... by BartMan...

At last, the first 'real' match of the Rugby World Cup (with due apologies to Portugal, Scotland, Romania and Italy), the inevitable French.  A bit sooner than expected, as this match was meant to be in a couple more weeks, the highlight of the tournament, a grand final to rival all other grand finals, but not to be, thanks to those pesky Argie.

So, we are forced to beat these buggers a few weeks early, and also to play a game that is harder than most - guess what is going on in the Cartel's minds.  A game that few have won, although their first ever squad was picked by yours truly, man for man.  However, yours truly did not know that Radio Sport was running a competition for ten grands worth of TV gear, and thus is still watching his ten inch black and white...

Anyway, who will the Cartel roll out this weekend to get rid of the first monkey on our back, the French in a knock out World Cup match.  The following suspects are who I believe will be tasked with braving the garlic breathed maniacs from the continent.

I'll start up front, as the forward pack is pretty self selecting, but for hooker.

1:  Tony Woodcock (North Harbour).  36 tests.
Who else, the only specialist LH in the squad.  If broken, would bring in Tialata, who is an even more destructive scrummager on this side of the front row than Woody, but not half as effective else ware on the field.  Woody one of the pillars this All Black team built on.

2:  Anton Oliver (Otago).  58 tests.
While championing the cause of Mealamu and Hore as a one two punch at hooker, I think mentally, having the same front row that destroyed the Frogs back in 2004, will do more damage to the French than the previously mentioned pair.  Mealamu off the bench in the second spell to add the horse power to the close in exchanges.  Fair play to Oliver though, he has been getting over the advantage line more this RWC, a part of his game he has obviously worked on.

3:  Carl Hayman (Otago).  44 tests.
Again, who else?  Part of the front three that was there 'at the birth' of this current All Black side.

4:  Chris Jack (Tasman).  66 tests.
Has lifted his game and is ready for action, the pressure of keeping Robinson on tour bought the best out of him.  Back to the sort of form that saw his name being mentioned in the same sentences as 'worlds best'.  Certainly the right time to be in form!

5:  Ali Williams (Auckland).  45 tests.
While Jack has lifted his game, Ali's game has jumped to the stratosphere.  As a pairing with Jack, in the world, probably second only to that Boer duo, bit we won't tell them that will we...

6:  Jerry Collins (Wellington).  47 tests.
Who else?

7:  Richie McCaw (Canterbury).  58 tests
Ditto Jerry.

8:  Rodney So'oialo (Wellington).  40 tests.
Ditto Jerry and Richie.  This trio probably the best in the world today, individually in the cases of Collins and McCaw, perhaps, arguably in the case of Rodders, but as a trio, definitely the tops.

9:  Byron Kelleher (Waikato).  56 tests.
Four more years.  Well, they're gone.

10:  Dan Carter (Canterbury).   43 tests.
So long as his calf is fine otherwise Nick Evans will slot in here.

11:  Joe Rokocoko (Auckland).  47 tests.
I think Joe has passed Sivivatu here, Sivi looking disinterested in the last couple of matches, and Joe looking like he wants a RWC winners medal, one earned on the field, not just for being a squad member.

12:  Luke McAlister (North Harbour).  21 tests.
Less brain farts, and more control (at 12) has seen, probably, Lucky Luke get the nod here.  Would not be worried either way, Mauger in good form again too.

13:  Mils Muliaina (Waikato).  54 tests.
Safety option here, and the form of Panadol at fullback give the Cartel the luxury of playing one of the better fullbacks in the world at centre.  Remember 1999, I hope not!!

14:  Doug Howlett (Auckland).  62 tests.
The form winger in the All Black squad at the moment - who would have thought that a over the last two seasons as he has been rated as low as fourth at times behind Rico Gear.  Perhaps Gear not wanting to be away from Christchurch and his family saw him miss out on this squad and give Howlett his chance.  Oh well, his bad.

15:  Leon MacDonald (Canterbury).  50 tests.
Every post a winner at this stage on the RWC, perhaps will have pushed Mils to centre, perhaps not...

16:  Kevin Mealamu (Auckland).  50 tests.
'High rev Kev' off the bench (Fark McKay comes up with some spastic sayings).  May start with Hore here in 16, but at the moment, I think not.

17:  Greg Somerville (Canterbury).  57 tests.
Has slipped past Tialata I think by not being so dumb around the field.  Experience and hunger.

18:  Keith Robinson (Waikato).  11 tests.
A genuine lineout forward off the bench - leaves us perhaps a little light should there be two loose forward injuries, but in his current form, I think Williams would slot into 6 and not miss a beat!

19:  Chrisy Masoe (Wellington).  19 tests.
At last has hit form, but might not get any game time unless the game is well beyond doubt of injury.

20:  Brendan Leonard (Waikato).  8 tests.
Ten to fifteen minutes to surge around the edges against a tired French forward pack.

21:  Conrad Smith (Wellington).  12 tests.
Or Aaron Mauger.  Will depend on what the Cartel thinks is the best option, Conrad at 12 should McAlister get injured, or if Mauger is here on the bench, McAlister at 12 should Muliaina get injured...

22:  Nick Evans (Otago).  15 tests.
First five and fullback and goal kicking cover.  In top form, might hit the field sooner than expected.

Interesting to note, if this team is picked, would be a record for caps I think...

394 tests in the forward pack.
333 tests in the backline.|
727 caps in the starting lineup.
172 tests on the bench.
899 tests in the match day 22.

If Mauger made the starting lineup, add another 24 tests, McAlsiter would replace Smith on the bench, bringing the total caps to 751 and 932, then if Thorne makes the bench, than that would mean 971 caps in the match day 22...

So the old 'no experience' call can't be pulled out of that hat this RWC around!!