Plenty of quality players didn’t make the cut of coaches Michael Cheika and Steve Hansen, so it’s worth reflecting on who we won’t see at this year’s World Cup.
Here is a composite All Blacks/Wallabies team made up of players who missed the Rugby World Cup cut – the best from New Zealand and Australia in each position.
Some of the players named here are considered by many commentators and punters to have been extremely unlucky to miss out on the respective All Blacks and Wallabies teams for the tournament. Players such as Charles Piutau, James Horwill, Nic White and Jeremy Thrush come to mind in that regard.
I have not considered injured players such as Aaron Cruden, who would surely have been heading to the RWC if he was fully-fit.
I’ve picked George Moala as a No 12, as there are whispers that All Blacks coach Hansen sees him as the player to replace Ma’a Nonu from next year onwards. He played at inside centre/second five-eighth for the New Zealand Barbarians against the Maori Blacks in July, so it’s a pretty good indication he’s going to play there.
The order of players’ names in each position is not of any significance – New Zealand players named first and Australian players named second.
Apologies to the South African and Argentine rugby fans, but I just do not know enough about all the players considered unlucky to miss out on the Springboks and Los Pumas Rugby World Cup squads.
15. Israel Dagg/James O’Connor
14. Cory Jane/Taqele Naiyaravoro
13. Ryan Crotty/Chris Feauai-Sautia
12. George Moala/Samu Kerevi
11. Charles Piutau/Nic Cummins
10. Lima Sopoaga/Christian Lealiifano
9. Andy Ellis/Nic White
8. Nasi Manu/Scott Higginbottom
7. Ardie Savea/Matt Hodgson
6. Brad Shields/Dave Dennis
5. James Broadhurst/James Horwill
4. Jeremy Thrush/Sam Carter
3. Nepo Laulala/Ben Alexander
2. Hika Elliot/James Hanson
1. Joe Moody/Tetera Faulkner
What do you think Roarers? Who would you pick in your best of the rest sides to contest a Bledisloe Cup?
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