All Blacks Rugby Championship Squad

[Lizard]

Hookers
Dane Coles (Wellington / Hurricanes, 39)
Codie Taylor (Canterbury / Crusaders, 5)
Nathan Harris (Bay of Plenty / Chiefs, 4)

Props
Wyatt Crockett (Canterbury / Crusaders, 48)
Charlie Faumuina (Auckland / Blues, 36)
Owen Franks (Canterbury / Crusaders, 80)
Joe Moody (Canterbury / Crusaders, 14)
Ofa Tu'ungafasi (Auckland / Blues, 1)

Locks
Brodie Retallick (Hawke's Bay / Chiefs, 50)
Luke Romano (Canterbury / Crusaders, 24)
Patrick Tuipulotu (Auckland / Blues, 9)
Samuel Whitelock (Canterbury / Crusaders, 75)

Loose Forwards
Sam Cane (Bay of Plenty / Chiefs, 34)
Elliot Dixon (Southland / Highlanders, 1)
Jerome Kaino (Auckland / Blues, 69)
Kieran Read, captain (Canterbury / Crusaders, 87)
Ardie Savea (Wellington / Hurricanes, 2)
Liam Squire (Tasman / Highlanders, 1)

Halfbacks
Tawera Kerr-Barlow (Waikato / Chiefs, 21)
TJ Perenara (Wellington / Hurricanes, 19)
Aaron Smith (Manawatu / Highlanders, 50)

First five-eighths
Beauden Barrett (Taranaki / Hurricanes, 39)
Aaron Cruden (Manawatu / Chiefs, 39)
Lima Sopoaga (Southland / Highlanders, 2)

Midfielders
Ryan Crotty (Canterbury / Crusaders, 18)
Malakai Fekitoa (Auckland / Highlanders, 15)
George Moala (Auckland / Blues, 2)
Sonny Bill Williams (Counties Manukau / Chiefs, 33) - joining after Olympics SCRATCHED
Anton Lienert-Brown - replacing SBW

Outside backs
Israel Dagg (Hawke's Bay / Crusaders, 51)
Waisake Naholo (Taranaki / Highlanders, 6)
Julian Savea (Wellington/ Hurricanes, 43)
Ben Smith (Otago / Highlanders, 51)

[Lizard]

So that's SBW in, Tamanivalu and McKenzie out. (NMS, Ngatai not considered due to injury)

The first two calls were predictable but gutting for D-Mack - surely he will be capped in November then?

The only tricky match-day squad issues will be balancing the outside backs and having proper bench cover for them.

[cashead]

So that's SBW in, Tamanivalu and McKenzie out. (NMS, Ngatai not considered due to injury)

The first two calls were predictable but gutting for D-Mack - surely he will be capped in November then?

Possibly sooner. You didn't list the 6 wider training squad members

Loose Forwards
Steven Luatua (Blues/Auckland)
Matt Todd (Crusaders/Canterbury)

Midfield
Anton Lienert-Brown (Chiefs/Waikato)
Seta Tamanivalu (Chiefs/Taranaki)

Back Three
Melani Nanai (Blues/Auckland)

Utility Back
Damian McKenzie (Chiefs/Waikato)

[rowan]

I just counted 10 Saders, 8 Landers, 7 Chiefs, 6 Blues & 5 Canes. Could that be right?

[cashead]

By Super Rugby team
Blues
Charlie Faumuina
Ofa Tu'ungafasi
Patrick Tuipulotu
Jerome Kaino
George Moala

Chiefs
Nathan Harris
Brodie Retallick
Sam Cane
Tawera Kerr-Barlow
Aaron Cruden
Sonny Bill Williams

Hurricanes
Dane Coles
Ardie Savea
TJ Perenara
Beauden Barrett
Julian Savea

Crusaders
Codie Taylor
Wyatt Crockett
Owen Franks
Joe Moody
Luke Romano
Sam Whitelock
Kieran Read
Ryan Crotty
Israel Dagg

Highlanders
Elliot Dixon
Liam Squire
Aaron Smith
Lima Sopoaga
Malakai Fekitoa
Waisake Naholo
Ben Smith

[rowan]

Thanks. Seems a bit odd, doesn't it, given this year's Super Rugby standings. Wellingtonians in particular have always got the rough end of the stick in terms of All Blacks selections. I remember Ivan Vodanovich saying they weren't suited to the harsh environment of touring South Africa, and indeed he declined to take any on the ill-fated 1970 tour. It's a bit strange, and dates back to the sport's traditional stronghold in the farming communities. But times have changed, there has been a major population shift to the cities, and with a major influx of Pacific Islanders to Auckland and Wellington, in particular, that's where the sport's stronghold lies in the modern era. Although admittedly the Blues have been battling lately and appear conversely over-represented as usual.

[morepork]

Ben from accounts isn't getting any younger. If Israel Dagg decides to follow his hip hop career in the near future, we will need a hardened DM. Plus someone else.

When are some new wingers going to start coming through to cover for the Big Pork Pie Bus?

[Eugene Wrayburn]

Disappointingly stable.

[cashead]

Thanks. Seems a bit odd, doesn't it, given this year's Super Rugby standings.

Not really, no. The Crusaders players selected are all proven internationals that have earned their keep at the test level.

[Eugene Wrayburn]

Thanks. Seems a bit odd, doesn't it, given this year's Super Rugby standings.

Not really, no. The Crusaders players selected are all proven internationals that have earned their keep at the test level.

It's a bit of an indictment of Blackadder. Those players may be experienced internationals but there are a fair few who are being outperformed

[rowan]

I haven't watched the Canes too much this season, apart from the highlights on Youtube, but usually when you have a team in winning form like this there are new players coming through and pressing their claims for national selection. And this is exactly the time when you want to be selecting those emerging players, just a year after a World Cup. Look at the Wallabies squad. That's what they've done, and everyone knows that, regardless what they do in between, the Aussies invariably show up for Rugby World Cups. Fact is, I don't think the Wellington region has produced any top coaches for a few decades and isn't get much input into the selection process. When was the last time the Wellington region had a representative on the national selection panel, just out of interest?

[cashead]

I haven't watched the Canes too much this season, apart from the highlights on Youtube, but usually when you have a team in winning form like this there are new players coming through and pressing their claims for national selection. And this is exactly the time when you want to be selecting those emerging players, just a year after a World Cup. Look at the Wallabies squad. That's what they've done, and everyone knows that, regardless what they do in between, the Aussies invariably show up for Rugby World Cups. Fact is, I don't think the Wellington region has produced any top coaches for a few decades and isn't get much input into the selection process. When was the last time the Wellington region had a representative on the national selection panel, just out of interest?

The Hurricanes are going with players that, while possibly having a fairly high ceiling currently risk being exposed at a higher level (think Mike Fatialofa), or are victims of great depth in their respective positions (that's Jason Woodward and to an extent, Cory Jane). It's also been the style of this current coaching panel to generally give players a couple of Super Rugby campaigns to be better seasoned before pulling the trigger with them. Some players require that they strike while the iron is hot, but it's preferable that they can prove they're not one-season wonders rather than rushing in and seeing them exposed at the highest level.

As for Australia "showing up for Rugby World Cups," if anything, they overachieved last year. They progressed through the pool stages last year because Wales always shit themselves against a SANZAR team, they faced an England side that were severely hobbled by a stupid selection decision, very nearly lost to the Scots in the quarterfinals last year, and only were in the game in the final because one of the All Blacks got binned, and then immediately shriveled like a frightened turtle once the ABs had a full complement on the field again.

[rowan]

Still, the Aussies got to the final, and are statistically the second most successful team at Rugby World Cups, having played in 6/8 semis and 4/8 finals. That's a pretty good record for a team that is generally the All Blacks' punching bag in between...

[cashead]

Thanks. Seems a bit odd, doesn't it, given this year's Super Rugby standings.

Not really, no. The Crusaders players selected are all proven internationals that have earned their keep at the test level.

It's a bit of an indictment of Blackadder. Those players may be experienced internationals but there are a fair few who are being outperformed

It's nothing new, really. Nonu outside of the Hurricanes had one good season for the Blues, and when Little and Bunce are mentioned, it often comes with a note of how shit they were for the Chiefs.

Blackadder, keep in mind, has also been a bit unlucky in his finals, as both appearances have had some degree of extenuating circumstances - the 2011 final was played in a season where the Crusaders didn't have a single home game after the second or third fixture and the 2014 final was decided on a poor call by the ref.

If anything, I do also feel that it's a reflection of how the current administrative structure has managed things, and the rude health that the game is in at the moment.

[cashead]

To be honest, I'd have preferred if one of the Pryor boys were given a call up to the WTG.

[Lizard]

MacKenzie aside, I like the steady-as-she-goes approach from Hansen. Although there is plenty of talent burning up the NZ Super franchises, let's not lose sight of the fact that the All Blacks are, without exaggeration, the most dominant team in history. There's absolutely no need to make changes for the sake of it. Sure, there are players who would probably be fine All Blacks who are not getting a shot but unless they will be clearly better than an incumbent, why take a punt. Modern substitution regs and injuries will provide enough opportunities for new players to come through without forcing it.

This is actually a pretty raw squad as it is - 10 out of 31 have fewer than 10 caps.

Breaking it down:
0-9 caps: 10
10-19: 4
20-29: 2
30-39: 6
40-49:2
50-59: 4
60+: 4

[cashead]

Besides, the EOYT has traditionally been the time to take a punt on the newbies as well.

Further breakdown by province.
Auckland
Charlie Faumuina
Ofa Tu'ungafasi
Patrick Tuipulotu
Jerome Kaino
Malakai Fekitoa
George Moala

Counties Manukau
Sonny Bill Williams

Waikato
Tawera Kerr-Barlow

Bay of Plenty
Nathan Harris
Sam Cane

Taranaki
Beauden Barrett
Waisake Naholo

Hawke's Bay
Brodie Retallick
Israel Dagg

Manawatu
Aaron Smith
Aaron Cruden

Wellington
Dane Coles
Ardie Savea
TJ Perenara
Julian Savea

Tasman
Liam Squire

Canterbury
Codie Taylor
Wyatt Crockett
Owen Franks
Joe Moody
Luke Romano
Samuel Whitelock
Kieran Read
Ryan Crotty

Otago
Ben Smith

Southland
Elliot Dixon

[Len]

Elliot is actually a Cantabrian, he just plays his rugby down there

[Lizard]

Elliot is actually a Cantabrian, he just plays his rugby down there

Oi! Careful, or someone might apply the same logic to Naholo.

[Len]

Elliot is actually a Cantabrian, he just plays his rugby down there

Oi! Careful, or someone might apply the same logic to Naholo.

Bring it on. Chances are said person would he British, can't really throw stones from a glass house and all that. Morons are headed straight towards a recession because they're dead set against immigration too, despite their sports teams being packed with economic migrants.

[zer0]

Kieran Read is an Aucklander.

[morepork]

Kieran Read is an Aucklander.

Quiet there, at the back of the class.

[Lizard]

Kieran Read is an Aucklander.

Bullshit. He's from Counties and played for Drury Rugby Club as well age-group cricket for Northern Districts.

[cashead]

Kieran Read is an Aucklander.

Bullshit. He's from Counties and played for Drury Rugby Club as well age-group cricket for Northern Districts.

He's a St Kents old boy (sort of).

[Mellsblue]

Elliot is actually a Cantabrian, he just plays his rugby down there

Oi! Careful, or someone might apply the same logic to Naholo.

Bring it on. Chances are said person would he British, can't really throw stones from a glass house and all that. Morons are headed straight towards a recession because they're dead set against immigration too, despite their sports teams being packed with economic migrants.

Wow.