Rugby: 2006 All Blacks Squad

[NZHayden]

All Blacks squad for Ireland and starting XV for Argentina announced
28/05/2006
allblacks.com


All Blacks coach Graham Henry and his assistant coaches Wayne Smith and Steve Hansen and fellow selector, Sir Brian Lochore, have announced the All Blacks squad for the Tests against Ireland as well as a starting XV for the Test against Argentina. The squad for the match in Buenos Aires will include another 11 players to be named on 18 June.

The squad that will prepare for Ireland is:

Jimmy Cowan (Southland)
Clarke Dermody (Southland)
Troy Flavell (Auckland)
Scott Hamilton (Canterbury)
Carl Hayman (Otago)
David Hill (Waikato)
Marty Holah (Waikato)
Andrew Hore (Taranaki) (Second Test only)
Doug Howlett (Auckland)
Jerome Kaino (Auckland)
Byron Kelleher (Waikato)
Casey Laulala (Canterbury)
Luke McAlister (North Harbour)
Richie McCaw (Canterbury) (Captain)
Aaron Mauger (Canterbury)
Keven Mealamu (Auckland)
Mils Muliaina (Waikato)
Craig Newby (Otago)
Ma’a Nonu (Wellington)
Anton Oliver (Otago) (First Test only)
Greg Rawlinson (North Harbour)
Joe Rokocoko (Auckland)
Rodney So’oialo (Wellington)
Neemia Tialata (Wellington)
Ali Williams (Auckland)


It is the first selection to an All Blacks squad for three players; prop Clarke Dermody, lock Greg Rawlinson and wing Scott Hamilton.

The starting XV for the Test match against Argentina is:

Leon MacDonald (Canterbury)
Rico Gear (Tasman)
Isaia Toeava (Auckland)
Sam Tuitupou (Auckland)
Sitiveni Sivivatu (Waikato )
Dan Carter (Canterbury)
Piri Weepu (Wellington)
Mose Tuiali’i (Canterbury)
Chris Masoe (Wellington)
Jerry Collins (Wellington) (Captain)
Chris Jack (Canterbury )
Jason Eaton (Taranaki)
Greg Somerville (Canterbury)
Anton Oliver (Otago )
Tony Wood (North Harbour)


All Blacks coach Graham Henry said: “The players have been through an intensive Rebel Sport Super 14 and we need to ensure that they’re in peak condition for international rugby. That’s why we are using 39 to play the first three Tests.” Henry noted that the All Blacks would take a squad of 30 players into the Philips Tri Nations in July.

Injuries mean that wing Sitiveni Sivivatu (knee) and prop Tony Wood (calf) were only in consideration for the Test against Argentina. Wood tore his left calf muscle in April and Sivivatu underwent athroscopic surgery last Monday for an ongoing knee complaint.

“We had to ensure the right combinations and sufficient leadership in each group,” added Henry, “so it isn’t possible to rest Rebel Sport Super 14 finalists in every position, but we have done so where possible.”

The All Blacks coach also acknowledged the Crusaders’ Andrew Ellis as a player who was in consideration before the halfback tore his MCL in the Rebel Sport Super 14 semi-finals.

Five players who took part in last November’s Grand Slam tour were unavailable due to injury: centre Conrad Smith, five-eigth Nick Evans, flankers Sione Lauaki and Angus Macdonald and lock James Ryan.

Junior All Blacks squad named
28/05/2006
allblacks.com


Junior All Blacks - allblacks.com
All Blacks coach Graham Henry and his assistant coaches Wayne Smith and Steve Hansen and fellow selector, Sir Brian Lochore, have announced a 26-man Junior All Blacks squad for the inaugural IRB Pacific 5 Nations tournament. The squad is:




John Afoa (Auckland)
Sosene Anesi (Waikato)
Ben Atiga (Auckland)
Steven Bates (Waikato)
Josh Blackie (Otago)
Wyatt Crockett (Canterbury)
Stephen Donald (Waikato)
Tom Donnelly (Otago)
Tamati Ellison (Wellington)
Corey Flynn (Canterbury)
Jimmy Gopperth (Wellington)
Campbell Johnstone (Canterbury)
Johnny Leo’o (Canterbury)
Hoani MacDonald (Southland)
Cameron McIntyre (Canterbury)
Jamie Nutbrown (Bay of Plenty)
Caleb Ralph (Canterbury)
Kevin Senio (Canterbury)
John Schwalger (Wellington)
Niva Ta’auso (Counties Manukau)
Saimone Taumoepeau (Auckland)
Reuben Thorne (Canterbury), captain
Anthony Tuitavake (North Harbour)
Bernie Upton (Bay of Plenty)
Viliame Waqaseduadua (North Harbour)
Nick Williams (North Harbour)

The Junior All Blacks assemble in Auckland tomorrow, Monday 29 May. The squad will once again be co-coached by Colin Cooper and Ian Foster.

Selection notes:
* Some players not selected in the 26-man All Blacks squad to travel to Argentina will be made available for selection for the Junior All Blacks’ final match of the IRB Pacific 5 Nations tournament. Availability will be decided on a case-by-case basis.

* Saimone Taumoepeau is the back-up hooker for the Junior All Blacks

New Zealand Maori squad announced
28/05/2006
allblacks.com


NZ Maori haka - allblacks.com
New Zealand Maori coaches Donny Stevenson, Jamie Joseph and Stu Forster today announced the New Zealand Maori squad for the upcoming international season. The squad is:




Neil Brew Otago
Callum Bruce* (Otago)
Greg Feek (Tasman)
Ross Filipo (Wellington)
Hosea Gear (Wellington)
Jono Gibbes (Waikato)
Cory Jane* (Wellington)
Jason Kawau* (Otago)
Tanerau Latimer* (Bay of Plenty)
Zar Lawrence* (North Harbour)
Tasesa Lavea* (Auckland)
Scott Linklater (Waikato)
Joe McDonnell (Wellington)
Deacon Manu (Waikato)
Luke Mahoney* (Wellington)
Liam Messam* (Waikato)
Mike Noble* (North Harbour)
Kristian Ormsby (Counties Manukau)
Shannon Paku (Wellington)
Jake Paringatai (Northland)
Chris Smylie* (Otago)
Anthony Tahana* (Bay of Plenty)
Corey Tamou* (Northland)
Paul o (Taranaki)
Pehi Te Whare* (Southland)
Thomas Waldrom (Wellington)

*Denotes new cap

The New Zealand Maori squad assembles at Clearwater Resort in Christchurch tomorrow, Monday 29 May. The team will play the New South Wales Waratahs on Friday 2 June in Sydney before heading to the United States and Canada for the Churchill Cup tournament.







Awesome lineups, i smell a world cup next year

[Manu'sMagicalLeftHand]

65 Argentine players are on strike against the Argentinian Rugby Union, because the Union doesn't want to turn into profesionalism, which is quite idiotic nowadays. If the conflict isn't solved by the time of the test match, we might present a team that won't include those 65 players, who are basically the best 65 we have....so expect a ridiculous score like 89-3....

If we fielded our best team, and we had a very good day and the All-Blacks a very bad one, we could have a chance of wining. But the point is that the people who run the rugby here are idiots who will destroy our chances of keep improving, making the momentum go away.

[NZHayden]

yeah i herd something about that, i hope argentina sort there problems out, they're a real up and comer in the rugby world, a couple of years ago it took a last minute try for nz to beat argentina, and in 7s rugby argentina are often in the final four of the tournaments

[hendrix]

If the conflict isn't solved by the time of the test match, we might present a team that won't include those 65 players, who are basically the best 65 we have....so expect a ridiculous score like 89-3....

89-3 is not a ridiculous score when a strong team meets a weak one.
we HAVE lost like 100-15 or so around year 2000... yes it was IN New Zealand but with almost every player that previously (or after, i cant remember) made it to the quarterfinals in 98.

I know we have a stronger team nowadays, but that type of score is possible if Australia or South Africa meet Italy for example.

[NZHayden]

http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/411749/734403

Pumas drop strike action




May 31, 2006

The Pumas have dropped their strike action against the Argentine Rugby Union (UAR) and will play their test matches against Wales and the All Blacks, local media reported on Wednesday.

Argentina meet Wales in two tests, in the Patagonian city of Puerto Madryn on June 11 and Buenos Aires six days later. They host the All Blacks on June 24.

The Pumas threatened last week not to play the tests in a conflict with the UAR over the structure of national team training, medical cover, expenses and bonuses.

They sparked a week-long crisis when the UAR, close to bankruptcy after losing a court case brought by a player left quadriplegic in a game, announced they would not pay expenses for the June tests.