The All Blacks have made a big call! Graham Henry has decided to throw Dan Carter straight into the firing line as he named him in his All Black starting XV that takes on Australia this Saturday in Sydney. Carter comes in at number 10 in place of Stephen Donald who is relegated to the bench. In fairness, Donald has not done much wrong in the Tri-Nations tests so far this term but I guess Henry has decided that Carter may just provide the extra spark the All Blacks need after loosing back to back tests against the Springboks.
Carter has looked good since his return from injury and he has been in great form for Canterbury so I guess there really is no question about his fitness as I am sure he would not have been selected to play if he were not fully fit.
Graham Henry continued to ring the changes to his starting XV for Saturday. Luke McAllister comes in at 12 in place of Ma’a Nonu. I was a bit surprised about this move but I guess Henry has decided that he may need another kicking option at 12 which he will have with McAllister. But reports this morning suggest that McAllister has picked up an injury in training today (Tuesday) and may not be able to start on Saturday which would mean that Nonu would start at 12.
Another big call is the relegation of Rodney So’oialo to the bench as he is replaced by Kieran Read. I would have thought that Rodney would start the test and then have Read come on as an impact player. This is the first time So’oialo has not been the first choice selection since 2005. Could his All Black days be numbered? I do not think so. An inform So’oialo is a great weapon to have for the All Blacks.
I had thought that Henry would drop Joe Rokocoko after his poor display in South Africa but he has stuck with him. My thinking was that Cory Jane may have been drafted in to replace Joey but Jane does not even find a place on the bench.
The team in full is: 15 Mils Muliaina, 14 Joe Rokocoko, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Luke McAlister, 11 Sitiveni Sivivatu, 10 Dan Carter, 9 Jimmy Cowan, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Richie McCaw, 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Isaac Ross, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Andrew Hore, 1 Tony Woodcock.
Reserves: 16 Aled de Malmanche, 17 John Afoa, 18 Jason Eaton, 19 Rodney So’oialo, 20 Brendon Leonard, 21 Stephen Donald, 22 Ma’a Nonu.
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15 comments
P_nash says:
Aug 18, 2009
The Carter pick is an easy one. The All Blacks know how important the bledisloe is and need all hands on deck.
The Rod is a tough one but his form has been absymal and Read needs a chance. Mclister at centre can give us a different dynamic and he can be devastating when he plays this position. Im happy that he isn’t 10 as he isn’t suited for the position. Mclister will be fit without a doubt.
Henry undoes his good work by not dropping Joe. The writings are on wall for Joe. He isn’t the same player anymore and there people like Hosea Gear who are in form and ready for the next step.
Guru says:
Aug 18, 2009
As I mentioned on the Aus thread, I will be watching the Franks vs Robinson tussle with interest. The All Black pack is good on paper but with the way the Aus scrum rattled the boks, I am concerned that the All Blacks might just be found wanting in the tight. Isaac Ross is good in open play but not strong in the scrums. Considering Jerome Kaino has been blown for breaking early a couple of times this season the All Blacks scrum might be exposed, especially if Kaino packs down on the same side as Ross.
I do not remember when last the AB’s had Read-Cowan-Carter as a pivot combination so that might also be a weak link. However, because Luke Burgess is starting, I believe Cowan should have the upper hand. I believe Henry would have learnt from his mistakes in Durban and we should see Carter kicking much more than Donald, both for territory and just as a way to apply pressure on young James O Conor. This is where I feel that Australia might be exposed and if Dan Carter kicks half as well as he can, the battle for territory should go the NZ way. While Matt Giteau is a good tacktical kicker, I think it’s about time Mils has a good game and he will be able to field the kicks well. At first glance I would think that Aus have the overall advantage but with O Conor at 15, Burgess starting and Carter back in the mix, the All Black flyhalf might just prove to be the difference. It is a tough one to call so I will not call it but it could very well come down to tactics and Big Match Temperament by players in key positions.
P_nash says:
Aug 18, 2009
the all black pack has lacked intensity and fire all season. Brad Thorn struggled in SA and took a pounding. But when it comes to scrumming we will have the better of the wallabies. Woodock will destroy Baxter again. Elsom maybe back but it won’t be a problem. The AB pack is going to bring down the Wallaby pack.
The combinations won’t be a problem. Discipline, skills and poor tactics have been the demise of the All Machinery. If we can get over the advantage line ( thats something we have struggled with) there will be trouble. Its definitely going to be interesting.
The all blacks are their own worst enemy.
Mozie says:
Aug 18, 2009
mcalister’s inclusion would suggest that the all blacks are going to kick. I am not sure if joe would have sorted out his high ball nightmares. I am also worried bout line outs as far the all blacks are concerned. wallabies will be kicking for touch at every opportunity they get. with them also having a torrid time in africa with the line outs, they should fancy themselves against new zealand.
overall this team looks a little better with the king pin back. I am sure gitteu will come tops on this round
Guru says:
Aug 19, 2009
I find it interesting that we all seem to think the AB’s have a decent chance in Aus, given how badly they have played since their opening game of the season vs France. It just shows how much a team can be spurred on by expectations. Aus have a better coach, up and coming players in form and yet we find the AB’s with a good chance of winning in Aus. Should be a good game.
P_nash says:
Aug 19, 2009
The All Blacks have been beating themselves. I think fans and experts know the teams capabilities. plus they beat Aus in the opener.
People also know that they are due a good game. Whether that happens or not is a different story.
Mozie says:
Aug 20, 2009
the ausies were not quite there yet as far as being a team is concerned in cape town. there are individuals in the team but i feel that they were not cohesive. some even seem to think that deans failed to instil the mental toughness in this team, which i thought was not fair only just two games considering how well the started against the 6 nations teams. but i think metal toughness comes with age. i think you need unity (team spirit), ill discipline did not help matters as well. this is more difficult to bring in a team, than regaining form.
on the contray i think the all blacks are a team out of form. although i disagree with P Nash when he says they have been beating themselves, i feel they are well below their par. they lost to France, and twice to South Africa. surely they cant be beating themselves 3 times without realising that. the All blacks are professionals and they are coached by people with over 80% success history.
so guru just to cement the issue i feel the ausies have much more pressure than the kiwis especially playing at home.
P_nash says:
Aug 20, 2009
The all blacks have been beating themselves. The durban debacle was a result of bad tactics and a ridiculous number of errors. I’ll agree that a number of them are out of form but there are certain things in there control. Ball skills, lineouts, tactical kicking. Henry has been struggling to motivate some of the players and ridiculous to see someone like Nonu ( even though he is wack) play so badly after leading the S14 in tries. But I guess thats the difference between S14 and Test match rugby.
I think they are a bunch of professionals struggling to be professional. The durban debacle was an embrassment to All Black Rugby.
BP says:
Aug 21, 2009
its not such a big call to start DC, he’s match fit and shown in the last few weeks of npc he’s still sharp, so why not play him? its a better bet than the boks starting ruan after his long time out of rugby wihtout any domestic game time
gonna be an interesting game. surprised that joe kept his place but henry said that his game over the weekend for auckland basically saved him from the ax. i still have my doubt over hot rod, the guys full of heart but i dont think he’s a quality number 8 in the same mould as spies or any of the 8th men the abs had before…
Mozie says:
Aug 21, 2009
we should not get carried away. this is in sydney and the all blacks have been pathetic the whole international season so far. the ausies had two hickups of which they are still kicking themselves for not beating the allblacks in the trinations opener. i think the ausies will get home on saturday. 3 losses on the row for either team should there not be a draw.
if the ausies do actually win, this will set the trinations alive with all teams managing to win home legs so far at least.
Mozie says:
Aug 21, 2009
Nash I sometimes feel sorry for coaches because they are expected to be sitting there as if they have joysticks is in their hands. Well as far as team selection and tactics are concerned, yes they are holding the joysticks. However I am just wondering how much more can Henry do to motivate these professionals struggling to be professionals. A lot was said regarding the Boks motivational aspect having won the tri nations (majority of them anyway), world cup, s14 (bulls) and the lions tour. Now, the all blacks are in the same mould. They have won everything I have mentioned above with exception of the world cup (not this generation anyway). If you the years where they have won both the tri nation and the grand slam in one year, you may be say that is equivalent to the ever elusive Web Ellis trophy. New Zealand has arguably the best rugby players in the world. As a coach when you are selected to manage a side of this magnitude, you always know that confidence is most important thing you will need to rise in the team, but how much more can this man do?
A good team knows how to adapt if things are not going to plan. If you are right that the All Blacks have been beating themselves, I can’t imagine how stupid this bunch of players whom many of them have concurred the world are. May be they should just show up to perform the Haka and go home, which by they way looks to be less intimidating by the week.
Another thing to consider is Henry has been there for way too long. May be he is not bringing anything different. But if there was anyone to see that there is something wrong in this team it is him and his 2 assistants. My point is should the Wallabies belt the All Blacks this weekend, are you going to accept that yes, the mighty All Blacks have been out played instead of always thinking that they are so good that nobody can defeat them except themselves.
P_Nash says:
Aug 21, 2009
The all black have had problems since last year. Henry has not doing the best job considering the resources at his disposal. The line out is still a problem and we (the all blacks) are struggling to get sufficient go forward. Henry as well as the players have to be accountable for what is going on the field.
Henry’s scapegoat along with the Nz media is the injuries and lack of experience. Thats kinda valid but he has to make sure that the players are well prepared and that hasn’t been the case.
if aus beat the all blacks fair and square ( thats if the all black play a decent game ) then i’ll give credit when its due.
the way the all blacks have played this season its hard for me to give the opposition credit coz all they have to do is punish mistakes.
P_Nash says:
Aug 21, 2009
by the way, we someone mentioned Rod isn’t in the same class as Spies. I disagree.
Spies is a different kind of player to Rod so its hard to compare the too. Rod has an amazing workrate and is brilliant in the lose-tight especially in support of Richie.
Spies is a very athetic player who is good in open play and has an average workrate and average in the tight lose.
can some tell the last time Spies put it together in a string of matches for the boks?
i think it was 07 against England C.
BP says:
Aug 22, 2009
all the carter haters, lemme here you give it up for a world class player!??
Mozie says:
Aug 22, 2009
for the last 3 games the allblacks managed to score exactly 19 points in each game.
well done cater for ensuring that this trend continues