Rugby: Getting it right. Who the All Blacks need

Opinion

The All Blacks’ 31-man squad will be named at the end of the month, and there are bound to be some lengthy discussions about who should go. The Herald’s rugby writers discuss the major talking points and pick the squads they would take to the UK.

1. Who would be your bolter if you were picking the World Cup squad?

Gregor Paul

Lima Sopoaga. Second-best first-five in the country and the man to pick if Dan Carter is injured. Didn't see that coming in February.

Chris Rattue

Elliot Dixon. The All Blacks need fresh aggression in the pack. Superstar-in-waiting Ardie Savea would probably be my first choice and he looks capable of playing all three loose forward positions. But I'm not sure of his recovery from a knee injury and Dixon is a tight-loosie, which is needed. Dixon looks like a man who wants to take on the world, so give him the chance.

Nigel Yalden

Ardie Savea. This World Cup is going to be won by loose forwards who are quick to, and strong and skilled at the breakdown, so you need three specialist openside flankers. Savea has all of those attributes as well as the attacking exuberance of youth.

Wynne Gray

Brad Weber. The All Blacks are intent on using a high-paced attacking style which demands rapid delivery and high fitness from the halfback, and Weber best fits that mould behind Aaron Smith.

Patrick McKendry

Nehe Milner-Skudder

The All Blacks need to include him because he's a point of difference on the wing - a little-(ish) guy with incredibly fast feet and a nose for the tryline. Are the All Blacks too predictable now? Possibly. Milner-Skudder is the antidote to that.

2. Who would be your biggest casualty?

Gregor Paul

Cory Jane. He's a gifted all-round footballer, strong character, good man and world-class player. But injury has taken away his chance.

Chris Rattue

There are a few but Sonny Bill Williams is probably the biggest. He has bombed in tests against Samoa and Australia - his come-and-go-as-I-please attitude is not only annoying, but has also curtailed his rugby development. In other words, it is his own fault and the special SBW dispensation attitude has to stop. The pressure to pick him and extract his best form will end up being a problem at the World Cup. It's time to reinstate the real All Blacks team ethos. Forget the weird Sydney injury excuse - SBW is way off the pace and doesn't deserve to go.

Nigel Yalden

Colin Slade. He's done nothing wrong in the limited time he got in Apia and Christchurch, but misses out because of Lima Sopoaga's impressive Super Rugby form and debut in Johannesburg, and the fact there's room for only one utility - Beauden Barrett - in a 31-man squad.

Wynne Gray

Israel Dagg. He hasn't shown enough at fullback, while Ben Smith and Charles Piutau have produced. There is also plenty of backup through Beauden Barrett or Colin Slade.

Patrick McKendry

Israel Dagg. If we include Milner-Skudder then Dagg misses out. Ben Smith needs to play every important game (and probably at fullback), which leaves little room for Dagg, a fullback specialist. It's tough on him - he has had some great moments in the black jersey, played well against Argentina recently, and didn't get a go against the Boks or Australia.

3. What position will cause the most debate among the selectors?

Gregor Paul

Two positions - second-five and centre. Ma'a Nonu has to play and his natural partner is Conrad Smith. But for all his composure and leadership, is he high enough impact? Malakai Fekitoa is high impact, but does he read the game well enough?

Chris Rattue

Don't know. Let's face it, we sideline pundits know only so much. The selectors have so much more insight and information. They may be having enormous debates over stuff we've never heard of.

Nigel Yalden

Despite injuries to a couple of contenders, getting the balance right in the back three unit which includes a utility back will be most challenging for Messrs Hansen, Foster and Fox given the varying range of form and experience of those still in the mix.

Wynne Gray

I think it will be the loose-forward mix where the choice, as it did in 2011, will come down to Victor Vito or Liam Messam. With some concern about Read, they need another strong No 8 and Vito answers that claim.

Patrick McKendry

Right wing. Milner-Skudder, Ben Smith, or the possibly returning (from injury) Cory Jane? (Jane wouldn't make my squad because of his ankle problem). Charles Piutau is another option and he showed in filling in for Julian Savea that he can also play on the left wing.

4. Is this a better squad than the 2011 squad and can they defend the World Cup?

Gregor Paul

Probably. It has more depth in key positions and they are arguably truly vulnerable only if anything happens to halfback Aaron Smith. Can they win? Yes. But will they win?

Chris Rattue

They will need to be better because the 2011 squad didn't perform that well on home soil and were fading by the final. The All Blacks can defend the World Cup but will need bold selections if the likes of Jerome Kaino, Dan Carter and Conrad Smith are running on empty.

Nigel Yalden

While the collective skills of this group and the 2011 squad are comparable for their respective time (given the game has advanced in the subsequent four years) this year's All Blacks have proven themselves to be mentally more resilient and, therefore, well equipped to win the World Cup again.

Wynne Gray

The pack was in its pomp in 2011. They're getting on a bit now, but have Dane Coles and Brodie Retallick as new starters. The backs are gold-class but, again, there are questions about the starting five-eighths and centre.

Patrick McKendry

Yes, they have better players in key positions - Aaron Smith at halfback, Julian Savea on the left wing, Brodie Retallick and Sam Whitelock in the second row, Dane Coles at hooker. And, yes, they can defend the World Cup, but a lot of things have to go right - some of which the players and coaches will have no control over. There will be mistakes made by match officials - hopefully they won't dictate results.

5. What is the biggest strength and weakness of the All Blacks squad?

Gregor Paul

Experience, leadership, ability to win ugly and make good decisions under pressure are key strengths. Do they have enough surprise factor?

Chris Rattue

The strength is Richie McCaw. I've doubted his ability to carry on over the past few years and his history of head knocks is a concern but, despite a few flaws in McCaw's game, his presence, will to win, warrior spirit and sheer gusto is staggering and the troops will follow him into battle. The weakness: there are too many miles on the clock in this squad, an over-reliance on great players whose best days are in the past. Major opponents will ignore the results of recent seasons, look at the detail, and smell blood.

Nigel Yalden

The All Blacks' biggest strength is, when they get it right, no team can hang with them. The biggest weakness is the margin for error in how they play, given the speed, timing and accuracy required to achieve the level they demand of themselves, is incredibly small.

Wynne Gray

The All Blacks were a class ahead of others across the park and have that belief to fall back on, but the margins have shrunk and others have worked out how to sort them at set-piece and match them elsewhere.

Patrick McKendry

The biggest strength will be their depth, quality and experience. The biggest weakness ... their advancing years and predictability. However, they remain the team that no one (with the possible exception of France) will want to play.

6. If you were picking the 31-man squad, who would you take?

Gregor Paul

Forwards: Owen Franks, Charlie Faumuina, Tony Woodcock, Wyatt Crockett, Ben Franks, Dane Coles, Keven Mealamu, Codie Taylor, Brodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Luke Romano, Victor Vito, Liam Messam, Jerome Kaino, Sam Cane, Richie McCaw, Kieran Read.

Backs: Aaron Smith, TJ Perenara, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Daniel Carter, Lima Sopoaga, Beauden Barrett, Ma'a Nonu, Sonny Bill Williams, Malakai Fekitoa, Conrad Smith, Julian Savea, Charles Piutau, Nehe Milner-Skudder, Ben Smith.

Chris Rattue

Forwards: Owen Franks, Nepo Laulala, Wyatt Crockett, Tony Woodcock, Ben Franks, Dane Coles, Keven Mealamu, Codie Taylor, Brodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Luke Romano, James Broadhurst, Kieran Read, Jerome Kaino, Richie McCaw, Sam Cane, Elliot Dixon.

Backs: Aaron Smith, TJ Perenara, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Dan Carter, Lima Sopoaga, Beauden Barrett, Conrad Smith, Ryan Crotty, Malakai Fekitoa, Ma'a Nonu, Ben Smith, Charles Piutau, Nehe Milner-Skudder, Julian Savea.

Nigel Yalden

Forwards: Wyatt Crockett, Ben Franks, Owen Franks, Nepo Laulala, Tony Woodcock, Dane Coles, Keven Mealamu, Codie Taylor, Brodie Retallick, Luke Romano, Sam Whitelock, Sam Cane, Jerome Kaino, Richie McCaw, Kieran Read, Victor Vito, Ardie Savea.

Backs: Tawera Kerr-Barlow, TJ Perenara, Aaron Smith, Daniel Carter, Lima Sopoaga, Beauden Barrett, Malakai Fekitoa, Ma'a Nonu, Conrad Smith, Sonny Bill Williams, Israel Dagg, Charles Piutau, Julian Savea, Ben Smith.

Wynne Gray

Forwards: Nepo Laulala, Owen Franks, Wyatt Crockett, Tony Woodcock, Ben Franks, Dane Coles, Keven Mealamu, Codie Taylor, Brodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Luke Romano, Jeremy Thrush, Kieran Read, Victor Vito, Richie McCaw, Sam Cane, Jerome Kaino.

Backs: Aaron Smith, Brad Weber, TJ Perenara, Beauden Barrett, Daniel Carter, Colin Slade, Conrad Smith, Malakai Fekitoa, Ma'a Nonu, Sonny Bill Williams, Ben Smith, Charles Piutau, Nehe Milner-Skudder, Julian

Savea.

Patrick McKendry

Forwards: Owen Franks, Nepo Laulala, Tony Woodcock, Ben Franks, Wyatt Crockett, Dane Coles, Codie Taylor, Keven Mealamu, Brodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Luke Romano, Jeremy Thrush, Richie McCaw, Kieran Read, Jerome Kaino, Sam Cane, Liam Messam.

Backs: Aaron Smith, TJ Perenara, Andy Ellis, Dan Carter, Beauden Barrett, Colin Slade, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Malakai Fekitoa, Sonny Bill Williams, Nehe Milner-Skudder, Julian Savea, Ben Smith, Charles Piutau.