Otago's Forsyth Barr Stadium will host a North vs South Island New Zealand Rugby game in June as part of the New Zealand Rugby Union bailout.  This will be a trip down memory lane with the most recent match happening in 1995.  These matches were first played in 1897 with the last match a 10th anniversary of the 1985 match in 1995.  There have been 78 matches played and not surprisingly the North Island wearing black jerseys and shorts have won 49 times, while the more sparsely populated South Island wearing all white have won 26 matches with three draws.

These matches have often been held as unofficial All Blacks trials.  As you would expect, the North Island usually dominates with over 3 million people and ten ITM Cup teams to choose from.  The North will have amazing depth in their backline, although the South should have a better tight five. 

I am unsure how many of the top players will end up playing this match, but here are my teams based on the ITM Cup instead of Super Rugby franchise.  There are plenty of North Island players who turnout for South Island Super Rugby teams.  This will be a kind of State of Origin and All Blacks trial rolled into one.  This is the most likely team to play in this June match and takes into account the injuries which will rule players out like Isaia Toeava, Jerome Kaino and Kenny Lynn.  Players must be All Blacks eligible.

North Island
15 Israel Dagg (Hawkes Bay)
14 Cory Jane (Wellington)
13 Conrad Smith (Wellington)
12 Ma'a Nonu (Wellington)
11 Richard Kahui (Waikato)
10 Aaron Cruden (Manawatu)
9 Aaron Smith (Manawatu)
8 Victor Vito (Wellington)
7 Sam Cane (Bay of Plenty)
6 Liam Messam (Waikato)
5 Anthony Boric (North Harbour)
4 Jarrad Hoeata (Taranaki)
3 Ben Afeaki (North Harbour)
2 Keven Mealamu (c) (Auckland)
1 Tony Woodcock (North Harbour)

Reserves
Charlie Faumauina (North Harbour)
Andrew Hore (Taranaki)
Brodie Retallick (Bay of Plenty)
Chris Lowrey (Auckland)
Piri Weepu (Wellington)
Hosea Gear (Wellington)
Sonny Bill Williams (unaligned)

Talking points - fitting the All Blacks stacked backline into this North Island team.  Hosea Gear and Sonny Bill Williams (club unaligned) would have waltzed into the South Island team.  There is no room for quality players like Lelia Masaga, Zac Guildford, Benson Stanley or the young stars like Beauden Barrett, Gareth Anscombe or Tawera Kerr-Barlow.

The main talking points in the forwards include if old heads like Ali Williams and Daniel Braid should be included.  I have gone for some young blood instead with openside flanker Sam Cane who sees off Braid, his brother Luke Braid and Jack Lam.  It also depends if they need cover at openside or should go for another Number Eight in Chris Lowrey?  At lock I am hoping that Jarrad Hoeata will be back by then to join Anthony Boric ahead of Ali Williams and Brodie Retallick.  The North Island has the two best hookers in New Zealand, but struggle in the propping department.

South Island
15 Ben Smith (Otago)
14 Kade Poki (Southland)
13 Robbie Fruean (Canterbury)
12 Tamati Ellison (Otago)
11 Sean Maitland (Canterbury)
10 Dan Carter (Canterbury)
9 Jimmy Cowan (Southland)
8 Kieran Read (Canterbury)
7 Richie McCaw (c)(Canterbury)
6 Adam Thomson (Otago)
5 Josh Bekhuis (Southland)
4 Sam Whitelock (Canterbury)
3 Owen Franks (Canterbury)
2 Corey Flynn (Canterbury)
1 Jamie Mackintosh (Southland)

Reserves
Ben Franks (Tasman)
Jason Rutledge (Southland)
Luke Romano (Canterbury)
Matt Todd (Canterbury)
Andy Ellis (Canterbury)
Colin Slade (Canterbury)
Tom Marshall (Canterbury)

Talking points - This team is very strong if you could just play ten man rugby.  Their forward pack and inside backs have plenty of All Blacks experience, but only Ben Smith and Tamati Ellison in the outside backs has played for the All Blacks. 

It sums up the difference between the two teams where you are trying to fit four All Black props into the squad.  I have gone for Whoppa ahead of Wyatt Crockett based on early season form. 

On the bench for this team I have gone for Matt Todd ahead of Highlanders John Hardie and Nasi Manu, while Luke Romano sees off Tom Donnelly, Tom Marshall gets in ahead of journeymen Adam Whitelock and Ryan Crotty but it is close.  Jason Rutledge has to get in on passion as backup to school mate Corey Flynn.  Both Bekhuis and Mackintosh also went to Southland Boys High School.

I think the North Island should win this match, if their forward pack can at least gain parity with the South Island then they have the superior quality outside backs and will appreciate dry conditions in the Forsyth Barr Stadium to win.  It should be a great game though with plenty of awesome matchups.

Who would you pick for these teams?  Who will win this match?

http://www.superrugbytips.com/2012/03/my-north-vs-south-island-new-zealand.html