All Blacks team for 2nd irish test,,,

Starting XV: (*) detonates test caps

1. Tony Woodcock (84)
2. Andrew Hore (63)
3. Owen Franks (32)
4. Brodie Retallick (1)
5. Samuel Whitelock (26)
6. Adam Thomson (25)
7. Richie McCaw – captain (104)
8. Kieran Read (37)
9. Aaron Smith (1)
10. Daniel Carter (86)
11. Julian Savea (1)
12. Sonny Bill Williams (15)
13. Conrad Smith (56)
14. Zac Guildford (9)
15. Israel Dagg (13)

Reserves:

16. Hikawera Elliot (3)
17. Ben Franks (16)
18. Ali Williams (74)
19. Sam Cane *
20. Piri Weepu (57)
21. Aaron Cruden (10)
22. Ben Smith (3)

there were some crazy rumours that nonu was going to start over SBW, but im glad hansen stuck to the same team bar the injury to vito.
like meyer said, team core stability will be a key component to success this year.

hopefully we put on another dominating display, but will of cource settle for a win.

GO ALL BLACKS!!!

 Better side with Thompson in

I have looked at the team as indicated below and found that most of the key players in the team are going to be way too old to play in the next World Cup -  in other words players aged 28 and above.   lets look at the future and see what is the key players for the next WC:-

1. Tony Woodcock (84)                       -            Too Old
2. Andrew Hore (63)                            -            Too Old
3. Owen Franks (32)
4. Brodie Retallick (1)
5. Samuel Whitelock (26)                  -             Too old
6. Adam Thomson (25)
7. Richie McCaw – captain (104)    -              Too old
8. Kieran Read (37)                           -               ??????
9. Aaron Smith (1)
10. Daniel Carter (86)                       -              Too old
11. Julian Savea (1)
12. Sonny Bill Williams (15)
13. Conrad Smith (56)                      -              Too old
14. Zac Guildford (9)
15. Israel Dagg (13)

Reserves:

16. Hikawera Elliot (3)
17. Ben Franks (16)
18. Ali Williams (74)
19. Sam Cane *
20. Piri Weepu (57)
21. Aaron Cruden (10)
22. Ben Smith (3)

Of the 15 players in the starting line up 7 players will be too old for the next WC - while on the bench there are ttwo players that should not be in the run for the next WC.   
 

Under the circumstances I think that the same problem is facing Nw Zealand as is the case in South Africa.    However, I think both countries are in the re-building phase and New Zealand perhaps have a bigger problem with key players.than SA.   

@clevermike,

errrrr sam whitelock is only 23, unless u meant adam thomson??? in which case thomson is only there cos vito is injured. victor vito is the future ABs incumbent No6 and his injury was a massive loss, but all signs look good for him returning in time for the 4nats.

the thing with age is that brad thorn has really rewritten the book of too old in NZ. if u manage ur career and are still playing top level rugby, theres no reason why u shouldnt continue to play and not be selected.
but lets adress some of those too old players, or the way i see ot IMO,,,

tony woodcock -  31 years old. we still have the frank brothers who have filled in for him during some of his injuries and both did a great job, the versatility they both have at being able to play both sides is a major plus, especially as we have wyatt crocket and ben taumafuina in the ABs bigger picture.

andrew hore -  33 years old, the only position where i am concerned with the ABs depth. hika elliot is the obvious long term cover, but he gets that by default, cos their really is no one else. wouldnt be surprised to seee some young gun get introduced the next year or so, prob even the EOYT. depth in our hookers is a major area of conern at the moment.

richie McCaw - 31 years old, he is NZs favourite son and despite many saying hes looking old, his stats are telling a differnt story. its hard to accurately gauge his impact for 2015, but at the moment going by how hes been playing, he will definately be here for the next 2 years and i wouldnt be surprised either way if hes there for the next RWC.
but we have sam cane and unlucky matt todd ready to pounce should the unexpected happen. todd in particlular had many an AB fan surprised at his All Black omission. will only be a matter of time beofre hes in the AB framework.

kerean read - 26 years old, no problems what so ever. if he continues to play the way he has been for the last 3 years, he will win an IRB player of the year award for sure.

dan carter - 30 years old. will be 33 in the next RWC and his form plus experience will be taken into account. im not worried though, cos we still have aaron cruden and hes been the form 10 of spXV and keeps getting better and better.
i wouldnt be durprised to see carter get overtaken by cruden the next 2 years and start coming of the bench for the ABs

conrad smith - 30 years old. interestingly enough, after this weeks test he will be the statitically the most successful 13 at international level ever,
i will be surprised to see him at the next RWC though, but we have still got ben smith, richard kahui and SBW and all are outstanding 13. look for ben smith to be the incumbent soon and he will continue the successful smith name.
 

Sasu

Thanks for the information on the younger players from  New Zealand coming through.    It is really beneficial for rugby in NZ and I hope they shape up.   

Insofar as players over 30 are concerned there will always be a problem with them - since they tend to get injured more frequently and they also lose speed and as times go by  their performance is detrimentally affected.    

My viewpoints on that came through clearly when I said that players of 33- 34 are not really the best approach in the RWC.   The problem is that teams who win the cup refuses to change teams - with the result that none of the WRC winners have ever repeated winning in two successive WRC's.   The problem is the reluctance to let players go when it is evident that they do not perform on the required level anymore.   

I must admit that Brad Thorne was a good player - nothing outstanding - but his inclusion in the last WC team was not really a quality star decision - I do not agree about playing elderly players in competitions.   You should have seen what i wrote about SA players being too old for the next RWC.   Also let me expalin something - I went to the 2007 RWC in France - and was invited by friens of mine to go to NZ for the last WC.   I flatly refused because of the fact that I thought the  SA  players were too old and I did not expect any chance for SA to perform on a reasonable level.   That shows how strongly i feel about the age factor.    

@clevermike,

its really hard to explain what brad thorn as a player meant to NZ, but he was one of NZs top players and both a fan and coach favourite. he was the enforcer and the engine in the All Blacks and crusaders scrum, areal powerhouse in that department.
but i have heard similar comments about thorn from other foreign sites, but within NZ he will always be regarded as a fantastic player and a legend.

its simliar to JDV in the Boks, most NZers have no idea why hes there in the Boks the last 2 years, but the saffas and coaching staff could see what ne brought to the table and continued to select him.

at the moment those old players are playing well and formm exepreicne and class should never be overlooked, but it will be interesting to see how those guys fare come the RWC, but for now i just want them to focus on winning the irish series and then the 4nats.

i am interested to see how they handle our big named players who drop form, but i gotta trust that ther coaches will do the right thing, like grham henry did in the RWC.
in the RWCQF against argentina, henry was faced with a huge dilema, to play in form dagg over mils who was on 99 test caps. the choice should have been an easy one henry said it was one of the most difficult descions he had made in his life as he had orignally selected dagg, until dagg got injured.
the reason it was so hard for henry was not just cos mills was a loyal AB veteran who deserved his hundred, but graham henry had coached mills from auckland itm days, to auckland blues with a spXII title and then the All Blacks, so they have a stronger connection together then most players. but the fact that henry was prepared to drop him and leave him stranded on 99 tests, showed great professionalism on the coaches part and i hope hansen makes the same tough desicions when the time comes.

NZ has enoug talent coming through to fill those gaps however its not the skill that needs replacing, its the mental toughness, experience and learned composure that you need when it really matters. You need only look at how the AB's won the RWC that these elements won the game and not any youth or skillful application.

From a BOK perspective we also need to seriously look at our options:

Jaques Fouries, Fourie Du Preez, JDV, Piere Spies, Morne Steyn, Dannie Roussow, Bryan Habana, Juan Smith, Schalk Burger (Schalk worries me the most as he is becoming more suspectable to injurie and 4 years on with the way he plays he may not even be in the loop?) Guthro Steenkamp to name those that will be at the fringe????

I think we need not worry what is happening with the AB's as they have never had a problem putting a good team on the field. I suggest strongly we focus on what strategy we the Boks will go forward and develop depth, knowledge, experience and trust amongst our core players....

I do fear what repurcussions world rugby may feel now that the chokers and monkey has been taken off the back of the All Blacks.....hhhmmmm will be interesting........Point to take to hand was the fact that the AB's for the fiirst time lost two games before the build up before the RWC so the huge expectaions and complacency we knew they had in previous cups was gone.

Go the Bokkies!!!!