Here we are, less than a week away from our first All Blacks Test of the year for 2014, ready, willing and hoping for a repeat of the success savoured in 2013.
Hopefully we’ll get a sign of more success to come next year in England.
Speaking of England, they happen to be our first opponents of the year this Saturday at Eden Park and we have named a very strong squad to meet the challenge head on.
Andrew Mehrtens suggested in a recent article that the silence around those picked and lack of debate regarding the selections suggests the strongest squad has been chosen and we are all one big happy family, ready to take down the might of England.
Regardless, I thought it would be a worthy task to list the team I think All Blacks coach Steve Hansen and company will name this week.
I believe the front row is straight forward with Tony Woodcock, Dane Coles and Owen Franks to start. The locks are also easy, with Sam Whitelock and Brodie Rettallick – not too much debate there I would imagine.
Richie MaCaw will captain from open side, and with Kieran Read pulling out Jerome Kaino will be at eight and Liam Messam at blindside – which saves a debate in itself.
Halfback will be Aaron Smith, but who will the first five be? Again, I think Aaron Cruden will start being the incumbent but Beaden Barrett has been the form first five this year and let’s not forget Colin Slades’ solid season to date. Personally I would choose Barrett, but I think Cruden will be the choice.
Centres will see the old firm of Ma’a Nonu and Conrad Smith reunited for a second Test match and Julian Savea has the left wing sewn up if proven fit.
I believe Israel Dagg will be picked at fullback due to his kicking game, which is invaluable at Test level, and this will see Ben Smith shunted to the right wing.
The bench is where things get a little more perplexing. You need your front row, so I believe Ben Franks, Keven Mealamu and Charlie Faumuina will be picked. Woodcock does have a niggle so if he is made unavailable then I think Ben Franks will start and Wyatt Crockett will make the bench.
This leaves us with five spots left. Considering the forward strength of the English, does one consider six forwards and two backs, or do they stick with the five and three split?
I personally would opt for the more traditional five and three split.
Along with my front row, I would look at Dominic Bird to cover lock, although perhaps Patrick Tuipulotu brings that physicality that may be necessary for the last 25 to 30 minutes. No, I think they will pick Bird on the bench with Victor Vito as loose forward cover with both himself and Liam Messam able to cover openside if required.
Tawera Kerr-Barlow will be the reserve halfback over TJ Perenara in my view, and if Barrett is not starting he will be on the bench given his proven impact from there last season and his ability to also cover the back three.
However, if Barrett does start, who goes to the bench? Aaron Cruden or Colin Slade? Slade is certainly more versatile in being able to cover more positions if required, or, he certainly has more experience than Aaron does outside of first five.
If this proves to be the case that Barrett starts, then I think Cruden will be on the bench. But a case could be made to see him out of the squad altogether.
This leaves the final back reserve. Many would like to see Malakai Fekitoa have a gallop, and I am certainly one of those. He is quick enough to operate on the wing outside his preferred centre position but what happens at second five? As much as I would like to see Fekitoa get a run I think the final bench spot will go to Ryan Crotty, based purely on his ability to cover both inside and outside centre if required.
The curve ball is whether Julian Savea will be fit. If not, I can see Malakai start on the left wing in his place. Time shall reveal all.
So here is what I think Steve Hansen will announce for this weekend.
1. Tony Woodcock
2. Dane Coles
3. Owen Franks
4. Sam Whitelock
5. Brodie Retallick
6. Liam Messam
7. Richie MaCaw (c)
8. Jerome Kaino
9. Aaron Smith
10. Aaron Cruden
11. Julian Savea (Fekitoa if Savea is unfit)
12. Ma’a Nonu
13. Conrad Smith
14. Ben Smith
15. Israel Dagg
Reserves
16. Ben Franks
17. Kevin Mealamu
18. Charlie Faumuina
19. Dominic Bird
20. Victor Vito
21. Tawera Kerr-Barlow
22. Beauden Barrett
23. Ryan Crotty
Who do you think the All Black coaches will pick Roarers?
JimmyB
Guest
Chan, are you still going on about that celebration? It's been explained a hundred times or more, keep up man.
Chan Wee
Guest
mind u , i got 21 of the England 23 also correct :D yay yay yayyy
Garth
Guest
He changed his mind a couple of months back. By strange coincidence, a few AB's who had seemed to be coasting suddenly lifted their game around the same time.
Garth
Guest
Not really.Word has been going around since early last year.
Chan Wee
Guest
here is the opposition , more or less as expected (12trees not fit) "" Kyle Eastmond will win his third cap for England at inside centre in place of Billy Twelvetrees against New Zealand on Saturday. British and Irish Lions Geoff Parling and Manusamoa Tuilagi are included while there is a return for London Wasps flanker James Haskell after a 12-month absence. Seven players that started against Italy in the Six Nations are included in the XV - captain Chris Robshaw, Mike Brown, Danny Care, Joe Launchbury, Jonny May, Ben Morgan and David Wilson. "We've had a good week's training in Auckland and have prepared well and are ready for the massive challenge ahead," said England head coach Stuart Lancaster. "It doesn't get much bigger than playing New Zealand at Eden Park where they haven't lost in 20 years but those selected know what they have to do. "Billy Twelvetrees is recovering well from his ankle injury and should be available for the 2nd Test and it's now a good opportunity for Kyle Eastmond to build on what he achieved in Argentina last year. "It's great to welcome back Geoff Parling and James Haskell who have a lot of experience and equally it's a fantastic opportunity for Joe Gray and Chris Pennell, who have really impressed in training, should they come off the bench for their first caps. "We've had lots of messages of support and I am sure the players will be giving their all at the start of this three Test series." Scrum-half Care is reportedly a doubt for Test and will undergo a fitness test on Friday for his shoulder. England: 15 Mike Brown, 14 Marland Yarde, 13 Manu Tuilagi, 12 Kyle Eastmond, 11 Jonny May, 10 Freddie Burns, 9 Danny Care, 8 Ben Morgan, 7 Chris Robshaw (c), 6 James Haskell, 5 Geoff Parling, 4 Joe Launchbury, 3 David Wilson, 2 Rob Webber, 1 Joe Marler Replacements: 16 Joe Gray, 17 Matt Mullan, 18 Henry Thomas, 19 Dave Attwood, 20 Tom Johnson, 21 Ben Youngs, 22 Danny Cipriani, 23 Chris Pennell ""
Chan Wee
Guest
TJP may be there for the nuisance value. talk till the other guy gets a headache ;) :D
Chan Wee
Guest
nope i had 21 , only missing Patric and TJP. everyone else is in form and coming back :)
dsat24
Guest
Subject to injuries the 60th minute will be an interesting time... Nigel Owens is quality on the peep too
Digby
Roar Guru
Nice!
Digby
Roar Guru
OB, no complaints here either. Really keen to see how we go. Lineout might be a concern but overall am really excited for the new lads and hope they get a decent crack.
Firstxv
Guest
there you go...Hansens consistency in selection policy shines through again....he's good...
MiB
Guest
You'll probably see Tj & Barrett come on together. Their combination will be lethal towards the end of the game. It could be an exciting preview to the new Hurricanes backline for 2015! TJ, Barrett, Nonu, Smith, Jane. That AB backrow is going to do a lot of damage to the English breakdown.
MiB
Guest
I picked 22! :) The only one I missed was Crockett over B.Franks. I wonder if my 'Hansen's Wallabies' selections in the other thread would be as close....?
Magic Sponge
Guest
Im with you Uncle I think Barrett should be the 5/8 for sure andNonu is the best centre in the world come ab time . Barrett is a sensational player who is getting better and better.
Old Bugger
Guest
Digs I can't complain...it's a darn good side and really pleased that Feks is on the bench. Disappointed for Barrett but Crud's is the incumbent. Feks will get some game time for sure - in fact, I hope the whole bench will get a run. Potential banana skin game or not - this IMO, was really the opportunity to give the debutantes a run and Hansen is going for 3 of them. Well chosen and Is that now 23 newbies Hansen has selected, over 3 seasons as boss??
Riccardo
Guest
Exciting bench. Great to see Kaino starting too.
Digby
Roar Guru
I agree. Looks like an expansive game plan to me, certainly with the ball runners on the bench although TKB would be just as effective. Good to see some fresh faces getting a nudge though.
ohtani's jacket
Guest
Perenara is a bit of a surprise. TKB seems better suited for the way the English play. We must be looking to run them off their feet.
Digby
Roar Guru
:D 18 out of 23. Guess not so easy!
Chan Wee
Guest
didnt see that coming :P "" The All Blacks have selected an experienced starting XV and three uncapped players on the bench for the Hillary Shield clash against England in Auckland. The team features the return of Jerome Kaino to the All Blacks Test side as well the selection of three uncapped players, TJ Perenara, Patrick Tuipulotu and Malakai Fekitoa, on the bench. The side is a real mix of experience and youth, with 968 caps in the 23, which has an average age of 27. "I would firstly like to congratulate Jerome on his return to the Test side and also the three uncapped players who have been selected in the 23," said head coach Steve Hansen. "We are really looking forward to this three-Test match series as it will allow us to immediately benchmark ourselves for the new season. It is the first time in our long history that we are playing a three-match Series against England and they are the perfect opponent for us at this time. "We have a healthy respect for England and what they will bring to the contest. Our preparation, though limited by time, has been very good. We have concentrated on getting real clarity of our roles earlier in the week and will be looking to build the intensity levels as we get closer to game time. "We will be looking, as always, to improve our game by increasing our accuracy and precision in all our tasks across the park. There is a strong desire in the group to keep improving the quality of our performances from the level they have been at. We are fully aware that if we don't, we are vulnerable to those teams that have the same mindset of improvement. "We see this Test match as one which will be very physical with lots of ball movement that will challenge both sides aerobically and mentally." New Zealand: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Ben Smith, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Cory Jane, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Jerome Kaino, 7 Richie McCaw (c), 6 Liam Messam, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Tony Woodcock Replacements: 16 Keven Mealamu, 17 Wyatt Crockett, 18 Charlie Faumuina, 19 Patrick Tuipulotu, 20 Victor Vito, 21 TJ Perenara, 22 Beauden Barrett, 23 Malakai Fekitoa Date: Saturday, June 7 Venue: Eden Park, Auckland Kickoff: 19:35 (local, 07:35 GMT) Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales) Assistant Referees: Jaco Peyper (South Africa), Jérôme Garcès (France) TMO: George Ayoub (Australia) ""