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?
Greg Denton
Roar Rookie
Sylvester & Graeme. Totally agree with the guys you have nominated which is exactly my point. These game breakers need to be in the team, either in the starting line up or on the bench when we get to the pointy end of some big games. I would personally add Ardie Savea into the mix but realise thats not going to happen. The point being there a number of punters suggesting we should leave out the likes of Barrett or NMS for the sake of a 3rd HB or someone like Cory Jane who's best days are behind him. We will need plenty of x factor and game breakers to win this WC....lets just make sure we have them there when the whips are cracking.
Greg Denton
Roar Rookie
Some interesting points OB but really dont understand what you are getting at in relation to NMS. Of course there will be plenty of experience in the squad but there has to be some new talent as well. Why would Hansen play NMS as a starting winger in the key build up games and not pick him in a 31 man squad. He didn't play 2 solid games, he was outstanding and looked our most dangerous attacking weapon. Make no mistake we will need some x factor to win this WC and leaving guys like NMS at home is nothing short of crazy. Luckily it won't happen
Greg Denton
Roar Rookie
The most exciting loosie in world rugby and the world don't get to see him. Very disappointing
Old Bugger
Guest
Greg There's an article written by Gregor Paul which highlights Hansen's thinking back in 2013 when contemplating an RWC squad selection. To continue his policy of selecting more newbies like he did in 2012, it seems Hansen's objective was to ensure that he had a mixed squad of youth and experience by August 2015. However, his emphasis was on experience and his reasoning to continue with the likes of McCaw, Carter, Smith, Woodcock, Nonu and Mealamu. This was going to be his core group where he would build the youth around but over 3 seasons, that youthful side will also build a solid base of experience. According to Paul that youthful base now has an average of 48 test cap experience and when combined with the players with an average 90-100+caps, the overall team age becomes an average of 28years old....which was the same average age as in 2011. Hansen has been on track to build a squad of experienced players but, maintain the same age average as the last RWC, since 2012-2013.....and you have to give him credit for sticking to his guns and maintaining such an incredible record, over those seasons. To that end, it would be difficult to see him change his tack from 3 years of building his team DNA, to now introduce a newbie based upon 2 solid games of test rugby at the expense of any of two players, who have that test cap experience.
Muzzo
Guest
@ Greg Denton As I said mate, he is now,fully committed to the seven's program. Yeh ,I know, I myself would love to see him there, as outside of the "master", he is possibly the best No.7 in New Zealand. We only have to look how he completely "owned", Pocock, in that semi final against the Brumbies.
Graeme
Guest
Barrett is proven as a match winning impact player. As Sylvester also says Fekitoa is another but in your scenario there are potentially Milner Skudder and Ben Smith in the back three to produce a spark.
Greg Denton
Roar Rookie
But why give him time? Right now we have a WC to win and hes ready and available. He has the X factor and match winning ability. Surely we can take a risk with 1 or 2 players out of 31. It just might be the difference
Sylvester
Guest
Probably not forwards in most teams but if you need one, Vito's no slouch. In the backs: Fekitoa, Barrett, SBW - that's game-changing talent off the bench most teams would be happy enough to have just one of.
Greg Denton
Roar Rookie
Some really great thinkers on this site. So, I'm going to throw something a bit different out there for comment. I think we are just assuming that our magnificent group of older proven players will get the job done. Well, what say they don't? What say we are getting shut down and held out by a spirited England or France. What say we are down by 6 points with 15m to go, cant break the line and just don't look likely? Unlikely scenario? Well, its pretty much happened in every WC except the first one in 87. The opposition will have analysed our game to death, they'll play the off sides and hammer us with physicality around the advantage line and close down the midfield. So, I'm sitting in front of tele, chewing my fingers off. Who's gonna change the game? Who's gonna come off the bench and produce a magical spark of brilliance? One of the name's on my lips....Ardie Savea. Oops hes watching on tele. Anyway, clearly there's no use having 3 halfbacks or multiple utility options in the squad now. At this point we need game changers....who are they?
Sylvester
Guest
You mean if both are in the squad Taylorman? Dagg would start if he was in the touring squad. My view is Barrett is a competent enough fullback to deputise for Smith as a starter at any point in the tournament, meaning no need for Dagg.
Greg Denton
Roar Rookie
I'm with you kidgit.....very unlikely but I'd love to see him as the bolter.
Muzzo
Guest
@ Jim mcdonald Yeh mate the squad of 31 hasn't been selected as yet. 1600 hrs on Sunday, at the Beehive, so they say. Ardie Savea, in my opinion, will slide very nicely into Richie's position, when Richie hangs up the boots, I reckon, but as it is now, he is fully committed to the seven's program. Give him time, as he is certainly,more than just a talent.
Greg Denton
Roar Rookie
I'm dumbfounded that people are even contemplating leaving out the Skud missile. The guy is a certainty, not only to make the squad but the starting line up for the key games. To win a world cup you need a little bit of x factor and the guy has it in boat loads. Kirwan and Lomu had even less experience and took the WC by storm.
Greg Denton
Roar Rookie
So we are going to pick a guy with a broken leg who might play his way back into match form during the 2nd half of the WC? Moving right along.......
Greg Denton
Roar Rookie
Thats a really good point. Sometimes it easy to think too much of utility cover but at the end of the day we need guys on the park in their specialist positions who can win the critical games. That said I'm still not sure who I would have at 1st 5 in the situation you described. While it could come down to goal kicking and tactical kicking it could also require a spark of brilliance and creation if we are down by 4 or 5 points with a few minutes to go. In that scenario who do you want at 1st 5? Bloody hard call but I'd say Barrett has the most to offer
Jibba Jabba
Guest
And on standby ?
Jibba Jabba
Guest
My experience of outside backs (wingers) is generally they have a similar IQ to the front row....the brains are in the 6,7,8,9, 10, 13 & 15 positions...
jim mcdonald
Guest
Can anyone tell me why Ardie Savea is not in the squad? Anyone? Jim McDonald
taylorman
Roar Guru
If Smith is injured out of the tournament in pool play you would start Barrett in each knockout they play ahead of Dagg at FB?
taylorman
Roar Guru
As far as I'm concerned that's the squad too OB. Again I'd be disappointed if NMS is selected over Piutau.