The New Zealand side has been announced, and, as usual, there’s a whole host of changes from the team that lost the Tri Nations to the Wallabies.
I think there are nine changes in all. Yes, that’s right, nine!
Henry has admitted that he doesn’t know what his best side is, and seems content to chop and change until he figures that out.
So, for starters, there is a whole new backline; Kahui, a center, is on the wing, partnered with Toeava, a fullback cum center on the other wing.
Nonu, an inside center, is now playing on the outside. Dagg gets a deserved run at fullback and Cowan is back in the drivers seat.
Only Carter remains intact from the Aussie game.
In the scrum, we see four changes. Hore returns, pushing Mealamu out of the match 22 altogether.
Thorn and Williams resume their old partnership. Kaino and Vito take the place of the injured Read and Thompson, and Whitelock is now blindside flank cover.
The cardinal All Blacks’ sin has always been playing key players out of position during the Rugby World Cup – think Cullen at center, a mistake repeated a few years later with Muliaina at center.
Their other favorite mistake is leaving experienced players in the stands during crunch games in favor of young hotshots – think McAlister’s implosion versus France in 2007, while Aaron Mauger looked on helplessly in his suit and tie.
And this first team up against Tonga – trademark All Black Rugby World Cup selection confusion – players out of position, hotshot in place of an established combination; exactly what we, in the rest of the rugby world love to see.
Cue the implosion.
bananas
Guest
Great depth but history tells us that on at least one day in every four years not every New Zealand selection can out perform any of the top players in the world. Will it be within in the next 44 days or was Brisbane the cleanser.
mother teresa
Guest
CINEMATIC,, think losing the last rwc matters most but not acknowledging the affect on other teams of nzs recent losses would be a mistake and something henry would be aware of would be what cookee suggests.
mattamkII
Guest
come on Jerry, this is the roar...no need to take actual facts into consideration. Just take something you heard some bloke say at the bar, put pen to paper, make sure you slag of a flashy player that people love to hate, shake, stir and hey presto....its a perfect script for this forum.
katzilla
Roar Guru
You can't really say hes made any mistakes until after you see his results. 2007 is a long time ago, what worked then won't work now, but would the vice versa work? What didn't work then might work now? I dunno but i'm covered on the All Blacks to not win the world cup option at 2.10 for a nice little pay day. Dont mind losing it if we win the thing.
Das boat
Guest
do you mean devastating in terms of good or bad. because that is a horrible idea. imagine sbw fielding an array of kicks from the Bok halves in a WC semi on a cold windy night.
niwdEyaJ
Guest
I just hope Henry doen't stumble across the idea of playing Nonu & Smith in the centres, Dagg at fullback and SBW on one of the wings... Cory Jane on the other wing. THAT would be devestating IMO. ABs could employ a very wide game to stretch any defence with SBW breaking tackles and off-loading to Dagg out wide. The counter-attack potential is huge.
Winston
Guest
Couldn't agree more about Guilford, couldn't agree less about Ranger,. Good to see Hosea staying in NZ
Das boat
Guest
haha gold. Loved that comment.
Turnover
Roar Guru
Here here. Ranger has probably passed the ball three times since he was in the Under 11's.
cinematic
Guest
Yeah and those last two games mattered heaps to eh cookee?
cookee
Guest
REALLY and im thinking youve been away on holiday
cookee
Guest
none,zip,nought. henry has the selectorial balance tactically astray. NZ are trying to win the rwc with a sevens approach. and everyones shaking in their boots with fear.yeah right GOSH,LOOK,WAYNE SMITHS APPARITION not so high upon the wall. and wayne failed at sevens.DAMN
cookee
Guest
WB,glad the old fox KNOWS HIS BEST SELECTION COS JUST LOST LAST TWO GAMES. and injured reid is indicative of best selections depth.and the ramifications if injuries arise.;clearly plan B right? and as NATHAN states mistakes are not failures if you learn from them. henry also LOST the last world cup;so better learn quickly from these mistakes im thinking.
Das Boat
Guest
You are reasonably obsessed with the Ranger Danger. ....... he isnt there, and shouldnt be there. You need to have option taking ablities, and he has no international experience. Give him a season or two in the ABS against the big teams perhaps, but not for this WC. He is a maverick renegade, and there is enough of this 'x factor' without him. Need players like Smith to take the right options and balance the ship.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Henry the old fox know's what the majority of his strongest team will be save for 3 or 4 positions which are up in the air. Those being the back three and halfback. Outside of that the rest pick themselves ( Reid to walk back in once fit ). SBW only get's a start as he is resting Conrad Smith. Weepu & Cowan is a coin toss. I think against France he will go with Mils at Fullback, Dagg & Kahaui on the wings.
Brad
Guest
Every one is going on like we have a prop playing on the wing... They have all played in these positions in tests before, so why the fuss. They can keep this team for the whole tournament and i will still back the boys all the way.
kingplaymaker
Roar Guru
The mistakes were made earlier this year and to some extent last season in refusing to choose the X-factor, risky players. The punishment was inflicted in Brisbane with the atrocious performance of the back three. Now Henry is trying to remedy the situation by choosing the more X-factorful among his players, and this is a good thing, but some are not available because of the earlier fear. All he needs to do is send Guildford home, bring back Ranger where Kahui is, and then he'll have a great team.
WQ
Guest
I think every chance, he is big and mobile with plenty of foot-speed to match. I think he will make a great wing option that can cover the inside positions if the game needs that to happen.
ohtani's jacket
Guest
Kahui was a stop gap measure on the wing because our wing situation was so dire in 2008. If Gear was being shut down by opposition defences this season, what chance does Kahui have?
Wawnout
Guest
It's deja vu all over again. I've already moved on and am looking forward to Dave Rennie vs Ewen Mckenzie coaching battle WC 2015. Watched a lot of ITM Cup and NZ poised to peak nicely in 2014. Oops, 2015.