AllBlacks Squad for the AI`s

Any thoughts on additions to the All Blacks squad,a third hooker Hika Elliott or Dane Coles,another Scrum half?Perenara or Kerr Barlow plus a 4th Lock no idea who.Unless some will be cut from the current squad in the name of development thoughts from our NZ posters.

Bolters from the ITM?

-Kerr Barlow was tipped as going before the ITM
-Andre Taylor, Jason Woodward, Tim Bateman, Johnny McNicholl, Robbie Fruean, Kurt Baker and to be honest quite a few others are going well.

Wingers Woodward and McNicholl particularly are getting to the line with ease so thats looking healthy.

Frueans cruising at this level and is clearly above it. Whether Hansens has him in sight at all remains uncertain.

Eaton is proving one of the better locks. Perenara I dont think has played at all yet so hes next year material.

Tom Taylors kicking is near perfect so theres still room for him in years to come and hes playing well all round- typical cantabrian!

I know Ive missed players as theres so many with bright furtures out there.

Frueans a funny one for me TM as I think Hansen seems pretty comfortable with Ellison and Ben Smith being the cover for Conrad Smith. Fruean just hasn't consistently shown the desire to get national honours - I saw the Crusaders v NH game live a few weeks ago and Fruean seemed to be out of shape and puffing quite a bit so not sure he is showing the desire he needs to.

The bigger query is who would play 2nd five. I think the best alternative to Nonu at thye moment is probably Dan Carter so that's one area I'd like to see some development.

Perenara still injured so I think Kerr Barlow will go.
Danes Coles instead of Hika Elliot who just has not improved at all.
Whispers of Toomaga Allen from Wellington going but its far too early.
Fruean? Nah!
Eaton? Nah?
Craig Clarke? Nah?

What about this Shields fella? A player for the future or one to check out this tour?

Hoeata as a 6 / lock cover? Some indiscipline I heard the other day may have hurt his chances. Unearthing a 12 would be nice as well as some tighthead props.

Tim Bateman could play 12 I reckon. Must admit I just watch a scattering of these matches as they're on 6 days a week. Seen a lot of good stuff from payers I've never heard of, but nonetheless some pretty impressive stuff.

Problem is ITM level and test level is a vast difference,just think that AI`s is the perfect time to inject new blood.Versus Italy for example while keeping a strong bench if they stuff up.

Well that's obvious Alan but the only place new blood is going to come from is the ITM, from where practically EVERY AB starts. So ITM form is the only measure there is for a newbie. You asked about new additions.

As long as you guys don't cap anyone who could be poached by us then we're good

Give Maitland a run at 13!

nganboy wrote:Give Maitland a run at 13!

Don't you dare!