Super Rugby 2016

Hope Luatua makes the squad he was awesome for the Blues in the latter half of the season. Would also drop Squire for him who did nothing wrong and should be recalled for the EOST.

I hope Moala is retained and I think McKenzie should be and will be dropped. Too many fullbacks and just not test match quality yet. He'll get his chance on the EOST.

SBW is all done with the Olympics on the 11th of August. Does he start against Australia on the 20th?

The squad is actually out: Here it is
Forwards:

Hookers
Dane Coles (Wellington / Hurricanes, 39)
Codie Taylor (Canterbury / Crusaders, 5)
Nathan Harris (Bay of Plenty / Chiefs, 4)

Props
Wyatt Crockett (Canterbury / Crusaders, 48)
Charlie Faumuina (Auckland / Blues, 36)
Owen Franks (Canterbury / Crusaders, 80)
Joe Moody (Canterbury / Crusaders, 14)
Ofa Tu'ungafasi (Auckland / Blues, 1)

Locks
Brodie Retallick (Hawke's Bay / Chiefs, 50)
Luke Romano (Canterbury / Crusaders, 24)
Patrick Tuipulotu (Auckland / Blues, 9)
Samuel Whitelock (Canterbury / Crusaders, 75)

Loose Forwards
Sam Cane (Bay of Plenty / Chiefs, 34)
Elliot Dixon (Southland / Highlanders, 1)
Jerome Kaino (Auckland / Blues, 69)
Kieran Read, captain (Canterbury / Crusaders, 87)
Ardie Savea (Wellington / Hurricanes, 2)
Liam Squire (Tasman / Highlanders, 1)

Backs:

Halfbacks
Tawera Kerr-Barlow (Waikato / Chiefs, 21)
TJ Perenara (Wellington / Hurricanes, 19)
Aaron Smith (Manawatu / Highlanders, 50)

First five-eighths
Beauden Barrett (Taranaki / Hurricanes, 39)
Aaron Cruden (Manawatu / Chiefs, 39)
Lima Sopoaga (Southland / Highlanders, 2)

Midfielders
Ryan Crotty (Canterbury / Crusaders, 18)
Malakai Fekitoa (Auckland / Highlanders, 15)
George Moala (Auckland / Blues, 2)
Sonny Bill Williams (Counties Manukau / Chiefs, 33)

Outside backs
Israel Dagg (Hawke's Bay / Crusaders, 51)
Waisake Naholo (Taranaki / Highlanders, 6)
Julian Savea (Wellington/ Hurricanes, 43)
Ben Smith (Otago / Highlanders, 51)

4 changes all up - Moala for Tamanivalu, SBW for Ngatai, 3rd halfback added with Perenara in and dropping an outside back with McKenzie out.

Bren wrote:SBW is all done with the Olympics on the 11th of August. Does he start against Australia on the 20th?

Think I saw them say he'll be ready for the 2nd game of the RC.

Bren wrote:SBW is all done with the Olympics on the 11th of August. Does he start against Australia on the 20th?

Stuff doesn't think so.

Sonny Bill Williams' inclusion will be a talking point, but not an unexpected one. The dual code superstar, who played the last of his 33 tests in the World Cup final and signed on with New Zealand Rugby and the Blues for the next three years, will rejoin the All Blacks after his sevens duties at the Rio Olympics.

Williams is expected to miss the opening Bledisloe Cup test in Sydney on August 20 but, fitness permitting, be available the following week against the Wallabies in Wellington.

A couple of games with the Steelers would not do him any harm IMHO.

Is he still signed to Counties Manukau?

Yeah he was named in Counties squad last week.

I would have thought he would just go straight into All Blacks camp.