The All Blacks squad for the end of year tour was announced yesterday, and for the most part the selections were obvious. BUT (yes - there is always a but), there are a couple of admissions and exclusions which puzzle the hell out of me, and make me wonder exactly what is Steve thinking?
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| See ya later, Piri. |
The first, and potentially the most obvious admission - Piri Weepu. WTF STEVE? I understand that Piri has the potential to be bloody awesome on the field, I mean, the guy developed quite the cult following during the Rugby World Cup, he really was on fire. But this year, it seems that Piri has been coated in flame retardant. There has been no sign of that fire, hell - there aren't even a few embers lying around. No. In 2012, Piri is more like saturated firewood - without a match in sight. Or should that be a match start?
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| The kid Piri mentored has surpassed him. Oops. |
I think that all that is really saving Piri's ass here, is the fact he is another goal kicking option - but with Beauden Barrett improving with each game, and the skill of Aaron Cruden, and of course Dan Carter, I don't think this little saving grace is going to be saving his ass much longer. Especially not when there is another #9 nipping at his heels. A number #9 he helped to mentor whilst playing with the Hurricanes. Yeap - TJ Perenara, who is finally on his way back from inury, after breaking his ankle in a[n unofficial] Super XV match against the Reds (?) this season. TJ outplayed Piri in all aspects of the game during the 2012 Super XV, and other than Aaron Smith, he was the most exciting #9 playing in the Super XV - and I have a feeling that had he not been injured, he quite possibly could have been in this end of year tour squad, or at the very least, been in the Maori All Blacks tour squad. Then there is Tawera Kerr-Barlow, who also outplayed Piri this season - but more on him later.
Long story short? Don't expect to see Piri in the black jersey, in 2013!
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| Yeap, I'd be feeling that way too, Ali |
The other curious admission is Ali Williams. I scratch my head and try to come up with reasons he was selected, after playing bugger all rugby this year - and I fail to come up with any reasons, other than the fact he's played 50+ tests for the All Black, and could be seen as a good leader for other locks selected (Sam Whitelock, Brodie Rettalick, Luke Romano) - even if judging by that list, he would be the 4th favoured lock on the list. Maybe Steve has more faith in him than the NZ public (and it seems, a lot of the rugby fraternity), but I don't understand how he is in the team. Surely Jarrad Hoeata could have been given a look in, particularly with his ability to play other positions in the forwards, as well. Then there is Craig Clarke, who had an excellent Super XV season for the Chiefs? I highly doubt that Ali Williams will make it to the end of the end of year tour, uninjured - and the way Clarke, Hoeata & Jason Eaton have been playing, it will probably signal the end of his time in the black jersey.
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| Dane Coles - the dude can run. |
It's not all doom and gloom and bitching though! I let out a little squeeeee of delight, when I saw that Tawera Kerr-Barlow and Dane Coles had been named in the squad - both are players I noticed early in the Super XV season, and I remember saying on several occasions that both of them would be All Blacks by the end of the year. Well - it's not quite the end of the year, and they are now named in the All Blacks squad, and one has to imagine that both will get some game time in Europe. I am especially glad that Dane Coles got in, because while we seem to have an abundance of talent when it comes to the backs, and most of the forwards positions, hooker is one where we are lacking. Dane Coles did a great job for the Hurricanes, showing he could do the physical work of a hooker - but that he could also run... and I think it's a great idea to get him in the squad while the likes of Keven Mealamu and Andrew Hore are still around to mentor him, to help boost his confidence and skill, so that when the time comes for those players to retire, we won't be let with a big gaping hole, in the hooking department.
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| Tawera Kerr-Barlow, more in form than Piri, in 2012 |
And yes, I understand that I just mentioned 'gaping holes' when discussing hookers.
All in all, a pretty awesome squad to take on Scotland, Italy, Wales and England - with the possibility for one of these games to be a swan song for two or three of the players, but also the possibility for a lot of young up and comers to really stamp their mark on the team.
