The announcement of the North and South squads for the upcoming all-New Zealand contest has left supporters across the country giving their predictions of how the match will pan out.
This is a match that will be for all intents and purposes a Test match, as few, if any, countries could rival the strength in depth across New Zealand. This will also be a major influence in who will start for the All Blacks when international rugby returns.
The selection process has raised a few eyebrows amongst fans, with players being selected on where they first played representative rugby. For instance, this sees Aaron Smith, who recently played his 150th game for the Highlanders, being selected for the North having started his career with Manawatu.
No matter what the criteria were, there was always going to be controversy. If the selection was based on where the players were born, there would have also been complaints that a player, such as Damian McKenzie, has spent the entirety of his career in the North Island despite being born in the South.
Although there are plenty that are backing each side, it is actually the presence of Smith that is helping make the North favourites in many people’s eyes.
The scrum-half has just come off an excellent Super Rugby Aotearoa campaign, and his potential partnership with Beauden Barrett, as opposed to Richie Mo’unga for the South, could be definitive in deciding the result. With TJ Perenara in the squad as well, it appears the North will have the All Blacks’ favoured No.9 combination.
Smith joins Sevu Reece as some of the high profile names who play for South Island sides to represent the North, while the Hurricanes’ Jordie Barrett will go the other way.
Elsewhere, the North’s back-row is another area that is receiving a lot of attention, in spite of All Blacks captain Sam Canes’ absence. The partnership between Ardie Savea and the in-form Lachlan Boshier on the flanks is intriguing to many, and could be complemented by Hoskins Sotutu at No8.
The South is of course well represented by the Crusaders, which is a recipe for success given their grip hold of domestic rugby in New Zealand, and will be spearheaded by Mo’unga. A smattering of Highlanders stars in this team means they will be a well oiled side. Despite that, the North still seems to be the fans’ choice at this point.
The North and South squads (and the player’s first province played for):
NORTH SQUAD
Hookers: Asafo Aumua (Wellington), Ash Dixon (Hawke’s Bay) and Kurt Eklund (Auckland).
Props: Alex Fidow (Wellington), Ayden Johnstone (Waikato), Angus Ta’avao (Auckland), Karl Tu’inukuafe (North Harbour) and Ofa Tuungafasi (Auckland).
Locks: Scott Scrafton (Auckland), Patrick Tuipulotu (Auckland and captain) and Tupou Vaa’i (Taranaki).
Loose forwards: Lachlan Boshier (Taranaki), Akira Ioane (Auckland), Dalton Papalii (Auckland), Ardie Savea (Wellington) and Hoskins Sotutu (Auckland).
Halfbacks: TJ Perenara (Wellington), Aaron Smith (Manawatu) and Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi (Taranaki).
First five-eighths: Beauden Barrett (Taranaki).
Midfielders: Rieko Ioane (Auckland), Anton Lienert-Brown (Waikato) and Peter Umaga-Jensen (Wellington).
Outside backs: Caleb Clarke (Auckland), Mitchell Hunt (Auckland), Damian McKenzie (Waikato), Sevu Reece (Waikato) and Mark Telea (North Harbour).
SOUTH SQUAD
Hookers: Liam Coltman (Otago), Andrew Makalio (Tasman) and Codie Taylor (Canterbury).
Props: George Bower (Otago), Alex Hodgman (Canterbury), Nepo Laulala (Canterbury), Tyrel Lomax (Tasman) and Joe Moody (Canterbury).
Locks: Mitchell Dunshea (Canterbury), Manaaki Selby-Rickit (Southland) and Samuel Whitelock (Canterbury and captain).
Loose forwards: Tom Christie (Canterbury), Shannon Frizell (Tasman), Dillon Hunt (Otago), Reed Prinsep (Canterbury) and Tom Sanders (Canterbury).
Halfbacks: Finlay Christie (Tasman), Mitchell Drummond (Canterbury) and Brad Weber (Otago).
First five-eighths: Josh Ioane (Otago) and Richie Mo’unga (Canterbury).
Midfielders: Braydon Ennor (Canterbury), Leicester Faingaanuku (Tasman), Jack Goodhue (Canterbury) and Sio Tomkinson (Otago)
Outside backs: Jordie Barrett (Canterbury), George Bridge (Canterbury) and Will Jordan (Tasman).
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