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Opinionated Rugby Commentary - by Fans for Fans
Spill what you really think about events in the rugby world.
All Blacks Squad To Play Ireland - Thoughts? 10 views
07 June 2012 by The Swede Eaters
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Scotty Donaldson looks at the new All Blacks squad named to play Ireland. What do you think of this team?
Steve Hansen has named three new caps in the first All Blacks squad to play Ireland this weekend. New caps Brodie Retallick, Julian Savea and Aaron Smith will start.
In other talking points veterans Ali Williams and Piri Weepu are on the bench, Zac Guildford and Sonny Bill Williams will start on the right wing and at second five eighth.
In the forwards Victor Vito starts in Jerome Kaino's Number Six jersey with Adam Thomson on the bench.
On the bench, Ben Smith heads off Highlanders team mate Tamati Ellison.
What do you think of this All Blacks squad? I think that the Number 14 jersey could have gone to anyone, but I also think that both the All Blacks and Springboks have stuck with experienced players with both teams only naming three new caps. They realise that the lack of preparation time which in some ways caused Australia to lose to Scotland will make experience important for this first match against better prepared Northern Hemisphere sides. I think both the Springboks and All Blacks will have their work cut-out for them, when you think that usually for their first test matches of the season they play against minnows and often struggle with cohesion for long periods of the match. The margins won't be massive but you would think that the All Blacks should beat Ireland, while South Africa should do the same against England, but that match is closer to call. Australia play Wales and should play better than they did against Scotland, but the Wallabies look vunerable.
Watch for most players in the All Blacks squad to get some game time during the series against Ireland, especially if the All Blacks are winning.
The All Blacks team to play Ireland at Eden Park, Auckland, on Saturday 9 June has been named, with the selection of new caps Brodie Retallick, Julian Savea and Aaron Smith the key feature of the squad.
The team is as follows:
Starting XV:
1. Tony Woodcock (83)
2. Andrew Hore (62)
3. Owen Franks (31)
4. Brodie Retallick
5. Samuel Whitelock (25)
6. Victor Vito (13)
7. Richie McCaw - captain (103)
8. Kieran Read (36)
9. Aaron Smith
10. Daniel Carter (85)
11. Julian Savea
12. Sonny Bill Williams (14)
13. Conrad Smith (55)
14. Zac Guildford (8)
15. Israel Dagg (12)
Reserves:
16. Hikawera Elliot (2)
17. Ben Franks (15)
18. Ali Williams (73)
19. Adam Thomson (24)
20. Piri Weepu (56)
21. Aaron Cruden (9)
22. Ben Smith (2)
What do you think of this All Blacks squad and how will they go against Ireland?
http://www.superrugbytips.com/2012/06/all-blacks-squad-to-play-ireland-hansen.html
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