Squad Naming Sunday - Rugby Championship Edition

Sunday saw the always anticipated announcement of the All Blacks squad for the Rugby Championship starting 17th August in Sydney. As always the arm chair critics and couch coaches came out of the woodwork and plenty of discussion was had regarding the choices by Shag and his team.

Biggest surprise had to be the axing of Piri Weepu. Yes the writing was perhaps on the wall but with the 3 halfbacks chosen I still feel it could be the time to keep Weepu in the environment and help bring Tj Perenara into the environment. With all 3 chosen halfbacks under the age of 25 with a collective total of 29 test caps many including myself felt that Weepu could have been kept on for another campaign in place of Tawera Kerr-Barlow. Perhaps its a bit premature to drop the 70 test veteran for the up and coming Rugby Championship but only time will tell if the gamble pays off for the coaching staff.

All Blacks head coach Steve Hansen has given the reason for dropping Piri as due to the pace of the game plan going forward, he simply wasn't able to keep up and deliver what they were after. 

Tj Perenara's call up is hardly unexpected, after another strong Super Rugby season the Wellington youngster gets a chance to show his skills in the black jersey, with many supporters calling for this since he came into the scene last year for the Hurricanes. His pace will suit the game plan that the All Blacks have set in place and I for one will be cheering very loudly when he does get a chance to run onto the field for the first time.

Sam Cane has again been picked as Richie's understudy but it has raised a few questions amongst rugby fans. For the majority of the recent Chiefs Super Rugby campaign, head coach Dave Rennie has gone with Tanerau Latimer in the no 7 jersey over Cane with many suggesting that Matt Todd could have got another selection with his regular game time down in Crusader country. If he cant get a regular start for the Chiefs, does it mean he is lucky to make the All Blacks squad?

With the first game against the Wallabies next Saturday in Sydney, the boys head into camp tomorrow to prepare and get their game faces on. 

As always the countdown is on, and there is nothing like the feeling 's that arrive when All Black test matches start knocking on our doors each year. Rugby Championship and Bledisloe cup matches in particular. 

All black everything.