Crusaders set to fill All Black holes
May 29 2008
A decent number of All Blacks jerseys as well as Super 14 silverware are up for grabs when the Crusaders contest the Final against the Waratahs on Saturday.
The national squad announcement on Sunday morning has been robbed of much of its shock factor by the unveiling of a 25-man All Blacks training squad this week, bereft of Crusaders while they're on final duty.
Notable player omissions have been publicly pored over already leaving the biggest question on Sunday just how many Crusaders will be filtered into the mix.
Clearly a number of the training group players will not be among the 26 named for Tests against Ireland and England next month and the following Tri-Nations, with anything up to twelve Crusaders injected in their place.
All Blacks coach Graham Henry's selections haven't always reflected the annual success of the Crusaders but it's going to be hard to ignore their standards this year, which have been a class above the four other New Zealand franchises.
Flanker Richie McCaw will be Henry's captain while the other obvious selections are full-back Leon MacDonald, fly-half Daniel Carter, scrum-half Andrew Ellis, lock Ali Williams and prop Greg Somerville.
The other candidates will be causing some head scratching, so a strong performance in front of Henry on Saturday would be beneficial.
One player with a limited chance is exciting inside centre Stephen Brett, who has been named on the bench for a second week.
It remains to be seen whether the selectors ignore this late-season snub or if they agree with Crusaders coach Robbie Deans' obvious inference that Brett's defence isn't ready for the big time.
It shapes as "A battle of the Stephens" for the back-up role to Carter at number ten, with the Chiefs' Stephen Donald having shut Nick Evans out of the training squad.
Crusaders centre Casey Laulala has been tried sporadically by Henry and has enjoyed another consistently good season at outside centre.
He must push either Conrad Smith or Richard Kahui out of a specialist role that should also have back-up from Anthony Tuitavake and Mils Muliaina.
Tuitavake will be one of three wingers, along with fellow-uncapped Blues star Rudi Wulf and the Chiefs' Sitiveni Sivivatu unless the selectors find a soft spot for Crusader Scott Hamilton.
Up front, veteran Somerville will be part of the propping quartet while team-mate Wyatt Crockett is knocking hard at the door with the patchy Neemia Tialata's position under most threat.
Blues prop Tony Woodcock and John Afoa should complete the front row ranks along with hookers Keven Mealamu and Andrew Hore.
Williams and Crusaders partner Brad Thorn shape as the first-choice locking combination, meaning one of the three uncapped training camp locks will win a call up.
Kevin O'Neill has made huge strides with the Chiefs and Highlander Tom Donnelly has been on the fringe for several seasons, but the nod may go to Blues improver Anthony Boric because of his relative youth and versatility.
The selection of the loose forwards will be a mixed issue.
McCaw and Rodney So'oialo are first choice shoe-ins but Jerry Collins' departure this week has left a hole at blindside flanker.
Blues dynamo Jerome Kaino and hard-working Crusader Kieran Read may both make the squad due to their contrasting styles while the fifth spot will depend on whether the selectors need specialist back-up for McCaw.
If so they'll select Daniel Braid but otherwise will name another ball carrier such as Sione Lauaki.
Less than half of last year's World Cup squad of 30 are likely to be back due to injury, retirement and - most of all - European contracts.
Possible All Blacks squad:
Backs: Leon MacDonald, Mils Muliaina, Rudi Wulf, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Anthony Tuitavake, Conrad Smith, Richard Kahui, Ma'a Nonu, Stephen Brett, Daniel Carter, Andrew Ellis, Brendon Leonard.
Forwards: Rodney So'oialo, Richie McCaw (captain), Daniel Braid, Jerome Kaino, Kieran Read, Ali Williams, Brad Thorn, Anthony Boric, John Afoa, Greg Somerville, Neemia Tialata, Tony Woodcock, Keven Mealamu, Andrew Hore.