Rugby World Cup
How well are New Zealand prepared?
ESPN Staff
June 11, 2015
Dan Carter has answered his critics with a couple of solid efforts in the Crusaders No.10 jersey © Getty Images
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Main issues

The balance between experience and youth has been a hot topic in New Zealand throughout the Super Rugby season, with veterans Dan Carter and Richie McCaw the constant subject of discussion. No-one disagrees the duo will be in the World Cup squad and, lately, that they are the first-choice options at No.10 and No.7 respectively. The form of Beauden Barrett and Sam Cane has certainly made things interesting however, and ensured Steve Hansen has excellent cover in two key positions.

Squad strength

The All Blacks boast as many as three world-class options across just about every position, meaning high-quality players are likely to miss the final 31-man squad. There is the very real reality, too, that Sonny Bill Williams may be forced to the bench while the emergence of wingers Nehe Milner-Skudder and Waisake Naholo have added even further depth to their already swollen ranks of outside backs. The only real area of concern looks to be at lock, where a season-ending injury to Patrick Tuipulotu has left the ranks a little light below the powerhouse combination of Sam Whitelock and Brodie Retallick, and behind Dane Coles at hooker.

Injury concerns

As well as the injuries to Cruden and Tuipulotu, back-rower Steven Luatua is also weighing up a surgery decision that will end his World Cup hopes. And then there have been the various lay-offs for Brodie Retallick, Kieran Read, Jerome Kaino, Beauden Barrett and Sonny Bill Williams; all this among the New Zealand Rugby-enforced rest weeks. The biggest concerns from those not already ruled out seem to be Crusaders duo Israel Dagg and Read, with the No.8, in particular, a constant worry given his ongoing battle with concussion.

What the locals are saying

"Ma'a Nonu is the overwhelming choice to start at 12 for the All Blacks according to Herald readers. With almost 2500 votes counted in the Herald poll asking who should start at 12 for the All Blacks, Nonu has received 89% of the public backing, with midfield rival Sonny-Bill Williams taking just 11%." - New Zealand Herald

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