All Blacks Team Anounced Today

The number of surprises in the All Blacks team anounced today has been kept to a minimum wth six changes made to the team. Perhaps most surprisingly the selectors have kept the loose forward trio intact, started Daniel Carter again, restored the midfield pairing of McAlister and Smith, and inserted Rico Gear back into the mix on the wing. Hayman returns again in the front row, joined by Oliver and Tialata. Williams returns as the starting lock, this time partnered by Keith Robinson. Mils makes a positional change to start at fullback. Sivivatu also starts again, and this is a good break for him.

Most commentators are treating the changes as showing respect for the Welsh team, and indeed they are a sign of respect. Perish the thought, especially after the roation policy, but does this also show some limitations on the present depth of the All Black side? Certainly in one position this is the case, tighthead prop. Hayman really has no understudy at this level, Afoa is untried and Yoda (Sommerville) is injured. Tialata is getting a crack at loosehead, and as I understand it is not ready or keen to try to swap to tighthead. This is a key position as so much of the All Blacks game is based on a solid platform at scrum time. It is no coincidence that the All Blacks suffered during the Tri-Nations after the mountain man from the mainland was felled by a tackle made by Wyclef Palu in Auckland.

However, aside from this concern, and it is minor, the team is looking in good shape. There is plenty of cover in all positions, although of course there are players that command their position, and are the best in the world playing there. Carter, McCaw, and of course many of the back line. All things being equal, New Zealand supporters should be fairly confident with their team. This test match this weekend may push the All Blacks.

Welsh confidence is riding high. Also, both Henry and Hansen have been involved with the Welsh side in the past, and the tactics will be known to each side. This will have an effect, much as it has in the past, particualrly in the one point victory the All Blacks had against the Welsh in 2004. It should be a cracking game, and I am really looking forward to the confrontation up front, the Welsh rate themselves there.

The Wallabies on the other hand are at an all time low. There is much comment in the media about how this has happened to the team before, and that the last time it did they made it to the RWC final, just losing by a dropped goal to Johnny Wilkinson. What to say about the match against Ireland? Yes Knuckles, the weather was shocking, but it hardly rates as an excuse for the loss - 2 tries to none. Some serious soul searching must be done - and it seems management may have to take a harder line with some of the inflated self assessments the players have of themselves. Rogers is no first five. Give up on it. If Tuqiri wants the ball more, he should go looking for it more often (like O'Driscoll does) instead of playing out of position. The Wallabies cannot play well in the Northern Hemisphere at the moment, and just out from the World Cup in France, that is a problem. Back to the drawing board, and maybe, just maybe, it was a little too late to fire the coach who had some sort of plan to build toward the World Cup.

No mention of the Welsh side that will take the field yet - check back later to see the team that is named and comment on that.