There is room for four new faces in my All Blacks tour squad; Paul Cully

OPINION: The All Blacks were outstanding in Cape Town.

 

Had I been in the shoes of an Eddie Jones, for example, last weekend would have made me feel slightly uncomfortable for the first time in 2017.

 

The nature of the All Blacks' win against the Springboks, with so many experienced names missing, would have challenged my assumptions about the 2019 World Cup.

The All Blacks are not in a slow decline. Whoever wants to win the tournament in 2019 will have to keep improving quickly to reach New Zealand.

 

New players have been introduced and they have performed. Damian McKenzie's try was the best illustration of that, running off that clever little offload from David Havili.

But there is still room for more squad development on the end-of-year tour, with three or four uncapped players a reasonable chance due to injuries and the 37-man squad.

 

Let's start in the outside backs, where injuries and Ben Smith's period away from rugby have opened up a few doors, and where McKenzie seems best suited, creating the need for a third No 10.

 

Matt Duffie is a player of interest. His skills look well suited to cover what the All Blacks are losing without Smith, Israel Dagg and Milner-Skudder. Duffie is brave in the air, mature, can create and can finish.

The North Harbour man deserves a look.

 

Seta Tamanivalu adds some balance with his size and pace. As he showed in the Super Rugby final the big man can shift and he's ahead of Julian Savea on form.

 

Selecting McKenzie as a fullback/wing means Richie Mo'unga can fill the third No 10 berth. Taranaki prospect Stephen Perofeta is rising quickly but Mo'unga has been good for two years and has won a Super Rugby title. It is not too early for him to tour.

 

In the midfield Jack Goodhue claims the fifth spot. I remain a huge Charlie Ngatai fan but he needs a pre-season and Goodhue has shown his class with Northland.

 

The last spot is the trickiest. A minimum of five props must travel and the choice is between Wellington's Jeffrey Toomaga-Allen and Waikato's Atu Moli. Here the question I ask is which of these two can get to where the All Blacks want them to in the shortest period of time.

 

Toomaga-Allen has a head start because of his experience and is probably the more likely option but I like Moli. His hands are superb and his ball-carrying is damaging. With some time in the Mike Cron school of scrummaging his potential is huge.

 

There is no Asafo Aumua. All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has already signalled there will be no apprentice scheme. This may be because the brilliant Aumua has already gone beyond that stage and is seen as the third best hooker in his own right, or the All Blacks feel a summer at home is the best option.

 

The other factor here is Nathan Harris. Injuries have been cruel to him but he still has so many positives.

My All Blacks squad for end-of-year tour (uncapped players in bold)

 

Hookers

Dane Coles (Wellington)

Codie Taylor (Canterbury)

Nathan Harris (Bay of Plenty)

 

Props

Wyatt Crockett (Canterbury)

Kane Hames (Tasman)

Nepo Laulala (Counties Manukau)

Ofa Tu'ungafasi (Auckland)

Atu Moli (Waikato)

 

Locks

Brodie Retallick (Hawke's Bay)

Sam Whitelock (Canterbury)

Scott Barrett (Taranaki)

Luke Romano (Canterbury)

Patrick Tuipulotu (Auckland)

 

Loose forwards

Kieran Read (Counties Manukau) - captain

Liam Squire (Tasman)

Sam Cane (Bay of Plenty)

Ardie Savea (Wellington)

Jerome Kaino (Auckland)

Matt Todd (Canterbury)

Vaea Fifita (Wellington)

 

Backs (17)

 

Halfbacks

Aaron Smith (Manawatu)

TJ Perenara (Wellington)

Tawera Kerr-Barlow (Waikato)

 

No 10s

Beauden Barrett (Taranaki)

Lima Sopoaga (Southland)

Richie Mo'unga (Canterbury)

 

Midfielders

Ryan Crotty (Canterbury)

Sonny Bill Williams (Counties Manukau)

Anton Lienert-Brown (Waikato)

?Ngani Laumape (Manawatu)

Jack Goodhue (Northland)

 

Outside backs

Damian McKenzie (Waikato)

Rieko Ioane (Auckland)

Waisake Naholo (Taranaki)

David Havili (Tasman)

Seta Tamanivalu (Taranaki)

Matt Duffie (North Harbour)

 

 - Stuff

 It's been clear for a while now that Hansen has something cooking. He's been taking risks so that he can introduce new players and he's continuing to evolve the ABs. 
What is also amazing is there is more young talent to tap so hopefully we will see some of it on the EOYT. 
 I hope Mounga gets a shot, he's really talented and has a cool head. A problem for the young guns is that all smart coaches take old heads into the RWC so there will only be so much room for young talent. It doesn't mean they won't be developed though.

 There are great names on the above list - but I think it is time to start phasing out SBW and replace him with Goodhue.   
I like Duffy as well - a clever player with pace.   I would like to see Ioane and him on the wing.
I do not like the AB props very much.  They were on top with the useless Dreyer - but I think that after Dreyer was replaced they went into reverse in scrumming and maul situation..   I do not rate Crockett at all - he is not good enough when it comes to scrumming.   
By the way Barretts at lock  is going the wrong way.   He did not at all look convincing on Saturday.
As to Coles he seems to be I reverse gear as well insofar as performances go.   I think that his replacement was better than him on Saturday.    Maybe his rather frequent injuries are taking their toll. Be it as it may he was totally out-played by Marx on Saturday.   Coles like to play in ball in hand scenarios and is not all that good in scrumming and maul situations.    

 Coles stop start season hasnt helped him much but that Aumua is one to watch .True about SBW Justy ,he may be past it by the next RWC but Goodhue would easily walk into any test side.Best to cap them before the NH grubs get their slimy paws on 'em !

 Wardad, SBW seems to have lost the magic, no incredible offloads, etc. 
Reason and others are calling for his head. They ignore his defense which has been incredible, I think he had 26 tackles in the last test. He's playing the role he has been asked to play, you often saw Crotty playing at second five eight position on attack so it must be planned. We will see how it goes, maybe he is not fully recovered from the Achilles surgery but for sure we know he's training as hard as he can & he'll get the best our of his aging body.
Anyway, as you say there is plenty of talent lined up behind him.