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The potential All Blacks Rugby World Cup squad has been under rampant speculation for months, with talks heating up recently as we approach the impending announcement on August 30th.
Steve Hansen and his fellow selectors face some extremely tough decisions, as a new crop of bolters are playing their way into contention and look to usurp a number of players firmly established in the All Blacks fold.
So without any further adieu here are my selections for the All Blacks 2015 Rugby World Cup squad.
First XV
1. Tony Woodcock
2. Dane Coles
3. Owen Franks
4. Brodie Rettalick
5. Sam Whitelock
6. Jerome Kaino
7. Richie McCaw (c)
8. Kieran Read
9. Aaron Smith
10. Dan Carter
11. Julian Savea
12. Ma’a Nonu
13. Conrad Smith
14. Nehe Milner-Skudder
15. Ben Smith
Bench
16. Keven Mealamu
17. Wyatt Crockett
18. Ben Franks
19. Luke Romano
20. Victor Vito
21. TJ Perenara
22. Beauden Barrett
23. Malakai Fekitoa
Reserves
Codie Taylor
Nepo Laulala
Jeremy Thrush
Sam Cane
Colin Slade
Lima Sopoaga
Sonny Bill Williams
Charles Piutau
The squad offers a few points of contention. At blindside Jerome Kaino is struggling to find his form of years gone by. Should he find his 2011 form he will be immovable from the starting side, but until then he will face stiff competition from a resurgent Victor Vito who has more than made the most of his opportunities in the black jersey this year. In doing so Vito has pushed a reliable performer in Liam Messam out of the squad altogether. Kaino keeps his spot for the time being on account of his ability as an enforcer.
Flyhalf has been a position of hot debate, I have chosen none other than Dan Carter as my starter. He proved to the doubters in the second Bledisloe Test that he still has the big game temperament and lethal attacking game we’ve become so accustomed to.
Beauden Barrett provides cover at both flyhalf and fullback from the bench, while a successful Super Rugby campaign and strong Test debut catapult Lima Sopoaga into the squad. Colin Slade provides optional utility cover at the cost of a third specialist scrumhalf.
Spots in the outside backs were perhaps the most fiercely contested in the squad. Julian Savea and Ben Smith were no-brainers while the emergence of Nehe Milner-Skudder during the Super Rugby season and his scintillating form in his first two Tests gift him the right-wing berth in my squad ahead of the ever dangerous Charles Piutau.
Malakai Fekitoa provides cover in the centres and wing from the bench. Cory Jane and Israel Dagg are big name casualties whose struggles with form and fitness ultimately cost them a place in the squad.
Roarers, what do you think? Who should have made the squad and who should I have left out?
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