It is interesting that Smith and Pijnaker have been picked but Tuiloma hasn't, especially given the games are in the USA. At least one of them won't be playing much, so why not reintegrate Bill and see how he is doing?
Apart from CB, the squad at this point is pretty unarguable. McCowatt would have been in instead of Just were it not for him being injured. Maybe Roux should probably be in there as a RB option, still no explanation for that. Piney doesn't include him in his "available but not selected" group...
10 years ago being an A-League regular had you in any All Whites squad. Now, the likes of Rojas, Mata, Howieson, Elliot, De Vries, Rogerson, Champness, Randall, Sutton, Ingham, LKH, Hughes, OVH & Conchie are going to need to have really standout seasons to get back in the All Whites.
Fortunately for all of them, the 2026 World Cup squad will have 5 more places than this squad.
Apart from CB, the squad at this point is pretty unarguable. McCowatt would have been in instead of Just were it not for him being injured. Maybe Roux should probably be in there as a RB option, still no explanation for that. Piney doesn't include him in his "available but not selected" group...
10 years ago being an A-League regular had you in any All Whites squad. Now, the likes of Rojas, Mata, Howieson, Elliot, De Vries, Rogerson, Champness, Randall, Sutton, Ingham, LKH, Hughes, OVH & Conchie are going to need to have really standout seasons to get back in the All Whites.
Fortunately for all of them, the 2026 World Cup squad will have 5 more places than this squad.
Tend to agree with the pick Tuiloma, ahead of either Smith or Pijnaker comment.
Maybe Bill T is actually fit, and in okay nick. Just being kept on the bench by some quality CB starters at Charlotte. What's the harm in having him in the AWs stateside, when yeah neither Nando or Tommy are likely to play much.
I'll be interested to see how Smith goes in the ALM, with AFC. He will be coming in off a proper pre season, not a cold like his MAC move from the UK. He has to be playing well to be in the mix for 2026, not just there because he's an older head (have Boxall for that role), who is great mates with the captain.