Sooo, we can now start playing the pick the touring squad game!  Everyone's favourite game as the NPC season heads into the quarter finals.  Word is out that the Cartel have pretty much selected their touring squad already, so the next few weeks games will count for sod in selection terms.  Late runs of form will mean nothing.

Although in saying that, I am sure there are a few positions that the Cartel will have either player 'A' or player 'B', depending on their form over the next few weeks.  But no positions will be wide open as in "we have no idea to select as a back up first five should Stephen Donald not be able to tour"...

So, on with the show, starting at the back, (players in bold current All Blacks, players italic'd past All Blacks).

Fullback:
Contenders:  Mils Muliaina (Waikato), Isaia Toeava (Auckland), Cory Jane (Wellington), Paul Williams (Canterbury), Jared Payne (Northland), Israel Dagg (Hawke's Bay).
Mils a no brainer, he's got one ticket booked for the EOYT already.  The second spot, with Panadol MacDonald out with brain injury, wide open.  Do the Cartel take Toeava as a 'fullback' who can play anywhere from 12 outwards, or do they blood some new talent?  Paul Williams would have had the inside running at the end of the Super 14 season after a top run with the Highlanders, but since then, Cory Jane's form with Wellington has been superb.  Jane's Wellington form follows on from a good Hurricanes season too, so form on the board for the Wellington 15 sees him get the nod.  Payne has been in good form, but not really All Black form, not yet, while Dagg probably needs a season or two at Super level to see if he can cut the mustard at a higher level.  He's certainly doing all the right things at the moment.
Bart's All Black Fullbacks:  Mils Muliaina (Waikato, 65 caps), Corey Jane (Wellington, new cap).

Wings:
Contenders:  Hosea Gear (Wellington), Sitevini Sivivatu (Waikato), Rudi Wulf (North Harbour), Anthony Tuitavake (North Harbour), Joe Rokocoko (Auckland), Zac Guildford (Hawke's Bay), Rene Ranger (Northland), Andre Taylor (Manawatu).
Of the new bunch of All Blacks this season, probably the two most disappointing have been the pair of North Harbour wingers, Tuitavake and Wulf.  So this leaves these spots wide open.  I expect the Cartel will take Richard Kahui, who became a wing because of the short comings of the above mentioned pair as a centre, so that leaves two spots open after you select Sivivatu and Rokocoko.  Yes, Rokocoko, he made it through his latest Auckland game without a new injury, and looked hungry for work, so expect the All Black try scoring machine to be touring - he has to, as there is sod all else there.  Of the uncapped wingers, only Hosea Gear is in with a real chance, but then only if one of Wulf or Tuitavake is dropped, which could happen, and hopefully will.  Tuitavake looked like he had found his feet at international level during the Samoan test, and can also cover the midfield, so he might get the tour number ahead of winger only Wulf.  The other youngsters there, Guildford, Taylor, and even Ranger could push for higher honours if they manage to land regular time during next seasons Super 14.  Ranger in particular looked pretty powerful over the season.  David Smith only gets this mention to let people know that I have not forgotten him, I just don't think he is good enough to be an All Black.
Bart's All Black Wings:  Joe Rokocoko (Auckland, 48 caps), Sitiveni Sivivatu (Waikato, 30 caps), Anthony Tuitavake (North Harbour, 5 caps), Hosea Gear (Wellington, new cap).

Midfield:
Contenders:  Richard Kahui (Waikato), Conrad Smith (Wellington), Ma'a Nonu (Wellington), Ben Stanley (Auckland), Steven Brett (Canterbury), Casey Laulala (Canterbury), Isaia Toeava (Auckland).
And when the Cartel went here, the cupboard was bare... of new talent that is.  So expect the cartel to go with business as usual - the three that played a bucket load of tests already this season, and the recalled Toeava.  Brett as a utility  could be an option, but you need a spot for Toeava.  You can also add in Tuitavake as a centre should the need arise, and both Carter and Donald have experience at high level in 12 shirts.  So while genuine specialist midfielders are as rare as a vegetarian prop, there are utilities coming out our ears for the spots. 
Bart's All Black midfielders:  Ma'a Nonu (Wellington, 28 caps), Conrad Smith (Wellington, 21 caps), Richard Kahui (Waikato, 6 caps), Isaia Toeava (Auckland, 17 caps).

First Five: 
Contenders:  Dan Carter (Canterbury), Stephen Donald (Waikato), Mike Delaney (Bay of Plenty), Daniel Kirkpatrick (Wellington), Michael Hobbs (Wellington), Stephen Brett (Canterbury).
Geez, you know the cupboard is bare when you worry while watching S Donald get injured in a provincial game!  As once he and Carter are removed from the All Black picture, what the hell is left?  Stephen Brett, and then a couple of spotty teenagers playing for Wellington, and a pretty handy NPC player churning out the goods for the Steamers.  So fingers crossed nothing happens to either of this pair in the next season or two as the youngsters develop!  Stephen Brett is probably the next cab off the rank, and if the incumbents were to drop off the face of the earth tomorrow, then I expect Brett would be handed the ten shirt post haste, but he probably still won't tour.  On the other hand, he might land a spot as a midfielder come first five with an eye to next season when we will be sans Carter for the early tests of the season.
Bart's All Black first fives:  Dan Carter (Canterbury, 54 caps), Stephen Donald, (Waikato, 6 caps).

Halfback: 
Contenders:  Piri Weepu (Wellington), Jimmy Cowan (Southland), Andy Ellis (Canterbury), Taniela Moa (Auckland).
Not too hard a call this one is it.  There is not much depth at halfback once you get past the three to have played for the All Blacks this season, so those three will tour, with Brendan Leonard waiting in the wings next season.  So it will be business as usual with Cowan, Weepu and Elllis on tour.  Lets just hope that Ellis has learned to box kick during his time away from the All Blacks, and has got the confidence to make a few decisions at international level, instead of looking like a deer in headlights with no idea what to do!  I expect he would be given his chance against Scotland or the like anyway, so it might not matter too much on that front!
Bart's All Black halfbacks:  Piri Weepu (Wellington, 24 caps), Jimmy Cowan (Southland, 17 caps), Andy Ellis (Canterbury, 10 caps).

Number 8: 
Contenders:  Rodney So'oialo (Wellington), Colin Bourke (Bay of Plenty), Sione Lauaki (Waikato), Liam Messam (Waikato), Stephen Setephano (Otago), Thomas Waldrom (Wellington).
After Rodders, nothing.  Sione Lauaki, who has been tried, and found wanting too often now, and must be about to be given the arse (FFS, please Cartel, the one good thing he does a game is outweighed by the 400 bad).  Probably head of the bunch chasing for international honours would be Liam Messam, who can also cover six very well, and seven at a pinch.  Of course, the Catel might also consider Kaino as the back up eight, and not take a specialist along with them - as McCaw and I am sure Thomson could both do the job too.  If selected that is in the Thomson case.  Setephano for Otago has followed on a good Super season with a good NPC, and would have been getting second looks, but perhaps one more Super season for the big Rotorua boy.  Waldrom and Bourke have both been good for their provinces too, but probably not quite of internationl class.  Although in Bourke's case, his kicking game, should the ELVs stick around, are the way of the future for a number eight!
Bart's All Black number 8s:  Rodney So'oialo (Wellington, 51 caps), Liam Messam (Waikato, new cap).

Flankers: 
Contenders:  Richard McCaw (Canterbury), Tanerau Latimer (Bay of Plenty), Jerome Kaino (Auckland), Adam Thomson (Otago), George Whitelock (Canterbury), Kieran Reid (Canterbury), Victor Vito (Wellington).
With two of the seven loose forward positions selected in the 'number eight' bracket above, that leaves five spots, two which must go to genuine openside flankers.  As one of those go to the captain, that leaves one spot open, and contenders for that, I think there is really just one.  The Steamers captain, and McCaw's understudy at the Crusaders during their 2006 championship run, Tanerau Latimer.  Latimer was chased very hard by Canterbury and the Crusaders after that season, and those blokes don't chase after rubbish.  That playing in their environment, and with McCaw already knowing him and his temperament, will see the nod given to the Steamer.  That leaves three spots open, for blindside / impact players.  Kaino gets one, he has made that six jersey his own this season, leaving two spots for three very good players - Thomson, Vito and Reid.  Reid will tour, he was almost handed his tour tickets when he was not selected for the All Black Tri Nations campaign.  More rugby was needed or some such from the Cartel.  Well, he's had more rugby, still playing at a high level, and to be fair, there is not a lot between he and Thomson.  Hell, they even both have completely dorky hairstyles!!  So Reid will tour, and as Thomson is a known quantity, then perhaps the Cartel will leave him at home, and add in Victor Vito, who has been playing very well for Wellington, and could be used in the impact role as Lauaki was meant to be.  Hopefully impacting for the All Blacks, not against.  So Thompson dropped perhaps...
Bart's All Black flankers:  Ricahrd McCaw (Canterbury, captain, 65 caps), Tanerau Latimer (Bay of Plenty, new cap), Jerome Kaino (Auckland, 11 caps), Kieran Reid (Canterbury, new cap), Victor Vito (Wellington, new cap).

Locks: 
Contenders:  Ali Williams (Auckland), Brad Thorn (Tasman), Anthony Boric (North Harbour), Jason Eaton (Taranaki), Ross Filipo (Wellington), Jeremy Thrush (Wellington), Tom Donnelly (Otago), Hayden Triggs (Manawatu), Isaac Ross (Canterbury).
Five locks heading onto the plane, three left from this seasons All Blacks games thus far with O'Neil injured.  So two new boys will be jetting off on the end of year tour.  This could see the recall of Jason Eaton and or Ross Filipo, or the raise of some new blood in the likes of Thrush, Donnelly, Ross or Triggs.  Eaton I expect to be left at home, with a note, "kick arse in this seasons Super 14, and you're back on deck faster than the Myth scores tries against Australians".  He's got all the physical attributes, but has been lacking this season after a great start.  Thrush of the new boys seems to be the most likely tom tour, and if another hard working 'Thorn' lock is needed, than Otago's Donnelly is the man for the job.  Ross might not be too far off, and Triggs gets a mention as I think if he played regular rugby for any other province he might be getting more of a look in for higher honours.  Very skilled player playing in an average team.
Bart's All Black locks:  Ali Williams (Auckland, 56 caps), Brad Thorn (Tasman, 20 caps), Anthony Boric (North Harbour, 7 caps), Jeremy Thrush (Wellington, new cap), Tom Donnelly (Otago, new cap).

Props: 
Contenders:  Tony Woodcock (North Harbour), Neemia Tialata (Wellington), John Afoa (Auckland), Jamie MacIntosh (Southland), John Schwalger (Wellington), James McGoughan (Bay of Plenty), Ben Franks (Tasman), Ben May (Tasman), Aled de Malmanche (Waikato), Wyatt Crockett (Canterbury).
Geez, we are getting a bit think on the ground here too, at prop!  Once you remove New Zealand's most capped prop ever in Somerville, you are left with three pretty decent props, but then after that, at international level, untried and untested tyros, and tighthead props thinner on the ground than Jeff Wilson's hairline.  Five fatties will be touring, so tickets already issued to Woodcock, Tialata and Afoa.  That leaves a vacancy for a tighthead and a loosehead.  Interesting times ahead for someone.  I expect Ben Franks, who was called into train with the All Blacks over the Tri Nations will fill the tighthead spot.  That leaves current All Black John Schwalger fighting it out for the other loosehead spot with 'Whoppa' MacIntosh, May and Crockett.  I would like to see MacIntosh blooded on tour, he is a giant of a man, and the old story, a good big man beating a good small man still holds true in front row play, and perhaps the time has come for Whoppa!  James McGoughan gets a mention here as he has had a great season for the Steamers, and as a tighthead prop, is probably fourth or fifth on the pecking order at the moment.  A great ball runner too, that might help him in the selection stakes, but don't expect an early All Black call up - perhaps after a Super season.  de Malmanche suffers from having to fill the injury gap each week for Waikato, playing at either prop or hooker each week.  And that is on either side of the scrum too, which helps no prop as he strives for higher honours.  Probably time for the big man to make a stand and call a position and say "this is me, a loosehead prop".  At the moment capable on both sides of the scrum at NPC level, but needs to specialise.
Bart's All Black props:  Tony Woodcock (North Harbour, 45 caps), Neemia Tilata (Wellington, 27 caps), John Afoa (Auckland, 9 caps), Jamie MacIntosh (Southland, new cap), Ben Franks (Tasman, new cap).

Hookers: 
Contenders:  Kevin Mealamu (Auckland), Andrew Hore (Taranaki), Hika Elliot (Hawke's Bay), Dane Coles (Wellington), Corey Flynn (Canterbury).
Quite an easy call this one, with Hawke's Bay hooker Elliot called into the All Black squad to train when injury struck, and then having a good NPC for the Magpies.  Not far off the pace though will be Wellington hooker Dane Coles.  Hes probably a year or two away from international rugby though, but expect an Elliot / Coles combo in the years to come in black.  Flynn back playing for Canterbury, but he seems to be on the outer with the Cartel anyway.
Bart's All Black hookers:  Kevin Mealamu (Auckland, 60 caps), Andrew Hore (Taranaki, 35 caps), Hika Elliot (Hawke's Bay, new cap).

There you have it then folks.  Bart's All Blacks.  I expect I have completely forgotten some players in my lists here, and will have some selections so far out that it won't be funny.  However, it is always fun selecting All Black tams and trying to second guess the Cartel!

So the tour squad in Bart's World, which includes 11 new caps as follows...

Mils Muliaina (Waikato, 65 caps), Corey Jane (Wellington, new cap), Joe Rokocoko (Auckland, 48 caps), Sitiveni Sivivatu (Waikato, 30 caps), Anthony Tuitavake (North Harbour, 5 caps), Hosea Gear (Wellington, new cap), Ma'a Nonu (Wellington, 28 caps), Conrad Smith (Wellington, 21 caps), Richard Kahui (Waikato, 6 caps), Isaia Toeava (Auckland, 17 caps), Dan Carter (Canterbury, 54 caps), Stephen Donald, (Waikato, 6 caps), Piri Weepu (Wellington, 24 caps), Jimmy Cowan (Southland, 17 caps), Andy Ellis (Canterbury, 10 caps), Rodney So'oialo (Wellington, 51 caps), Liam Messam (Waikato, new cap), Ricahrd McCaw (Canterbury, captain, 65 caps), Tanerau Latimer (Bay of Plenty, new cap), Jerome Kaino (Auckland, 11 caps), Kieran Reid (Canterbury, new cap), Victor Vito (Wellington, new cap), Ali Williams (Tasman, 56 caps), Brad Thorn (Tasman, 20 caps), Anthony Boric (North Harbour, 7 caps), Jeremy Thrush (Wellington, new cap), Tom Donnelly (Otago, new cap), Tony Woodcock (North Harbour, 45 caps), Neemia Tilata (Wellington, 27 caps), John Afoa (Auckland, 9 caps), Jamie MacIntosh (Southland, new cap), Ben Franks (Canterbury, new cap), Kevin Mealamu (Auckland, 60 caps), Andrew Hore (Taranaki, 35 caps), Hika Elliot (Hawke's Bay, new cap).

Provincial breakdown:  Auckland 5, North Harbour 3, Waikato 5, Bay of Plenty 1, Taranaki 1, Hawke's Bay 1, Wellington 9, Canterbury 5, Tasman 2, Otago 1, Southland 2.