reckon he has heaps to offer on attack, but he has a bad habbit where he tends to go missing for large periods of the game, a quality i dont like in any player.

if saili does get a chance and happens to go up against basteraud, IMO saili would shine, but i dont rate basteraud very much, hopefully the dudes got his mental issues sorted and that he dosent go around making any more false assault claims, lolz.

ive been hearing a lot about this fofana from a few kiwis based in france, but the number of injuries this french team has, its hard not to get overconfident, though history has repeatedly shown that thats a dangerous attitude, ah well as long as the All Blacks take them as a serious threat, thats all that matters i guess.

Have been hearing how the French are still waiting on 8 players from club playoffs so their first test team is only a French selection squad anyway.

Sounds like easy pickings but no doubt the ABs will not be taking the game too lightly.