What used to be one of the most anticipated moments of my life has now evolved into a modicum of enthusiasm.
It may be because I am now a New Zealander living in Australia where the media attention for rugby is so much less than NZ, but I feel that the naming of the All Blacks squad is less of a big deal than previously.
And no, I have not become an AFL fan, I have tried hard to like it and know enough to fake a conversation, but still do not get the enthusiasm for it.
I remember the heated debates with mates and fellow workers as to who would make the team and there was always a “Pick the All Blacks” competition running somewhere.
If the team named by the public could ever take the field who knows what the result would be. I would say that several Kiwis could pick a better team than what Ian Foster and co have just done.
I believe I never ever managed to select the whole squad as named by selectors but did come close. There was always a bolter in there.
Bolters usually do not work, do they? The “experiments” usually did not develop as planned either.
So, to the All Blacks squad to start 2021, with Tests against Fiji and Tonga.
Forwards
Hookers
Asafo Aumua (24, Hurricanes / Wellington, 1)
Dane Coles (34, Hurricanes / Wellington, 74)
Codie Taylor (30, Crusaders / Canterbury, 56)
Props
George Bower (29, Crusaders / Otago, uncapped)
Ethan de Groot (22, Highlanders / Southland, new cap)
Nepo Laulala (29, Blues / Counties Manukau, 29)
Tyrel Lomax (25, Hurricanes / Tasman, 6)
Angus Ta’avao (31, Chiefs / Auckland, 14)
Karl Tu’inukuafe (28, Blues / North Harbour, 17)
Locks
Scott Barrett (27, Crusaders / Taranaki, 36)
Brodie Retallick (30, Chiefs / Hawke’s Bay, 81)
Patrick Tuipulotu (28, Blues / Auckland, 35)
Tupou Vaa’i (21, Chiefs / Taranaki, 4)
Samuel Whitelock (32, Crusaders / Canterbury, 122) – captain
Loose forwards
Ethan Blackadder (26, Crusaders / Tasman, new cap)
Shannon Frizell (27, Highlanders / Tasman, 13)
Akira Ioane (26, Blues / Auckland, 2)
Luke Jacobson (24, Chiefs / Waikato, 2)
Dalton Papalii (23, Blues / Counties Manukau, 4)
Ardie Savea (27, Hurricanes / Wellington, 49)
Hoskins Sotutu (22, Blues / Counties Manukau, 5)
Backs
Halfbacks
Finlay Christie (25, Blues / Tasman, new cap)
Aaron Smith (32, Highlanders / Manawatu, 97)
Brad Weber (30, Chiefs / Hawke’s Bay, 7)
First five–eighths
Beauden Barrett (30, Blues / Taranaki, 88)
Richie Mo’unga (27, Crusaders / Canterbury, 22)
Midfielders
Braydon Ennor (23, Crusaders / Canterbury, 1)
David Havili (26, Crusaders / Tasman, 3)
Rieko Ioane (24, Blues / Auckland, 33)
Anton Lienert-Brown (26, Chiefs / Waikato, 49)
Quinn Tupaea (22, Chiefs / Waikato, new cap)
Outside backs
Jordie Barrett (24, Hurricanes / Taranaki, 23)
George Bridge (26, Crusaders / Canterbury, 10)
Will Jordan (22, Crusaders / Tasman, 2)
Damian McKenzie (26, Chiefs / Waikato, 27)
Sevu Reece (23, Crusaders / Tasman, 8)
Living in Australia makes it difficult to get to know all the players and be familiar with their overall form. But I will do the best I can.
Overall, the response to the hookers named seems to be quite positive. Coles and Taylor are the veterans with the young blood snapping at their heels.
The murky depths of the prop world are left to the scrummaging experts, and you must take their word for it. I always liked the running prop myself. Ethan de Groot at 22 is extremely young to be named so we hope he lives up to the promise.
Five locks were named with one of them, Samuel Whitelock named as skipper, replacing Sam Kane. Scott Barrett joins his two brothers in the squad. I do not know a lot about Tupou Vaa’I, the young Chiefs lock, but maybe a reader is more familiar with him?
You know you are getting old when sons of players you followed years ago, are named in current teams! Ethan Blackadder, son of Todd has been named as a loose forward. As an aside, Michael Lynagh’s son Louis is now also becoming a prominent player.
The rest of the loose forwards are named on form with Shannon Frizell, brother of Tyson, a St George player in NRL, reclaiming his spot.
(Dianne Manson/Getty Images)
T.J Perenara was ineligible for this squad and his place goes to Finlay Christie, the Scottish born Blues halfback.
Richie Mo’unga and Beauden Barrett are the first five-eighths selected with some questioning why a third five-eighth was not picked. Maybe they have Damian McKenzie in mind as well.
I do have question marks over Barrett and whether his glory days are behind him. I am sure that is what they said about Dan Carter too. Like a Benji Marshall or Shaun Johnston in the NRL, they just become different players.
The midfield backs are solid selections and hopefully a partnership is built up over this season in preparation for the next World Cup. The All Blacks have not had a settled midfield since Conrad Smith and Ma’a Nonu.
The durable partnership of Frank Bunce and Walter Little is a distant memory. Please do not ask me about Quinn Tupaea, the 22-year-old Chiefs player selected as I have no idea!
The outside backs named are Jordie Barrett, George Bridge, Will Jordan, Damian McKenzie and Sevu Reece. Barrett is a good player, but I am yet to be convinced by him for some reason.
Maybe it is the haircut or the way he runs, I do not know! George Bridge I worry about, he is getting to that age when wingers start to lose their place, and I thought he was shown up in the last World Cup. Maybe there is a better option?
Will Jordan has impressed me with the limited viewing I have seen of him, and he is at that age where he has it all in front of him. McKenzie is a fantastic player yet to cement his spot in the All Blacks. Is it full back or first five?
Time will tell. Sevu Reece is another yet to convince me of a long-term career in the All Blacks. We have been spoilt with great wingers over the years with Lomu, Bryan Williams, Kirwan, and the two Wilson’s as examples. So, a player like Reece has a lot to live up to.
Overall, a conservative team named, from a conservative coach. Is this the beginnings of a team that will take us through to the next World Cup?
The loose forwards, halfback, first-five, midfield, wing, and full back are concerns. I believe I just about included the whole team there! Time will tell.
J Jones
Roar Rookie
L Ron Hubbard ? ah no you mean that bloke in the spotlight now. For what its worth the ABs will never be what they have been in the past, either in potential or results – way too many things working against them now.
Peter Darrow
Roar Guru
One of my previous articles was The Greatest All Blacks since 1970 which I wrote with very little 'research". See, its just about opinion.
Peter Darrow
Roar Guru
My next article? The Roar have declined to publish my article on Laurel Hubbard as it was too hot for them. You will never know if I was "qualified" to write that too.
Peter Darrow
Roar Guru
It's so easy to be a critic isn't it Me? Easier to be a critic than a writer. I will use a food analogy, I would much rather be the chef than the food critic. Produce something. It's probably too late now but no other articles have been forthcoming have they? I would love to know at what point do you become "qualified" to give an opinion about a rugby team? As an aside, The Roar won't publish my next article about Laurel Hubbard as it is too hot for them. You will unfortunately never know if I was qualified to write that too.
Peter Darrow
Roar Guru
Rubbish! I'll use Foster and J.Barrett as examples (and I wasn't that harsh on them anyway) How much "research" do you need to do to not highly rate someone?? My god, its just an opinion site. Do you have an opinion about Scott Morrison? Donald Trump? Boris Johnson etc?. I bet you did not do a lot of research on them before coming to your evaluation? Read it again, its not as bad as you think.
moaman
Roar Guru
He should only ever play wing in an emergency.
moaman
Roar Guru
Will Jordan.
moaman
Roar Guru
I would have thought halfback was fairy secure?
ME
Guest
"You know the crux of all this is that you and others cannot handle any criticism of the All Blacks" That is a blatant lie. Myself and "others" just prefer an opinion piece to be a lot better researched. Yours clearly isn't. You don't like that Foster was named coach, and you are bitter that people have pointed out that you have not done any proper research, clearly have not watched many games, but feel qualified to decide players and the team are not up to it. Its not the ABs criticism that people are annoyed at. Its your poorly researched writing. And as for the 'at least I have written something' schtick you are going on about, yes its the very least.
Peter Darrow
Roar Guru
You know the crux of all this is that you and others cannot handle any criticism of the All Blacks. Very thin skinned. People get offended when I say I don't have a high opinion of J.Barrett!! How stupid is that?? It's just an opinion, get over it and have a bit more confidence. Most of you were probably awaiting a glowing report about the squad for you to be reinforced by the praise. Well, guess what? You didn't get it. Get over it. Show me how it is done ME. Just a question, but have you written anything on here yet?
ME
Guest
Or perhaps you spend a bit of time before writing an article to , you know, inform yourself about what you are writing about. A bit of knowledge doesn't hurt and it will stop most, if not all, of the "backlash" you are complaining about.
Peter Darrow
Roar Guru
So I await the articles about the All Blacks squad written by those “with complete information” then. Not many so far is there? Now why would that be? If everyone on The Roar had to write with “complete information” there wouldn’t be many articles written would there?
ME
Guest
Whether I agree with your assessment is irrelevant. The basis of how you formed your opinion is what is at fault. Now as to it being a "conservative team" of 33 players; 20 of them have played less than 20 Tests. of those 13 of them have played 5 or less Tests. 12 of them are 25 or younger. That's hardly "conservative" right there. What the selection panel has done has selected a team of in form, young and experienced players to fit their game plan. Not necessarily the best in each position, but what they feel fits their plan. It is selected with two things in mind. The first is that the ABs will win these first few games. And second the world cup is only a couple of years away so seeing who is capable starts now. Now as to the players you have listed Tupou Vaa’i: He has had two outstanding Super Rugby Seasons and a good four tests fort he ABs. The fact you dont know about him is a strong indication your opinion on the whole squad is based on "feelings" instead of actually watching these players. Beauden Barret: You Think his "glory days" are behind him. Did you watch any of his games in Japan? How do you know what kind of form he is in to make that claim? Jordie Barret: Not convinced? have you not watched the last two seasons of Super Rugby. He was by far the best Full Back in the country. He also has the ability to kick goals from 60 metres out. A very useful Test match skill. George Bridge: You have question marks? what about? He hasn't lost his speed, hoe exactly was he "shown up" at the world cup. Also he is just back from injury and was selected, hardly the "conservative" choice. Quinn Tupaea: you have no idea? so you didn't watch ANY Super Rugby this year? and you formed an opinion on a team after that? Damien McKenzie: Whether he is a Full Back or 1st five he is a mercurial player. One thing he is not is the "conservative" choice/ Sevu Reece: Yet to convince you he is a long term AB. Why? Certainly not form, since it is clear you formed your opinion without watching him play. And that is about a quarter of the team. And you labelled the team "conservative" based on a quarter of the team. That's just plain lazy.
ME
Guest
There you go again. arguing about something else. I will spell it out for you... You made the claim that you were getting a "backlash" about "critiquing" the ABs. This is wrong. You were getting a "backlash" about giving an opinion about a team when you didn't know some players, including a test playing AB and you didn't know the form of some other players. The reason for that is because you have formed an opinion based on incomplete information. THAT is what you are facing the "backlash" on.
Peter Darrow
Roar Guru
See the problem I see here is nothing to do with rugby, it is the Kiwis attitude towards criticism. The All Blacks have been near perfect for so long that if anyone dares to criticise them now, look out. I've noticed that you await peoples praise of the country before you feel good about it, you cannot go out to the world telling everyone how great it is. There is the old joke about someone stepping off a plane and a local asking, "so what do you think of it so far?" After the Black Caps win I noticed one of the first articles in the NZ Herald was "what does the world media think of the win" Who gives a shit what the rest of the world thinks?? Tell the world yourselves. It was a great win celebrate it. Get over your insecurities and be confident enough to absorb any criticism. Its a great country, feel good about it.
Peter Darrow
Roar Guru
ME, still waiting. Here let me help. See, I stated this right from the start, "Living in Australia makes it difficult to get to know all the players and be familiar with their overall form. But I will do the best I can." And " I do not know a lot about Tupou Vaa’I, the young Chiefs lock, but maybe a reader is more familiar with him?" so I was actually asking for help. And "I do have question marks over Barrett and whether his glory days are behind him. I am sure that is what they said about Dan Carter too. Like a Benji Marshall or Shaun Johnston in the NRL, they just become different players." I am saying Dan Carter was told he was past it too, but look at what he did, same goes for B. Barrett. Positive really? "J. Barrett is a good player, but I am yet to be convinced by him for some reason." So true, and a lot of others agree. "George Bridge I worry about, he is getting to that age when wingers start to lose their pace, and I thought he was shown up in the last World Cup. Maybe there is a better option?" Bridge really impressed me early on, but I have question marks. "Please do not ask me about Quinn Tupaea, the 22-year-old Chiefs player selected as I have no idea!" Being quite honest there. One player. "McKenzie is a fantastic player yet to cement his spot in the All Blacks. Is it full back or first five?" a question many have asked? "Sevu Reece is another yet to convince me of a long-term career in the All Blacks." Quite debateable isn't it? "Overall, a conservative team named, from a conservative coach." You don't agree?
Peter Darrow
Roar Guru
ME, you did not actually do what I said. "Read it again and with an open mind tell me exactly what lines you disagree with."
ME
Guest
Now you are changing the argument, because its clear you are wrong. The "backlash you are getting is not about saying the ABs have been "average for the past few years", although given there winning percentage is well above 50% you also don't know what "average" is. The "backlash" is about you claiming its an "average" squad without knowing some of the players or the form of others selected. That's ignorance and arrogance.
ME
Guest
"I can review the “whole” squad and get a feeling for it without “knowing” some of the players." No you really cant. How do you know if the skills those players bring in complement the existing players and it becomes Greater than the sum of its parts? You even admitted not knowing "much" about a current ABs lock who played Test Rugby last year. That is why you are coping it, Not because you are criticising the ABs, but because you claim and average squad has been selected, when you dont even know some of the players. That is arrogance. as for "I believe it is more arrogant to say someones opinion is greater than mine." Hardly that when they at least know ALL of the members of the squad selected. Clearly they have more knowledge than you, therefore there opinion IS "greater" than yours.
Peter Darrow
Roar Guru
Any form of criticism of the All Blacks is going to cop some backlash no matter what it is. (I don’t believe I was being that harsh anyway) If I was the greatest rugby analyst in the world, had comprehensive biographies of all the players, watched countless footage of all rugby matches and came out and said, “no the All Blacks have been average for the past few years, have an average coach and will not be strong contenders for the next World Cup, imagine the backlash!! I just reread my article and consider it very mild and actually quite honest. If people cannot handle it, it shows how thin skinned they are. Read it again and with an open mind tell me exactly what lines you disagree with.