2015 World Cup : All Blacks squad prediction

A fact :
A World Cup is no place to experiment or blood new caps.
Experience cannot be underestimated in a World Cup environment : often winners have been among the most capped sides in their nation’s respective histories.

The selection will depend on the breakdown of positions that the selectors want to go for.

But a few questions left:
With 32 players :

• Would the team be 16-16 or 17-15 ?
• Do they go for a 6th prop ?
• Do they go for an extra lock ?
• Do they go for an « utility » (like Steven Luatua who can play lock in some of the pool games as well as cover the loose forwards. Or Colin Slade who can different position at backs) ?

let’s guess….

17 Forwards

5 Props:

• Wyatt Crockett
• Owen Franks
• Charlie Faumuina
• Ben Franks
• Tony Woodcock

3 Hookers:

• Kevin Mealamu
• Dane Coles
• Nathan Harris

4 Locks:

• Brodie Retallick
• Luke Romano
• Sam Whitelock
•  Patrick Tuipulotu

Jeremy Thrush

5 Backrow (loose forwards):

• Liam Messam
• Sam Cane
• Richie McCaw
• Kieran Read
• Jerome Kaino

Steven Luatua
Victor Vito

15 Backs

3 Halfbacks:

• Aaron Smith
• TJ Perenara
• Tawera Kerr- Barlow

Andy Ellis
Augustine Pulu

3 First five–eighths:

• Aaron Cruden
• Dan Carter
• Beauden Barrett

Colin Slade
Tom Taylor

4 Midfielders (Centers) :

• Sonny Bill Williams
• Conrad Smith
• Ma’a Nonu
• Malakai Fekitoa

Ryan Crotty

5 Outside backs (Wings and Fullback)

• Cory Jane
• Julian Savea
• Ben Smith
• Israel Dagg
• Charles Piutau

There are some great players who will miss out.

But these players would get the call up depending on injuries…

Remember for half of the All Blacks matches, it won’t matter who plays in the black jersey, they will win anyway, but in a World Cup crunch match, at « money time » of the competition, the All Blacks will need their best combinations. (France in quarters ?).

Who would you choose as your 23 players and then 15 starters….

As the head coach Steve Hansen reminded us, to be ready to perform for 2015

« Staying on task
and
trusting yourselves and your teammates
to do the job
is
important. »