Now that the phoney war called the Steinlager Series is over, the so-called Three Wise Men have once again surprised by dropping four players from that squad & recalling some players they seemed to have publicly ruled out in the past. So with out going through the full squad .....
The winners are .... Rene Ranger, Liam Messam, Sam Whitelock, John Afoa & Corey Flynn - I would also add Benson Stanley to that group as well.
The losers are .... Zac Guildford, Adam Thomson, Neemia Tialata & Aled de Malmanche - to that group you can add Luke McAlister & Hosea Gear as well.
Rene Ranger is now taken over the official "Special Project" label bestowed by Wayne Smith, which can only mean he will be played in numerous positions & become totally confused. He is worthy of his place after his form of the past 2 seasons & lets hope they just let him play on the wing or as centre in the later stages of the match.
Liam Messam - the whipping boy of the selectors this time last year has returned to the squad probably on the back of his form for NZ Maori. Not sure where the slectors think they will use him but looks more a number 8 to me at the top level.
Sam Whitelock - yes he has sat on the bench in every test this season but this is his first official naming in the squad. A rapid rise.
John Afoa - now this is a shock given the selectors have basically questioned his scrummaging - something the loyal Colin Maiden Park faithful would never do. Has he been picked as the 4th prop or on this conversion to hooker flight of fancy?
Corey Flynn - was always going to return once he proved his fitness. Wait for the next breakdown.
Benson Stanley - owed his initial selection to injuries but has survived the return of Nonu & remained ahead of McAlister in the queue.
Zac Guildford - seems to have lost favour despite doing little wrong with the experience of the Rocket Man preferred. Not exactly a vote for youth a year out from RWC11.
Adam Thomson - Now I have never been Gingernut's biggest fan but if you ever want an example of the selectors mucking a guy around it is this. Picked as a bolter 2 years ago due to athletic prowess he went on to prove his worth during 2009 Super 14 & seemed to have the number six to himself. Suddenly was being played as an openside before returning to the blindside later in 2009. Now left out behind Kaino, Messam & Vito. Must be scratching his head.
Tialata - another scratching his head. Starting tighthead in the All Blacks' 2 best performances last year (3rd test vs Aussie & vs France in Marseilles). Never sets the world alight but has suddenly slipped behind Afoa?
Conan - only ever holding a spot on the bench for Flynn - wonder how many minutes his AB career adds up to? Foreign shores await.
Luke McAlister - Down the pecking order after all the rush & hooplah to get him back to NZ last year. Probably needs to prove he's fitter than Jacob Oram. Will fit back in for any injuries.
Hosea Gear - what does he have to do? Included in the Tri Nations squad last year but barely played, he then wasn't picked for the end of season tour. Despite being injured earlier this year he has once again showed he is probably the best finisher in NZ. Deserves a crack.
So overall the core 22 is pretty consistent & the marginal choices might not matter much anyway. The questions that still remain for me are;
- Back up for Carter
- Use of Dagg now that Mils is back
- Back up number 7 - surely we can't hope to convert players from other loose forward positions
- Too many blindsides in the squad
- Depth at hooker with the Seal Shooter injured
- Use of Afoa
- Weepu ahead of a running halfback (eg Mathewson)
