All Blacks - Rugby Championship 2012

Couldn't find any thread about this so hopefully not doubling up.

I'd take Messam over Thompson every day of the week when it's the black jersey - this was taken from stuff.co.nz


Guildford, Messam may miss All Blacks squad
TOBY ROBSON
Some simple maths might be bad news for Liam Messam and Zac Guildford as the All Blacks selectors ink the final names onto their squad for the Rugby Championship.

Coach Steve Hansen will unveil a 28-man squad in Auckland tomorrow and he has some tough calls to make, particularly out wide and in the loose.

What's certain in the backs is that wing Cory Jane will return after missing the June test series with an ankle injury, and that Sonny Bill Williams will stay on until Conrad Smith's eye has healed.

Assuming Beauden Barrett's education as the third first five-eighth will be put on ice until the end-of-year tour, there are likely to be 12 backs and 16 forwards.

Jane's return, coupled with the utility value of Tamati Ellison and Ben Smith, means there is probably room for two specialist wings.

Julian Savea's progression will surely not be stifled now, meaning either Hosea Gear or Guildford misses out.

Neither did much wrong, but the All Blacks' line-breaking power might better suit the pure finishing power of Gear over Guildford's work rate.

Should Messam be the unlucky loosie it will be the harshest of calls.

He has been been in sparkling form, showing all that's good about his high tempo game in recent weeks, but it seems there is room for only five loose forwards.

Kieran Read, Richie McCaw and Victor Vito are certainties and Sam Cane's bright start against Ireland surely won't be discarded.

Which leaves Messam and Adam Thomson.

Not big enough, inconsistent, too loose: Messam must be sick of hearing why he's not in the All Blacks.

None of those criticisms currently apply and he took his chance with both hands against Ireland when called up in Hamilton.

However, Hansen is loyal and Thomson has done little wrong even if he lacks Messam's finesse. It is an unenviable call.

The other area of intrigue is at lock. It seems Ali Williams' recovery from a knee injury will continue from within the squad as the fourth lock.

That's a risky call, but Hansen values his veteran's input that much and with Sam Whitelock, Luke Romano and Brodie Retallick he may feel he can get through until Williams is fit to play.

There is some scope for carrying backup with Hansen having negotiated the use of an additional two players to train with the squad in New Zealand.

That could be an extra lock such as Chiefs skipper Craig Clarke or former All Blacks Jason Eaton or Jarrad Hoeata.

It appears there will be five props with Charlie Faumuina expected to return after withdrawing from the Irish series with a calf injury.

That might be bad news for Chiefs prop Ben Tameifuna.

The All Blacks next test is against the Wallabies on August 18 in Sydney.

Possible All Blacks squad: Backs: Israel Dagg, Cory Jane, Julian Savea, Hosea Gear, Ben Smith, Tamati Ellison, Ma'a Nonu, Sonny Bill Williams, Dan Carter, Aaron Cruden, Aaron Smith, Piri Weepu. Forwards: Kieran Read, Victor Vito, Adam Thomson, Richie McCaw, Sam Cane, Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Luke Romano, Ali Williams, Charlie Faumuina, Owen Franks, Ben Franks, Tony Woodcock, Wyatt Crockett, Keven Mealamu, Andrew Hore. Additional two: Liam Messam, Craig Clarke.

Injured: Conrad Smith.

- © Fairfax NZ

I'll be disappointed if Hansen doesn't pick the poncing fairy. Messam on the other hand, could Hansen really be that silly?

Ali Williams, meh, cheap player who is nowhere near the skill level he once was. A Botha lite. Yes, yes Kiwis, I know Simmons is cheap too, I am not fussed on him either.

Meh..I'm a bit a biased towards Ali being a Blues fan but I can see why most fans hate him. He obviously isn't making the ABs based on form tho..

It'll be a harsh decision to leave Messam out but you could probably say the same about Thomson

Its time to let Ali go. You've had a great run, but we need to build for the future. Don't envy the call on Thomson or Messam.

I'd say he Stuff article is bullshit in regard to Messam. The ABs want a physical 6, which means either Vito or Messam. Bye Bye Thomson.

Read and McCaw get through an assload of work, so why have another workhorse in Thompson. Vito and Messam offer that ball running impact Kaino offered.

Kaino got through a shitload of work too, way more than what Thompson does.

How long will be the suspensions for SBW and Tameifuna after tonight's final. SBW for the shoulder charge, may well get away with nothing. Ben Tameifuna's high shot though on Kankowski was a bad one and since Quade Cooper got a week for the fairly weak tackle on Barnes consistency (which is not high on the list of priorities for SANZAR judicial officers) would require at least that.

Don't hold your breath Gnostic. The Cru vs Chief white card resulted in a big fat donut from judiciary according to posters.

Tameifuna has been cited but no mention of SBW so I presume nothing has come of his hit.
http://www.rugby365.com/article/48892-tameifuna-hit-with-citing

I think he (Tameifuna) should also have been cited by the Good Taste Commisioner on account of his hairdo.

Could be worse, could be a tattoo. At least the stupid hairdo will grow back "normal".

All Black squad named. No Ali or Guildford - great! Surprised Thomson made it with only 3 locks named.

Charlie Faumuina is the new cap. Unlucky - Craig Clarke, Ben T

Hookers
Andrew Hore - Taranaki (65)
Keven Mealamu - Auckland (93)

Props
Wyatt Crockett - Canterbury (6)
Charlie Faumuina - Auckland*
Ben Franks - Canterbury (18)
Owen Franks - Canterbury (34)
Tony Woodcock - North Harbour (86)

Locks
Brodie Retallick - Bay of Plenty (3)
Luke Romano - Canterbury (1)
Samuel Whitelock - Canterbury (28)

Loose forwards
Sam Cane - Bay of Plenty (2)
Richie McCaw © - Canterbury (106)
Liam Messam - Waikato (10)
Kieran Read - Canterbury (38)
Adam Thomson - Otago (27)
Victor Vito - Wellington (14)

Halfbacks
Aaron Smith - Manawatu (3)
Piri Weepu - Auckland (59)

First five-eighths
Daniel Carter - Canterbury (87)
Aaron Cruden - Manawatu (11)

Midfielders
Tamati Ellison - Otago (2)
Ma'a Nonu - Wellington (66)
Conrad Smith - Wellington (58)

Outside backs
Israel Dagg - Hawke's Bay (15)
Hosea Gear - Wellington (9)
Cory Jane - Wellington (31)
Ben Smith - Otago (5)
Julian Savea - Wellington (2)

Where is SBW?

Locks are all quite new but more than capable. Given our lock issues for the Wobs i'd take anyone of them to partner Sharpe. All the talk about the Aus centres will be pointless unless the forwards can muscle up and i struggle to see many positions in the 8 where Australia has the advantage. Moore is probably equal and Pocock the only clear advantage to Australia.

Backs are probably closer matched depending on which combo's we run with. At least Genia, Beale and Ioane can match there opposite. JOC if fit as well but the Bledisloe will be decided by the time he is back.

From the press release...

Unfortunately Deans won't start with Moore for whatever strange reason...

How the f*ck Ben Franks continues to get selected is beyond me. He has done nothing in a Black jersey.

"Wow did you see Ben Franks destroy that opposition front row?" - No One. Ever.

Wait for Faumuina to fall over injured, Ben T back in. Matter of time.

Glad we flushed the Guildford turd though.

I agree, he seems to be living on his brother's name, I've never really seen Ben do anything of note.

3 locks, 6 loosies is odd. Clarke hard done by, but to be fair he'd not get into the 22 I'd think short of injury.

Not sure which of Vito and Thompson, but one or both are short of Messam for me, Vito would improve radically with a bit of mongrel.

Agree on Ben though I'd query Crockett.

Backs wise nothing to say really, good lineup, other than to note the ABs have now got a lot of real talent at halfback for the first time in a while.

No SBW will hurt when it happens but not as much as the media hype suggests, Nonu is looking to be in very very good form if that Brumbies game is any indicator.

c'mon Vito and Messams' yardage with ball in hand pales in comparison to Read and Thompson. Veets and Mess are shades of Kaino with solid contributions in the collision area. But really, all three are slow and they rarely have the tackle busting ability across the field in a black jersey the likes of say . a SA Danie Rossouw. Either way you will sacrifice attacking mobility for fixed defence. The AB's traditional achilles heal since the emergence of professionalism is winning the first half and failing to put teams way in the second. Thats where the weakness is. Fixed defence.

Give yourself an uppercut. Messan and Vito don't have tackle busting ability?

What Vito and Messam have that Thompson don't is an ability to hurt the opposition. I'm not talking about dirty play or anything like that but they can hit hard both in defense and ball-in-hand. Kaino just probably did it harder and more often.

I miss him already