Retallick, Crockett out for All Blacks

I think we can put to bed the recent murmurings of midfield issues. If Ryan Crotty can't make the starting side after an impressive performance pre injury, then i can't see any issue with the All Blacks midfield. The only issue i can see on the horizon for Hansen is who he is going to leave out. SBW should be sweating. Loving the selection of Moody. He is so raw in rugby terms and i feel he alongside another young Canterbury prop in Nepo laulala could well be the future of NZ propping.

Good call...I'd like to see them give KM a rest and choose another candidate....problem for the rest, is neither of them have mastered the art of lineout throwing and IMO, an EOYT is not the place to learn...I don't know what happened to Coltman cos he has fallen right off Shag & Cos radar. I think Marshall & Parsons just don't do enough to show their presence upon the opposition. However, Matuu on the other hand, well he's as big as a prop, he has that inate ability to make opponents look first before reacting - but again, my concern is lineout throwing and discipline....I thought he's a bit of a penalty magnet - is that a fair call??

I'm actually pretty confident the All Blacks have got this one. They are arguably a better team now than the one they put out in Wellington 3 weeks ago. No Rettalick but they have Whitelock back. No Crocket but Joe Moody is arguably a better scrumager so that might be an improvement. No Nonu and that's a genuine loss but Fekitoa is coming on really well and will be hard to stop. Jerome Kaino is back as well as Liam Messam on the bench which should give them an extra hard edge. They would have assessed their effort in Wellington and fixed what needed fixing and gone up a few notches. The Springboks have lost their second choice half back Pienaar and their blindside flanker Francois Louw while their best player Duane Vermulean will either not be playing or playing with an injury. The only advantage I see them having is the momentum from their previous game and their Ellis park ground advantage, but the All Blacks have shown over the past couple of years that that means very little in actually winning the test. All Blacks by 12

Watch Moody's involvement last week. Noticeably Crocket had the tighthead dropping his bind a few times - although it wasn't penalised. When Moody came on his body position was good but he had difficulties maintaining his bind in most of the scrums; he'll need to sort that out - a more pedantic and vigilant set of officials will ping him and I'm sure Meyer will have mentioned it to the ref in the briefing. And interestingly Ben Franks wasn't considered for the job yet he is covering LH from the bench this week despite covering TH in the other games. I thought the whole point of him going to the Hurricanes was to get regular time starting at LH. He was excellent there in 2012 and 2013 for the ABs when Woody was poor.

Harris not Hanson! That's why I think rest up Mealamu as what Woody is doing out of necessity and see what Matu'u offers as we already know Mealamu can do the job. You never know when injuries are going to strike a certain position. I agree for 2015 that is the pecking order but at least if serious injury strikes, you've had a look at the next best hooker off the rank (unfortunate mixed metaphors going on there). Romano is another who is set to return but much like Vito I don't know how much rugby he's been getting.

All Bent... I had my doubts too ........... until Eden Park last year against the Boks last year.... he came of age, I no longer have any doubts.

Hi Kia Kaha, yes I was reading Moody;s bio after he was nominated to start, then what Hansen had to say about him. Missing out on the tour last year must of been hugely disappointing for him and we lost the chance to see him perform at the higher level on a consistent basis. Being a born and bred 'Aucklander', watching Kevvy has been uplifting, he is a favourite son but one would have to think his better days are behind him (then he pull out a blinder last weekend!). If the mix for RWC is to be the same as 2011 with 3 Hookers chosen, Coles Mealamu and Harris must be favoured at this stage Motu Matu'u might have left his run a bit late. Charles Piutau you would think would be a certainly for the squad next year as he cover multiple positions. He was a star last year and only injuries slowed his progress. Not sure if Vito is in the mix at the moment.

The big thing in Moody's favour RT is his wrestling background. That knowledge of body positions and your opposing man trying to manipulate into advantageous positions for himself is priceless in a front row forward. It was gutting for him last year to miss out on touring because of a broken leg. He put his head down though and got back to where the selectors wanted him. He's definitely an asset because with Woody out and now Crockett, we were looking a bit thin. I'd like to see us bring two new hookers in November along with Coles. Hanson could be one and I I think Motu Matu'u could be a left field choice for games like USA and Scotland. Loved those hits he made for the Hurricanes this year. Give Mealamu a breather. Equally give Jane a rest. Hopefully Vito and Piutau are fit and firing because they're perfect choices to rest the likes of Read and Savea.

depends if they are quick learners or not BB!...

BB, when the AB's lose its next game (heaven forbid) to be honest, I'd hope it be to the Boks, ... Why?....I could offer a host of reasons, but primarily the history between the two proud rugby nations and the true respect that they have for each other. If you only knew, if only you could experience and walk the streets of Auckland, Wellington, the earthquake ravaged city of Christchurch or the university of Dunedin and sort the opinions randomly of who are the AB's greatest adversities, I feel confident is suggesting that more than 90% would nominate the Springboks. For this reason, the match on Saturday takes greater meaning....... no trophy on offer but the result matters. Of course we as fans, have little control over what happens on the field, but we all have hope irrespective of your allegiance.... No with 'hand on heart', I do not think it will happen on Saturday (but good luck anyhow, sort of...), I will not slash my wrists if the AB's lose.

I have doubts and I hope NZ hasnt penciled anyone in for 2016 yet. I think hes a good player but...

THe SPringboks are being taught to read the game more, so I hope anything new will be spotted timeously ;)

RT, mate you won't need a rock, we will quietly celebrate and be so thankful for a win at last there won't be much of bragging going on.

Yes, this game will be massive for the Boks, Meyer needs a win over the All Blacks, but it is going to be tough, It is a decidedly different Bok team running out this weekend to the one tat played last year at Ellispark 15 Zane Kirchner - Willie le ROux 14 Willie le Roux - Cornal Hendricks 13 JJ Engelbrecht - Jan Serfontein 12 Jean de Villiers (c) 11 Bryan Habana 10 Morne Steyn - Handre Pollard 9 Fourie du Preez - Francois Hougaard 1 Tendai Mtawarira 2 Bismarck du Plessis 3 Jannie du Plessis 4 Eben Etzebeth 5 Juandre Kruger - VIctor Matfield 6 Francois Louw - Marcell Coetzee 7 Willem Alberts - Oupa Mahoje 8 Duane Vermeulen - Schalk Burger

Great comments, guys. Matfield and Etzebeth were waiting in Wellington for those Retallick offloads. No Retallick tomorrow and I doubt Thrush will be asked to do the same. So the perfect opportunity to cook up something new and SA won't be ready for it.

I hardly think TJ is going to play. He's not even on the bench. There is no such thing as a dead rubber between the Boks and All Blacks. Just because the RC is done, doesn't mean the ABs lack motivation. Saying that, I think 3 tests at home against England was the biggest challenge of the year. Winning away is always glorious - but the pressure of winning at home against England for the first tests of the year was pretty evident.

Newer players have to be bloodied and given experience so as to have them ready for the inevitable injuries. I'd rather these players were starters now - after the RC is won - than while it still needed to be won. Could even start TJ ahead of A. Smith!

No matter what anyone else says, Cane IMO, is the heir-apparent for RMs jersey. Hansen & Co have invested too much time and effort into getting Cane up as the next cab off the rank for post 2015, to the extent, that he has become a member of the AB leadership group....whisper has it, the next name (after Read) to have (c) beside it. So, I've really liked his input on the paddock and his demeanor off it and the longer he remains a part of the leaders group and consequently in the ABs, then the more output and greater outcomes us supporters will notice, from this kid. The AB system is not only about providing new players with test match experience, it is also about providing new players opportunities to gain and improve their leadership qualities - for me, this kid is on that pathway. I'm with you RT - a fan with some lofty praises and no reservations, whatsoever.

Thanks for your response OB, well articulated. On the subject of Cane. Up until Eden Park last year, I had some reservations about the kid. Boy did he settle that for me that night against the Boks, the boy became a man ... and I became a fan! (no more reservations) I have no doubt that the SB's pack will 'go for the throat' from opening whistle but I would not expect the AB's forwards to just cop it sweet and allow themselves to be dominated and as the match wears on I felt Cane might have provided that extra little bit. I think the battle of the breakdown is going to decide this match.

RT Actually, I was more worried about the BR/JT locking combo than the SW/JT combo because I always imagined BR and JT being cut from the same cloth - both workhorses, both TH locks, both providing HP grunt and both not generally required in the lineouts to win ball. Tomorrow, the differences between SW and JT will more more pronounced - a bit like how it used to be with SW and Romano. JT needs to put some metres on the board with ball in hand to take some load off SW. I've always had a soft spot for Moody since his disappointment with the leg-break that cost him an EOYT trip. He is a good scrummager so I'm really looking forward to seeing how he matches up against JdP. If either Woody or Crocky lose their form next year, than I have no problems with Moods getting the nod. I just think hes a bloody hard-nut. Yes - very surprised about Cane's non-selection. Perhaps its an indicator that they expect an SB on-slaught from their pack or perhaps the ABs expect Thor to be sidelined and hence the effective SB loose-forward ruck attack, has been diminished by his absence. Either way, the AB 23 includes 3 x No 6 players which I've not seen for a millenium so the selection certainly speaks volumes for the unknown and volumes for the AB forwards to match size with size and rely on aerobically challenging the SB pack to stay with them. Ellis Park - is the main reason why the ABs will not be treating this match as a dead rubber. Agreed, the win/loss ratio doesn't favour the ABs but IMO, that isn't the main reason. The fact that this venue is the fortress for SB rugby, this is the penultimate test before RWC next year on top of the win/loss ratio, it makes for a serious crack at the SB psyche to pinch another result, against the home-town favourites, going into next year. John Smit announced at the start of RC how much urgency the SBs need to place upon defeating the ABs before next year.....an urgency to remove the monkey before it becomes a gorilla. Matfield espoused similar concerns to break that losing streak the other day. Both sides have an extraordinary motive going into tomorrow's match - one wants to tighten the shackle while the other wants to break it. Either way, I think roarers from both sides of the fence, will simply enjoy the match and the banter that will undoubtedly follow, irrespective of the result. Cheers mate and join the brigade fortunate enough to bear witness to what is building, once again, as a "Battle of the Titans".