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Liam Squire makes decision on World Cup availability for All Blacks

Liam Squire. (Photo by Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images)

Expect Liam Squire to be included in the All Blacks‘ 31-man World Cup squad at midday on Wednesday.

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According to Stuff, the 23-test star has notified All Blacks management that he has made himself available for selection for next month’s tournament, making him a frontrunner to be included in what should be a five-man loose forward group.

Squire had earlier imposed an exile from the national team on himself, becoming unavailable for the All Blacks’ 39-man Rugby Championship squad last month after injuries and personal issues ruined his Super Rugby campaign.

He had told All Blacks head coach Steve Hansen that he “didn’t feel ready” to play test rugby following just three matches for the Highlanders this year, and has instead been plying his trade in the Mitre 10 Cup with Tasman.

While playing for the Mako, Squire has impressed onlookers with a string of commanding performances in Tasman’s opening three matches of the season.

With two tries to his name, the 28-year-old’s physicality and abrasiveness from the side of the scrum have been noticeable as his side remains unbeaten with spellbinding victories over Wellington, Canterbury and Manawatu to kick-off their 2019 season.

Those displays from Squire has led to calls from many for the NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes-bound loose forward to be included in the World Cup squad, but that was always going to come down to whether he felt ready to make the step back up to international rugby.

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After letting selectors Hansen, Ian Foster and Grant Fox know that he is willing to return to the test arena, it is now up to them to fast track him back into the national set-up, and it’s difficult not to envisage them doing so.

Squire has been a valued member of the All Blacks since the decline of veteran No. 6 Jerome Kaino two years ago, and has been regularly deployed as the team’s starting blindside flanker.

His self-imposed omission from test rugby has seen Vaea Fifita, Luke Jacobson, Shannon Frizell and Ardie Savea all tried on the short side of the scrum, but none – aside from Savea – have really filled Squire’s boots.

Even with a comprehensive outing at No. 6 against Australia at Eden Park a fortnight ago, the in-form Savea doesn’t possess the same brutality on defence and attack that Squire provides, which is what the national coaches rate so highly about him.

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Those coaches can now equip their side with those benefits that Squire brings in two days’ time.

He will be supported by Savea, Sam Cane and Kieran Read, all of whom are certainties to be selected in the loose forwards, while openside flanker Matt Todd should earn himself a place on the plane as the back-up out-and-out openside behind Cane.

In other news:

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Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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