All Blacks Locking Stocks Full - Injuries Willing!
The All Black selectors have plenty of locks to choose from for the Rugby World Cup 2011 squad, but given the number of these players either currently on the physio table or regular visitors in the recent past, it is hardly time to be jumping for joy.
The return of Ali Williams and Chris Jack to Super Rugby this season adds some interest and depth to the All Blacks locking department heading into Rugby World Cup 2011. They are both experienced and have obvious ability, but is it a backwards step to go back to these two veterans? The All Blacks found some great aerial ability in Tom Donnelly last season, while Brad Thorn was the backbone of the forward pack. Sam Whitelock looked like the most exciting forward to wear the black jersey on the End of Year tour last year but got seriously injured for the Crusaders this year. There are also some great performers for the Highlanders with the hard nosed Jarrad Hoeata shaping as an ideal replacement for Brad Thorn when he returns. Josh Bekhuis is a great ball winning forward who has been keeping Tom Donnelly on the bench. Anthony Boric has great talent with the ability to also play blindside flanker like Jarrad Hoeata, but he is injury prone. Craig Clarke from the Chiefs has also been playing well. Jason Eaton has been a mixed bag since he last played for the All Blacks. He got injured seriously a few years back and hasn't been the same since.
So who would you pick as your All Blacks Rugby World Cup 2011 players?
I think the selectors will have to go with Brad Thorn. He is such a tough guy and provides grunt to the engine room despite being 36 years old.
Sam Whitelock is the future star of the All Blacks and has a knack of scoring tries too. Assuming he returns successfully from injury, he must be in the All Blacks squad. He has speed around the paddock and is a great ball runner and lineout forward.
The All Black selectors will go with a lock who can play blindside flanker. They may consider Whitelock to be able to play blindside well enough, otherwise they will probably go for Anthony Boric since he has been in the All Blacks squad before. If Boric succumbs to injury like he often does then Jarrad Hoeata could get the call up to be that tough rugged lock or blindside.
That leaves one spot open for a genuine lanky ball winning lock. Plenty will depend on if Ali Williams is fit. He has class and experience and if he is fully fit you would think he should get the nod. Williams showed his class when the Blues beat the Highlanders and he would add experience to the pack.
If Williams is injured, then I would assume that the selectors would go with Tom Donnelly given how well he played last year and since he has been in the All Blacks setup before. He helped solve the All Blacks lineout and restart problems last season.
Josh Bekhuis who has been starting ahead of Donnelly at the Highlanders would probably only get a look in if Donnelly and Williams get injured, but he is also another quality player, especially in the lineouts and restarts.
All Black locks for Rugby World Cup squad
Brad Thorn
Sam Whitelock
Anthony Boric
Ali Williams
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