Delany new NZ pivot
Mike Delany will start at flyhalf in a team showing 12 changes to face Italy at the San Siro.
Dan Carter is serving a one-week suspension but was unlikely to play anyway, as Delany has been given a chance ahead of Stephen Donald. Delany, 27, will make his first start for the All Blacks.
Only Corey Jane – who moves from wing to fullback – and props Neemia Tialata and Wyatt Crocket remain from the team that defeated Wales 19-12. Sitiveni Sivivatu returns from suspension, but there is no place for Tony Woodcock, who was also banned.
Rodney So’oialo will lead the side with Richie McCaw on the bench, while wing Ben Smith and centre Tamati Ellison will also earn their debuts.
New Zealand – 15 Corey Jane, 14 Ben Smith, 13 Tamati Ellison, 12 Luke McAlister, 11 Sitiveni Sivivatu; 10 Mike Delany, 9 Andy Ellis; 1 Wyatt Crockett, 2 Corey Flynn, 3 Neemia Tialata, 4 Tom Donnelly, 5 Anthony Boric, 6 Liam Messam, 7 Tanerau Latimer, 8 Rodney So’oialo (c).
Subs: 16 Andrew Hore, 17 John Afoa, 18 Jason Eaton, 19 Richie McCaw, 20 Jimmy Cowan, 21 Stephen Donald, 22 Mils Muliaina.
November 11th, 2009 at 5:26 pm
oh my God
Andy Ellis has another cap.
Im just going to have to take a quick rest to absorb that before I have enough energy to read the rest of the lineup, so bear with me.
November 11th, 2009 at 5:30 pm
Holy Sh*t !
surely they dont rate the Azzurri THAT badly ?!?
arrogant farks, the 3 Blind Mice. Either that or completely insane. I reckon Mallet will have them running out there CREDERE !!!!
exciting tho, crikey.
…….*WHACK* Waka !
oh, sh*t, just as I was getting comfy again I remembered about Ellis.
nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO !
November 11th, 2009 at 5:44 pm
Who the hell is Mike Delaney?
November 11th, 2009 at 5:53 pm
#3 puff: 2nd string Chiefs pivot if memory serves.
November 11th, 2009 at 5:57 pm
#3 puff:
NPC Veteran, think he’s 26/27. Played for Bay of Plenty. Potential journeyman category.
Yes, is now 2nd string Chiefs no10. Which when the 1st string is The Duck, ques’s have to be raised.
November 11th, 2009 at 6:22 pm
Questions have to be raised indeed.From what I understand Delaney had a good ANZC (with Bay of Plenty I think) but hell,he’s been Donald’s understudy at the Chiefs and now he has leap-FROGged the DUCK for the AB 10 jersey? Brings to mind that qoute about all animals being equal…But who knows,maybe Delaney makes a good fist of the whole thing.It’s only Italy after all (that’s what Ted & co want us to believe,anyway).
November 11th, 2009 at 6:35 pm
The Duck? I like that.
Wakanathan, so true. Arrogant, but these guys have nothing to lose and so much to gain that they will probably run rings around the Italians. Of course, some would say this is Italy’s best change for an upset.
November 11th, 2009 at 6:45 pm
I have a feeling this AB tight 5 might get a little schooled. Still think these AB coaches don’t have a plan but we’ll see… Looking forward to seeing Smith and Delany at this level
November 11th, 2009 at 6:55 pm
#2 WakaNathan: too many fizzy drinks at lunch time?
November 11th, 2009 at 7:13 pm
The ABs are obviously kakking and have no idea who their match 22 are. So they are trying any dodgy player before 2011…
A bit like the Bok coaches – with our 2nd 15…
November 11th, 2009 at 7:29 pm
This is the perfect game to test unknowns.
When else? Against South Africa? Australia? France?
November 11th, 2009 at 8:23 pm
#5 WakaNathan: Suggest you take more notice of the NPC, Delaney was the best no 10 in the comp, he will be fine.
Still plays for BOP by the way
November 11th, 2009 at 10:04 pm
ellis, delany, maccalister, ellison, smith.
that is going to be one heck of an assignment.
besides ellis they are all quality footballers, but new combination, first time together and its a test match. should be very interesting.
mallet could be frothing at the mouth already.
delany is the form 10 from NPC level. great skills, reads the game well and is a running 10 which will suit macclister, ellison and and ben smith as well as messam.
looking at lineup kinda expect ABs to run it most times.
November 12th, 2009 at 1:14 am
#9 Big Hit:
live a little now’n'then BH. Pass it beyond Jonny for once, its fun !
November 12th, 2009 at 1:23 am
#12 Waster:
I watch enough. Yes he was tidy in the way other 5-eigths have been tidy like Glen Jackson and David Howell. But as solid and professional as they were they were never AB material.
Pleased for Delaney. He’s better than The Duck. But he’s still no more than tidy.
November 12th, 2009 at 3:26 am
#15 WakaNathan: Guess I have watched him destroy teams (including mine) at club level for years now so always been aware of him. I don’t mind Donald so much either but think Delaney will do better than people are expecting. Unlike that liability McAllister.
November 12th, 2009 at 12:46 pm
#16 Waster:
and when you say ‘club’, Im presuming you dont mean Marist Old Boys ? Please dont ever call Kiwi Provinces ‘clubs’. The Poms get all confused.
McAlister is a superb footballer. Just needs a run of games. I fear he is going in undercooked yet again tho. Will be interesting to see how he handles the kicking responsibilities. There is a touch of the Carlos to him, granted, but atleast he’s not at 10.
Still, I hope youre right about Delaney which would also be a shot in the arm for all those NPC players, knowing that form can be rewarded like in the amateur days.
November 13th, 2009 at 11:29 am
#11 Nils:
Perhaps against pussies like Wales or Ireland?