2015 Friendly Discussion

Before the year starts, what matches will the All Whites play in 2015.

Have some karma.

Australia?

So we are rumored to be playing South Korea in March

I know financially and logistically it's a bit tougher to organize a game here then playing away but if we are ever going to get a cracker of a home crowd it will be against the likes of china and Korea (with large expat communities living here)?

We really need to bring one of these teams here.

True but its easier to get players to Asia from Europe. Not as long flight and more time for recovery. It think its smart and at the moment, extra cost and a home profile are not needed. The NZF media machine is pumping out a lot since Martin took over so they are keeping everyone in the loop.

FIFA DATES 2015


23-31 March - 2 Matches
08-16 June - 2 Matches
31 August-8 September - 2 Matches
05-13 October - 2 Matches (Both OFC Nations Cup matches)
09-17 November - 2 Matches

Maybe the All Whites will play AFC teams this year? We will see.

bump

Korea? When? in NZ?

Korea are scheduled to play Uzbekistan on 27 March

They haven't confirmed their opponent for 31 March at home in Korea:

http://www.fifa.com/associations/association=kor/f...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Korea_national_...

http://www.nzfootball.co.nz/all-whites-to-face-kor...

http://www.nzfootball.co.nz/all-whites-to-face-kor...

Korea confirmed for 31 March in Seoul.

Great stuff. Korea are an absolutely terrific side.

Almost like we reorded a podcast this morning.

We're going to smashed.

I hope not.

This

After watching Korea in the Asia cup you quickly realise what a good team they are. They are physically strong, technically good and are highly skilled......plus they have good pace and play at a high tempo

NZ could get a thrashing......Hudson is to be admired for blooding youngsters but away to Korea he will need to pick all the senior guys that we have. 

Ipswich still hasn't clinched a promotion spot so I don't think we'll have one senior CB.

So are the Senior guys going to be at the next world cup if we make it? This is the time to be blooding the players we want for the next world cup campaign. I can't understand the mentality of having to pick the senior guys because you think we won't get thrashed if they play. There is absolutely nothing at stake (apart from pride) in these friendly games. 

Football NZ have to run the AWs like a business, you don't invest money in people you know aren't going to be with your business when it comes to the crucial end of your campaign.

Ange got smashed a few times last year when blooding his youngsters and look how they did at the Asian cup because of the experience they gained. Same for us.

Getting smashed doesn't improve our ranking, nor does it help sell the AWs to the better international teams or the greater Rugby loving public.

I have this opinion that probably no one will agree with.

I see the Asian confederation as a whole is a fast improving confederation, I would say even all the smaller nations are improving like Philippines, Singapore, etc.

I would like to see the All Whites play two matches in each international window. One against a strong opponent like Australia or Iran, and then a game against a weaker asian nation like we did in November. We played China who are really strong as a team, and then Thailand, who are actually quite underrated to be fair, and seem to put up a good fight against the top nations in asia.

I am just saying I would like to see The All Whites do this in each international window.

But anyway, this is just my opinion. I would like to hear what everyone else thinks too.

I would be interested to know why you don't think anyone will agree.

I'm sure that's a massive concern of Martin, Hudson and de Jong - how will the rugby public feel.......

Yeah me too.

nor is it a lot of fun to watch

I agree. You have your development/test yourself match followed up by your confidence building win.

To be honest I don't mind this. As long as he is upfront about it rather than faking an injury or pulling some bullshark excuse. If he's honest, trying to clinch promotion is a good enough reason to miss a friendly, assuming that there's some commitment to future games.

Hudson is over there now so will know exactly what Smith will do.

Lol, Fifa ranking...

No over 30's were picked last time round which I thought was good despite results. Only over 30's I would bring would be smeltzy of the bench and then Dura if Smithy can't play thats it. The younger generation are already better than all the over 30's bar Moss who is benefiting from being a number 1 keeper that Gleeson and the other Euro kids aren't. 

You wouldn't pick Moss?!?

I would but id like to see game time to some of the next gen

Id pick Basalaj gleeson Roux fenton reid boxall smith doyle wynne Payne tuiloma van den broek Mcglinchey thomas rojas barbarouses howieson de vries Wood boyd vincent & rogerson for experience

I could only imagine if both Tade and Irving would be able to play for us. That squad would look sick as.

Do you think Appiah might get a call up? maybe even McKendry? 

Appiah by next season maybe. Fully expect reid or smith to pull out though and fenton to be injuref

I'm hoping Shane is in the squad, need some senior outfield experience for when the Euro pros pull out through "injury". Scoring goals again too.

I think that  with all the injuries he has had in the last couple of seasons and being 33 years old will be too much.

I'm kinda moving to the point where I want to see our best side each time and I want us to win each time and be comepletely slutted if we don't. Especially against a team as good as Korea I don't want to see us trialling people. This should be considered a WC or Confeds Cup match cos we wouldn't be playing them for any other reason. 

  Tade's not good enough.

He's far better than Kayne Vincent