|
SQUAD  John Afoa
Position: Prop Province: Auckland
Height: 1.83m Weight: 126g Birthdate: 16.10.83
Season Games: 11 Total S12 Games: 21
Time for the massive tighthead to make his mark at the highest level. Has been surviving on the 'promising' tag for a couple of seasons now, time to roll up his sleeves and get stuck into being a good rugby player. Needs to stop worrying about his bloody hair and what he looks like on the field, and just start doing what a good prop should do. Physically can be a very good prop, but has he got it mentally?
| Ben Atiga
Position: Utility Back Province: Auckland
Height: 1.75m Weight: 93kg Birthdate: 05.05.83
Season Games: 6 Total S12 Games: 15
Like Afoa, full of potential, and a one minute wonder All Black in the 2003 Rugby World Cup. But all the potential in the world, and skill that he has showed in age grade rugby have never really been shown at the top level, at either NPC or Super 12. Sure glimpses of the brilliance have come through, but nothing to show that he is going to any better than the rest youngsters starting out at Super 12 level at the moment. Needs to find a position to play in and stick with too - perhaps a move away from Auckland and the Blues would help his career. | Daniel Braid
Position: Flanker Province: Auckland
Height: 1.80m Weight: 96kg Birthdate: 13.02.81
Season Games: 11 Total S12 Games: 29
Still a pretty solid player, but has fallen behind in the race for the All Black seven shirt, behind, at least, McCaw, Holah and Neewby, and perhaps even the likes of Herring and Blackie. Braid's main strength is his linking game - being in the right place to carry on movements, and getting the ball away in the tackle to keep momentum up. His tackle and steal of the ball is the main component that is lacking in his game, which in the modern game is quite a major! | Justin Collins
Position: Flanker Province: Auckland
Height: 1.94m Weight: 101kg Birthdate: 04.09.74
Season Games: 11 Total S12 Games: 71
Missed the NPC recovering from heart surgery, but should still command at least a reserve spot for the Blues with his versatility in the loose trio. Mainly plays on the short side of the scrum now days, but still capable of packing down in the seven shirt - will do well to keep the challenge of the youngsters at bay as the season progresses. | Steve Devine
Position: Halfback Province: Auckland
Height: 1.76m Weight: 80kg Birthdate: 21.12.76
Season Games: 9 Total S12 Games: 53
Missed the NPC with injury, and will be amping to get back into the saddle and play some code again. Probably the crispest pass of New Zealand halfbacks in the game today, but perhaps not physical enough in the close in battles, where the Henry Cartel seem to like a more robust ball carrying type of player. | Roger Dustow
Position: Hooker Province: North Harbour
Height: 1.79m Weight: 105kg Birthdate: 11.11.82
Season Games: 1 Total S12 Games: 1 | Taufa’ao Filise
Position: Prop Province: Bay of Plenty
Height: 1.85m Weight: 122kg Birthdate: 26.05.77
Season Games: 4 Total S12 Games: 4
Mr Impact for the Bay in this seasons NPC, Filise may find himself cast in that role again for the Blues. A solid enough technician at loosehead, and capable of playing tighthead too, will be the ideal ball carrying impact front row replacement. Mind you, this season with the Bay he was pretty effective starting too. | David Gibson
Position: Halfback Province: Auckland
Height: 1.76m Weight: 87kg Birthdate: 04.01.80
Season Games: 4 Total S12 Games: 29
Started the NPC for Auckland this year and put in his usual tradesman-like displays each week. | Tom Harding
Position: Flanker Province: Otago
Height: 1.82m Weight: 96kg Birthdate: 03.05.82
Season Games: 0 Total S12 Games: 0
Will find it hard to get a game with the Blues and the flood of quality players in the loose forward positions. Probably will get game time as a starter should Braid get injured, otherwise may spend a lot of time training, and not a lot of time battling it out on the field for the oval ball! | Doug Howlett
Position: Wing Province: Auckland
Height: 1.85m Weight: 92kg Birthdate: 21.09.78
Season Games: 9 Total S12 Games: 82
Howlett needs a big season if he wants to re-mortgage his spot in the right wing for the All Blacks. A standard Super 12 in '04, followed by an injury hit All Black season, and then dodgy NPC and end of year tour have left the try scoring winger on the almost outer - especially with the likes of Sivivatu coming on line for the All Blacks this season too. Needs to get that confidence back that would see him beating men for pace on the outside, instead of trying to kick all the bloody time! | Jerome Kaino
Position: Loose Forward Province: Auckland
Height: 1.96m Weight: 105kg Birthdate: 06.04.83
Season Games: 8 Total S12 Games: 14
Went on the All Black tour for experience, and played in just the one match, but showed in that game more potential than most players do in a lifetime. Can play in any of the loose forward positions, but looks most suited to the short side of the scrum. Should get the starting spot this season for the Blues there, and if not, at least on the bench. | Tasesa Lavea
Position: First Five Province: Auckland
Height: 1.76m Weight: 87kg Birthdate: 10.01.80
Season Games: 6 Total S12 Games: 10
Yeah, the experiment continues with the former league player. Doesn't really set the world on fire, and with McAlister on the books as well, his game time this season will be lacking. No kicking game to speak of, and therein lies his problems. | Angus MacDonald
Position: Lock / Flanker Province: Auckland
Height: 1.97m Weight: 107kg Birthdate: 12.01.81
Season Games: 7 Total S12 Games: 29
Probably the only way MacDonald will be starting for the Blues will be with a locks jersey on his back, especially with the plethora of loose forward candidates in the squad. A good player though, and good enough to make the grade at lock. Good at lineout time, solid enough scrummager, and with his loose forward play as a base, very good around the paddock in general play. | Luke McAlister
Position: Utility Back Province: North Harbour
Height: 1.80m Weight: 95 Birthdate: 28.08.83
Season Games: 11 Total S12 Games: 13
By all accounts, will be wearing the 12 jersey primarily this season for the Blues. Means they will have a goal kicker starting in every match, which is pretty important at any level of rugby, isn't it, and it seems the Blues have realised at last the Carlos is no longer a kicker at this level of football. Expect McAlister to get game time at 10 also as the season progresses - planed, and also due to injury should Carlos' knee start bothering him during the season. | Keven Mealamu
Position: Hooker Province: Auckland
Height: 1.81m Weight: 105kg Birthdate: 20.03.79
Season Games: 10 Total S12 Games: 59
Not the season to remember for the livewire rake in '04, ending the season on the bench for the All Blacks, behind the born again Anton Oliver. Obviously will want to change that, and a big display for the Blues this season will help. His throwing was not to his usual high standard during the NPC, and that is the first point to work on. | Bradley Mika
Position: Lock Province: Auckland
Height: 1.96m Weight: 120kg Birthdate: 02.02.81
Season Games: 8 Total S12 Games: 34
A brief flirtation at number eight was rapidly cast aside as another of Super Coach Lam's hair brained schemes. So back to lock for Mika, and in the modern day game, the behemoth lock is an almost extinct bread, so losing a bit of mass to make him more of a lineout option is what the big bloke needed to do and did. Will it be enough though to keep him ahead of MacDonald and Ali Williams? His power at scrum time will be more than useful, so a compromise selection could be made, sacrificing some lineout options for scrum stability. | Mils Muliaina
Position: Fullback Province: Auckland
Height: 1.83m Weight: 90kg Birthdate: 31.07.80
Season Games: 10 Total S12 Games: 49
He's a fullback, best in the world, leave him bloody there! | Isa Nacewa
Position: Wing Province: Auckland
Height: 1.82m Weight: 85kg Birthdate: 22.07.82
Season Games: 10 Total S12 Games: 10
The Howlett look-a-like had a pretty handy NPC for Auckland, plenty of gas and elusive. Might struggle to get game time with the likes of Dougy and the Rock in front of him, along with utilities like Wulf and Atiga. | Greg Rawlinson
Position: Lock Province: North Harbour
Height: 1.99m Weight: 114kg Birthdate: 14.08.78
Season Games: 7 Total S12 Games: 13
Didn't really get a chance last season to strut his stuff at Super 12 level, thank to injury, and might just force his way into the starting lineup this season. Certainly a good enough player, will just need to get the game time to prove himself at this level. Barring injury would like to see the pairing of Williams and Rawlinson locking down the scrum for the Blues | Joe Rokocoko
Position: Wing Province: Auckland
Height: 1.89m Weight: 98kg Birthdate: 06.06.83
Season Games: 11 Total S12 Games: 30
Had a flat period late last year, but a flat Rock is still streets ahead of most players in the Kiwi rugby scene, and when he came right again, against Wales on the end of year tour, it's just magic to watch. More of the same from Joe this season will see him rapidly turning into one of the greats of the game, instead of the potential great he is now. | Xavier Rush
Position: Number 8 Province: Auckland
Height: 1.87m Weight: 108kg Birthdate: 13.07.77
Season Games: 11 Total S12 Games: 86
The All Black discard for the second time - at least he was given a go, and against the dour English, it looked like he, along with Gibbes were the answer to the All Black loose trio prayers for tests to come. However, against quicker loose trios, he and Gibbes were found wanting, and the writing was on the wall from then on in. Still will be a vital cog in the Blues loose trio, and is a more than handy player at this level, just lacking that little extra for a black jersey - mainly in general play, as his set pieces are as good as they get. | Carlos Spencer
Position: First Five Province: Auckland
Height: 1.84m Weight: 95kg Birthdate: 14.10.75
Season Games: 5 Total S12 Games: 96
An '04 to forget as the veteran pivot crashed and burned thanks to the flat back line experiment that the All Blacks flirted with during the 3N. Needs to get his confidence back, and if he does, with the kicking duties passed to youngster McAlister, look out world. Still probably the best running ten in the world, and does have a good field kicking game - just has never known when to use which most effectively...! | John Senio
Position: Halfback Province: Northland
Height: 1.82m Weight: 93kg Birthdate: 10.09.82
Season Games: 2 Total S12 Games: 2 | Saimone Taumoepeau
Position: Prop Province: Auckland
Height: 1.86m Weight: 105kg Birthdate: 21.12.79
Season Games: 9 Total S12 Games: 9
The silent assassin. Made his All Black and test debut on the end of season European tour, and was not out of his depth at all. This is his first Super 12 season, and it will be interesting to see if he can maintain his high standard of his NPC at the next level up. I expect he will be able to with ease, although with fellow All Black loosehead Woodcock game time may be a problem - unless a tighthead conversion is on the way...? | Sam Tuitupou
Position: Second Five Province: Auckland
Height: 1.76m Weight: 86kg Birthdate: 01.02.82
Season Games: 6 Total S12 Games: 28
From the London grapevine Slammin' Sammy might be running onto the field this season in the 13 jersey, outside McAlister at 12 and Spencer in 10. he should have no trouble moving out one space, as his defence belies his 'programme weight' of 86 kilos. There are plenty of big forwards from last season that would attest to that after being picked up and dumped on their arses when seeing what they thought was an easy target in the defensive line. | Rua Tipoki
Position: Second Five Province: Bay of Plenty
Height: 1.78m Weight: 92kg Birthdate: 11.08.75
Season Games: 3 Total S12 Games: 33 | Ali Williams
Position: Lock Province: Auckland
Height: 2.02m Weight: 110kg Birthdate: 30.04.81
Season Games: 6 Total S12 Games: 34
Come on big fella, time to prove all the doubters wrong that reckon you don't have the nouse to make it at the highest level. A commanding performance during the '05 Super 12 is all that is needed. No brain explosions, no swanning around out back trying to chip kick, just good, hard, no frills tight forward rugby is all that is needed. | Nick Williams
Position: Number 8 Province: North Harbour
Height: 1.88m Weight: 123kg Birthdate: 02.12.83
Season Games: 6 Total S12 Games: 6
Exciting, young, and probably bound to get next to no game time once the Super 12 starts. The North Harbour eight had a solid NPC, but is still learning his trade at NPC level, and behind Xavier Rush, well, game time will be precious. A bullocking runner, and skilled ball player, if he does get the chance to play, he may be hard to put aside afterwards. | Derren Witcombe
Position: Hooker Province: Auckland
Height: 1.85m Weight: 114kg Birthdate: 30.10.78
Season Games: 10 Total S12 Games: 39
Missed the NPC with a shoulder injury, but retained ahead of the well performed Tim Dow from Northland at any rate. Solid technician at both scrum and lineout time, shows good pace around the field and uses his bulk effectively in the tight exchanges. Will be benched for much of the season behind Mealamu. | Tony Woodcock
Position: Prop Province: North Harbour
Height: 1.86m Weight: 118kg Birthdate: 27.01.81
Season Games: 9 Total S12 Games: 44
Made the step up to test level with a massive performance against the Frogs on the end of year tourin '04, and will want to continue with that in the Super 12 this season. With the loosehead spot for the All Blacks pretty wide open, Woodcock's French performance has put him ahead of the chasing bunch. Will have a battle with fellow All Black Taumoepeau for the one jersey with the Blues. | Rudi Wulf
Position: Utility Back Province: North Harbour
Height: 1.80m Weight: 91kg Birthdate: 02.02.84
Season Games: 1 Total S12 Games: 1
Utility from Harbour with plenty of pace and promise, though expect he will not see much game time behind the likes of Rokocoko and Howlett. |
RESULTS | Date | Game | Venue | Time | Result | | 25 Feb | v Highlanders
Mealamu, Rush, Gibson tries; McAlister 3 conversions, 3 penalties. | Dunedin | 7:35 pm | 30-14 | | 04 Mar | v Reds
Spencer, McAlister tries; McAlister conversion, 2 penalties | Auckland | 7:35 pm | 18-15 | | 12 Mar | v Chiefs
McAlister 3 penalties | Hamilton | 7:35 pm | 9-18 | | 19 Mar | v Crusaders
Howlett, Nacewa, Rokocoko tries; Lavea 2 conversions. | Auckland | 7:35 pm | 19-41 | | 02 Apr | v Brumbies
Howlett, McAlister tries; McAlister 2 conversions, penalty. | Auckland | 7:35 pm | 17-0 | | 09 Apr | v Cats
Mika, Howlett, Rokocoko tries; McAlister conversion, 2 penalties. | Auckland | 12:00 pm | 23-6 | | 16 Apr | v Sharks
Lavea, Rokocoko, Howlett, Muliaina 2 tries; McAlister 4 conversions, penalty. | Auckland | 7:35 pm | 36-13 | | 24 Apr | v Stormers
Lavea 2, Rokocoko 2, Tipoki, Rush tries; McAlister 2 conversions, penalty. | Cape Town | 12:00 pm | 37-24 | | 30 Apr | v Bulls
Nacewa, Doug Howlett, Mils Muliaina tries; Luke McAlister 1 pen, 3 con. | Pretoria | 5:10 am | 24-38 | | 06 May | v Hurricanes
Nacewa try; McAlister conversion, penalty. | Auckland | 7:35 pm | 10-22 | | 13 May | v Waratahs
Howlett, Collins tries; McAlister 2 conversions, 2 penalties. | Sydney | 9:40 pm | 20-25 |
SCORING | | TRY | CON | PEN | DG | POINTS | | Luke McAlister | 2 | 19 | 17 | - | 99 | | Doug Howlett | 6 | - | - | - | 30 | | Joe Rokocoko | 5 | - | - | - | 25 | | Tasea Lavea | 3 | 2 | - | - | 19 | | Mils Muliaina | 3 | - | - | - | 15 | | Ici Nacewa | 3 | - | - | - | 15 | | Xavier Rush | 2 | - | - | - | 10 | | Kevin Mealamu | 1 | - | - | - | 5 | | Carlos Spencer | 1 | - | - | - | 5 | | David Gibson | 1 | - | - | - | 5 | | Brad Mika | 1 | - | - | - | 5 | | Rua Tipoki | 1 | - | - | - | 5 | | Justin Collins | 1 | - | - | - | 5 | | TOTALS | 30 | 21 | 17 | - | 243 | | OPPOSITION | 26 | 16 | 17 | 1 | 216 |
|
![1227med[1].jpg](http://www.thesilverfern.com/images/abs_157/1227med[1].jpg)
