All Blacks squads,Whats going on?

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/5426834/Victor-Vito-in-surprise-All-Blacks-callup

I like this. Something fresh. Nice guy too...

How sick is Mark hammett going to feel when he reads this?

Weird ,if he plays it sure ly would be in place ofMessam who has`nt impressed.

Why would Hammett care?
Vito is signing with the Hurricanes for next year as far as I know.
Did you mean Andre Bell?
Not sure I understand why this is happening to be honest. Though I thought he was over harshly judged last year.

Nga
I meant it from the point of view that a number of Hurricanes players are finding form/recognition after the end of s.15.

Yup, heard Jane and Gear played really well last night too. Plus Aussie knows too well how Nonu and Smith improved in the last test.

Got ya Auck. From that perspective yes agree.
Jane was very good on Wed. Gear pretty quiet I thought. I guess Henry will give Gear another chance but I'm not a big fan of him. I think Jane is class.
For the ABs
I'd like to see Jane on the right wing. Mils at 15 and expect to see Sivi on the left. Reserves are Toe or Kahui(which ever is fit) and Slade. Gear, Zac and Sonny Bill are in the squad but not in the 22.

What sticks out most from what I read is that Ted expects to still win. What do our south African brethren think of this? Personally I think it's do-able but unlikely.

Will be a tough one to pick-I'd say the pressure would be on SA as if they succumb to a NZ side with that many changes they'd be worried a bit. However there is class in a fair few areas. Shame Sivivatu is out I'd like to have seen him play. Getting Woodcock back into form is very important.

Its a bit of an ask isn't it for people like Dagg, Kahui and Woodcock. Play a little ITM cup and then BANG up against SA who have warmed up by tearing Aus a new one.

I'll be watching but not too confidently

I dunno I think there is class in all three players you mention nganboy, they'd back themselves to perform and I reckon we'll be fine. If we set a platform for Slade then SBW and Kahui could be very dangerous.

On Friday 9th September,4 calender weeks from today The All Blacks open the 2011 RWC versus Tonga.
Today[NZ time]they announced a truncated squad for the South African match,many first choice names
missing.
In tonights Dominion Post there are indications that the squad maybe changed for the Australian leg
and that further more the RWC squad may differ from the Squad picked so far.
The Original squad,was most of the usual suspects,plus Ben Smith,Cory Jane,Sivivatu,Wyatt Crockett
and now Victor Vito,and Tom Donnelly.
Many of the original squad have had poor form going in,or recovering from injuries or short of game time.
Now as a NZ fan it worries me that the RWC squad is not nailed down by now,it smells of 2006 and the
infamous rotation policy.
Assuming ALL the possible canditates are fit for the kick off,I don`t see the problems if you decide RWC
needs experience.the Front row is settled bar one place,that is Crockett or Afoa,Crockett is the better loose
Hookers Mealamu,Hore,Flynn with Hika Elliott as an outside bet.
Locks Thorn,Ali Williams,Whitelock,possibly Boric if passes fit[but he has had no game time since injury and
fitness test is 3 days after Australian Squad is annouced and left.Jason Eaton i back playing well in ITM
Tom Donnelly would seem the only alternative,Hoerta I think is being given a taste of thebig time for
the future.
Back row,Read,Kaino,McCaw,Thomson,the 5th seems to be a specialist 7 in someone like Matt Todd or one of the
Braid brothers,or Messam /Vito both who have question marks over them.
Scrum half Cowan,Ellis ,Weepu[3rd FH as well]
Fly half carter,Slade,
Mid field,Conrad Smith,Nonu,Kahui,Sonny Boy Williams,the only other capped mid field is Benson Stanley who
is solid rather than flash,but rarely misses a tackle so well worth a look.
Back three only 5 places Muliana is certain,back up could be Toeva,Cory Jane or Dagg at Full Back
which leaves 3 wing places Guildford,Sivivatu,Cory jane have all performed well,Hosea Gear is favoured but showed little
Ben Smith played well but is another for the future.
We have two scenarios Boks beat Oz,All Blacks beat OZ,then you can afford to lose the last match
or OZ beat Boks,Boks beat All Blacks,full strength side for last game or another round about?
You all know my thoughts on this but would welcome comments,EXCEPT about my prose style.

Have to admit its confusing me as well.
My only explanation is this. Gh had picked his squad but for one or 2 players.
Depending on who is in some players left behind no longer figure. Flynn being one. Players like vito and donnelly are there for cover only for 3N and wont figure except as injury back up cup time.
These players will give their all as they are fringe.
Some just 'might' have one eye on the cup and subconciously wont jeopardise their own chances.
Mccaw and co are purely to mitigate risk being must haves cup time.
So i think the reason for confusion is thete are two sets of goals going on here. Winning the 3n with as little disruption as possible and win the world cup. A wide number of players covering one or other but few both.

As I see Ted,hopes the Boks get a result tomorrow a win without conceding a bonus point.Hope this squad can get some sort of result next week a bonus point ,at least.
That would give them a good chance of another 3Ns if they strengthened this squad.
The RWC squad will have 3 Hookers and scrum halves,the 4th prop.and Lock,the 5th loose forward.
Plus 4 more back three a full back plus 3 wings,Cory Jane and Gear are both
left wingers,Toeva played all over the place but not convinced any where.
Cory jane would be best starting Full Back,think the unthinkable he`s going to dump Muliana,That means Dagg,Sivivatu,plus Toeva or Gear.
Unless SBW is a doubt and Toevas there for cover,

Yeah theyll strengthen up for the Brisbane match, therefore denying SA any look at the AB's before the world cup. Not sure if thats a good move given France sending a dud team 2007.

Oz I fear will come out of the 3n the worst for wear. Their lack of depth leaves them with one team so they might not play it in Brissy if they get on the wrong side of the scoreboard and worse the medics tomorrow.

Before the 3Ns Robbie Deans would continue to pick his strongest possible
team.He is doing just that GOOD ON HIM.

Thats because any other team will lose. Samoa confirmed that.
He just doesnt have the depth. If he had the depth the ABs have theres no way those players would be playing tonight. Like the Oz high risk gameplan Deans is taking huge risks with his selections, hoping they come out unscathed.

How would you rate the Oz world cup chances if Cooper and genia were removed from the equation?

With respect Alan you dont have to deal with that scenario. Deans, his team and the rest of the Australian rugby publc does and that makes their confidence tonight- essential to their chances- look suspect.

Thats why Im going 28 points. I could be drastically wrong if Oz pull it off but I just can't see it looking at recent events.

Deans may not have any one as flash as Cooper but creative backs they are never short off.Genia on the other hand is another matter don`t see
a slaughter by either side,
10 points either way down to goal kicking BOKS.

Yep. Thats a fair scenario. The Boks we just have no idea in terms of current collective form and team combinations.

They are relying hugely on past efforts and perhaps I'm sensing some change in direction over the last 2 weeks. I think some think tanking has been going on and that theres going to be a shift in gameplay tomorrow, perhaps too obviously around some punishing defence- highlighted by Samoa and Oz but also in recent flash flood starts by Oz against SA last year in the republic.

I think it's clear that Ted is testing the mental ability of the one's not already nailed down. Win in PE, he'll be happy with those (I'm looking at Slade and Thompson here) who may have to be thrown in at the deep end in a high pressure match in WC. Lose playing a good game will have the same result, I think the only result which may cloud the coaching teams judgment will be a big loss. I don't think that will happen, however I am 60/40 that we will win but ultimately I have a feeling that the result of this match doesn't matter (as much as a NZ test doesnt matter!) to the coaches.

I expect A team to play from Brisbane into the knock out stages bar a training run against Japan or Canada (and they did fairly well against us last time)