Squad picked on form

Read an article today from Justin Marshall: http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/our-experts/7597929/Heres-hoping-Steve-Hansen-picks-on-form

Seems he's not a fan of rotation and believes Hansen feels the same way. There were rotations due to injury in the Ireland test series but against Australia it was an unchanged side apart from Woodcock out in the second test.

Unlike SA and Australia, NZ don't have any injury concerns at the moment. SBW is off to Japan and league but Conrad Smith is available, Luke Romano is back from a shoulder inury and not too sure about Woodcock but I think he's fit as well. So in terms of stability and continuity, Hansen does have the option of picking players on form and strengthening combinations.

It's always a difficult juggling act trying to develop your best squad and preparing for the future and potential injury scares. Marshall is an advocate of using the bench to develop players underneath. Certainly Ben Smith had his best game in a black shirt last test and seemed to confirm the faith placed in him by the selectors. A player like Messam seems to be benefiting from regular games in a black shirt. Kaino took a while to develop into the role so sometimes you have to set small targets for players and make sure they're concentrating on specific roles. Messam has been guilty in the past of wavering in his duties in tight to make an impact in the loose but he seems to be getting involved more in the cleanout and tackling duties. Similarly players like Romano and Retallick are both young and inexperienced players and will benefit with more games under their belt. Aaron Smith may look comfortable out there but he too has a lot to learn still and can only benefit from a string of games together.

Yet you could argue one of the form players this season hasn't really had much involvement in black this year. Cruden had a brief moment off the bench against Australia but I couldn't help but feel he was the type of player better suited to opening up that tight Wallaby defence, running at the line and putting players like SBW or McCaw or Read into space. Will Hansen start with him and put Carter on the bench as a safety option first? It'd be a bold move but I don't think there'd be any critics because it could well be argued that he is the form flyhalf for NZ this year. Carter hasn't done much wrong in black but he certainly hasn't done things like Cruden did in his brief cameo in Hamilton either. One player who doesn't appear to be there based on form is Weepu. Williams was another who started the year and it seemed a selection based on experience. Hansen didn't appear too keen to pick two rookies in any one position. Williams was injured and forced Hansen's hand but he still does not want to give away Weepu's experience in favour of TJ or TK. That to me is a mistake. You can't pick someone because he leads the haka well. Weep hasn't been playing as well as TJ or TK this year and so what if he has experience. Aaron Smith doesn't have any really and he looks really composed and at home out there. Frankly I think Aaron Smith deserves to stay out there for the whole game. You don't see Genia pulled off with 60 or 70 minutes on the clock. TK is a different type of player and runs more at the opposition to take them on. Weepu offers that but is not at full fitness.

Another player who doesn't seem to be playing well at the moment is Hosea Gear. Does Hansen keep him there in the hope that he has a good game and gets some confidence back for SA where the game no doubt will be tighter and he has failed to shine? Or does he give Savea a crack and see if he's up the task of facing SA who no doubt would pepper him with high balls? This to me is a difficult one but frankly you couldn't say Gear's selection is based on form. Do you show patience with him or do you say sorry not good enough, you need to go back and brush up on these things? This to a player who has had this speech probably given to him on a number of occasions. When do you lose all faith in a player and look to someone else which seems to have happened to Adam Thompson?

These are the conundrums facing the AB selectors for the test in Wellington this weekend. The Pumas are beasts up front so that AB pack remains unchanged (if Woodcock is fit then obviously he starts). I'd be tempted to pick on form though in the backs and give Cruden the starting berth and chuck Savea on the left wing with Ben Smith as the utility back. If Conrad Smith is deemed not fit, you could see Ben Smith at 13 and Savea as utility back but I'm keen to see Conrad Smith running things again from OC.

If you were an AB selector what team would you put out against Argentina? Also, with the rife injury problems SA and Australia have, what options are there to pick players on form? Is it possible to only choose a form squad with next to no injuries or can you make wholesale changes like Goosen in for Steyn and Kirchner out with Hougaard on the wing and a Sharks back row for instance?

Dagg, Jane, Conrad, Nonu, Savea, Carter, Aaron, Read, The King, Messam, Whitelock, Romano, Owen, Mealamu, Woodcock.

Bench: Ben, Cruden, the salad dodger (the others aren't in the squad), Vito, Retallick, Hore, Ben.

The Argies got close in the cup but remember-Carter wasn't playing and teams are obviously more cautious in the cup. I'd be happy to see Cruden start but we need our option taking to be spot on if the Argies are winning the physical battle.

Our defence has been great but has to frong up physically. That's the only real threat. If we can nill Aussie with their backs Argentina should be able to be contained.

Same here disney.
Carter has to play as the cruden nonu combo isn't as fluid and nonu c smith have yet to pair in a test this year so theyll want a steady ship while that pair get up to speed.

Saveas next best though I'm not fussed with either. Both are competent and its more about opportunity.

Argie will find it hard backing up and this is logically their toughest match of the tournament.

Can't see past a four try bonus win going away after 65 mins.

Form?

Geez, that is a foreign concept in SA rugby, we love picking Spies, Houggard, Morne Steyn, Jean de Villiers and Zane Kirchner, all in form players.

Against Argentina i'd be tempted to put a youngster or two on the bench, or start the youngster and have experienced heads on the bench.

I think you guys should definitely try new players in the November internationals though. You're playing Australia in a dead rubber, Scotland, Italy, Wales and England. Obviously in the Wales and England match you will play a pretty much first team barring a few new names possibly but i'd expect a lot of young guns to be given a shot then.

Gowales the dead rubber is certainly not what we refer it as. Deans will be desperate to win that so that will be as hard fought as any other. Hong kong was also dead but fierecely contested. Plus its in Brisbane. Big match regardless of the Bledisloe wrapped up.

Not sure who else we can blood other than kerr barlow who will definitely go on the AIs. Perhaps more of beauden barrett on the field but brand new players outside the debutants this year? Charlie faumuina needs a run.

I'd like to see Hoeata go and give him a run at 6. I'd like to see Hika Eliot go as well as Hore and Mealamu don't have much left on the clock. Cane deserves to go as well and another lock and prop should get a go. In the backs we need to see another option at 12 and 13 in particular. Finally we seem okay at 9 and 10.

Dead rubber is not in the AB vocabulary. Look at the psychological boost Hong Kong gave to Australia and Wallabies with confidence make for more formidable opponents. If they're on the ground, keep the steel capped boot on the throat and keep kicking them. You always aim to win so you can make life easier for you next game.

Will be interesting to see the squad this Thursday. Looks like most of you think the same squad apart from C Smith will start like in the Sydney test.

Yeah I think Hansen can finally be given a pass mark at this point in the season. He's ticked most boxes by firstly remaining at 100%, secondly by managing to bring key players through to the top in A Smith, barrett, retalick and romano, cane, Savea etc and has been largely inclusive of others- Ben Smith, Elliot, cruden etc.

He's also weathered some strange media pickings with henry in the background chirping away. He also managed the SBW thing fairly well, his part I'm not fully sure of though.

But there's still some tough ones ahead and he's got to maintain the home union win streak in the AI's but...overall... a fairly solid b pass so far...