The Wider Training Groups for the Blues, Chiefs, Hurricanes, Crusaders and Highlanders Super Rugby squads have been confirmed for the 2012 season.
The New Zealand Rugby Union’s confirmation of the Wider Training Groups follows the naming of the main Super Rugby squads earlier this month. The 40 players selected for the Wider Training Groups will provide injury cover for the full squads during the season.
The groups reflect the strong development in New Zealand rugby with the selection of five players from the Junior World Champion Under 20 team – Steven Luatua and Francis Saili from Auckland, Codie Taylor and Dominic Bird both of Canterbury and Mitchell Scott of Tasman.
The group also includes three players from last season’s NZ Sevens team – Rory Grice (Waikato), Jackson Ormond (Taranaki) and Buxton Popoali’i (Otago).
The 2012 Super Rugby Wider Training Groups are:
Blues: James Parsons (North Harbour), Steven Luatua (Auckland), Sean Polwart (Auckland), Daniel Pryor (Northland), Wayne Ngaluafe (Northland), Francis Saili (Auckland), Hadleigh Parkes (Auckland). Eighth player to be advised.
Chiefs: Rory Grice (Waikato), Josh Hohneck (Bay of Plenty), Marcel Cummings – Toone (Waikato), Ronald Raaymakers (Counties), Phil Burleigh (Bay of Plenty), Augustine Pulu (Counties), Piers Francis (Waikato). Eighth player to be advised.
Hurricanes: Whetu Henry (Wellington), Blade Thomson (Taranaki), Scott Fuglistaller (Wellington), Michael Coman (Hawkes Bay), Serge Lilo (Wellington), Frae Wilson (Wellington), Jackson Ormond (Taranaki). Eighth player to be advised.
Crusaders: Codie Taylor (Canterbury), Sam Prattley (Tasman), Dominic Bird (Canterbury), Brendon O’Connor (Canterbury), Joe Moody (Canterbury), Mark Swanepoel (Canterbury), Johnny McNicholl (Canterbury), Mitchell Scott (Tasman).
Highlanders: Jacob Ellison (Otago), Brayden Mitchell (Southland), Liam Coltman (Otago), Daniel Ramsay (Otago), Glenn Dickson (Otago), Buxton Popoali’i (Otago). Two players to be advised.
The 2012 Super Rugby squads are:
Blues: Gareth Anscombe, Anthony Boric, Daniel Braid, Luke Braid, Charlie Faumuina, Michael Hobbs, Jerome Kaino, Chris Lowrey, Tevita Mailau, Pauliasi Manu, Alby Mathewson, Tom McCartney, Keven Mealamu, Brad Mika, George Moala, Liaki Moli, Lachie Munro, Ma’a Nonu, Filo Paulo, David Raikuna, Rene Ranger, Peter Saili, Benson Stanley, Sherwin Stowers, Angus Ta’avao, Isaia Toeava, Piri Weepu, Ali Williams, Tony Woodcock, Rudi Wulf.
Chiefs: Ben Afeaki, Alex Bradley, Sam Cane, Craig Clarke, Shane Cleaver, Aaron Cruden, Hika Elliot, Mike Fitzgerald, Romana Graham, Andrew Horrell, Richard Kahui, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Tanerau Latimer, Fritz Lee, Brendon Leonard, Lelia Masaga, Liam Messam, Tim Nanai-Williams, Maritino Nemani, Declan O’Donnell, Brodie Retallick, Robbie Robinson, Mahonri Schwalger, Toby Smith, Ben Tameifuna, Sona Taumalolo, Kane Thompson, Asaeli Tikoiratuma, Scott Waldrom, Sonny Bill Williams, Jackson Willison.
Hurricanes: Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Beauden Barrett, Tim Bateman, Michael Bent, James Broadhurst, Richard Buckman, Dane Coles, Jason Eaton, Chris Eaton, Reggie Goodes, David Hall, Jayden Hayward, Cory Jane, Daniel Kirkpatrick, Jack Lam, Alapati Leiua, Faifili Levave, Karl Lowe, Motu Matu’u, Ben May, Tristan Moran, Charlie Ngatai, TJ Perenara, Tusi Pisi, Mark Reddish, Julian Savea, Brad Shields, Conrad Smith, Chris Smylie, Andre Taylor, Jeremy Thrush, Victor Vito.
Crusaders: Nicholas Barrett, Tyler Bleyendaal, Daniel Carter, Wyatt Crockett, Ryan Crotty, Israel Dagg, Tom Donnelly, Andy Ellis, Corey Flynn, Ben Franks, Owen Franks, Robbie Fruean, Ben Funnell, Zac Guildford, Willi Heinz, Ross Kennedy, Quentin MacDonald, Sean Maitland, Tom Marshall, Richie McCaw, Patrick Osborne, Kieran Read, Luke Romano, Tom Taylor, Matt Todd, Joe Wheeler, Sam Whitelock, George Whitelock, Adam Whitelock, Luke Whitelock.
Highlanders: Kurt Baker, Josh Bekhuis, Jimmy Cowan, Nick Crosswell, Elliot Dixon, Tamati Ellison, Ma’afu Fia, Hosea Gear, John Hardie, James Haskell, Jarred Hoeata, Andrew Hore, Chris King, Kendrick Lynn, Jamie Mackintosh, Nasi Manu, Bronson Murray, Chris Noakes, Siale Piutau, Kade Poki, Culum Retallick, Jason Rutledge, Colin Slade, Aaron Smith, Ben Smith, Lima Sopoaga, Adam Thomson, Doug Tietjens, Shaun Treeby, Telusa Veainu.
Blues: Not a bad squad, strong backline, maybe a quetion mark over an International quality flyhalf, strong loosies, good locks and strong front row.
Chiefs: Maybe a bit thinner than the Blues squad, but very capable backline and maybe very thin at hooker.
Hurricanes: Maybe even thinner than the Chiefs, who in turn are thinner than the Blues. Some stars and a bit of potential…. but I just do not know, they don’t impress me.
Crusaders: Very solid backline, great game breakers there. Very strong at props but no hooker which has set the International stage alight.. yet. 4 freegin Whitelock brothers…. damn!
Higlanders: Very hardy forwards (not the biggest star names amongst them), good scrummie, very average flyhalf and not the most well known backs…. much like the Lions here in SA (some no-namers who could surprise). Don’t think they’ll have what it takes to go ALL the way.
Looking at the overall New Zealand squad situations, compared to the SA squads… looks like they lost as many experienced players and each side has some definate weaknesses.