COACH STEVE HANSEN ANNOUNCES ALL BLACKS TRAINING SQUAD – JULY 30th 2012

All Blacks rugby football coach, Steve Hansen, has announced a training squad for the World Cup champions of rugby football. Twenty-eight players will attend a training camp in Wellington on Wednesday and Thursday this week with Hurricanes hooker Dane Coles the only new addition.

“We’re really looking for getting a line on where our players are who haven’t been playing for some time and clearly getting back into All Black mode. It will allow us to reflect on our last performances in the (Ireland) series and begin the process of getting ready for the Rugby Championship.”

TVNZ sports broadcasters report: “The All Blacks  Rugby Championship squad will be named on Sunday 5 August, with the first Test on August 18. The players attending the Wellington wider training group camp are as follows:

Blues: Charlie Faumuina, Keven Mealamu, Ma’a Nonu, Piri Weepu, Ali Williams and Tony Woodcock.

Hurricanes: Beauden Barrett, Dane Coles, Cory Jane, Julian Savea, Conrad Smith and Victor Vito.

Crusaders: Daniel Carter, Wyatt Crockett, Israel Dagg, Ben Franks, Owen Franks, Zac Guildford, Richie McCaw, Kieran Read, Luke Romano and Samuel Whitelock.

Highlanders: Tamati Ellison, Hosea Gear, Andrew Hore, Aaron Smith, Ben Smith and Adam Thomson.

If reading from the USA, this selection is like the hands on equivalent of winning an Oscar in sports entertainment in NZ. Pretty much. Woot!

[Haka selection: World Cup Final 1987 - ABs v France].

~Posted by Horiwoodblog, Aotearoa New Zealand, Polynesia Asia-Pacific. 31.7.12~