What changes would you make to the AllBlacks squad to face England?

Question

The pack was good last night winning nearly all their set pieces, The only thing that I thought could be improved is the No 8 position with Luauki coming in for Kaino to give a little extra punch, but too be fair the conditions were terrible. Also in the backline they looked good with limited pill, hope for better condtions so Tuitavake can get a bit of a go. What do you think?

Answer 1

Tuitavake spends a game stuck on the wing in the freezing cold and suddenly he's not good enough to be an All Black?  Tuitavake is a natural centre with soft hands, a great step and devastating tackling.. The first place to blood an up and coming centre is on the wing. Give the guy a break and a couple more tests before tossing him out for the likes of Hamilton who lacks pace and has previously been tried and found wanting at this level.

Answer 2

Yeah, fair comment. I still don't believe Luauki should start for the AB's but is the best impact player we have...I'm in the same mind frame with Nonu as well. I don't think he's the best no.12 we have but I think Henry made a mistake not picking Evans. This is because he could play no.10 and Carter no.12 (Carter is probably the best no.10 and 12 in NZ right now as well!). I think the rest of the team is very solid and England will probably be tougher than we think as well...hope not though coz I wanna see some backline tries!!

Answer 3

Tuitavake out, what an insult to wingers around the country.

Answer 4

Jimmy Cowan for Andrew Ellis.      Daniel Carter really needs to sharpen up his tactical kicking game as well.

Answer 5

Brendon Leonard for Andrew Ellis.

Make sure Dan Carter is playing

Answer 6

Hamilton in for tuitaveke complete winger;

Answer 7

fine with tuituvake (other wingers wouldnt have done much better than him in that condition), although, muliaina looked good at the wing as well... otherwise i think it was fine match with those kind of conditions... lauaki could come in for kaino and i think boric or thomson could come on as well... jimmy cowan for ellis and give kahui a go??

Answer 8

The main change for me would be replace Andy Ellis with Jimmy Cowan. Ellis has a very poor pass and it showed last night with Carter getting some slow passes. Cowan has a better pass off the ground and he can flight the ball better. This would give the backs that second more time to free up Nonu, Smith & the wings whoever they are for the England test.

Answer 9

Bring L MacDonald into starting 15.

Answer 10

If I was selecting the team I would look to put some1 else in at 12. ABs really only have a number 12 in the form of nonu and I dont rate him. I think Tutivake could be used there as he has excellent skills. Would like to see Cowan in and Thompson on the flank with Soialo at 8.

Answer 11

I liked the back line. Ellis should definatly be the half back. best in the country by far. Only change i would think about would be Mcdonald at fullback think he is a more complete player, leaving mulliena on the bench for impact at centre or fullback later in game

Answer 12

jst pray for a dry match,then you will see the big Black machine in hard hitting action no matter who they put in

Answer 13

kahui should be on 13

wulf for sivivatu if not injured

12 carter

10 donald if can

cowan on for ellis

15 macdonald

Answer 14

I'd blood some more new players for this game.  I would have Woodcock in if fit and move Tialata to Tighthead.  I thought our green front row admirably fronted up to an experienced Irish unit.  If Woodcock isn't fit, I'm comfortable to have Schwalger start, he's a huge man and he played really well the other night.  

From there I would look to start Thompson at 6 and So'oialo at 8.  Kaino misses out here because I think having two green loosies out there would prove costly against the English pack.  We can afford to field a relatively green backline in this game but we really do need to bring some experience and mongrel to the pack.  Because of this I would not change the starting locks and only look to bring the likes of Boric on as a substitute.

I think that the selectors have to have another look at Tuitavake.  He's a devastating player and needs to be seen in conditions that will allow him to express himself more.  If I was to change one of the wings then I would bench Sivivatu and give Rudi Wulf a go.  We're blessed to have two quality fullbacks to direct play at the back and help out the new faces on the wing.  I actually thought Ellis didn't play to badly the other night, I'd give him another go as behind the pack.

On a side note, how can you possibly call Hamilton the "complete winger?"  I'd agree that he has a very solid game but for a winger to be truely complete I'd argue that he needs to have express pace and the ability consistently beat defenders one on one.  Scott Hamilton just doesn't have that little bit extra evasiveness or strength that worries defences at test level.  All three wingers in the squad at the moment have that.

Answer 15

Depends if Leonard and Woodcock are fit. Afoa is injured now apparently.

Somerville in for Afoa who is injured.

Woodcock in for Tialata if fit

Leonard in for Ellis if fit

Wulf in for Tuitavake

Thats all the changes I would make to the starting 15 for now.