All Blacks look to deepen squad on tour

Hahaha! .... good for you then, now that DC is gone, that your wife remembers she has a husband!

Sopoanga would have to be the hard luck story amongst 10s around the world... played a stunner in his first start for ABs in South Africa and has struggled to get a second chance. Same goes for Moala after a cracker game against Samoa, Defense and attack. I reckon Cruden will get the start at 10 in Chicago to keep him bonded to NZ and not take the big $$ in France... and i really hope Sopoanga gets starts against say France and Italy...

But that's the point of my comment NT - his go forward, seems to be directly related to the ABs pack, going forward and if that doesn't happen, the side seems to be involved in playing laterally rather than, going forward. If you recall a couple of years back, the ABs pack were always on the back-foot in terms of possession and territory and yet, they still managed to win, albeit in an ugly display. The first question to ask was where was BB and who started at No10. The answers were BB was the super-sub and either DC or AC were the starters, because the latter two both, had the ability to steer the ship through those early exchanges, of the first half and third quarter. By that time with the opposition reaching the aerobically challenging last quarter, Shag & Co would send on super-sub whose out-and-out speed, just overwhelmed whatever their opponents thought they had left, in the tank. BB does play a vital role in the AB game plan - I just happen to think that role is later, rather than at the start, of each match.

Beauden Barrett is no different than Cruden or Sopoaga, or any other 10 not named Dan Carter, in terms of their abilities with Blackfoot ball- they all struggle. If you think Cruden looks any better when his forward pack is getting dominated, then your dreaming. Barrett is a lousy goal kicker- agreed. Let Dagg kick the goals. Problem solved.

Crude bloody spell check

It'll be interesting to see who Hansen picks as starting no 10 in Chicago must be a temptation to give crudeness his first start in a while- the Irish won't be a pushover

Yes, it is too soon after Carter's retirement to let Cruden go. He is still the first five that most resembles the backline general that you need when the battle is hanging in the balance. He was introduced not a minute too late at Eden Park. Still, that Barrett, wow!

OB, my info was that Barrett was just about pulled from the team on Saturday morning. Having said that once you decide to take the field there are no excuses. He played poorly & my main criticism is that he didn't take the reins & start going field position when it was needed. One phase there was a turn over on the NZ line & he looked to attack rather than clearing the lines. At the time I told my (very disinterested*) wife that he needs to settle things down. *wifes interest in rugby has dropped 80% since 'her Dan' moved on.

Irae Simone is eligible being a Kiwi & all.

It's hard for Barrett to do anything when his team doesn't have the ball.

The All Blacks have Barrett, Cruden and Sopoaga as the three front line choices, nobody comes close to having that level of quality to choose from. I would not pick another player in world rugby ahead of any of these three. They play rugby like we want them to play rugby, others might have better kicking games, nobody has better attacking ability and the mindset these guys have. You only have to look back at those finals matches in Super rugby to see how far Barrett has matured as a player, he controlled those games in the wind and rain like a pro. Cruden sometimes attacks to often but he has never lost a game while wearing that 10 jersey and has delivered consistently. His attacking ability and creativity is second to nobody. Sopoaga has had limited opportunities but has the temperament and composure to play test rugby, he has the best kicking game of the bunch and probably the most complete all round game of the three. The list of youth coming through with incredible potential is long. There is only so many test caps to throw around each year and i think the only thing holding back the All Blacks from developing more "world class players" is the number of test matches they have to do so.

OB the only problems I see with Barretts game, is that some games he doesn't engage the defence and just shuffles the ball across without going forward. But when He goes forward and engages defences he makes them nervous and magic happens, his running game seems to be the key too unlocking the rest of his game imo.

@ Old Bugger that is why HANSEN has clearly stated that he and NZ are keen to have CRUDEN stay in NZ - after it emerged that Motpellier are willing make him the highest paid ruggerplayer in the world. despite all the talk about depth and talent and all that, the coaching heads know they are short of world class 10s ok sure they are spoilt by having one of a lifetime player for a long time. but neither BB or Sopoaga or even the next guys like Mounga or Mckenzie are the kind of players NZ want at test level on a constant basis. maybe by 2019 they will get experience and mature into very good players , but right now they are short of an idea or two. that is why a while back i said the biggest loss for NZ was Colin slade.

BB had a very quiet game and Hansen's comment may have some weight to it. No doubt, BB needs to improve his goal kicking, but his game brings a new dimension to the ABs and opens up all sorts of options to score. Cruden is the perfect foil and can calm the team ,if needed and bring it home . Sopa is the perfect backup to BB and Cruden, solid and dependable , and his goal kicking skills will ensure the scoreboard ticks over and still allow the backs to explore ways to score. Mac Kenzie is the unknown at this stage, but his game against Wellington for example, shows me , he can take complete control of a game , so to me,he could easily slot in between Cruden and Sopa.

In all honesty, I think Shag was simply diverting the press' attention on BB's performance because compared to his previous appearances, this game seemed to be somewhat, uncharacteristic. Admittedly, BB got no favours from his own pack but that's exactly the games when you need a No10, to break the game's shackles, that their opponent's are trying to placate. But by the same token, BB didn't take the opportunity to show Shag and Co, that he has other strings to his bow especially when his low numbered team-mates, were being tested by, a committed opposing pack.

What did you make of Hanson's comment after the game that Barrett was a bit under the weather during the week?

I've said this before and I'll say it again......Barrett is not the answer to start as the ABs No10 and Saturday night was a clear example. When the AB pack has go forward, is winning its own line-outs and set-piece scrums and also sharing, if not winning, the ruck turn-overs, then Barrett has shown his speed, can weave through opposing defences, like a hot knife through butter, without any defensive impacts from the other side. However, when the ABs pack isn't going forward, is struggling to secure its own line-outs, meets a scrum opponent with equal immovable capacity and struggles to slow-down or even overcome the other side's ruck turnover abilities, then BB does nothing more but stand and move the ball. What becomes even more complicated for BB is when the opposition provides, a quick front line rush defence that limits BB's reaction times. He has shown at times to be indecisive when all of the above circumstances align together and Saturday night in Bled 3, was no exception. He was caught in no-man's land when it came time to be decisive and either run to the defence before off-loading or, stand right on the advantage line, somehow sidestep the rush defence and simply act, as a passer. Neither of these passages were evident and as a consequence, his outside backs struggled or barely avoided, the WBs defence.....ALB's try was the close-shave but had Speight gone for the tackle, rather than the intercept, who knows where the ball may have finished up, if there was a spill. BBs future worries IMO, will partly be about his goal-kicking which needs some serious work-ons but more importantly, if or when the ABs pack meets an opponent that challenges them in every aspect and succeeds, then the AB's No10, needs to be able to bring more to the game than just outright speed and a stand and deliver, proficiency. The No10 needs to bring an ability to take on the line with a guile step, an offload in behind, a mix of tactical kicking from grubbers to box chips.....anything that will first and foremost hold, the rush defence being subjected upon the ABs back-line and deliver some more space for the outsides, to play. I'd suggest that we may see both Cruden and Sopa each given a start up north in an effort to divert their opponents attentions, away from Barrett's lapses of ways and means, to overcome a rush defence and an opposition pack that's taking it, to the ABs pack.

NONE of those guys would make the ALL BLACKS squad. Either that or you're on the WRONG PAGE.

Would liked to have seen Rory O'CONNOR - Prop from Warringah & the big hard straight running 12 from Norths; think his name is SIMONE in the Wallably touring squad. SLIPPER has been a wonderful prop but is finished while SKELTON is too big & slow for todays game

This tour is great way for the ABs to end the season , with such a big squad , certain players can pace themselves and the new guys can learn along the way. The depth in this squad is amazing, so there is going to be a number of players that will get some quality test time ........looking good. The UK press will find the ABs tour really boring and pay them little attention, which I'm sure Hansen and co won't mind one bit.