Well its official - that nauseous feeling took over last Sunday when I heard the names Richard Kahui & Aled de Malmanche amongst the 26 man All Black squad named to face the Paddys & the Taffs.
For those who missed it here is the squad of 26 by position with my five incorrect picks in brackets.
Muliaina
Dagg (Ranger)
Jane
Guildford
Rokocoko
C Smith
Kahui (McAlister)
B Stanley
Carter
Cruden (Brett)
Cowan
Weepu (Mathewson)
Read
McCaw
Kaino
Thomson
Vito
Donnelly
Thorn
Boric
Woodcock
O Franks
Tialata
B Franks
Mealamu
de Malmanche (Flynn)
It should come as no surprise that I was a forwards coach & therefore was going to struggle with some of the backline options.
First of all, 8 players were confirmed as unavailable due to injury; Sivivatu, Toeava, Nonu, Donald (though the word on the street is that he had been told that he had missed out before he got injured playing for the mighty Waikato Varsity), Delany, Ali Williams, Eaton & Hore. To that list you can probably add Masaga.
It seems that NZ Maori was decided as the right place for McAlister & Flynn to regain match fitness but others have been included despite injury concerns, namely Mils, Kahui, Donnelly & de Malmanche. Donnelly must be the biggest concern as Sam Whitelock has been asked to train with the squad as back up.
So having a look back at the NZ side that destroyed France at Marseille last year the only starters missing (Sivi, Nonu & Hore) are due to injury. From the bench, Donald is injured and Flynn & McAlister are coming back from injury. That just leaves Latimer & Ellis missing from this year's squad.
Most of the media talks centred on the four newcomers in particular Aaron Cruden. First of all I was delighted to see one of the Dagg clan make the cut. Definitely a star in the making. Benson Stanley described himself as the "last man standing" at 2nd five which is pretty much spot on though he should do a solid job. Vito's inclusion had been earmarked though the squad seems a bit heavy at blindside flanker & light at openside. Maybe they are considering him more as a number eight & with his sevens background maybe he can provide the "X-factor" that Sideshow is so desperate for.
That leaves Cruden. Injury to Delany might have helped & NZ has been searching for a back up to Carter ever since Nick Evans packed his bags. While a handful of Super 14 starts isn't a lot to go on it sounds like he will be eased into it. When you look at the alternatives like Brett & Ripia it is hard to argue on the selectors' punt on him.
A final few comments - the Weepu selection smacks on wanting to retain a player from overseas clutches. While his experience is valuable, it’s hard to see him (or Cowan) as an impact player & Mathewson must be asking what more he needs to do! Is Hika Elliot injured - he didn't even make the NZ Maori squad? No back up number 7 - surely they are not going to use Thomson there again? If they wanted X-factor surely Ranger was worth a punt as well (instead of going back to Rokocoko?)
All in all there shouldn't be too many grumbles. There's a definite lack of depth in the midfield & a few questionable back ups.
If Carter and / or McCaw go down we look in real trouble. As much as things change the more they stay the same!
