Live: All Blacks World Cup squad announcement
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All Blacks Rugby World Cup Squad:
Props: Tony Woodcock, Wyatt Crockett, Owen Franks, Charlie Faumuina, Ben Franks
Hookers: Dane Coles, Keven Mealamu, Codie Taylor
Locks: Brodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Luke Romano
Loose Forwards: Jerome Kaino, Liam Messam, Richie McCaw (c), Sam Cane, Kieran Read, Victor Vito
Halfbacks: Aaron Smith, TJ Perenara, Tawera Kerr-Barlow
First-Fives: Dan Carter, Beauden Barrett, Colin Slade
Midfield Backs: Ma'a Nonu, Sonny Bill Williams, Conrad Smith, Malakai Fekitoa
Outside Backs: Waisake Naholo, Nehe Milner-Skudder, Julian Savea, Ben Smith
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All Blacks: Potential team in transit? - Sport - NZ Herald News
The New Zealand HeraldNew Zealand's airports might be the best vantage point from which to speculate on who is in and who is out of the All Blacks Rugby World Cup squad. - New Zealand Herald -
Waisake Naholo arrives at Wellington Airport #AllBlacks http://pbs.twimg.com/media/CNnxzCuU8AAGlJJ.jpg
by Jason Pine via twitter 8/30/2015 5:37:50 AM -
All you need to know about the All Blacks' World Cup announcement:
When/where: The squad is announced on Sunday 6.30pm, at the Grand Hall, Parliament Buildings, Wellington
How to follow: Live right here, also on Radio Sport, Sky Sport and allblacks.com
The selectors: Coach Steve Hansen, assistant coach Ian Foster, dedicated selector Grant Fox.
The deadline: All squads must be finalised by Monday and many have already been named.
The size: The limit is 31 players. The All Blacks are set to name 17 forwards and 14 backs. -
What the others nations are doing: Most countries will use the 17/14 split but Samoa has named 18 forwards and Welsh coach Warren Gatland is among those considering this. Compromises are needed, whatever the decision. Australia dropped a bombshell by naming only two specialist hookers, the sort of decision coaches must hate to make. They are training up prop Scott Sio as a back up hooker.
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Some All Black debates: Whether to take three or four locks (and thus five or six loose forwards), two or three halfbacks, three or four first five-eighths (includes utilities Beauden Barrett and Colin Slade). In the case of the locks, the lack of an outstanding number four option means a loosie like veteran Jerome Kaino might be used to back up the top three. The All Blacks had a squad of 25 for the first World Cup in 1987, and Bruce Deans and Frano Botica didn't play a game. The limit was 30 at the last tournament.
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What to watch out for: There is unlikely to be a really controversial omissions. If Waisake Naholo makes it after fracturing a leg in June, universal attention will focus on the traditional Fijian healing methods which he claims have enabled the speedy recovery.
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Injuries: Any players replaced during the tournament cannot return to the squad, and the replacements have a stand down period of 48 hours before they can take the field. The most famous mid-tournament replacement in the history of the world (yes, this is a very New Zealand point of view) is Stephen Donald, who kicked the vital World Cup final goal in 2011 after all the initial No. 10s were injured.
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With the likes of Naholo, Milner-Skudder, Faumuina and Slade spotted in Wellington, the bad news could have already been given to players such as Charles Piutau, Nepo Laulala, Cory Jane and Lima Sopoaga, while there is also doubt about Israel Dagg's spot in the squad.
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All Blacks' 'phoney war' ends tonight - Rugby - NZ Herald News
The New Zealand HeraldThe phoney war can end tonight. The anxiety that has been clinging to the All Blacks since the extended squad was first announced in June, will finally be gone. They will have their - New Zealand Herald -
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All Blacks: Hansen '41 doesn't fit into 31' - Sport videos - NZ Herald Videos
The New Zealand HeraldAll Blacks coach Steve Hansen names his squad for the Rugby World Cup at 6.30pm on Sunday, after having made some big calls to reduce his initial squad of 41 to 31. At the beginning of the season Hansen made the comment that '41 doesn't fit into 31' and he and selectors and to ensure they have the right people on the plane to England. The Herald's Steve Orsbourn has produced an insight into the players and coaches minds and the thinking behind selecting the nation's finest 31. -
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I can understand what Naholo's treatment and recovery looks like from NZ public's point of view but here in Fiji this treatment is well known to the native population. I don't know any of the science of it as i have heard of no scientific investigation of it. But people obviously are only interested in being healed so they go get the treatment get back on their feet quick time and move on. Taboo of it though is commercialization as it seen and handled as a God given gift to benefit the people. -
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The problem with taking 4 kids to get some takeaways is they all want something different...
Ok then dad will choose 2night ????????by Cory Jane via twitter 8/30/2015 6:19:46 AM -
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