Next All Black captain . . .

Kieran Read will be retiring from international rugby after the 2019 RWC and there are several candidates to become next All Black captain.

The website Stuff.co.nz lists the following candidates:

Beauden Barrett

Brodie Retallick

Sam Cane

Sam Whitelock

Dane Coles

Sam Whitelock would be the logical choice but he's not young and he hasn't committed to the ABs beyond 2019 (yet).

Sam Cane captained the All Blacks in a RWC game in 2015 which looked like succession planning but is Sam Cane a guaranteed starter in the #7 jersey? Ardie Savea might have something to say about that.

Brodie Retallick's All Black contract is coming up for renewal and if he commits he could be a candidate but is he a leader? He didn't display too many leadership qualities when the Chiefs were humbled by the Sunwolves last weekend.

Beauden Barrett hasn't had much experience as captain and the All Blacks tend to pick a skipper with a single digit number on his back.

Dane Coles has all the attributes and he'd be my choice . . . assuming he is finally over all his concussion issues that made him sit out the whole of last season.

Anyone else?

Beeno

Interesting discussion. - but I am not sure about the captaincy of the AB's as well.    I would say Coles is out - his age count against him and the capataincy would potentially have top last through to 2023.   Other than that Whielocj was comparatively poor last year and lasting to 2023 is beyond him.

Sam Cane is to my mind the most likely candidate.   I d not think Ardie will play at 6 in future - he will likely be in contention as a blindside flank or even no 8,   Ardie is very good - but he does play like being a blindside flank. 

The other option could be  Retallick - but I agree with you he is no captaincy material,   It could even effect his performances  as a  player detrimentally.          

yes, he did,.... and I would be very upset if someone call me "Beeno",....

Sorry Rooinek - sincere apologies, 

No problem Augenoffner . . . I mean ou Maaik!

Sam Whitelock, no doubt,..... IMO he's the best skipper currently in NZ,.... he's even better than Read,... though I wouldn't change him until after the WC,....

Whitelock has been very impressive captaining the saders these 2 last seasons,... very respected by mates and refs,.... incredibly centered in the job,... no possible reproach

the only issue is that he hasn't signed yet,... but i think he will,.... the AB cannot let him go once Retallick is leaving,... no matter what,.... he could probably play one of the next year's 2 seasons in Japan,... the first one, just after the WC,... then have a good rest, play the last half (or third) of Super Rugby and the tests coming after,...

in case he finally leaves, I would go with Dane Coles,.... but seems that he's more gone than Whitelock,.... with the last long injuries he have had and, mainly, the very long concussion symptoms he suffered, Japan would be the best for him

the few times I've seen BB captaining didn't seem like he was btwin the bests for the job,... but, anyway, I think the captain has to be a forward,.... near the ref

Sam Cane did a fine job at the chiefs,... but he has to recover first,... he broke a vertebra of his neck,... and in his own words, the circumference and strength of his neck saved him from paralysis,... that was hell serious,... wouldn't be strange if he has to spend more time recovering,... and in case he can comeback, still to see if he can totally regain his playing ability,... for an openside who needs to be always fighting the breakdowns could be a serious handicap

apart from that the last 2 years he has had problems to gain his form,... last year he couldn't gain it,.... in June he was dropped because of a very blatant lack of form,.... in october, when he got injured, he was still trying to gain it,.... IMO he's not the best openside in NZ,... the last 2 seasons Matt Todd has been the best,... he'll probably leave next year also but by that time the next AB openside will be ready,.... Dalton Papalii

Ardie Savea is a nº8,... he's bests games last year with the AB were in that position,.... and I think he'll be Read's successor in this role,... unless Akira Ioane, once and for all, decides to roll up his sleeves and work his way to the AB,.... but seems that this season is in the same mood,... one excellent game, then 2 awol,...

Sam Whitelock? Really?

He's 30 years old. Why appoint someone for a year or two when you should be looking toward a long term appointment?

I wouldn't go for him or a nyone else older than 26 - 27.

you've got a point there,.... but the next 2 years are going to be transition years, like aparently every post-WC years,.... if the last post-WC saw important players leaving (McCaw, Carter, woodcock,...), this time there are going to be even more players (in numbers, at least),.... O. Franks, D. Coles, B. Retallick, K. Read, M. Todd, L. Squire, S. Cane?, A. Smith, Beauden Barrett, R. Crotty, SBW, W. Naholo, Ben Smith,....

the post-WC All Blacks are going to be very young and inexperienced,... they need an experienced and calm head to settle down the team and at the same time who guides with his example,.... who better than Whitelock?

I think he could reach the next WC in case he's appointed,.... he will be 34,.... some locks still have it at this age,.... Brad Thorn was 36 when he played and won the 2011 WC,....

but if he doesn't reach the next WC,... after 2-3 years having Whitelock leading the transition I would then go for a long-term captain

ABF

I do not think Sam Whitelock would be a good choice.- by the time the 2023 WC comes around he will be 35 years old.

My problem is that I always had Whitelock as a banker in my fantasy selections - but about 2017 he was not worth having.   I must add that I was disappointed with his performances in the RC and EOY T tests in 2018 - he is not the player he was in his prime.

I am afraid that by 2023  he will not be selectable as a lock anymore.  

However, there may be a younger player around that could become the captain.   What about Frizell?   

I heard some good things about Pari Pari Parkinson ... I think he's an All Black in the making.

Wow ... that is rather dramatic ... losing so many top players at the same time is going to hurt.

The steady hand of Whitelock is going to be vital.

Wow, what an excellent topic. Who do you guys think will win the 100m at the next Olympics?

So no guess as to who is to succeed Bolt then?

Rooi, stop being so dramatic. You've been on my case much worse for much longer, so stop whingeing.  I'm just taking the p!ss a bit. In general, I'm much more civil to you than you probably deserve.  

If you did not already punt Coles for the job, I would have. I like a hooker as captain. Whitelock is probably the best qualified, but getting a bit long in the tooth, I'll rather go for someone younger.

Trying to fit in I guess?  The perpetual conflict of this place got to me I suppose. 

Good night all.

Sam Whitelock looks the goods to me. Dane Coles is also a very viable option, his age might be againgst him. But would not rule it out, he has strong leadership credentials. Sam has won two super rugby titles back to back. I like his style a bit more then Read. I agree too Ardie should be the incumbent 8 after the world cup. Team after 2019 Win or Lose prob.

15. D Mckenzie 14. B Lam 13. J Goodhue 12. N Luamape 11. R Ioane 10. B Barrett 9. TJ Peranara 8. A Savea 7. S Cane 6. V Fifita/S Frizell 5. S Whitelock (c) 4. B Retalluck 3. K Tufukafe 2. D Coles 1. J Moody. 

Luke and Cloudy

Nice discussion -  but I think that in the first instance the captain must be an automatic selection for the test team and there  should be team building losing so many players after the 2019 WC.

I have developed doubts about Whitelock's performances in tests last year - he was not the Whitelock he used to be.   Is he going to be around for the 2023 WC.  By the time he would be 35 years of age.   The same applies to Coles.

My suspicion is both will be playing foreign club rugby before that - have to work on their pension money for a few years being paid lots of money.   If their performances deteriorate playing club and test rugby their salaries offered by Clubs will decline too.   See what happened to Julian Savea.   

I like your team Luke - other than I would like to see Braydon Ennor somewhere around there and also Akira Ioane -  I prefer Fritzell to Fifita.