Bizarre All Blacks selections continue
October 19, 2009
The three appointed wise men speaketh and the inevitable raft of reactions follows.
Acute disappointment for some players, joy for others and a million plus judgements from the million plus number of amateur selectors like myself.
Here are my thoughts and I welcome yours to follow.
CERTAINTIES THAT MOST OF US WON'T QUIBBLE WITH.
John Afoa, Owen Franks, Jerome Kaino, Andrew Hore, Richie McCaw, Kieran Read, Rodney So'oialo, Adam Thomson, Brad Thorn, Neemia Tialata, Tony Woodcock, Dan Carter, Jimmy Cowan, Cory Jane, Mils Muliaina, Ma'a Nonu, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Conrad Smith.
Amongst these certainties, I reckon there is room for concern over the props.
It has been a year to date where none of the leading propping candidates have produced consistent, conclusive performances to eliminate concern.
Even Tony Woodcock has faded somewhat from his world-class best. All of which serves to underline what a loss that cornerstone, Carl Hayman was.
I also totally agree with Richard Loe who has asked the question, because Mils Muliaina plans not to play in part of next year's Super 14, why on earth is he going on this tour.
Why not rest him now?
PROBABLES SELECTED BUT WHOSE SELECTIONS ARE DEBATABLE.
Anthony Boric, Wyatt Crockett, Tom Donnelly, Jason Eaton, Stephen Donald, Brendon Leonard, Luke McAlister.
I've included every lock in this category except Brad Thorn, because I believe each one of them is fortunate to be selected ahead of Isaac Ross.
Of course, that's not to say each of them doesn't have a viable case to have been considered for the 3rd and 4th locking positions on tour behind Thorn and Ross.
Two of the three of them were always going to go.
It's just that I so wish to emphasise what a daft, nonsensical, heartbreaking travesty of selectorial justice Ross's omission represents.
I have yet to read or hear the opinion of one ex-All Black who sees any persuasive shred of logic in abandoning Ross at this stage.
The young lock could have pursued a vigorous gym campaign on tour while gleaning the invaluable experience that Henry and co. always bang on about that these end-of-the-year tours provide.
How the hell does flirting with breaking Ross's spirit make any sense after his glowing All Black debuts?
Anthony Boric has to prove it all at international level again, Wyatt Crockett has had only one test and Tom Donnelly needs to resume where he left off at the Cake Tin.
Stephen Donald is nothing more than a competent provincial player who shouldn't wear the black jersey again, Brendon Leonard has had a skittery season and Luke McAlister needs to consume more brain-food and stay injury-free.
SELECTED IN THE PAST BUT WHERE'S THE LOGIC NOW?
Corey Flynn, Tanerau Latimer, Liam Messam, Andy Ellis.
Will we ever get to know how Aled de Malmanche earned his expulsion after just two minutes in an All Black jersey for Corey Flynn to take his place?
Don't give me the "he can't throw the ball in straight" stuff. Which New Zealand hooker consistently does?
At what stage did Tanerau Latimer nudge out George Whitelock as the apparent back-up to Richie McCaw, especially given the All Black captain indicated his preference for Whitelock just a few weeks ago?
And can anybody remotely provide me with a shred of logic as to how Liam Messam has made his way back?
Don't get me wrong. I don't think he should have been banished so cruelly after being played out of position in the first test this season against France in Dunedin.
But his current form is no better or no worse than when he was previously selected. The only explanation can be that Henry and co. have obviously attempted to seek redemption after they treated Messam so badly.
Has Andy Ellis improved to become an All Black again? I'd prefer to have seen Alby Mathewson ahead of the Cantabrian.
NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK.
Both Zac Guildford and to a lesser extent, Tamati Ellison, were favoured to be announced as new caps.
But Mike Delany and Ben Smith definitely weren't. Good luck to them both.
I rate Southland's Robbie Robinson highly. A cool, calm and collected No.10 if ever I've seen one.
UNLUCKY TO VARYING DEGREES.
I've already mentioned both Isaac Ross and Aled de Malmanche.
Hosea Gear has also gone from hero to zero in a somewhat baffling manner and where's the logic in tolerating Joe Rokocoko's mediocre form for most of the season but dropping him after he finally turned on his class against the Wallabies in Wellington?
As a final comment, it intrigues me how an over-blown number of All Blacks has been selected for this short tour but the NZRFU continues to quote that a lack of cash is behind needing to downsize the make-up of the Air NZ Cup and why providing TMO's for this tournament isn't possible?
The 33 All Blacks selected is an excessive number and a genuine waste of money.
Your thoughts please.
Acute disappointment for some players, joy for others and a million plus judgements from the million plus number of amateur selectors like myself.
Here are my thoughts and I welcome yours to follow.
CERTAINTIES THAT MOST OF US WON'T QUIBBLE WITH.
John Afoa, Owen Franks, Jerome Kaino, Andrew Hore, Richie McCaw, Kieran Read, Rodney So'oialo, Adam Thomson, Brad Thorn, Neemia Tialata, Tony Woodcock, Dan Carter, Jimmy Cowan, Cory Jane, Mils Muliaina, Ma'a Nonu, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Conrad Smith.
Amongst these certainties, I reckon there is room for concern over the props.
It has been a year to date where none of the leading propping candidates have produced consistent, conclusive performances to eliminate concern.
Even Tony Woodcock has faded somewhat from his world-class best. All of which serves to underline what a loss that cornerstone, Carl Hayman was.
I also totally agree with Richard Loe who has asked the question, because Mils Muliaina plans not to play in part of next year's Super 14, why on earth is he going on this tour.
Why not rest him now?
PROBABLES SELECTED BUT WHOSE SELECTIONS ARE DEBATABLE.
Anthony Boric, Wyatt Crockett, Tom Donnelly, Jason Eaton, Stephen Donald, Brendon Leonard, Luke McAlister.
I've included every lock in this category except Brad Thorn, because I believe each one of them is fortunate to be selected ahead of Isaac Ross.
Of course, that's not to say each of them doesn't have a viable case to have been considered for the 3rd and 4th locking positions on tour behind Thorn and Ross.
Two of the three of them were always going to go.
It's just that I so wish to emphasise what a daft, nonsensical, heartbreaking travesty of selectorial justice Ross's omission represents.
I have yet to read or hear the opinion of one ex-All Black who sees any persuasive shred of logic in abandoning Ross at this stage.
The young lock could have pursued a vigorous gym campaign on tour while gleaning the invaluable experience that Henry and co. always bang on about that these end-of-the-year tours provide.
How the hell does flirting with breaking Ross's spirit make any sense after his glowing All Black debuts?
Anthony Boric has to prove it all at international level again, Wyatt Crockett has had only one test and Tom Donnelly needs to resume where he left off at the Cake Tin.
Stephen Donald is nothing more than a competent provincial player who shouldn't wear the black jersey again, Brendon Leonard has had a skittery season and Luke McAlister needs to consume more brain-food and stay injury-free.
SELECTED IN THE PAST BUT WHERE'S THE LOGIC NOW?
Corey Flynn, Tanerau Latimer, Liam Messam, Andy Ellis.
Will we ever get to know how Aled de Malmanche earned his expulsion after just two minutes in an All Black jersey for Corey Flynn to take his place?
Don't give me the "he can't throw the ball in straight" stuff. Which New Zealand hooker consistently does?
At what stage did Tanerau Latimer nudge out George Whitelock as the apparent back-up to Richie McCaw, especially given the All Black captain indicated his preference for Whitelock just a few weeks ago?
And can anybody remotely provide me with a shred of logic as to how Liam Messam has made his way back?
Don't get me wrong. I don't think he should have been banished so cruelly after being played out of position in the first test this season against France in Dunedin.
But his current form is no better or no worse than when he was previously selected. The only explanation can be that Henry and co. have obviously attempted to seek redemption after they treated Messam so badly.
Has Andy Ellis improved to become an All Black again? I'd prefer to have seen Alby Mathewson ahead of the Cantabrian.
NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK.
Both Zac Guildford and to a lesser extent, Tamati Ellison, were favoured to be announced as new caps.
But Mike Delany and Ben Smith definitely weren't. Good luck to them both.
I rate Southland's Robbie Robinson highly. A cool, calm and collected No.10 if ever I've seen one.
UNLUCKY TO VARYING DEGREES.
I've already mentioned both Isaac Ross and Aled de Malmanche.
Hosea Gear has also gone from hero to zero in a somewhat baffling manner and where's the logic in tolerating Joe Rokocoko's mediocre form for most of the season but dropping him after he finally turned on his class against the Wallabies in Wellington?
As a final comment, it intrigues me how an over-blown number of All Blacks has been selected for this short tour but the NZRFU continues to quote that a lack of cash is behind needing to downsize the make-up of the Air NZ Cup and why providing TMO's for this tournament isn't possible?
The 33 All Blacks selected is an excessive number and a genuine waste of money.
Your thoughts please.
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