New Zealand

sandal says...

Piri Weepu has lost quite a bit of weight and is playing better with every passing week.

Ma'a Nonu looked good in all he did on Friday, no easy feat when playing in his less preferred position in a below-par backline. His presence is needed even more now that Richard Kahui may be unavailable.

Beauden Barrett -- I hope he has been picked for the training squad only, to bring him on. He has so much ability already, of course, but his goalkicking isn't yet to international standard and his defence is a liability.

Israel Dagg -- a question for everybody: who would you rather have at the moment? Dagg or Andre Taylor? And why don't the selectors play Cory Jane at fullback and stick Dagg on the left wing? In the World Cup final, that configuration might have produced an All Black try instead of the breakdown that led to Dussautoir's try.

@NHsaints

Rene Ranger, unfortunately, is a mix of the very good and the very bad. Last season I had finally decided the good was outweighing the bad when he got badly injured. I agree with the selectors, at the moment the bad is outweighing the good.

Julian Savea is a similar package but the equation is improving in his favour.

Posted 06:49 14th May 2012

tweedledee49 says...

I agree with the rest about Taylor not making it...and Fruean, if your gonna try out Savea why cant Fruean also have a go?

@NHsaints, haha true...nothing to do here

Posted 05:51 14th May 2012

jonesy2 says...

wow this is very very weird. even as a chiefs supporter i find it baffling that TKB was included over perenara. andre taylor, rene ranger and luke braid missing out is just crazyness. love that sam cane and brodie retallick are in though.

Posted 05:25 14th May 2012

Oceansnz says...

Hmm, I think Andre Taylor is doing well in a good team - so perhaps he's nothing special. As for Rene Ranger, the guy is not rugby smart. He's just fast moving meat.

Posted 01:44 14th May 2012

powerplay says...

What does robbie have to do to get in? Jump in the line out???

Posted 00:29 14th May 2012

hybrid187 says...

No Fruean or H Gear ??

Posted 22:56 13th May 2012

Dangerous says...

Wouldve loved to have seen what the all black environment would've done for Andre Taylor. He has to fit in there some where.

Posted 22:07 13th May 2012

makemehappy says...

Andre Taylor has to be included! A good example of picking a squad based on a number as opposed to common-sense. Basic systems thinking will tell you how dull that is!

Posted 21:29 13th May 2012

5Lock4ward says...

All the Ali Williams haters who said he wouldn't make the RWC squad and that he was too brittle to come back from the injury should take note that he's STILL part of the AB's picture.

Posted 21:11 13th May 2012

BokAvenger says...

Rene Ranger would walk into most international teams' first XV

Posted 20:59 13th May 2012