Dear Graham
I am leaving the country for the start of the Tri-nations and wanted to give you my team before you go. These last 3 weeks have been a bit frustrating as players have been out with injury, but I hope you have learned something from it. There are some players who haven't made the grade and others who need to stay ahead of returning "incumbents". Anyways, I have organised the AB's team for you before I go, making some assumptions regarding injury. Here it is:
1. Tony Woodcock
2. Keven Mealamu
3. John Afoa
4. Brad Thorn
5. Isaac Ross
6. Jerome Kaino
7. Ritchie McCaw
8. Kieran Read
9. Brendan Leonard
10. Luke McAlister
11. Lelia Masaga
12. Ma'a Nonu
13. Isaia Toeava
14. Joe Rockocoko
15. Mils Muliaina
16. Neemia Tialata
17. Aled De Malmanche
18. Whichever no-name appeals to you this week
19. George Whitelock
20. Liam Messam
21. Piri Weepu
22. Corey Jane
I've gone for extra cover in the loosies because I think we'll need it against the Japies and Aussies. That leaves us lighter on the bench in the backs, but with Mils able to cover midfield and Piri a handy first V, you'll be OK. Its the forwards who risk getting munched in this series. You need to persevere with Toeava seeing as you set him up in the first place as a 19 year old. He's solid on defence and just needs to know you back him. Joe gets the chance for more work which he needs for top form and I liked the way he got involved on Saturday. You were wrong about Masaga - he will do just fine on attack and defence. You need to let Conrad, Stephen and Rodney down lightly. They are good guys but they don't have what it takes right now. I wish you'd given some older and wiser locks a bit more of a chance - with Ali gone now, we look real thin - so I'll let you have a go with that selection. But maybe its time for someone who might bring some impact off the bench? Jason Eaton would be my pick out of the Junior AB's - he has experience to go with mobility and attitude.
Best of luck.
2 comments:
My Team:
1. Tony Woodcock
2. Keven Mealamu (Andrew Hore if available, with Mealamu on the bench).
3. John Afoa
4. Brad Thorn
5. Isaac Ross
6. Jerome Kaino
7. Ritchie McCaw
8. Rodney So'oialo
9. Piri Weepu
10. Luke McAlister
11. Sitiveni Sivivatu
12. Ma'a Nonu
13. Conrad Smith
14. Joe Rockocoko
15. Mils Muliaina
16. Neemia Tialata
17. Aled De Malmanche
18. Kevin O'Neil
19. George Whitelock
20. Brendan Leonard
21. Stephen Donald
22. Corey Jane
... Unluckiest players are Masaga and Reid. Gone for experience in a few positions because I think this series showed how important that is.
And I'd never let Toeava near an ABs jersey again!
And some interesting thoughts from Gregor Paul in the Herald, regarding Toeava...
"Take Isaia Toeava - he can do everything, Henry even called him "gold" a few weeks ago. But what has Toeava achieved with the All Blacks? What has been his contribution? He's never been able to hold a jersey and the crux of test football is that each position comes with highly specific demands.
If he wants to spend the rest of his career on the bench, then Toeava should carry on as is. He'll make every squad from here until the World Cup.
But if he wants to actually start tests and be a great All Black, then he needs to learn a specific craft. Every time he starts a test, he's found out. His positioning isn't good enough; his reading of the game not sharp enough; his understanding of his role not quite there."
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