The new All Blacks Captain is......
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mariner4life" data-cid="559431" data-time="1455837008"><p>
Is it just me who finds this whole announcement a but weird? It's February, the first games of the season are still a week away, the first AB team isn't due for 3 months. Why announce a captain and the first choice 7 now? Especially given everyone knew it was going to happen anyway?<br><br>
It's not like people have been hanging out for this "news" (ok maybe sparky) so why not wait until the squad announcement later in the year? This seems to me like making noise for the sake of hearing yourself.</p></blockquote>
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Totally agree. What happens if Read gets injured during the Super 125? I really hope I'm wrong, but I think Read may be in serious decline. Who is next in line behind him? Are either of the locks captain material? -
<p>Well done Kieran. Shocked but really excited by this appointment.</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Rancid Schnitzel" data-cid="559571" data-time="1455863689">
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<p>Totally agree. What happens if Read gets injured during the Super 125? I really hope I'm wrong, but I think Read may be in serious decline. <strong>Who is next in line behind him</strong>? Are either of the locks captain material?</p>
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<p>Would it be Cane?</p> -
<p>Im not going to predict Read may not be able to hold his spot in the team down the track , but there were a few worrying signs this year that make me concerned </p>
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<p>But agree with the decision overall , but then dont really understand why it was announced in February either </p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="kiwiinmelb" data-cid="559587" data-time="1455867339">
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<p>Im not going to predict Read may not be able to hold his spot in the team down the track , <strong>but there were a few worrying signs this year that make me concerned </strong></p>
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<p>But agree with the decision overall , but then dont really understand why it was announced in February either </p>
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<p>#dontreadanythingintopreseason</p> -
<p>pretty sure it wasnt an official announcement, was just a question during interviews following the Halbergs...plus, I dont expect he thought it was really a big secret or surprise so not worth delaying or sidestepping the question</p>
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<p>haha, can you imagine the shit storm if he had said he hadnt decided who was gonna be captain yet!!</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Unco" data-cid="559597" data-time="1455868447">
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<p>#dontreadanythingintopreseason</p>
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<p>i said this season thinking the season just completed,</p>
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<p> but i actually meant last season </p> -
Was that the season where he busted his ankle in some important game and still played on and made some critical tackles on loose forwards who aren't half bad...... just saying :)<br><br>
There's always reservations about a new captain. For varying reasons people had them when Thorne, Umaga and Richie were anointed with the big wig. Read will have to adjust his style and continue to work on his game. <br><br>
Hopefully it works out. -
<p>Not a surprise at all as many have said, Hansen had announced as much before in the talk on leadership to coaches. Reado has had considerable responsibility in the squad for a while now.</p>
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<p>My guess is that the selectors will have regular phone calls and meetings with the captain throughout the Super season so it is worth naming Kieran Read as de facto captain now, there will be obligations to the sponsor as well, even though it won't be official until the naming of the side to face Wales in the first test.</p>
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<p>It will be interesting to see who is in the leadership group. My picks would be Coles, Retallick, Whitelock, Cane, Cruden and Ben Smith.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="sparky" data-cid="559624" data-time="1455882821"><p>
It will be interesting to see who is in the leadership group. My picks would be Coles, Retallick, Whitelock, Cane, Cruden and Ben Smith.</p></blockquote>
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How many are in this leadership group? 7 guys in a leadership group when there is a squad of 28-30 seems like a lot. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="ACT Crusader" data-cid="559629" data-time="1455886245"><p>How many are in this leadership group? 7 guys in a leadership group when there is a squad of 28-30 seems like a lot.</p></blockquote>
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The leadership group during the Ted-Hansen eras has been about that size. Some have on field responsibilities, some off field. <br><br><a class="bbc_url" href="http://www.allblacks.com/News/17924/henry-reveals-the-three-tenets-to-all-blacks-success">http://www.allblacks.com/News/17924/henry-reveals-the-three-tenets-to-all-blacks-success</a> -
By all accounts Cane has been part of the leadership groups for a couple of seasons so he has been groomed to stay a long term AB
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Mister G" data-cid="559623" data-time="1455882707"><p>Will he be the Moyes to Richie's Fergie.</p></blockquote>More like Taine Randell to Fitzpatrick. The difference being that Hansen has prepared for the void in experience at both captain and the team as a whole by having ready replacements with AB experience
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Siam" data-cid="559614" data-time="1455873515">
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<p>Read will be (and has been) fine.</p>
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<p>Fricken February Hennie Pennies again (sigh)</p>
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The guy has serious head issues though. I think this could be a very short term appointment as if he has another decent head knock he's unlikely to be around (from a playing rugby perspective) that much longer. He may be lucky to make it through this year but fingers crossed!</p>
