Alright, heres my NZ team:

1. Brent Webb (Don't mind the style that he plays. A good all round player though)

2. Jason Nightingale (Great player- fleet- footed and love his step! Watch out for him)

3. Krisnan Inu (Has great ball skill and also can kick goals. And yes, he needs to be on to combat the Australian backline which is probably the best I've seen)

4. Steve Matai (This guy is a beast if you've seen those hit- ups and shoulder charges he makes. A must be on the team. Has to keep the opposing Australian backline busy.

5. Manu Vatuvei (The "beast" is back. He's massive and he's a metre eater. Since he's returned from injury, he has improved his catching game significantly. Watch out for him too.)

6. Benji Marshall (We've seen glimpses of this guy's class over the season. Has real skill and abilitiy. A must be on the team after we saw the 6 and 7 of the centenary test.)

7. Nathan Fien (Great player as well. We've also seen glimpses of what he can do. Not a natural halfback (plays hooker usually), but after watching him play this season, I was amazed. Needs to widen his options. A must be on the NZ side as well after seeing the 6 and 7 of the centenary test.)

8. Jeff Lima ( Hard choice to pick, but meh. There could be a lot of players fighting for this position after Roy Asotasi has been ruled out of the squad due to some injury. Other choices could include: Matulino, Eastwood, Harrison...)

9. Isaac Luke (Not sure about this guy's capabilities, but I have seen some brilliant play from him. He was the one that unfortunately caused the upset against the NZ Warriors earlier this year. Great from dummyhalf, and a persistent attacker, but I haven't seen him shine for these past games. Needs to lift up his game.)

10. Nathan Cayless (Not a very exciting player, in my opinion, but essential as he can gain a number of metres for NZ's benefit)

11. David Fa'alogo (A very good player, has good skill and can play quite consistently. A must for the Kiwis)

12. Frank Pritchard (May be ruled out for injury, but still a great player with lots of ability. Can play backrow too if necessary.)

13. Simon Mannering (Another must for the Kiwis. Has been playing brilliantly for the Warriors for this season. Can play Centre if needed but a brilliant Second- rower.)

14. Lance Hohaia (This guy is the Kiwi version of Kurt Gidley. I would put him on the team first, but on the bench. Not because of lack of skill, because of his versatility. Can play in the halves, can play hooker, can play centre, can play wing if necessary, and is impressive in the fullback position. A skilled player, look out for him.)

15. Setaimata Sa (Skillful player, and has been great for the Roosters this season. Can play 2nd row or centre.)

16. Ben Matulino ( I have seen this kid play, and he is wonderful. Has been great for the Warriors all season and can also take big hits. Has real potential)

17. Adam Blair ( Another player who can provide a boost in the forward pack. Has played a good, solide game for Melbourne this season. A good utility to have.)

1. Sam Perrett - Much like Brent Webb in style, but with just a little bit more explosiveness and try scoring ability. something the kiwis would need coming up against the aussies.

2. Jason Nightingale - Great footwork and field awareness, knows how to get across the line also.

3. Krisnan Inu - Superstar of the game, our own inglis, can also kick goals. Only in the centres though because of Matais defection to Samoa. would have been my first choice winger.

4. Iosia Soliola - Probably the hardest hitting centre apart from Matai. Also has a great fend, showed up inglis a few times in the last test with it.

5. Shaun Kenny-Dowall - Great under the high ball, scored a bucket of tries this year, has great skills.

6. Benji Marshall - Nothing needs to be said about this guy apart from he's finally learnt to suck it up and toughen up.

7. Lance Hohaia - After his form with the warriors this year he couldn't be left out of the team, his level headedness and steady kicking game is exactly what the kiwi's need, he should've been the kiwi's 7 from the moment Stacey Jones retired.

8.Jeff Lima - Has had a pretty godd season so far, just need to do his job and get the backs some go-forward to work off.

9.Nathan Fien - good all around player, has a steady game and would be perfect to soften up the defence and tire the opposition forwards before Luke steps into the game.

10. Nathan Cayless (c) - With Asotasi out, this guy will definitely be the captain of the Kiwis, has proved to be a good leader over the years, will keep the young guns in line.

11. Ben Teo - Good Young player, runs great lines, and is one of the best hitters in the league.

12. Simon Mannering - Been in good form for the warriors, his time at centre has improved his running by tonnes, watch for him on the fringes, will be up there in the try scoring list for the tournament.

13. Shontayne Hape - has done the job at 13 before for the kiwi's most notably in the tri nations win in 2005, very mobile, and very tough.

14. Isaac Luke - The last guy a tired forward pack would want to see in the last 15-20 minutes of each half. He would run riot amongst the tired forwards.

15. Setaimata Sa - Big strong runner, will provide a good impact coming off the bench.

16. Bronson Harrison - another big strong runner, with size lacking in the starting 13, Harrison and Sa would be a deadly punch to come off the bench after the Mobile kiwi back row absorb the intial punch from the opposing pack.

17. Manu Vatuvei - Having two backs on the bench might seem odd, but queensland did it in origin, with Matt Bowen and Shaun Berrigan a couple years back, and this guy deserves a spot in the team. Has improved but still has iffy hands. The guy is a game breaker though, in must score situations, this guy usually pays dividends.

seeing as this is a thread about the aussie team heres my kangaroo squad too.

1. Karmichael Hunt/2.Israel Folau

3.Brent Tate

4.Justin Hodges

5. Greg Inglis

6. Darren Lockyer

7. Jonothan Thurston

8.Petero Civoneceva

9. Cam Smith

10. Steve Price

11.Dallas Johnson

12. Paul Gallen

13. Greg Bird

14.Anthony Laffranchi

15.Brent Kite

16. Mark O'Meley

17.Billy Slater/Kurt Gidley (Gidley will probly get the nod as the selectors are nsw biased and want some kind of representation in the backline, having said that either deserves it though)

1. Karmichael Hunt

2.Israel Folau

3.Brent Tate

4.Justin Hodges

5. Greg Inglis

6. Darren Lockyer

7. Jonothan Thurston

8.Petero Civoneceva

9. Cam Smith

10. Steve Price

11.Ryan Hoffman

12. Luke O'Donnell

13. Paul Gallen

14. K. Gidley

15. Sam Thaiday

16. Brent Kite (should be Luke Bailey)

17. Anthony Lafranchi

 

Here is the Aussie team i think we should have

 1. Billy Slater (He was 2nd or 3rd for the Dally M award so he deserves it more than Hunt)

 2. Israel Folau

3. Brent Tate

4. Mark Gasiner

5. Greg Inglis

6. Darren Lockyer

7. Jon Thurston

8. Petero Civoneceva

9. Cameron Smith

10. Nate Myles

11. Luke O'Donnell

12. Ryan Hoffman

13. Dallas Johnson

 Reserves; Aaron Payne, Scott Prince, Ashley Harrison, Jacob Lillyman, Matt Bowen (someone needs to be removed but can't decide)

 I've favourited Queensland players a bit but I think they have some great players at the moment who are in form

What, kick out Steve Price and Justin Hodges?

this my aussie team for wc 08:

1 Karmichael Hunt

2 Israel Falou

3 Justin Hodges

4 Greg Inglis

5 Brent Tate

6 Darren Lockyer

7 Scott Prince

8 Steve Price

9 Cameron Smith

10 Petero Civoniceva

11 Michael Crocker

12 Sam Thaiday

13 Glenn Stewart

Interchange:

14 Kurt Gidley

15 Dallas Johnson

16 Carl Webb

17 Craig Wing

 

why dont you just call this side QLD lol. all bar one in the starting side is a maroon if im not mistaken

From what I have seen of recent form, Billy Slater should definately be your starting fullback

My Aussie Team:

FB Billy Slater

RW Israel Folau

LW David Williams

RC: Justin Hodges/Brent Tate

LC Greg Inglis

5/8 Darren Lockyer/ Kurt Gidley 

HB: Cooper Cronk/Jon Thurston (even though i dont like him)

L: i forgot who plays this position 

SR: Glenn Stewart 

SR: Brent Kite

P: Petero Cinvoncieva

P: Josh Perry

H: Cameron Smith 

Bench:

Terry Campese

Brett Stewart

Michael Crocker

Steve Price

 

1.Brett Stewart

2.David Williams

3.Greg Inglis

4.Justin Hodges

5.Israel Folau

6.Darren Lockyer

7.Scott Prince

8.Steve Price

9.Cam smith

10.Petero Civoniceva

11.Anthony Watmough

12.Michael Crocker

13. Paul Gallen

14.Billy Slater

15.Brett Kite

16.Glenn Stewat

17.Anthony Laffranchi

how can new zealand leave out zeb taia he is the perfect replacement for pritchard and sbw he can do the hard yards and be a ball playing forward.

My Aussie Team would be:

1. Billy Slater
   
2. Brent Tate
   
3. Greg Inglis 
4. Justin Hodges
5. Israel Folau
6. Darren Lockyer (C) (only player currently playing named in the greatest 100 ever what more than that needs to be said)
   
7. Scott Prince
   
8. Steve Price
   
9. Cameron Smith
10. Petero Civoniceva
11. Anthony Laffranchi
12. Paul Gallen
    
13. Glenn Stewart
14. Kurt Gidley
15. Brent Kite
16. Craig Fitzgibbon
17. Josh Perry
    

 

my aussie team would be

1.Kurt Gidley -can be dangerous out of dummy half and is a great fullback

2.Bret Stewart-great fullback gidley beats him on ability to work out of dumy half but stewart must be in the side

3.Greg Inglis-a freak he proved that in orgin and the centenary test

4.Justin Hodges-speed and power a dangerous cantre

5.Israel Folau-size,speed,strength and a good kicking target can score a try too

6.John Thurston-orgin proved he can shine here takes the pressure off him and he can drop in and out of the game

7.Scott Prince-worked well with thurston in orgin and is in great form

8.Brent Kite-won the clive churchcill medal and is in good form

9.Cam Smith (c)-with bederus out he is the games best dummy half

10.Steve Price-great experienced forward good a charge downs can put fear in oppostion

11.Micheal Crocker-good,tough forward can get in and do the hard yards

12.Anthony Watmough-good hard hitter and can punch holes in any defense 

13.Glenn Stewart-great ball playing forward second 5/8th almost

14.Billy Slater-in fantastic form can come on for gidley and allow him to play elsewere

15.Anthony Laffranchi-great try scoring forward

16.Craig Fitzgibbon-experienced hard working forward

17.Petro Civoniceva-experienced forward with leadership abilities plus can make plenty of metres.

I can't believe Aussie has left out Anthony Tupou...

Oh well, Tonga's gain. He's a freak, runs bloody hard, teams always struggle to bring him down, and he's one of the top off loaders in the game.

Cheers for Michael Jennings too