TRC squad

Wurzel

I can't see them throwing Ngatai straight into the squad once his concussion issues have cleared. I'd imagine he's going to have to go back to NPC and play his way to back into the form that had him selected in June.

Duluth

Are people discussing who they would select, or who they think the panel will select? This selection panel doesn't change its mind about players often.
 
I suspect Moala will be the only player who has moved past a fit player selected in the June squad.
 
Despite Fekitoa's poor form I think they will stick with him because they have invested so much time in him already. Tamanivalu is my pick to miss out in the midfield. (SBW to return for Ngatai but he was always ahead of him in the selectors rankings)
 
There's lots of talk about Luatua, but I'll be surprised if he makes it. Particularly at the expense of Dixon.. more likely Squire is under threat. They can claim he hasn't been getting enough time in a starting role.

KiwiMurph

Following on from Tim, According to the Herald there aren't going to be too many changes.

JK

Squad named:
 
Forwards:
Hookers 
Dane Coles (Wellington / Hurricanes, 39) 
Codie Taylor (Canterbury / Crusaders, 5) 
Nathan Harris (Bay of Plenty / Chiefs, 4)
Props 
Wyatt Crockett (Canterbury / Crusaders, 48) 
Charlie Faumuina (Auckland / Blues, 36) 
Owen Franks (Canterbury / Crusaders, 80) 
Joe Moody (Canterbury / Crusaders, 14) 
Ofa Tu'ungafasi (Auckland / Blues, 1)
Locks 
Brodie Retallick (Hawke's Bay / Chiefs, 50) 
Luke Romano (Canterbury / Crusaders, 24) 
Patrick Tuipulotu (Auckland / Blues, 9) 
Samuel Whitelock (Canterbury / Crusaders, 75)
Loose Forwards 
Sam Cane (Bay of Plenty / Chiefs, 34) 
Elliot Dixon (Southland / Highlanders, 1) 
Jerome Kaino (Auckland / Blues, 69) 
Kieran Read, captain (Canterbury / Crusaders, 87) 
Ardie Savea (Wellington / Hurricanes, 2) 
Liam Squire ( Ta$man / Highlanders, 1)
Backs:
Halfbacks 
Tawera Kerr-Barlow (Waikato / Chiefs, 21) 
TJ Perenara (Wellington / Hurricanes, 19) 
Aaron Smith (Manawatu / Highlanders, 50)
First five-eighths 
Beauden Barrett (Taranaki / Hurricanes, 39) 
Aaron Cruden (Manawatu / Chiefs, 39) 
Lima Sopoaga (Southland / Highlanders, 2)
Midfielders 
Ryan Crotty (Canterbury / Crusaders, 18) 
Malakai Fekitoa (Auckland / Highlanders, 15) 
George Moala (Auckland / Blues, 2) 
Sonny Bill Williams (Counties Manukau / Chiefs, 33)
Outside backs 
Israel Dagg (Hawke's Bay / Crusaders, 51) 
Waisake Naholo (Taranaki / Highlanders, 6) 
Julian Savea (Wellington/ Hurricanes, 43) 
Ben Smith (Otago / Highlanders, 51)
 
Five additional players will also attend the camp: Damian McKenzie, Seta Tamanivalu and their fellow Chiefs back Anton Lienert-Brown as well as Blues loose forward Steven Luatua, Blues outside back Melani Nanai and Crusaders loose forward Matt Todd.

Hooroo

<div> </div>
<div>Forwards: Hookers 
Dane Coles (Wellington / Hurricanes, 39) 
Codie Taylor (Canterbury / Crusaders, 5) 
Nathan Harris (Bay of Plenty / Chiefs, 4) Props 
Wyatt Crockett (Canterbury / Crusaders, 48) 
Charlie Faumuina (Auckland / Blues, 36) 
Owen Franks (Canterbury / Crusaders, 80) 
Joe Moody (Canterbury / Crusaders, 14) 
Ofa Tu'ungafasi (Auckland / Blues, 1) Locks 
Brodie Retallick (Hawke's Bay / Chiefs, 50) 
Luke Romano (Canterbury / Crusaders, 24) 
Patrick Tuipulotu (Auckland / Blues, 9) 
Samuel Whitelock (Canterbury / Crusaders, 75) Loose Forwards 
Sam Cane (Bay of Plenty / Chiefs, 34) 
Elliot Dixon (Southland / Highlanders, 1) 
Jerome Kaino (Auckland / Blues, 69) 
Kieran Read, captain (Canterbury / Crusaders, 87) 
Ardie Savea (Wellington / Hurricanes, 2) 
Liam Squire ( Ta$man / Highlanders, 1) Backs: Halfbacks 
Tawera Kerr-Barlow (Waikato / Chiefs, 21) 
TJ Perenara (Wellington / Hurricanes, 19) 
Aaron Smith (Manawatu / Highlanders, 50) First five-eighths 
Beauden Barrett (Taranaki / Hurricanes, 39) 
Aaron Cruden (Manawatu / Chiefs, 39) 
Lima Sopoaga (Southland / Highlanders, 2) Midfielders 
Ryan Crotty (Canterbury / Crusaders, 18) 
Malakai Fekitoa (Auckland / Highlanders, 15) 
George Moala (Auckland / Blues, 2) 
Sonny Bill Williams (Counties Manukau / Chiefs, 33) Outside backs 
Israel Dagg (Hawke's Bay / Crusaders, 51) 
Waisake Naholo (Taranaki / Highlanders, 6) 
Julian Savea (Wellington/ Hurricanes, 43) 
Ben Smith (Otago / Highlanders, 51)</div>

Hooroo

I don't know why but I'm a little surprised Julian Savea made it.

Duluth

<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11685001'>http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11685001</a>
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote">Five additional players will also attend the camp: Damian McKenzie, Seta Tamanivalu and their fellow Chiefs back Anton Lienert-Brown as well as Blues loose forward Steven Luatua, Blues outside back Melani Nanai and Crusaders loose forward Matt Todd.</blockquote>

Wurzel

I'd have taken Luatua for Squire, but aside from that I can't complain about those selections. Of course, it would be nice to have another option instead of having to pick Ofa T.

Nepia

So only Taminivalu has got the axe? Dom Bird must have gone close (can't believe I'm saying that as he was so overrated and shit for so long).

Frye

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="JK" data-cid="601959" data-time="1470003485">
<div>
 
 
Additional players will also attend the camp: Damian McKenzie, Seta Tamanivalu and their fellow Chiefs back Anton Lienert-Brown as well as Blues loose forward Steven Luatua, Blues outside back Melani Nanai and Crusaders loose forward Matt Todd.
</div>
</blockquote>
 
That's about the only interesting thing about the squad naming.

Stargazer

Not surprised by the squad. Good to see that Nanai and Todd have been included in the AB's camp this week. Wondering whether they shouldn't/won't also include Reg Goodes after the final.

Frye

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Nepia" data-cid="601964" data-time="1470003631">
<div>
So only Taminivalu has got the axe? Dom Bird must have gone close (can't believe I'm saying that as he was so overrated and shit for so long).
</div>
</blockquote>
 
McKenzie as well but both him and Seta will be training anyway.

Duluth

Good to see Nanai is next in line

Wurzel

Also being invited to train with the squad are schoolboys Caleb Clarke (MAGS) and Hoskins Sotutu (Sacred Heart) as a way of encouraging them not to sign with the NRL. And yes, those surnames do seem familiar.

Rembrandt

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Hooroo" data-cid="601960" data-time="1470003501">
<div>
 
<div>First five-eighths 
Beauden Barrett (Taranaki / Hurricanes, 39) 
Aaron Cruden (Manawatu / Chiefs, 39) 
</div>
 
</div>
</blockquote>
Surely not!

hydro11

I'm glad to see Nanai is in the frame.
 
I think we all would have picked Luatua but it isn't much of a surprise that Hansen didn't. Luatua has been good all year but obviously hasn't been providing what the selectors want.

Rembrandt

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Rembrandt" data-cid="601971" data-time="1470004099">
<div>
Surely not!
</div>
</blockquote>
Bloody hell they have played the same number of tests!

gt12

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="gt12" data-cid="599688" data-time="1469327828">
<div>
Looking back at my earlier picks, I don't think much has changed. A few people might get lucky due to injuries (Fekitoa) or lack of really good alternatives (J. Savea).
 
I'm not convinced that Lowe is ready yet, although as mentioned above, he could go on to good things if he gets brought in to the environment and continues to develop his decision making. His left boot is very handy. 
 
I'm now assuming that SBW will be picked, so the only real question marks are 4th lock (which I still think will be Romano), the 5th and 6th loosies (Is there room for Luatua, and if so, who gets left out?) and midfield (Fuck it that Ngatai is injured, because if so I think Fekitoa stays home).
 
Hookers: Coles, Harris, Taylor (Elliot if Coles injured would be my choice)
Props: Crockett, Moody, Franks, Faimuina, Ofa
Locks: Retallick, Whitelock, Pat T, Romano (under pressure by Franklin and Bird, but I think he'll be picked)
Loose forwards: Kaino, Cane, Read, A. Savea, Luatua, & Dixon or Squire (One of who is really unlucky, but I can't go past Luatua's form)
 
Scrumhalves: A. Smith, Perenara, TKB
Flyhalves: Cruden, Barrett, Sopoaga 
Centre: SBW, Crotty, Moala, Fekitoa (I'm picking Tamanivalu to miss out even though he's probably going better than Mala)
Outside backs: Dagg, Naholo, F. Savea, B. Smith
</div>
</blockquote>
 
Well, that was a bit boring. I'm surprised about Luatua, but I guess the other two haven't really had much of a chance yet and, as Duluth said, the selectors don't change their minds quickly. Plus, once they've changed it, it appears to take time to get back in, probably by being on stand by as one of the 'extras' on the way back - so at least Luatua remains in the picture.
 
From now on, we should pick squads plus 4-5 'extras', as they always seem to, and it's the only real surprise.
 
It's a great idea to get a look at Nanai.

pakman

Good to see Luatua's form recognised, even if not in squad. Ditto Nanai.

Wurzel

I'd feel far more comfortable with Nanai starting a Test as opposed to Dmac. There, I said it.

The Silver Fern

TRC squad