Pick an end of year All Blacks side

[gluck]

Still no harm in picking on potential. Regan King, Danny Lee, Greg Rawlinson, Paul Steinmetz, Kaino, Cribb, all got picked on potential.

The grand slam is not that hard. Scotland and Ireland have never beaten the All Blacks, Wales have not won for 55 years. If the All Blacks beat England they will achieve the grand slam.

So take Vito play him against Scotland and Wales see what he has got.

[Turbo_Time]

Let him EARN THE JERSEY.
Although those days seem to be over.
Let him prove himself at S14 level, he'll be a better player for it instead of being gifted the black jersey.

[M.R.B.M]

Talking about earning the jersey....

Who else here thinks that Eaton is definitely earning a spot back into the ABs?

I personally don't really like the **** but I do have to give him credit! He has been playing very well, leaving everything on the field - heart on his sleeve stuff.

[M.R.B.M]

Just another person I'll mention, again...

Waikato captain Liam Messam inspired his side to a massive win over Otago in Hamilton that may have saved his team's Air New Zealand Cup season and left the southerners contemplating missing out on the playoffs.

It only took half a game for Messam to send Otago's campaign to the cliff edge on Friday night.

The brilliant flanker bagged a first-half hat-trick before limping off at halftime in his team's thumping 39-10 win at Waikato Stadium.

Despite carrying a hamstring niggle, Messam was at his dynamic best in inspiring a 28-3 lead at the break which Otago never looked like overhauling on their way to a fifth consecutive winless result.

A 50m solo try 2min before halftime showcased the former seven star's speed and power and effectively sealed the result of match they dominated.





Waikato 39: Liam Messam 3, David Bason, Sosene Anesi tries; Callum Bruce 2 pen, 4 con.

Otago 10: Karne Hesketh try; Daniel Bowden con, dg.

HT: 28-3

[Turbo_Time]

Eaton isn't the same anymore.
Vito sucks.
How about he gets starts for Wellington before getting picked for the AB's.

[Gwynn]

Vito doesn't suck just yet, but he's struggling with his hands for some reason, which is odd given that he started the season strongly.  Certainly lends weight to the argument I've shifted to that he needs a season of Super 14 rugby so we can see how he copes with another step up.

[Turbo_Time]

Well yeah everytime I've seen him he's had bad hands and we all know how that can be.
He is a very strong ball runner though but hopefully he continues to learn.

[Gwynn]

He hasn't always, seems to have been a recent thing, highlighted most by the shield challenge, but even so, I suspect it's a bit of Seven's training coming through, he's too eager to free the ball and keep play flowing - which is all good an well, but you need to ensure you're not losing the ball forward while doing it.  Don't want Vito to end up like Lauaki, a great wrecking ball but no ball skills.  And given that Vito did very well at Sevens, I'm hoping this is just an issue that can be resolved during Super 14.

In the meantime, put Messam in his place

[Gwynn]

Some more framework for our sides, GH has specified a 20/15 forward/back split, with one or two uncapped players and

Henry will carry seven loosies, five locks, five props and three hookers in his squad and confirmed one of the main priorities was to unearth specialist back-up for McCaw.

So how to restructure my suggested team given a couple of weeks + the new parameters...

Props

Tialata
Woodcock
Afoa
Schwalger
Crockett

Hookers
Hore
Mealamu
Elliott

Locks
Williams
Thorn
Boric
Eaton
Thrush

Loosies (how to pick seven!)
Thompson
Kaino
Lauaki
McCaw
So'oialo
Braid
Latimer (tough call between him, Messam and Read)

Halfbacks (going off GH's previous logic of taking 3 half backs)
Cowan
Weepu
Ellis (seems to be a Smith/Henry pet project, honestly I think Bason and Mathewson are better players)

Fly Halfs
Carter
Donald (if fit, otherwise... I have no idea, no other fly half has stood out for me, Ripia might be an outside chance, but wouldn't think so)

Centres
Smith
Nonu
Kahui
Toeava

Wings
Sivivatu
Rocokoco (if fit, otherwise another uncapped in Gear)
Wulf
Tuitivake

Fullbacks
Muliana
McDonald (if fit, otherwise I suspect another uncapped player, possibly Jane)

Even with 35, if you're trying to minimise the number of new caps, then you've got to omit special players somewhere, and Hosea Gear would be one of those, and presumably one of Read/Messam/Latimer will miss out too.

[EREHWON WARRIORS]

Now that GH & Co have confirmed my earlier assertion in ths thread that 35 AB's would be picked for NH Tour I'm revising my selections ahead of the QF rush for places!  

1. Woodcock    
2. Tialata
3. Afoa
4. Schwalger
5. Hore
6. Mealamu
7. Elliott*
8. Williams
9. Thorn
10. Boric
11. Filipo   (O'Neill    out through injury I believe !  )
12. Messam*
13. Kaino
14. Thomson
15. Read *
16. McCaw
17. So'oialo
18. Cowan
19. Weepu
20. Ellis ( assuming Leonard still out of course!
21. Carter
22. Donald (Brett *if Stephen D crocked still)
23. Smith C.
24. Nonu
25. Kahui (centres please! )
26. Toeava
27. Sivivatu
28. Rokocoko
29. Muliana
30. Jane*  (assuming Rangi still wonky! )
31. Jamie (Whoppa) Mackintosh * or Wyatt Crockett* as fifth prop in case Dingo/Possumhead get ideas!
32. Jason Eaton (fifth lock) or Jeremy Thrush*
33. Tanerau Latimer* if Messam is not groomed as Ritchie's understudy/Sione Lauaki to get a reprieve if he is!
34. Hosea Gear * or David Smith * as fourth winger( though Anthony Tuitavake & Rudi Wulf could still go too! )
35. Stephen Brett  * or  Paul Williams  * or Israel Dagg  * before those Ozzies get other ideas!  

Remember this is the closest thing to a tour I think we'll get! so I know GH & Co will  take at least 35 for the All Black culture & system initiation and as stated earlier will stop Possum Head &/or Dingo Deans from targetting any prospects for their S14 Oz blenders!  

Actually haven't changed many of my originals at all!

Cheers,
Baz                                      This side will go unbeaten AGAIN!

[Dingo]

Agree with all except L La Lau Lauaki. To many stumbles and dropped balls at test level. Been tried, won't ever make it consistently, time to be given the flick For me Read is a way better option.


Who is in your top 15 Baz?

For me it would be

1. Woodcock   
2. Hore
3. Tialata
4. Williams
5. Thorn
6. So'oialo
7. McCaw
8. Kaino
9 Cowan
10 Carter
11 Siti
12 Toeava
13 Kahui
14 Rokocoko
15 Muliana

I know we will disagree on Nonu but again like Lauaki, I just don't see him as being effective at test level. Does not read the game and if he is going to play anywhere then put him on the wing. Give me Mauger or McAlister any day.

[EREHWON WARRIORS]

Actually my 15 at the mo would have Weepu ahead of Cowan ( Jimmy dropped his bundle with ref the other night ...dissent that should not have been tolerated as Southland lost! ) and Smith, Nonu in the centres still (they haven't done too much wrong yet have they....and if it's all right why fix it? )

      Cheers,
          Baz 

[M.R.B.M]

Woodcock
Tialata
Afoa
Schwalger
Crockett

Hore
Mealamu
Elliott

Williams
Thorn
Boric
O'Neil Eaton
... Read ... Fillipo ...

Latimer
Kaino
Thompson
Braid
McCaw
So'oialo
Vito Messem or Lauaki  (I believe these two team mate are fighting for one spot, & atm, Messem has got the goods)



Cowan
Ellis
Weepu    (Leonard, too long out - have to fight back next year)

Carter
Donald
Brett

Smith
Nonu
Kahui

Sivivatu
Rocketman  (Gear, if injured)
Tuitavake

Toeava
Muliana
P.Williams / Wulf Dagg

[M.R.B.M]

I believe in this tour we will see Carter & Brett in tandem for the very first & definitely not last time in the Black jersey! 

At this stage I would say DC will be 10, and Brett 12...

Normally this combo would never work but with them in the same provincial team it has added opportunity to prosper!

[gluck]

Rodney is the back up seven perhaps give Kaino a game at eight. We do not have anyone close to mccaw, hell we do not have anyone close to Holah.