Franks and Messam out, Carter likely, Nonu in doubt

Franks and Messam out, Carter likely, Nonu in doubt

The All Blacks have run out their first training session in Hamilton today as the World Champions reassembled after the bulk of the squad – minus ten players who spent time in the ITM Cup – had the last week to rest easy, before resuming hostilities in Round Three of The Investec Rugby Championship, against Argentina in Hamilton.

A new tighthead will start for the All Blacks after Owen Franks was ruled out with a groin concern, while Liam Messam will likely have to watch Steven Luatua increase his claims on the blindside position, after the Chiefs co-captain hamstring injury was not cleared for action.

Ma’a Nonu, who has been under a small cloud due to an ankle injury, has not been ruled out at this stage for the All Blacks. If he is, Francis Saili or Ryan Crotty are chances to make their Test starting debuts, although another backup for the second five-eighth position could be cleared to play.

While Dan Carter is the team’s senior number ten, head coach Steve Hansen did confirm he was also in the squad for cover, due to the team’s limited options at number 12.

Carter and Beauden Barrett are both likely to be available for selection, and pending on what the week unfolds both could play prominent roles in the upcoming Test.

However with second five-eighth a position the All Blacks would desperately love to develop depth in, there is a strong likelihood of the impressive Saili or Crotty could move into contention for a start.

wonder how bad messams injury really is??? o_O
get better soon messam. luckily we have the comps form blindside flanker in luatua, :o)

but weve got carter and barret back which is a nice bonus.

ive been one of nonus most passionate supporters here, but i cant help this feeling that it would be better for the All Blacks in the long run to maybe have him sit this one out.
give him ample time to get ready for the Boks where we will need him, while we continue the grooming process with saili and crotty.

after thinking about this situation some more, i would rather the time be invested in crotty, buts its great that both can play inside and outside center.

no owen franks, no worries cos afeaki just called into the squad.
of all the players to miss out on squad selection, afeaki IMO was the worst of the lot, he should have been there from the start.

ok in light of recent updates, All Blacks team most likely to play the pumas,,,,
1 t woodcock, 2 d coles, 3 c faumuina, 4 b retallick, 5 s whitelock, 6 s luatua, 7 R McCaw, 8 k read, 9 a smith, 10 d carter, 11 j savea, 12 f saili, 13 c smith, 14 b smith, 15 i dagg
16 a hore, 17 b franks, 18 b afeaki, 19 j thrush, 20 s cane, 21 t kerr barlow, 22 b barret, 23 c piutau

would much rather prefer crotty at 12 in case nonus injured.

GO ALL BLACKS!!!

@naru,
agree with your most likely AB team to face Argentina except in the hooker spot. I think Hansen will go with Hore instead of Coles because of his experience and his scrummaging skills. Although it's very soon yet, It seems that with the new scrum rules there will be more differences btwin the forward packs. New rules seem to reward good scrummaging with more ball wins, specially more tighthead wins, and more penalties. Before the rules changing the penalties were a lottery and it was very difficult to win a scrum with the rival introducing the ball.

And even though I would play with the backline you noted, the article open another possibility and give it many chances when it says that Carter is also a cover for 12 and:

"Carter and Beauden Barrett are both likely to be available for selection, and pending on what the week unfolds both could play prominent roles in the upcoming Test."

If BB plays at 10 and DC at 12, then with these 2 playmakers I would go with a more attacking outside center like Rene Ranger (but he dismissed the AB) or Fruean (coming from an open heart surgery). So in this case I would try with B. Smith at 13 and Piutau on the wing

I realize Carter played at 12 for a long time before converting to 10, however, I think it would be foolish to start him off there. He's much much more dangerous at 10 and should only ever play at 12 when you guys have no other choice..

Saili is a talent needing test experience and who better to blood him against than the Pumas.

Not sure what all the booha is about regarding Crotty. I don't rate him as anything other than a average super rugby player. Definitely not a test choice ... surely?

i agree with cleancut, only play carter at 12 when we have no other choice.

the reality is, no one will be surprised if carters body fails to see him through or to another RWC, hes on the wrong side of 30 and while his bodys holding up better then the likes of goose, one has to expect him to never play a full All Black season ever again.

i want to see carter at the 2015 RWC, i think he has a shitload lot to offer, but shag and fozzie need to be smart and start lightning up his workload, start him for the killer matches including any test vs Boks, wallys, france and eng, but give others a run for the other matches. this weekend is different, cos carter hasnt played in the RC this year,

carter at 12 is just going to give him more things he dosent need on his plate IMO, let the best flyhalf ever play 10 and manage him correctly so he can get that RWC final win he covets so much.

best we use the time we do have left before the RWC and give players like crotty and saili as much game time as possible.

ive got no doubt that everyone who plays 12 including nonu is just keeping the 12 jersey warm till SBW returns from the NRL wilderness, but what if SBW is injured at the most inopportune time??? nonu can then fill in easily, but what if we suffer a flyhalf breakdown like we didn in the 2011 RWC and this years RC/4nats???
the time we invest now in the likes of crotty and saili will come in very handy for that worst case scenario.