Big names miss New Zealand World Cup squad

August 23, 2011 - 12:46PM

Sitiveni Sivivatu has missed the cut. Photo: Getty Images
The All Blacks 30-man squad to contest the Rugby World Cup was unveiled today by coach Graham Henry.

Captained by Richie McCaw at his third World Cup, the squad features a 16-forward, 14-back split.

The contentious winger positions have been won by Zac Guildford, Cory Jane and Isaia Toeava, leaving no room for Hosea Gear and Sitiveni Sivivatu.

The most notable inclusion in the forwards is Wellington loose forward Victor Vito, who is selected ahead of Waikato's Liam Messam.

John Afoa is the fourth prop, selected ahead of Wyatt Crockett while Anthony Boric - who has been sidelined for two months with injury - wins the fourth locking spot ahead of Jarrad Hoeata.

McCaw, first five-eighth Dan Carter, hooker Keven Mealamu, fullback Mils Muliaina and lock Ali Williams will take part in their third consecutive tournament.

Seven players will contest their second tournament - hooker Corey Flynn, midfielder Ma'a Nonu and lock Brad Thorn played in the 2003 campaign; while prop Tony Woodcock, halfback Andy Ellis, centre Conrad Smith and outside back Isaia Toeava played in Rugby World Cup 2007.

All Blacks Coach Graham Henry said he was pleased with the strength of his squad.

"Firstly, I would like to congratulate all those players selected. It's an incredibly exciting time for the team and a unique opportunity to represent New Zealand at home. The players will be facing the ultimate rugby challenge - playing for the most coveted trophy in world rugby, the Rugby World Cup," he said.

"At the same time I want to pay tribute to those players who have missed out on selection. It was an incredibly difficult process; all the players who missed selection are not only outstanding players but special people. We are close as a group which made this selection all the more difficult."

Henry said the side had "generally" been picked on form.

"We believe there is a good balance; a blend of experienced All Blacks -with nine players who have played more than 50 Tests - while at the other end of the scale we have seven players who have played fewer than a dozen tests who bring youthful enthusiasm to the side.

"There is also a balance in the fact that we have players who are specialists in their position while others have utility value and can cover a number of positions, so we have the players to cover any possibilities which may be thrown up during the tournament."

The All Blacks squad is in Brisbane preparing for the final match of the Tri Nations against Australia on Saturday.

Squad:

Backs: Mils Muliaina, Israel Dagg, Isaia Toeava, Corey Jane, Zac Guildford, Conrad Smith, Richard Kahui, Ma'a Nonu, Sonny Bill Williams, Dan Carter, Colin Slade, Jimmy Cowan, Piri Weepu, Andy Ellis

Forwards: Kieran Read, Victor Vito, Richie McCaw (capt), Adam Thomson, Jerome Kaino, Ali Williams, Brad Thorn, Sam Whitelock, Anthony Boric, Owen Franks, John Afoa, Ben Franks, Tony Woodcock, Keven Mealamu, Andrew Hore, Corey Flynn

Another Black night across ditch for Wallabies

Greg Growden

August 7, 2011

Click for more photos

Eden Park hoodoo remains as All Blacks ruthless in 30-14 win

To the victors go the spoils ... the All Blacks celebrate with the Bledisloe Cup. Photo: Getty Images

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

SMASHED. Swamped. Made to look second rate. And there goes the Bledisloe Cup for the eighth year running.

MATCH STATS

The All Blacks' extraordinary quarter-century dominance over the Wallabies at Eden Park continued untroubled last night when they took control of this Tri Nations Test in minutes, then stubbornly refused to allow their rivals back into the game.

Advertisement: Story continues below

After all the bluff and bluster about the new-generation Wallabies suddenly worrying the All Blacks, their first meeting of the year was a demoralising affair from an Australian point of view. The raging World Cup favourites were simply too physical and too clinical for an often-frazzled opposition.

At the start of the Test, the All Blacks conducted their provocative ''slit across the throat'' haka, and this appeared to have the desired effect of unsettling their opponents.

Right from the kick-off, the All Blacks succeeded in carving up the Wallabies, who were soon floundering and forced to play frenetic, disorganised, catch-up football.

For the Wallabies to have any chance at Eden Park, they had to start well. Instead, they were abominable, and paid a dreadful price when finding themselves 17 points behind after just 26 minutes.

The Wallabies put the hobbles on their own legs by allowing the All Blacks midfield to break through and make an enormous amount of ground virtually every time they were in possession in the opening quarter.

Wallabies players fell off tackles, giving the All Blacks confidence and a surge of energy. They were everywhere in numbers, while the visitors were often restricted to scrambling, one-out play.

The Wallabies were lucky to have only two tries scored against them before the break, so dominant were the All Blacks in attack.

After just eight minutes, the All Blacks were 10-0 ahead. Wallabies flanker David Pocock was caught on the wrong side of the breakdown and the home team took advantage when winger Sitiveni Sivivatu got through a Rocky Elsom tackle. Sivivatu then cleverly popped the ball up to flanker Jerome Kaino, who warded off more Wallabies tacklers before putting centre Ma'a Nonu through. There was a brief surge of excitement for the Wallabies midway during the half when they went through 14 phases of play, often pushing it to the wings. But it was soon clear the All Blacks were more effective in defence, knowing precisely what the Wallabies playmakers, in particular Quade Cooper, were up to.

The All Blacks were decidedly more aggressive in their play, often stunning the Wallabies with their belligerent approach, which lead to scuffles aplenty - something which does not often happen in trans-Tasman matches. But the All Blacks knew they could unnerve the Wallabies youngsters by being arrogant - and it worked. They enjoyed a near-perfect first half that also involved their hooker Keven Mealamu scoring a burrowing try.

Adding to the Wallabies' woes was James O'Connor's wayward kicking - he missed his first three penalty shots.

There was some rejoicing in the 52nd minute when the Wallabies were able to make something out of virtually nothing, when fullback Kurtley Beale charged away from the tackle area and sucked in a few defenders before giving winger Digby Ioane space. Ioane picked the right moment to swerve in and out to get around Mils Muliaina to at last put the Wallabies on the scoreboard.

But as usual, their heads turned into pumpkins. The Wallabies relaxed, and wasted the moment. At a time when they had to rally, the All Blacks scored immediately from the kick-off, when their centre Conrad Smith seized the ball and then Sivivatu beat four Wallabies to score.

It was a horrid red-face moment for the Wallabies and ended what little hope they had left of winning the Test.

NEW ZEALAND 30 (Keven Mealamu, Ma’a Nonu, Sitiveni Sivivatu tries Daniel Carter 3 cons 2 pens drop goal) btAUSTRALIA 14 (Rocky Elsom, Digby Ioane tries Quade Cooper 2 cons) at Eden Park. Referee: Craig Joubert.

All Blacks retain Bledisloe Cup with Eden Park win

Highlights of the All Blacks v Wallabies Bledisloe Cup test match played at Eden Park, Auckland.

All eyes already on 2011 World Cup

Getty Images

JUST REWARDS: All Blacks Richie McCaw and Kieran Read in action against the Wallabies.

Once again New Zealand have been the all-conquering, supremely dominant force in world rugby yet even a Tri-Nations clean sweep and a European grand slam are viewed as a mere warm-up for the ultimate validation in 2011.
Such is rugby's obsession with the World Cup that virtually every All Black victory is examined minutely to see how it relates to their hopes of ending the pain, frustration and embarrassment of five successive World Cup failures.
In recent years, All Black coaches have tried every imaginable approach to try to build towards the World Cup but Graham Henry finally decided this time that he might as well pick his best team every week and try to win every match.
He very nearly achieved it in a year that produced 13 wins from 14 matches -- the only blip being the thrilling injury-time loss to Australia in Hong Kong in October.
That ensured Lithuania would retain their unlikely record as the team with the longest winning run of 18 tests, set this year, but still there is no doubt which team are number one.
As ever, New Zealand seemed to adapt quicker and more fully to the latest tweaks to the interpretations of the game's laws. This season, these have centred on the breakdown, where the advantage has swung back to the attacking team and so encouraged and rewarded ball-in-hand, quick-recycling, multi-phased attacks.
Having swept to a clean sweep of wins in a Tri-Nations competition that averaged 55 points per game, the All Blacks cruised to their third grand slam in five years while at times barely breaking sweat against the four home unions.
They were named International Rugby Board (IRB) team of the year, Henry was coach of the year for the fourth time and peerless flanker Richie McCaw was player of the year for the third time.
MIXED SEASON
Flyhalf Dan Carter overtook Jonny Wilkinson as the game's leading scorer and will now need to match the Englishman's famed stoicism to deal with the potentially crippling load of World Cup expectation weighing on his shoulders.
Australia ended their 10-match winless streak against their neighbours with that Hong Kong win but had a mixed season. Their scrum continues to look horribly underpowered but the uncanny ability of their backs to find holes always makes them a dangerous team as they proved spectacularly when they finished the year by thrashing France by a record 59-16 in Paris.

All Blacks hammer Scotland

 

RICHARD KNOWLER IN EDINBURGH - Stuff

Last updated 07:04 14/11/2010

Highlights of the All Blacks' win over Scotland at Murrayfield.

All Blacks v Scotland

1 of 13

PETER MEECHAM/Fairfax Media Zoom

All Blacks perform the haka before the match against Scotland.

  More than a century of misery against the All Blacks continued for Scotland this morning after they were pounded 49-3 at Murrayfield.

Never did the New Zealanders' 105-year unbeaten streak look in doubt, with the tourists racing in seven tries against a Scottish side that was unable to match their precision, pace and, at times, sheer audacity on attack.
For skipper Richie McCaw and Mils Muliaina it was a fine way to mark their 92^nd test appearances, which saw them match Sean Fitzpatrick's milestone, and will certainly be broken within the next two weeks as the All Blacks prepare to complete another grand slam with matches against Ireland and Wales.
The best indicator as to just how much of an easy night this was for the All Blacks coaches' hearts was when they tugged openside flanker McCaw off the field with more than 20 minutes remaining, replacing him with Daniel Braid, to place him on ice as they looked ahead to Dublin and Cardiff.
For the Scots, who looked to still be searching for their combinations and rhythm after not playing together since June, this was just too big of an ask to expect them to create history.
Rarely did they look like scoring as the All Blacks defence proved impregnable and to darken their mood there was the worrying sight of Max Evans being wheeled off the field on a buggy after injuring his neck in a tackle on No 8 Kieran Read.
A pair of tries in the opening 12 minutes immediately had Scotland backpedalling, with Hosea Gear and Dan Carter racing over and seven minutes later Mils Muliaina added to their misery when he collected the third five-pointer.
Of the three, it was difficult not to be most impressed by Gear's effort; a pearler from a scrum inside the Scottish quarter, he hared off his left wing to pluck a juicy Sonny Bill Williams delivery out of mid-air and left the mesmerised defenders staring at each other with confused looks on their faces.
Gear had to work harder for the All Blacks' fourth try, although even he would have been surprised at the way the passive Scottish tacklers happily waved him through after he changed his angle and chopped infield unchallenged.
Four converted tries inside the first half hour and the match was over.
It was little wonder Scotland coach Andy Robinson was spotted out of his seat and leaning against a wall, looking as if he had just learned his superannuation fund had been plundered.
Granted, the All Blacks' dedication to eradicating the errors that had blotted their second half performance against England the previous weekend had paid dividends, but the Scotland defence was sadly lacking in desire.
From the opening whistle the New Zealanders signalled their attacking intent as they several times unleashed the ball towards Isaia Toeava's right wing in a bid to perforate the stretched Scotland defensive line.
One decent break by Toeava preceded a sweeping attack and it was Williams who gave him the vital space down a narrow channel near the touchline as he somehow flipped out a pass to the wing.
Prior to this match Williams expressed an eagerness to get more involved; having worn the No 13 jersey against England last weekend at Twickenham, the former rugby league star looked more comfortable at the familiar second five-eighth operating inside centre Conrad Smith.
The 25-year-old wowed the 56,807-strong crowd with his sheer audacity as he repeatedly untangled his long arms, and with hands the size of buckets, squeezed the ball out to his support runners.
Muliaina was another benefactor of the Williams magic as he crossed over for the penultimate try and Smith could also give the big nod of approval after he was involved in the movement that led to his five-pointer too.
All Blacks 49 (Hosea Gear 2, Mils Muliaina 2, Dan Carter, Conrad Smith, Andy Ellis tries; Carter 5 conv, Stephen Donald 2 conv)
Scotland 3 (Dan Parks pen).
Halftime: 28-3.

Carter pretty on surface, All Black inside

By RICHARD HINDS - The Age
Last updated 07:52 30/07/2010


All Blacks and glamour boys are not terms that sit comfortably. Not like, say, All Blacks and ruthless demolition or All Blacks and World Cup heartbreak. But as Dan Carter chats amiably with reporters in the manner of the well-trained modern athlete - talk a great deal without giving away a whole lot - you quickly appreciate how he has mastered this stereotype-defying role.
There are, most significantly, the raw ingredients.
The dark, handsome features that have had Carter regularly included on lists of ''world's sexiest athletes''. And the 28-year-old is a genuine pretty boy, even if his appearance is enhanced somewhat in comparison with a recent visitor to the inquistors table, battered veteran Brad Thorn.
Then there is the stellar career. Carter needs just 16 points tomorrow night to move into second place on the list of all-time test points scorers (he has 1075 at 15.3 per-game in 71 tests) - something good judges say is testament to a reliable boot that gets plenty of opportunities in an often rampant team; but which is almost incidental compared with the precision and creativity of his play from five-eighth.
So total babe magnet and points-scoring machine in a team worshiped by a nation. Little wonder Carter is regularly marketed - most notably during an underwear campaign two years ago - as ''New Zealand's David Beckham''. However, Carter says he has not modelled his career on any other successful international athlete.
''I like to pride myself on having good balance,'' he says. ''Obviously, when I'm involved in other things -media sessions or commercial work - I make sure as soon as I'm on the training paddock it's out of my mind and I'm concentrating on the job at hand. But, yeah, it can make for a busy lifestyle.''
Anything the All Blacks achieve should be weighed against the huge expectation the team shoulders. So you ask Carter if he felt a tinge of jealousy watching the All Whites win public acclaim with their giant-wounding performances in South Africa, while nothing less than constant, convincing victory is good enough from the All Blacks.
''I was just, like most other Kiwis, very proud of our country,'' he says. ''Ranked 78th, or something like that, and to do well against the world champions [Italy], it's probably similar to one of the weaker rugby teams getting within 10 points of the All Blacks. They would get a lot of adulation for that.''
Carter's comparison is revealing. Getting to within 10 points of the All Blacks. Not beating them. In 71 Tests since his debut in June 2003, Carter has been in the losing team just eight times. The thought of defeat clearly does not enter his head - even in a hypothetical sense.
Carter acknowledges those crushing expectations are always there. Slowly growing as a team that plunged New Zealand into mourning after losing in the quarter-finals to France in 2007 works towards a home World Cup next year, when nothing but victory will be acceptable.
Such pressure, Carter says, is like the team socks. It comes with being an All Black. Yet if the All Blacks are most renowned for inflicting mental injury than suffering it, Carter does acknowledge the team's ''head coach'' - mental skills coach Gilbert Enoka - is a crucial part of the support staff.
''Especially with the new guys coming into the environment, it can be a huge step up from anything they've done before, in terms of the pressure.''
For Carter's mental health, a stint with Perpignan in France at the end of 2008 was important - even if the trip was ended prematurely after two months by a serious Achilles tendon injury. Important not just for his bank balance (his initial contract was reportedly €700,000 [$1.3m at the time]), but also because he was able to stroll unnoticed through the streets of European cities where rugby was ''no big deal'' and, less happily, take an enforced break from the game.
''It definitely freshened me up,'' he says. ''It [being an All-Black in New Zealand] can be pretty challenging at times, I'd had seven years of that … hopefully it will help this year and next year as well.''
Talking about Saturday night's opposition, Carter is non-controversial to the point of bald-faced flattery. The Wallabies will miss Quade Cooper but have ''fantastic'' coverage; Will Genia is ''extremely dangerous'', the Australians will be as eager to atone for past failures against the All Blacks as the Kiwis were this year against South Africa. And so on.
But there is a genuine enthusiasm in the way Carter talks about the more expansive game both teams are playing, and an obviously agile mind at play when he discusses tactical nuances of his role - particularly the split-second decision of whether to seek the safety of the touch line or to roll the dice on kick and chase.
''It's something you get a feel for in the game,'' he says. ''I work pretty closely with our forwards in terms of how they are feeling about after they've had a few [line-outs] just to see if they want to push it closer to the touch line or back our kick-chase.
''Kicking it long can be dangerous because the Wallabies are similar to us, they love to counter-attack and they are very dangerous.
''A lot of things rule each other out in this game, that's why it is going to make for a fantastic match, they like to use the ball similar to us.''
Similar, perhaps. But at the exalted level of the All-Blacks' glamour boy?

Confident . . . The All Blacks' Daniel Carter says he's ready to take the field as he signs autographs in Sydney yesterday.
Photo: Getty Images

Carter set to slot straight in

Rupert Guinness | August 19, 2009

If Dan Carter has any hidden fear about his Test comeback for the All Blacks on Saturday, he wasn't showing any when it was confirmed yesterday.

After being preferred to Stephen Donald as the All Blacks' starting five-eighth for the Test against the Wallabies in Sydney, Carter spoke as if time had stood still since he was sidelined six months ago with a ruptured Achilles tendon.

Asked if he had any apprehension about returning after only three NPC clashes for Canterbury and one for his Southbridge club, Carter said: ''I'm just wanting to enjoy the week. Obviously, [after] not playing for so long, anxiety can tend to kick in, but we have a great bunch of guys working around me. I have a bit of experience so I know what works for me. So long as I concentrate on things I need to do everything will tend to take care of itself.''

Carter, for whom Saturday's Test will be his 59th, even dismissed any concern about having to fast-track his knowledge of the All Blacks' game plans.

''A lot of them are the same base moves we have had the last few years,'' Carter said. ''There are just a subtle few changes to a few things that I have picked up on the last few days. It is a matter of really nailing those early in the week so I have clarity in the mind for the second half of the week.''

Forget any butterflies about his head-to-head against Wallabies playmaker Matt Giteau either. He is relishing the challenge of facing one of the best.

''He is extremely settled in that No.10 jersey now after being shifted around 12 and 9,'' Carter said. ''I think he is the best man for that position, and the way he has been playing the last 12 months has been awesome. He is definitely developing and getting better every time he gets out there.''

Carter's one worry though is for the wellbeing of Luke McAlister, who was named at No.12 and could not train yesterday due to a back spasm. However, the uncertainty of who will play outside him - McAlister or Ma'a Nonu - was not troubling Carter.

''I have played a lot with Ma'a also,'' he said. ''There are slight differences to how they play, but I am lucky enough to have played alongside both of them.''

Carter and McAlister might not have fond memories of the last time they played together. It was when France beat them in the 2007 World Cup quarter-final at Cardiff. But their selection also reflects the belief that the benched Nonu's game has slipped.

''Luke gives us an extra kicking game. So there is a right and left footer there,'' coach Graham Henry said.

ALL BLACKS: 15 Mils Muliaina, 14 Joe Rokocoko, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Luke McAlister, 11 Sitiveni Sivivatu, 10 Dan Carter, 9 Jimmy Cowan, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Richie McCaw, 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Isaac Ross, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Andrew Hore, 1 Tony Woodcock. Reserves: 16 Aled de Malmanche, 17 John Afoa, 18 Jason Eaton, 19 Rodney So'oialo, 20 Brendon Leonard, 21 Stephen Donald, 22 Ma'a Nonu.