Thoughts on the 2008 All Blacks?

Question

Who shouldn't be there and who should etc.

Answer 1

When is Graham Henry going to stop lying? Pick the team on form - what form has Jerome Kaino, NeemiaTialata or Ma Nonu? The form No. 6 in the country is Keiran Read - daylight second but not even in the squad. how will we cope against teams like Australia or South Africa who have a few brains when we have Ma Nonu at 2nd 5/8. God help us?

Can't believe Graham Henry has spouted out the same line year after year about picking sides on form then picks guys who haven't performed in Super 14

Answer 2

Laulala should've been in for smith, Reid in for Thompson, Lelia Masaga instead of Wulf and Braid instead of Boric. Otherwise all go

My 15:

15. Muliaina

14. Sivivatu

13. Tuitavake

12. Carter

11. Nonu

10. Donald

9. Leonard

8. Lauaki

7. McCaw

6. Kaino

5. Thorn

4. Williams

3. Sommerville

2. Mealamu

1. Woodcock

Answer 3

irish beat the all blacks?  yeah right, have you seen the irish play, they're carrying a loads of old guys in their squad and play boring rugby....  ABs will beat them hands down no matter what players are selected...

Answer 4

the dickheads in the nzru should all fall on there swords now before the tri nations start.mcaw sums it up today on the in sight how deans was our greatest coach of all time and why he is. good luck the all blacks, its a bit  like hitler capturing churchill we now know your moves.who shouldn't be there, take a wild guess.

Answer 5

Only real dissapointment is Kahui over Laulala. Henry said "Kahui looks good for the futrure",but I am sick of henry saying that.What about now?  If thats the case then Laulala is looking even better for the future! Kahui is a good player but i think laulala really deserves the spot. Strong with ball ih hand, can off load and has great defence (just ask Rocky).

Answer 6

jason eaton- thought he woudve made the team.

Answer 7

I think its a good balance of new and old.  This is a good time to bring in new faces to the AB so, we can build on the momentum we have from last year.  We didn't finish off the way wanted to be last year but, we achieved so much last year and still the world No.1.  Some of the old guards still struggle to recover forms from last year WC.  Their times on the black are over, time to let go and give the opps to those who really wants it, to WIN.  Players to watch are wulf, the 2 Anthony, thompson ( he'll unrealeash a new dimension of blindside flanker play far better that the previous).   time will tell, but as for now, its all good.

Answer 8

GUTTED! Where is Nick Evans?

Answer 9

kinda satisfied... read and eaton missed out soo close and in da backs stanley and masaga. i can understand donald being in the team, cuz he is the only suitable first five (brett is useless in defence, when he plays against da players like o'driscoll, he will fckin get smashed...) apart from macdonald, and laulala is too whimpy (when he played againt da canes, he just bumped into nonu and he got injured(?)...) one concern is da openside flanker, as mccaw is da only specialist... i suppose so'oialo or thomson could play there but DONT BRING IN masoe... he is fckin stupid... he does some good stuff and does stupid stuff a minuet later...

i really thought stanley could be there... (former Grammar Boy!!! GO GRAMMAR!!!)

my XV

15-Muliaina (MacDonald came close)

14-Wulf (tremendous work rate)

13-Kahui (Smith came close but Kahui is in better form)

12-Nonu

11-Sivivatu

10-Carter

9-Leonard

8-So'oialo (also tremendous work rate)

7-McCaw (c)

6-Kaino

5-Williams

4-Thorn

3-Somerville

2-Mealamu

1-Woodcock

Answer 10

masaga should be in  tuitavake out mealamu was lucky to get in  boric wont last ,rudi wulf wont last,conrad smith is overhyped and over rated,ma'a nonu will smash brian pritsy boy o driscoll into the ground,richard kahui is a bit of a hit man hes not afraid to put a shot on someone should get in him and nonu ma centre partners they should sit dan carter out  for the first test and give donaldson a shot good to see kaino in there feel sorry for chris masoe,jason eaton but there still in the mix i think depending on how the others  perform  liam messam deserves a shot him and tanerau latimer and sione lauaki  feel sorry for piri weepu finally the all blacks get to play some rugby forget last year that win for france was a fluke   all blacks to go through 2008 undefeated

Answer 11

I am concerned with our back line - I don't think anyone has the speed or skill to handle Brian O'Driscoll. They are all good with ball in hand - but on defence? Conrad Smith is the only one with any hope of matching him.

Answer 12

I'm surprised Donald made the squad over Brett and I'm also surprised Lualala didn't make it at all.

The AB's look a little raw and the Irish will have a great chance to beat them for the first time ever.

Hope not though. Go the All Blacks!!!!

Answer 13

Kieran Read should be there on form, Stephen Brett should also, Richard Kahui shouldn't be there but Casey Laulala sholud be. Sure they are all Cantabrians, nd some ov you will thnk i'm being one eyed but i'm not, i'm just pointn out graham henry's flaws as a coach and thats to pick the best team, they are the all blacks after all.

Any way if the team wins then who's to complain?

Answer 14

Too many Blues players particularly in the forwards where to be quite frank they have at times been gutless.

Typical Auckland, over hyped and under performing.

Answer 15

Crazy! Why no Masoe, Eaton, Brett, Masaga & Evans. Can't see how Donald is better than Stephen Brett when Brett can cover both five eighth & centre. Boric ahead of Eaton? Even without a run of good form Eaton the better man for the job & Masoe is far to good to leave out. Great form on his side too. Can't understand the logic. Not happy with this team at all.

Answer 16

This is pretty much the team I would've picked for the All Blacks.  I think Graham Henry picked well.  I would've had Kieren Reid in the team but Adam Thompson did play really well for the Highlanders week in, week out so I'm not really complaining.  We're a bit light on specialist open side cover.  So'oialo and Thompson would be borderline choices at Super 14 level at openside so what makes the coaching staff think that they'll foot it at test level?

The best choices the coaches made were the selection of Rudi Wulf and the non selection of Sephen Brett.  Rudi was the hardest working wings in the Super 14 this year and he only got better as the season went on.  His performance against the Hurricanes in the last round was incredible.  Brett is so deficient on defence that Robbie Deans benched him for the semis and the final.  Do you really want a guy like him in the All Blacks?  Is it not always said that defence wins matches in the big ones?