Piri Weepu's back in the news http://nz.sports.yahoo.com/070812/1... - who would you have on stand-by?

Question

All Blacks coach Wayne Smith spoke to Yahoo!Xtra about how impressed he was with the players axed from the RWC squad and now they are facing some injury concerns, who would you have standing by?

Answer 1

people complain about weepu why couldnt he hve been ahead of ellis rueben thorne ahead of flavell guess thats what happens if you are a canterbury player   An another comment big Jerry is scared for his place because of thorne well if your are former cantabs well guess he better be   Seeing Thorne running  in  n defending like collins  i think not

Answer 2

Weepu deserved to be dropped and not only for his off the field performance. He is has a very slow passing game and no ties with carter. Kelleher will have to watch young Leonard in France and I wouldn't be surprised to see him play the final. As for the front rowers which is a loose link at the moment i think hawkes Bay showed plenty of punch against Wellington up front as they got dealt to. Another weak link is no 7 with no one in the squad to replace McCaw, they should have taken Meesam without a doubt.

Answer 3

You just got to know that Piri Weepu should be in the team regardless of the drinking binge. What's wrong with those idiots? He outplayed Kelleher in the Tri-Series and should've secured a spot. He's strong and makes the right choices on pressure. Come on Wayne, these young fella's are fit and healthy and need a blow out!

Answer 4

We have enough cover in every position on the paddock.Weepu may have come rite but "too little too late'.

Kellihar,Leonard and Ellis are surfice.

Flavell and Swalger would be your best bet,Flavell because of versitility to play lock(if Robinsons back gives out}he could go to that position and no.6 where the ABs could put thorne in lock  if one of our starting ones get injured and Flavell to cover Collins.Swalger would cover the both sides of the front row,especially with the recovered Somerville and a mild concussed Tialata are just coming rite

Answer 5

Well as the selectors you would 1st look at the guys who were axed (by right) they have been in the frame and know the direction that the coaching staff have set for the world cup even if they were told they may not be right for it.

As for any bolters at this stage it's too close to cut you surely would look to the fringe players

I say sometimes as a coach/selector you make a decision based on the information you have, you stand by it whether its right or wrong! They only  have 1 week to stand by or correct those decisions

Answer 6

No one.

Realistically New Zealand's punt at the world cup is just three high pressure games: quarter, semi and the final.

None of the teams in the pool matches will give the All Blacks any concerns - in fact none of the pool C nations have ever beaten the All Blacks.

The 30 strong squad are more than enough to get the job done even if key players like McCaw and Carter should fall over.

We simply do not need anyone on stand by. We have enough big wookies on the job.

Answer 7

~ Weepu should be at the top of the call-up list for halfback irrespective of his off the field antics.  Ali Williams was regarded as a 'project' by All Black officials and so Weepu will obviously have to be added to that endeavour.

John Schwalger will too be waiting anxiously on the eye results of Greg Sommerville. ~