Every time an All Black squad is announced (or any international team really) there is a rumbling about who was left out. This is the sign of great depth in your country’s rugby stock. However, it also leads to speculation.

What if…?

Below I have compiled below is the team of those “what ifs”. Players not chosen, for various reasons, who I think would still make a bloody good team.

15 - Sonsene Anesi - Christian Cullen misses out again
14 - Rico Gear - Rico may not have will to play for the province that’s paying him but is still good on the wing
13 - Tana Umaga Anthony Tuitavaki - that would’ve been nice but I’ll settle for the younger gent who is just hitting his straps
12 - Ma’a Nonu - at inside centre where he has less of a chance to drop the ball and his crashing momentum is a real asset
11 - Scott Hamilton - a big lanky white dude on the wing that we can call Scott-rod Hamiltron, choice!
10 - Glen Jackson - British Player of the Year who really deserved a shot at the All Blacks two years ago ahead of Stephen Donald
9 - Piri Weepu - it’d be fairly mean not to say Piri Weepu here (unless Waikato have got another halfback)
8 - Mose Tuiali’i - incumbent #8 a while ago and showed good form in the Super 14
7 - Marty Hollah - still bloody good
6 - Jonno Gibbes (C) - Has recovered from injury to be back to top form
5 - Ross Filipo - the recent internationals have shown that Filipo can hold his own against the big guys
4 - Troy Flavell - one of the people contentiously dropped from the All Blacks and even though I’m not fond of his penalty count, I’d still have him
3 - John Schwalger - owned by Hawkes Bay but only because he didn’t want to get punched
2 - Corey Flynn - a young man being groomed to take over from the old men after the World Cup
1 - John Afoa - a hungry prop is the best kind of prop and John Afoa is hungry like he accidentally skipped lunch

Feel free to disagree with me, discuss my sanity, in the comments.