All Blacks team to play scotland,,,

All Blacks team named for Scotland Test

The All Blacks team to play Scotland in the opening Test of the All Blacks Air New Zealand European Tour has been named.

- Strong side selected for tour opener
- Two new caps in reserves

The team is as follows: (with Test caps in brackets. * denotes a new cap)

Starting XV:

1. Wyatt Crockett (7)
2. Andrew Hore (72)
3. Owen Franks (41)
4. Luke Romano (8)
5. Samuel Whitelock (35)
6. Adam Thomson (28)
7. Richie McCaw – captain (113)
8. Victor Vito (17)
9. Piri Weepu (66)
10. Daniel Carter (92)
11. Julian Savea (5)
12. Tamati Ellison (3)
13. Ben Smith (9)
14. Cory Jane (38)
15. Israel Dagg (22)

Reserves:

16. Dane Coles *
17. Tony Woodcock (92)
18. Ben Franks (21)
19. Ali Williams (75)
20. Sam Cane (4)
21. Tawera Kerr–Barlow *
22. Beauden Barrett (2)
23. Ma’a Nonu (73)


The key feature of the squad for the All Blacks opening match is the selection of a strong side, with a total of 556 caps in the starting XV and an additional 267 caps of experience on the bench. Another highlight is the inclusion of the two new caps, 25–year–old hooker Dane Coles and 22–year–old halfback Tawera Kerr–Barlow in the reserves.

In the starting XV, prop Wyatt Crockett gets his eighth Test start for the All Blacks and is alongside hooker Andrew Hore and prop Owen Franks in the front row. Luke Romano and Samuel Whitelock are in the second row while in the loose forwards, Adam Thomson is at blindside flanker, Victor Vito makes his third Test start at number eight, while the side will again be captained by Richie McCaw in his familiar seven jersey.

In the backs, Piri Weepu has been picked at halfback, Vice-Captain Daniel Carter is at first five–eighth, while there is a new midfield combination with Otago and Highlanders teammates Tamati Ellison and Ben Smith combining at second five–eighth and centre respectively. In the outside backs, Julian Savea and Cory Jane are the wings with Israel Dagg at fullback.

An eight–man reserves bench has been named, with the All Blacks and other international teams trialling the new International Rugby Board (IRB) law amendment which allows an extra front rower on the bench.

Joining Coles and Kerr–Barlow on the reserves bench are props Tony Woodcock and Ben Franks, lock Ali Williams, loose forward Sam Cane and Beauden Barrett and Ma’a Nonu in the backs.

All Blacks Head Coach Steve Hansen said: “The team is excited about kicking off our Tour in Scotland in front of a packed house at Murrayfield.

“We have had a good build–up this week and the key for us has been to get our preparation spot on so we can put in a performance on Sunday which we are proud of. However, we know that the Scots will lift for this Test match and we expect them to be very combative.”

The All Blacks have played Scotland 28 times since 1905, with 26 wins to the All Blacks and two draws – in 1964 and 1983. The teams last played in 2010 at Murrayfield on the All Blacks Northern Hemisphere Tour, with the All Blacks winning 49–3 on that occasion.

i love this All Blacks team, especially the selection of ben smith at 13, as IMO ben smith is the All Blacks heir apparent to conrads throne and as we all know conrad is currently the world best 13 not just in my books, but bobby skinstadts and many others worldwide.

the selection of tamati ellison at 12 is experimental, but we are building some deoth in the 12 department which will hold us in good steed come the 2015 RWC.
ellison is 29 making him 32 by the time next RWC comes and while that is pushing on the time to graze on the greener pastures fixture, its a good age IMO to give the All Blacks the depth required, especially as we still have SBW who IMO will return to the NZ rugby in 2014 at the latest, but im quietly thinking he will be back next year.

we have two new debutabnts in the team, tarewa kerr barlow and dane coles and again this is a fantastic pathof devlopment for the All Blacks future, especially as the hooker depth is an area of concern for me.
i dont think that coles is ready though and im a hurricanes fan, IMO hansen should have gone with hika elliot, but he has been usurped at the chiefs ion favour of mahorni schwalger the former manu samoa captain and hikas form in the ITM wasnt really the best considering the level that is the ITM which is similar to the CC.

i cant help but think the 23 man bench is going to benefit the All Blacks big time, especially if its implemented permanently in the future, but i do rate our forwards very highly, easily the most balanced in temrs of physicality and mobility, but also the most mobile pack in the world bar none.

while our opponents are only scotland, a team the All Blacks have never lost to in their entire history, i do thin the lack of synergy the team has and the new faces will not make the game a blowout, im thinking a 20-25 pt win.
the reality is the All Blacks are using this test match to try new things and thats perfect, cos the likes of italy and scotland are exactly the types of teams to try this on, but i do want to see our top teams against england and wales, pretty much the team that played the wallabies in brisbane, but owen franks and julian savea to start instead.

GO THE MIGHTY MIGHTY ALL BLACKS!!!