All Blacks coach Graham Henry has announced his 30 man touring squad to take on the Aussies in Hong Kong, and then go on to tour the British Isles. The most exciting inclusion in the squad must be the big boy Sonny Bill Williams.
The squad, which boasts 972 Test caps between them, is made up of 16 forwards and 14 backs and will again be captained by 89-Test star Richie McCaw. Meanwhile, star playmaker Daniel Carter also returns to the All Blacks squad after missing the last Tri Nations Test against Australia to undergo ankle surgery.
Players not considered for selection because of injury include: Israel Dagg (quadricep), Corey Flynn (calf), Richard Kahui (shoulder), Luke McAlister (jaw), Piri Weepu (broken ankle), and Ali Williams (Achilles tendon).
A glaring omission from the team must be the 109 kg, 22 year old Robbie Fruean, who partners Sonny Bill Williams at Canterbury to make up a 217kg centre pairing.
The All Blacks touring squad:
Forwards: John Afoa (Auckland – 25 caps), Anthony Boric (North Harbour – 16 caps), Daniel Braid (Auckland – 4 caps), Tom Donnelly (Otago – 13 caps), Hikawera Elliot (Hawke’s Bay – 0 caps), Ben Franks (Tasman – 7 caps), Owen Franks (Canterbury – 17 caps), Andrew Hore (Taranaki – 47 caps), Jerome Kaino (Auckland – 33 caps), Richie McCaw (Canterbury – 89 caps) (captain), Keven Mealamu (Auckland – 80 caps), Liam Messam (Waikato – 5 caps), Kieran Read (Canterbury – 25 caps), Brad Thorn (Canterbury – 46 caps), Samuel Whitelock (Canterbury – 8 caps), Tony Woodcock (North Harbour – 69 caps).
Backs: Andy Ellis (Canterbury – 14 caps), Daniel Carter (Canterbury – 74 caps), Jimmy Cowan (Southland – 41 caps), Stephen Donald (Waikato – 19 caps), Hosea Gear (Wellington – 2 caps), Cory Jane (Wellington – 20 caps), Alby Mathewson (Wellington – 1 cap), Mils Muliaina (Waikato – 89 caps), Ma’a Nonu (Wellington – 52 caps), Josevata Rokocoko (Auckland – 66 caps), Sitiveni Sivivatu (Waikato – 43 caps), Conrad Smith (Wellington – 41 caps), Isaia Toeava (Auckland – 26 caps), Sonny Bill Williams (Canterbury – new All Black).
New Zealand’s tour itinerary:
Saturday, October 30:
v Australia at Hong Kong Stadium, Hong Kong
Saturday, November 6:
v England at Twickenham, London
Saturday, November 13:
v Scotland at Murrayfield, Edinburgh
Saturday, November 20:
v Ireland at AVIVA Stadium, Dublin
Saturday, November 27:
v Wales at Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
I can’t believe they left Fruean out. Can you imagine if he was alongside Williams in midfield…
Whichever way though, the Sharks will face that centre combination in the Super 15 next year…
If this team was anything like the team they are sending to the World Cup next year, I am already scared!
After theis second game of the tour, v England I think, they have more than 1000 caps amongst them.
I wonder how many will retire after the World Cup?
..and Dan Carter got engaged to his hokkie-bokkie.
@McLovin (Comment 4) : Ice was devastated the other day.
@lostfish (Comment 5) :
What’s the big deal about the size of SBW & Fruean?
Jaque Fourie is pretty much the same size & Jean Div not far behind?
@McLovin (Comment 7) : Have you seen the guns on SBW?? They are abnormally large.
SBW is a lot stronger in the tackle than JdV and he usually lifts his arms up and takes the tackle on the ribs to keep his arms free to offload the ball.
Iv SBW play league and he is something special ..whether he can make the switch is another story ..if he does however the ABs have in him a very good player.
Didn’t realize the ABs were also on a slam tour … Im hoping we can pull it off.
@lostfish (Comment 8) : Dont fall for the hype my dear.
He’s well defined no doubt, but has anyone measured his ‘guns’ or any other players’ guns?
I’ll reserve judgement on is ability once I seen more of him in international rugby.
The footage I’ve seen of him so far certainly doesn’t suggest he’ll be any better than the top centres we have in world rugby at the moment.
@McLovin (Comment 11) : Not falling for the hype, they just look abnormally large compared to the rest of his arms
I wouldn’t say he is anywhere near the finished article but he is improving and while he may not be better than any of the top international centres he certainly can improve and challenge the worlds best centres.
@lostfish (Comment 12) : Maybe I’m just jealous.