Allblacks Squad for 3rd Test

Owen Franks,Hore,Woodcock,Messam ,Whitelock,Romano,Sam Cane,McCaw.Smith,Crudon,Ben Smith,SBW,Conrad Smith,Hosae Gear,Dagg,
reserves.Ben Franks,Mealamu,Retalick.,Thomson,Tamati Ellison,Beauden Barrett,Weepu.
Dan Carter.injured[again]Hamstring ? Read injured,Savea and Guildford dropped [lack of skill under high ball?],Retalick and Thomson [benched]McCaw at number 8.Irelands chances improved?

Is that the official team for Saturday emack? With Read and Carter injured I think this does improve Ireland's chances, any team would miss those two. I'm not too surprised to see the AB's change their wingers, Savea was anonymous last week and Guildford I thought worked hard and actually ran some good lines but lacked a little spark. Interesting backrow, I was impressed with Cane's impact last week, even though he did fade out of the game a little. Also, I'd expect McCaw to play an awful lot better this week, but I'm not sure, it looks a little unbalanced with two fetchers. I think Retalick is a bit unlucky, maybe it's just rotation but I thought he's had a really solid series.

This was clearly the strategy before the series, although some of the changes are enforced. It will be an interesting game now, but I think the Cruden/SBW combo could be brutal this week...

A lot of changes (granted some injury enforced) but the rest of the changes don't immediately strike me as 'job done, lets give the rest of the squad a run out'. I sign of how Ireland have manned up over this series (despite 2 losses when all is said and done). Looks like the NZ pack is lining up to take on Ireland at the contact area. A NZ would never have tweaked itself in the past for an Irish game, just get the lads playing the AB way and let them run with it. That said, new zealand to win by 7-10 points.

Will be interesting to see if Messam can impose himself physically as well as Romano. We seem to be missing the strong men Thorn and Kaino and I think Thomson doesn't give that physical edge to our play. Messam has disappointed in black so he's a bit of a gamble frankly but it's an acknowledgment on Hansen's part that Ireland is winning the breakdown battle.

Personally I think the changes in the forwards are largely a positive move. Read is a huge loss and McCaw has played at 8 but you have to question how effectively this untried combination will work together. Ireland will be happy about the changes.

Carter is another big loss but Cruden doesn't give me the jitters and I think he played well on his brief appearance from the bench in the first test. Having SBW outside him and the quick service of Smith will help him. Frankly I'd be happier to see Smith stay on the park for the whole match and do away with this tradition of always taking off the halfback that the ABs have used in the Weepu Cowan era.

Happy enough to see the wings go. It's cut throat but that was a weak performance from both young men last week and good to see Hosea Gear get a chance to show he's not out of the picture and deciding not to go to Japan was a good idea for his AB career.

So do I think Ireland's chances are improved. On the whole, I think the changes are needed and the one big question mark for me is the balance of the back row and our ability to dominate the breakdown where we rely on quick ball for the backs. The scrum I´m less concerned about as I think Cron will be working the boys in that area.

Cane is class

So much for not blooding new players. Although theyre good Messam, Cane, Retalick, Ellison, Remano, Barrett, B and A Smith and even Cruden are not proven first line test players yet so this has a distinct baby blacks look to it.

Kia Messam lacks height but has been excellent for the chiefs and could put some mongrel back in.

I think cruden attacks better than Carter and combines with sbw well. His goal kicking is if anything better than carters so no worries there. This combo is the key to the test for the abs.

Im a bit suspect about Ben Smith. Talented as he is he looks like a conrad turned wing and I think we need more punch than guile on the wing but we'll see. Just a bir reserved with the overall size of the backline. Other than sbw and gear its a fairly slight lot. This is clearly a thinking AB backline.

Frankly I like it overall. Putting the pressure of a fiercely rabid Irish side onto the young shoulders is sometimes part of what the All Blacks are all about.

Either Ireland will get up and finally celebrate a great win or the ABs with some new blood will herald in a brand new era with this match. Either way I think I'm gonna enjoy it.

I fancy our chances if DK picks the right team. Don't forget Ireland are missing two for their best and most influential players with Paul OConnell and Stephen Ferris back home. Reed is replaceable but carter is a huge loss. After last weeks performance this is our best chance in a while. We won't get three chance again for another ten years or so. We have to take it.

Can anyone remember the last time carter didn't start v Ireland?

What's the kiwi take on sbw's performances. I reckon he has been fairly quiet. He has even looked a little nervous. He is a quality player and I have a feeling he will have a big match on sat.

SBW tends to start the game with a early fumble that kills momentum and perhaps his confidence. Thought he's made some good impact runs in the lead up to some tries. If you've seen his s15 game, you'll see he's calmed down on the offload so he's not the globetrotter he was last year. Think sometimes when he doesn't know what to do with the ball in loose play, he kinda ambles sideways (slowly) and shovels a looping pass outside (player gets smashed). Some of his passes need to have more oomph!

Morning Folks
You hear of things going bump in the night, but announcing the All Black team at 5.00 am?

Hansen must be very impressed with Sonn Bill, by not having Nonu play any part of this series.

Looks like a planned move to me. It's consistent with the last 10 years or so. They are on the start of a development cycle and they have to balance the need to see players play and introduce them into the squad with the risk of losing. I think Cruden, Romano and Smith were always going to get game time this weekend. I think the loose forward combination is more or less forced because Cane had a good game last week and we need a bit more mongrel in the loose (Messam). I like the back three options. The AB's have generally 2 full backs at the back (as do the Wallabies), I think two out and out wingers are easier for the opposition to counter (that I'm not sure Guildford is ever going to be world class). Cruden and Barrett, there's the big question, both are young and have potential. I guess we're going to find out sooner or later.

There is a risk that they will lose this weekend, there was a risk anyway. But I think we still have a reasonable chance of winning. We've played some fairly weak squads at Millennium and at Croke/Landsdown Road and come away with solid victories, so same should be able to do the same this weekend. For me it's about tactics and application.

We had issues at the breakdown last weekend. I think these can be addressed. A lot of it is down to different interpretation and a tweek here or there should help. It's unusual for an AB's scrum to be under pressure, and I'm picking they'll work on it during the week. That a varied kicking game, and a few more carrying options should ask more questions of the Irish defence.

It's good for the Irish. Primarily because with a couple of days to go in the season they'll look up and go we can win this and lift themselves one more time (last games are notoriously difficult to win).

looks like I was right. Here's hansens take on it:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/7144992/AB-Changes-were-always-coming-says-Hansen


Essentially the changes were preplanned, with a couple forced due to injury.