No Conrad smith for the last 5 tests

Papamoa: Well, I guess the good news is the AB coaches will have to figure out how to replace Conrad (at least temporarily). It will give others a shot at the position or at least open up one more spot on the team. He won't be easy to replace.
The team keeps changing  and has to  in order to keep ahead of the other teams. Sorting out this issue before the RWC is a good thing. Same way we had to for Dan and for Richie.

Is Tamati Ellison back from Japan?   If he is - he would be my first choice replacement.

 

God, couldn't tell ya mike. From what I've heard Ben smith might be slotted into C smith position. Well have to wait for a few weeks to see. I'm sure who ever it is they can play rugby. And play it well. God bless NZ.

 

If SBW ever returns to union he'll walk the AB 12 jersey.

If Ranger can be convinced to return to NZ, the 13 jersey will no doubt be his. THAT is a very powerful center pairing ... one that would give sleepless nights ... not to mention the cold sweats!!!

What's your take on having an inside center capable of kicking well outta hand?

I see Nonu the barbarian's been doing some work on his kicking. Certainly an asset to have.

Not sure I like Smith at center. Needs a little space to do his thing. Absolutely potent on the wing. I'd leave him there.

 Tamati Ellison signed for the Rebels so he's unavalaible and with already 30 years I doubt he'll be back to the AB.
René Ranger signed with Montpellier untill 2015 so he'll be unavalaible untill after the WC.

For this EOYT Hasnsen will probably bring Nonu, Sailli and Crotty as centers with the possibility of switching B. Smith also. And even though he's been the best wing of the RC I would like to see B. Smith playing at 13 once at least.
IMO the strongest backline would be:

10. Carter, 11. Savea, 12. Nonu, 13. B. Smith 14. Piutau 15. Dagg

We'll probably see diferents variations including Cruden, Barret, Sailli, Crotty and Cory Jane depending on who they play. The match against Japan will be a good opportunity to see Sailli or Crotty in action.

For the fu rther future SBW and Richard Kahui must be added to the equation. Kahui is gone to Japan to try to preserve his injury-prone body but he'll be back before the RC

Sounds like SBW will be back next year with the chiefs. I thought Kahui is talking with the Blues for next year as well. Could be just rumours. Agree with your team ab at least for the rest of the year. I would also expect a number of different combos  in our backline for the NH tour.

 @papamoa,

Kahui signed with Toshiba for next 2 season (link). He will be in Japan untill 2015 but the japanese calendar will allow him to play that year Super Rugby comp unlike the french calendar which won't let Ranger play it

 @clevermike,
no doubt Rebels have made a very good signing, Ellison has been one of the most inform centers of the comp for the last 2 years.
But don't understand from the player's point of view. I think he would be in the AB's orbit if he had stayed in NZ. I rate him over Crotty (even though he made a superb end of season and deserved his calling to the AB) and, at least untill the moment, over Sailli who has yet to improve some aspects of his game.
But seeing both been selected might made him think he had little chances of being selected again.
It's a big loss for the Highlanders who see leaving also Woodcock, Slade and Gear. And don't understand why they don't try to retain Nonu

True, that sux. Silly bastards. Oh well guess they will make a killing.  

@abasquefan, mikey & papamoa,

tamati ellisons first choice wasnt the rebels, it was the highlanders, but the NZRU wouldnt grant ellison and the highlanders an exemption to play in japan and then come back to the highlanders.
the NZRUs lame ass excuse was they wanted to start curbing the trend of players playing in japan and then NZ and also it was better to give that spot a new upincoming kiwi player.
considering the whole SBW incident theres more then a little double standard going on here.

but ellison is on the worng side of 30, and if ur going to choose between ellison and snake, u will go with snake every day of the week.

IMO both ben smith and maa nonu should be given the outside centers role, let them share it between the two of them.

with corey jane returning he can easily slot into the No14 to which he was the easy incumbent before his injury, adn we lose next to nothing there.

but with SBW possibly returning in 2014, i agree with clean cut, hes pretty much a shoe in for the No12, so its time to get nonu to start developing his outside centers game

even better, what if SBW was to start playing more and more as a 13, then we could have nonu and SBW in the centers which would be freakishly powerfully awesome.

NZ backline depth has no equall, its not just the depth which is deeper than any other teams, but its the quality of that depth, theres not enough positions in a team bench included to start all the starting XV quality players we have.
2016 woll almost be a blessing as we can thin the herd out a bit more and give some of the newer guns a chance to blaze.