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'Some will be left out': Former All Black predicts major omissions from RWC squad
Former Test flyhalf Stephen Donald has revealed who he believes will make the All Blacks’ World Cup squad, with some world class talent predicted to miss out.
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In about 10 months the All Black will embark on their World Cup journey in France, as they embody the hopes and dreams of a rugby mad nation.
The All Blacks are chasing history – the chance to become the first nation to win a fourth Rugby World Cup crown – but international rugby has never been this competitive.
Next year’s World Cup might be the first time ever that the men in black aren’t the favourites, some supporters might not even have them in their top three.
While the All Blacks managed to finish their year on a seven Test unbeaten run, the disastrous results from earlier this year against the likes of Ireland and Argentina can’t be forgotten.
New Zealand certainly improved as the year went on, but they’ll need to get even better if they want to hoist the Webb Ellis Cup in France.
To do that, All Blacks selectors will have to make some tough calls as they look to select the best squad that they can.
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Former All Black Stephen Donald, who famously kicked the winning penalty in the 2011 final against France, has attempted to pick his way-too-early World Cup squad – which just goes to show how tough these decisions will be.
Speaking on SENZ, Donald selected 33 players across all the positions on the field, but the glaring omission of three world class backrowers is sure to be a talking point before the World Cup.
The 38-year-old believes Akira Ioane, Hoskins Sotutu and Cullen Grace will all miss out on selection.
“Your two Sevens are going, (Sam) Cane and (Dalton) Papali’i. You lock in (Ardie) Savea. There’s three,” Donald said on The Run Home.
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“Well, I’m locking in (Ethan) Blackadder. That’s four.
“I’m taking Luke (Jacobson). If Luke wants to come to France, he can come with me.
“It’s (Shannon) Frizell I’d say.”
Another option for the All Blacks, which could see another backrower stay at home, is to select Scott Barrett as one of the team’s loose forwards.
Crusaders captain Barrett has showcased his versatility between lock and blindside flanker on multiple occasion in the black jersey, dating back to the semi-final loss against England three years ago.
“To get the balance of your squad he (Barrett) may be classified as a lock,” he said.
“A lot of that will depend on who is playing well in the loose forward department.
“The interesting thing for me is (Josh) Lord is this young gun that they sort of had a look at a couple of years ago. The interesting thing for me at the Chiefs, even before he got injured, didn’t seem to be a favourite there as far as how much time he was actually getting.
“This far out I’m going to say Lord’s going to miss but with the provision that if the number sixes don’t actually play the house down in Super Rugby, then they will pick Lord and they will let Barrett have one of the loose forward spots.
“Unfortunately at this point in time, big Patty will be a casualty.
“The bubble wrap will be very extensively wrapped around Whitelock and Retallick, that is for sure.”
As reported earlier today, Donald has also tipped two bolters to make the World Cup squad – including an uncapped international halfback.
“I’m noting but consistently inconsistent so that’ll change no doubt on a weekly basis that team.
“My Lord you think about the quality of players that could be left behind, but they will be left out, some will be left out, some of those names won’t make it.”
Stephen Donald’s All Blacks squad
Prop: George Bower, Ethan DeGroot, Nepo Laulala, Tyrel Lomax, Fletcher Newell
Lock: Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Tupou Va’ai, Scott Barrett
Loose forwards: Shannon Frizell, Ethan Blackadder, Luke Jacobson, Ardie Savea, Sam Cane, Dalton Papli’i
Halfback: Aaron Smith, Brad Weber, Cam Roigard
Flyhalf: Richie Mo’unga, Beauden Barrett
Midfield: David Havili, Jordie Barrett, Rieko Ioane, Anton Lienert-Brown
Outside backs: Leicester Fainga’anuku, Will Jordan, Damian McKenzie, Shaun Stevenson, Sevu Reece
Comments on RugbyPass
I bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
19 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
7 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
19 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
9 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
9 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
28 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
19 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
28 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
19 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
90 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
4 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
9 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
19 Go to comments