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Overseas All Blacks Team 15 views 15 Comments
21 May 2013 by The Swede Eaters

I have created a team made up of overseas based New Zealand players, what do you think? Could they beat the All Blacks?

News that former Blues Super Rugby coach Pat Lam has signed promising New Zealand Under 20 star Jake Heenan for his Irish club Connacht has set my alarm bells ringing. New Zealand is a limited sized country and while it is one thing to let past their expiry date All Blacks go overseas at the end of their careers, it is sad to see New Zealand robbed of some young talent. All this means that New Zealand is missing a tier of top quality players who would add depth to our Super Rugby squads. Unfortunately the New Zealand market is so small that we can't pay our players much money to play for New Zealand teams.

Here is my "Overseas Based All Blacks Team" formed by players who are no longer playing in New Zealand. It is difficult to remember all the players who have left these shores. This team is based on these players not playing Super Rugby for New Zealand teams in 2013 and therefore not being eligible for the All Blacks.

Points to note about this team

There weren't many hookers or locks that spring to mind. If you can think of anyone else who would gain selection in this team, then let me know! I had to use John Afoa as reserve hooker and one of the spare loose forwards can cover lock. I put Jerry Collins on the bench ahead of locks Jay Williams and Cam Jowitt.

There are so many foreign players in overseas leagues, especially Japan, France and the UK.

The average age of this team is probably around the 30 years old mark.

There are so many All Blacks playing overseas.

There are heaps of New Zealand born players who have been playing overseas for years and these players often play for overseas countries. Players like Dylan Hartley and Michael Leitch are thrown into the spotlight at Rugby World Cups. In the Rugby World Cup 2011, 34 New Zealand born players were in non-New Zealand teams at the tournament.

There are some quality players who missed out like Mike Delaney, Sione Lauaki, Kevin Senio, Scott Hamilton and Stephen Brett, but if these guys returned to New Zealand, they would make Super Rugby teams, especially the way that the current Super Rugby squads are struggling for depth because of the length of the competition.

Only Toby Lynn and Colin Bourke haven't played for the All Blacks.

See my "Overseas Based All Blacks Team" below, do you think they could beat the current All Blacks squad in a match?

Here is my Overseas Based All Blacks Team
15 Mils Muliaina (NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes)
14 Joe Rokocoko (Bayonne)
13 Sonny Bill Williams (Roosters)
12 Luke McAlister (Toulouse)
11 Sitiveni Sivivatu (Clermont)
10 Nick Evans (Harlequins)
9 Jimmy Cowan (Gloucester)
8 Jerome Kaino (Toyota)
7 Chris Masoe (Toulon)
6 Adam Thomson (Canon Eagles)
5 Isaac Ross (NTT Shining Arcs)
4 Toby Lynn (Western Force)
3 Carl Hayman (Toulon)
2 Aled de Malmanche (Stade Francais)
1 John Afoa (Ulster)

Reserves
23 Rudi Wulf (Toulon)
22 Stephen Donald (Mitsubishi Dynaboars)
21 Alby Matthewson (Force)
20 Colin Bourke (Ricoh Black Rams)
19 Jerry Collins (Yamaha Júbilo)
18 Neemia Tialata (Bayonne)
17 Saimone Taumopeau (Castres Olympique)
16 John Schwalger (Agen)

http://www.superrugbytips.com/2013/05/the-overseas-based-all-blacks-team-who.html

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Tags: All Blacks,

Comments (15)

Rating:

	15 . lee712mcalister 24 May 2013 06:26 PM dude the Mc Man at 1st five ,The mill dollar bill man Sonny Bill at 12,lualala at 13 ,Power ,i agree Tuituvake at one of the wings and Donald on Subs,Nick reserve him for fullback(he dodge on defence as the Mc man he will tell you about!),Mate AAAAHHHH Michael Paterson over Toby Lynn,yeah dont see that happening,Chuck Rudi Wulf out Leave Collins at 6,Kaino at 8,Masoe at 7
	14 . The Swede Eaters 24 May 2013 02:10 PM Real Deal, do you mean Ged Robinson? Jed Rowlands was that Taranaki coach who struggled to coach the Blues a while back. Mentioning his name was a trip down memory lane. It is amazing who has popped up playing overseas who you forget about. I reckon George Smith would probably be ineligible now given he is back in Super Rugby. It depends on criteria. Bryn Evans would waltz into this team. He is truly a forgotten man. I was disappointed he didn't stay around longer. It is hard to believe that the likes of Evans and Ross played for the All Blacks. Reagan King is another player who went overseas too soon.
	13 . KEMZ1 24 May 2013 10:35 AM reagan king would have a bet with SBW. And rico gear on the wing.
	12 . Marossi's Magic 23 May 2013 08:12 PM Few interesting names there Real Deal. No room for Mark Gerrard? I'm not sure if he's still playing or not, but thought he was in Japan. Few names set to join this squad soon with Drew Mitchell and Digby shoe-ins. To soon to call Quade?
	11 . Real Deal 23 May 2013 03:25 PM My best shot at an Aussie team... 15. Cameron Shepherd 14. Luke Rooney 13. Morgan Turinui 12. Mat Giteau 11. Francis Fainifo 10. Brock James 9. Luke Burgess 8. Julian Salvi 7. George Smith 6. Rocky Elsom 5. Dean Mumm 4. Ben Hand 3. ---?? 2. Huai Edmonds 1. Salesi Ma'afu
	10 . Real Deal 23 May 2013 03:04 PM Bryn Evans the forgotten man of NZ locks?
	9 . Real Deal 23 May 2013 02:38 PM Brumbies have Leon Power who played for the Bay, he's a big lock with potential. Ged Rowlands would be on the bench at least..
	8 . The Swede Eaters 22 May 2013 10:52 PM I forgot about Ged Robinson, he would definitely go close, although you have got to remember that de Malmanche is an All Black, while some of the players like Woodward and Robinson only went to the Rebels because they couldn't get a Super Rugby contract in New Zealand. Robinson is heading for the championship favourites Hawkes Bay. I think any of the New Zealand teams would welcome most players in this team, especially given the injury crisis some of them have.
	7 . Marossi's Magic 22 May 2013 09:14 PM I think you are looking to far a field. On form you'd be hard pressed to go past the trio of Robinson and Woodward (Rebels) and Matthewson (Force) playing in the Super 15 for your starting XV. While they might not be the big names your team on paper is stacked with, these 3 are playing some of the best Footy of their respective careers in the Worlds's best competition. With the exception Kaino, Thompson, Evans and SBW, none of the above players would be good enough (reputation aside) to make the run on side of any of the NZ Super rugby teams currently.
	6 . Champz 22 May 2013 08:57 PM Looks like a good side, although you would definitely have Ged Robinson starting at hooker, great set piece and massive work rate around the field. I hear he's heading back to NZ... Good for him and NZ rugby
	5 . luti5884 22 May 2013 08:17 PM Sam Tuitopu & Casey Laulala, good center partnership
	4 . The Swede Eaters 22 May 2013 08:14 PM There aren't many decent locks playing overseas, mind you, both Ross and Schwalger have played for the ABs. Taumalolo is a Tongan representative, so not eligible. Tuitavake might be a good option. There is plenty of depth in some positions.

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