ABs for RWC

[Old lock]

All Blacks squad named for 2011 Rugby World Cup

allblacks.com - (23/08/2011)

All Blacks Coach Graham Henry and his Assistant Coaches Steve Hansen and Wayne Smith have today announced the squad for the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
 
The All Blacks squad in position (with province and Test caps in brackets) is:


Forwards:

Hookers
Corey Flynn Canterbury (14)
Andrew Hore Taranaki (54)
Keven Mealamu Auckland (85)

Props
John Afoa Auckland (33)Ben Franks Tasman (11)
Owen Franks Canterbury (23)
Tony Woodcock North Harbour (75)

Locks
Anthony Boric North Harbour (20)
Brad Thorn Canterbury (51)
Samuel Whitelock Canterbury (17)
Ali Williams Auckland (65)

Loose forwards
Jerome Kaino Auckland (41)
Richie McCaw (capt) Canterbury (97)
Kieran Read Canterbury (31)
Adam Thomson Otago (21)
Victor Vito Wellington (7)


Backs:

Halfbacks
Jimmy Cowan Southland (47)
Andy Ellis Canterbury (20)
Piri Weepu Wellington (48)

First five?eighths
Daniel Carter Canterbury (82)
Colin Slade Canterbury (5)

Midfielders
Richard Kahui Waikato (12)
Ma?a Nonu Wellington (58)
Conrad Smith Wellington (48)
Sonny Bill Williams Canterbury (7)

Outside backs
Israel Dagg Hawke?s Bay (7)
Zac Guildford Hawke?s Bay (6)
Cory Jane Wellington (24)
Mils Muliaina Waikato (97)
Isaia Toeava Auckland (31)


The squad, which will be captained by 30-year-old All Blacks captain Richie McCaw at his third Rugby World Cup, is made up of 16 forwards and 14 backs, and with 1,133 Test caps between them, is the most experienced All Blacks squad ever assembled.

Five of the team?s leading players, McCaw, first five-eighth Daniel Carter, hooker Keven Mealamu, fullback Mils Muliaina and lock Ali Williams, will be taking part in their third consecutive Rugby World Cup tournament, while seven will be playing in their second tournament - hooker Corey Flynn, midfielder Ma'a Nonu and lock Brad Thorn played in the 2003 campaign; while prop Tony Woodcock, halfback Andy Ellis, centre Conrad Smith and outside back Isaia Toeava played in Rugby World Cup 2007.

All Blacks Coach Graham Henry said: "Firstly, I would like to congratulate all those players selected. It's an incredibly exciting time for the team and a unique opportunity to represent New Zealand at home. The players will be facing the ultimate rugby challenge - playing for the most coveted trophy in world rugby, the Rugby World Cup.

"At the same time I want to pay tribute to those players who have missed out on selection. It was an incredibly difficult process; all the players who missed selection are not only outstanding players but special people. We are close as a group which made this selection all the more difficult."

2011 All Blacks who have missed selection include wings Hosea Gear, Sitiveni Sivivatu and Ben Smith, loose forward Liam Messam, prop Wyatt Crockett and lock Jarrad Hoeata. Henry said they would be included in a pool of back?up players to cover for any injuries during the tournament.

Commenting on the make-up of the squad, Henry said: "Generally, this team has been selected on current form. We believe there is a good balance; a blend of experienced All Blacks - with nine players who have played more than 50 Tests - while at the other end of the scale we have seven players who have played fewer than a dozen Tests who bring youthful enthusiasm to the side.

"There is also a balance in the fact that we have players who are specialists in their position while others have utility value and can cover a number of positions, so we have the players to cover any possibilities which may be thrown up during the tournament."

One other feature of the squad is the selection of Blues and North Harbour lock Anthony Boric, who was not considered for All Blacks selection earlier this year after suffering a foot injury during the Super Rugby Finals Series. Boric returns to rugby this week in North Harbour?s provincial rugby match against Wellington.

Henry said the All Blacks squad was excited to be playing in front of their home fans.

"We have been receiving fantastic support from New Zealanders, we know the country is getting excited by what lies ahead - there is a real buzz around - and the players are really looking forward to soaking up the off-field atmosphere with our home fans.?

The All Blacks squad is currently in Brisbane preparing for the final match of the Tri Nations against Australia at Suncorp Stadium this Saturday.

The squad in Brisbane is as follows:

Forwards: John Afoa, Ben Franks, Owen Franks, Andrew Hore, Richie McCaw, Keven Mealamu, Kieran Read, Brad Thorn, Adam Thomson, Samuel Whitelock, Ali Williams, Tony Woodcock and Victor Vito.

Backs: Daniel Carter, Jimmy Cowan, Israel Dagg, Andy Ellis, Zac Guildford, Richard Kahui, Cory Jane, Mils Muliaina, Ma'a Nonu, Colin Slade, Conrad Smith, Isaia Toeava, Piri Weepu and Sonny Bill Williams.

After the Bledisloe Cup Test, the All Blacks Rugby World Cup squad will fly home for its official unveiling in New Zealand at a media event in Auckland on Monday, 29 August.

The players will then spend several days at home with friends and family before flying around the country on Friday 2 September for the All Blacks Coming To A Town Near You visit to small-town New Zealand. Eleven towns will be hosting groups of players on the day giving their residents the chance to spend some time with the All Blacks before Rugby World Cup kicks off.

The team will then re-assemble in Auckland to prepare for the tournament?s opening match against Tonga on Friday September 9.The All Blacks are in Pool A at Rugby World Cup and their other Pool matches are against Japan (Friday 16 September, Hamilton), France (24 September, Auckland), and Canada (Sunday 2 October, Wellington).

[Strathen]

Personally, I can't complain with that squad. Sure, I would've preferred someone other that A. Williams, but you always have one or two you're not happy about.

Commenting on the make-up of the squad, Henry said: "Generally, this team has been selected on current form.

I guess this has been put in to explain Ali Williams inclusion.

[Penny]

no surprises really(ie Henry picked favourites that poss should not have been in there but thats no surprise) and a few positions that they possibly put into a hat to pick from. 

[ROAMER]

Favourites? Who?

[Old lock]

GO THE BLACK!!

 

[ROAMER]

Ooops... Wow.. At half time the wallabies are sublime.. Perfect game !!

I'm not sure we can claw this back.. What an eye opener!

[Old lock]

Yep, you have to give Robbie credit. They are moving faster and hitting harder. I feel the old time hatred coming on, especially with that prick Barnes on the pitch. Who let that SOB ref a 3N title match? 

But, it ain't over yet. 

[Mary]

Oh   no another Aus try!! 25-20...come on All Blacks...one more converted try. Damn we are making a lot of mistakes and missing first time tackles.

[ROAMER]

Great comeback.. But the first half was nothing short of a disgrace!!

In fact it was embarrassing..

Second half .. Back to basic rugby (great to see) :)

Oz deserved that win.. And we have had a massive eye opener .. And we have a lot of work to do.

BUT.. mostly the main difference was passion and mongrel.

Hopefully we learnt a lot from that

[Mary]

Yes Roamer, a lot of work to do...in 2 weeks!!!!! Aus certainly deserved to win, but those commentators kill me!
Very nervous for the WC  now.

[Old lock]

They are hitting rucks and tackling harder and faster. I bet we coughed up half a dozen balls in tackles where the ball was not secured properly after a pass. Ice does not belong in the first 22 and I'm not that sure about Guilford either. I'll have to admit Nonu played well, but I still think SBW's handling skills would be better than bull charges and average predictable passes. Also, IMHO Carter was kicking away possession too much, because they were up so fast. You can't score without the ball and their backline has lots of attack potential.  That last try came from a counter attack off a Carter kick. They kept the ball the whole first 40 and we did much better in the 2nd 40 by retaining the ball, even though it took 36 phases to score one try. Robbie has them playing a faster pace than the ABs are used to from other sides and it put us back on our heels. Hopefully the home crowds at Eden Park will help. 

And, the Snake Lady is correct, the Convict commentators drive me nuts. 

[ROAMER]

We don't hear them :) we have our own commentators

We also left the ball un protected .. Several times they just blew straight over.. It was a showing of massive commitment by the Aussies

[Strathen]

Congratulations to Aussie!!! 

That is how you play rugby my friends. The passion, physicality, scrambling defence after the systems held up for so long, bloody good to watch. I would prefer it to have been the blackness playing like that, but it wasn't to be.

So, the speculation has started in the media and by this stage in the morning, at the pubs among the armchair critics that enjoy a beer all day long and ringing in to talk back radio. Personally, I think this is a good thing for the AB's. 2 losses in a row, no more excuses. A casual back hander to remind us anyone can win on the day, and it's come before the RWC, not during. This is new territory for us. Never before have we gone in to a RWC with such poor form. I like it! 

[Reformed]

... So, I suppose you can't choke if you are not the favourite(s)... Ozzmobs for the choke then?

[Strathen]

Hell no Reffie, we're still favourites. A choke is still on the cards, but hopefully this time they will deliver. My point above is the complacency should be gone. Come play off time, a little nudge of the memory back to the last 2 weekends should steel the resolve.

Honestly, I don't believe Carter and McCaw are actually up to winning the RWC. They lack something that I can't put my finger on and I think they have a better chance of failing than winning. I would not be surprised to see Carter limp off the field in a play-off if we fall behind and need someone to step up... McCaw will make a couple of gambles with his decisions and we'll be lamenting on WTF happened, while the choke label gets bandied about again.

So, we're still up for a choke. But this time we're the best prepared we've been to avoid it. Well, my opinion anyway.

[Penny]

that all sounds like a bit of self-protection kind of thing..

I just think the All Blacks are awesome, of course they are going to win, I don't even know why the other teams are bothering to turn up! 

Biut every other year we have had an awesome tri nations we have had a stink RWC and so atleast if we loose they will have to think of a new excuse as they can't claim we peaked too early. 

Its almost better to win when you are on par with the other big teams rather than totally and completley unstoppable that its a givein that you will win. 

Anyway did I mention how awsome we are?? hell they could field me and we would still be awesome!

[Old lock]

The fact that the Wallabies were able to knock two of the three AB loosies out of the match in the first 15 minutes, speaks volumes about how hard and fast they were hitting rucks and tackling. And. both Thommo and Read are certainly experienced, aggressive Intl level players. Roamer calls it Mongrel. But, the question now is; can the ABs step up their effort and focus to meet this kind of challenge? They are not going to be able to rest on their reputation and assume they will win at home. I think they can do it, but there are some weak links. It will require a step up for all 30, mistake free rugby, and mongrel. 

[Penny]

and don't forget to mention we are just plain Awesome Lockie. 

(You can see that I am practising my die hard loyalty and #1 AB fan here can't you)

The best thing I have seen, walked into kindy to pick Flick up this afternoon, all the kids were playng with AB flags and chanting "Go allblacks go allblacks"  man they all looked fantasticly brainwashed! 

[Mary]

Anyway did I mention how awsome we are?? hell they could field me and we would still be awesome

]  Heheh, in fact Penny with you on the field they would be even more awesome!!!               

[Old lock]

Yep, Queen Penelopeanne is awesome.    Maybe she can get the Kindy kids (Jaden & Felicity) to annoy the Frogs, Poms, Convicts & Bokke???? That might help. 

[Penny]

That is all lovely - but you seem to have missed the point a bit,  that the AB's are just plain Awesome, nothing will make me see it any other way! 

(But Mary you are right I would be awesome, wearing my vintage AB jersey - I have once in my life even kicked a rugby ball over the posts, and I can tackle, and do an awesome running man try celebration dance.  Thats all you need right!  an awesome try celebration )