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The All Blacks go for experience over potential

17th October, 2010
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17th October, 2010
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Sonny Bill WilliamsThe All Black selectors have taken a different approach to the selection of their squad for the northern hemisphere tour from the Wallabies. Where Robbie Deans is still turning over players trying to find his squad for the RWC 2011 tournament, with a much stronger pool of players to choose from, Graham Henry has gone for experience over potential.

So Stephen Donald, a starting five-eighths last season, comes back into the All Blacks squad in place of this season’s choices as back-ups to Daniel Carter, Aaron Cruden and Colin Slade.

Donald, who has never looked the goods or anywhere near it in his earlier stint in the All Blacks, has come back strongly from injury. In the last few weeks he has played strongly and clearly Henry is prepared to give him another chance to establish his position.

The only new All Black is Sonny Bill Williams (Hika Elliot has yet to play a Test) who has been the standout player in the current New Zealand national provincial ITM championship.

The difference between Williams as a player and the newcomers fronting up for the Wallabies is an indication of the difference in quality in the players Herny has to coach compared with Deans.

The way Henry talked about Williams at the press conference after the team was announced indicates that he intends to use him off the bench as an impact player. The All Blacks have an established combination of Ma’a Nonu and Conrad Smith. One of them would have to be injured for Williams to be considered as a starting centre right now.

The same move towards experience over potential has seen Daniel Braid come back into the All Blacks squad in the place of Victor Vito.

The selectors, too, have resisted giving the talented Colin Bourke a chance to show his stuff as a back-up number 8. Braid is in the squad as the backup in case Richie McCaw gets injured. The idea here is that a specialist is needed to replace him rather than a makeshift replacement.

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The strength of the squad, especially in the backs, is that Renee Ranger can’t make the cut. Isaiah Toeva is the utility back with his ability to play every backline position from inside centre through to fullback.

Piri Weepu and Israel Dagg are unavailable because of injury, in Weepu’s case a broken ankle that will keep him out of rugby for six months.

The squad has three hookers and three halfbacks, along the lines of what will needed in a World Cup squad. They are defending a 15 match unbeaten stretch and confronting a grand slam possibility. It will be interesting to see whether this reversion to a back to the future form of selection will be as successful for Henry as this season’s gamble on young players.

The 30-man All Blacks squad named on Sunday for the northern hemisphere tour:

Forwards: John Afoa, Anthony Boric, Daniel Braid, Tom Donnelly, Hikawera Elliot, Ben Franks, Owen Franks, Andrew Hore, Jerome Kaino, Richie McCaw (capt), Keven Mealamu, Liam Messam, Kieran Read, Brad Thorn, Samuel Whitelock, Tony Woodcock.

Backs: Andy Ellis, Daniel Carter, Jimmy Cowan, Stephen Donald, Hosea Gear, Cory Jane, Alby Mathewson, Mils Muliaina, Ma’a Nonu, Josevata Rokocoko, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Conrad Smith, Isaia Toeava, Sonny Bill Williams.

Itinerary for All Blacks tour of Britain in November
October 30 – All Blacks v Australia, Hong Kong
November 06 – All Blacks v England, London
November 13 – All Blacks v Scotland, Edinburgh
November 20 – All Blacks v Ireland, Dublin
November 27 – All Blacks v Wales, Cardiff

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