PNC the breeding ground of talent

Showing their talents in the Pacific Nations Cup over the past 2 seasons has seen 16 players board the plane to Hong Kong and the UK as All blacks in 2008.

Some of these men are brand new to the black jersey and some like Piri Weepu have used this fantastic competition to resurrect their careers after being overlooked by Graham Henry and his wise men.

The Pacific Nations Cup has fast become a prominent competition in the Pacific, with fierce international competition from Tonga, Fiji, Australia A, NZ Maori, Samoa and Japan the standard of play has set these players up for higher honours. It has also helped several new All Blacks stamp their mark on the world scene and land a seat on the plane and attain the dream of all Kiwi boys. Hosea Gear and Cory Jane have come alive in the attacking brand of the PNC and playing Islanders that love to run has seen the best of their rugby come out.

Liam Messam, Kieran Read, Stephen Donald and Scott Waldrom have all been very strong in this competition and represent the high work rate, pace and promise that makes a team list look very scary to the opposition. Then you chuck in names like Jerome Kaino, this man has put his hand up for the All Blacks with superb games this season, but in 2007 he was a reserve for the Jnr All Blacks in the PNC.

In the come back brigade are Jason Eaton, Ross Filipo & Corey Flynn, these guys have put their heads down, played some hard rugby and earnt their way back to the top. In Lautoka this year Jason Eaton was playing for the NZ Maori against Fiji, the game was evenly poised, Mr Eaton chased down a Flying Fijian back and made an outstanding try saving tackle, 2 minutes later he was scoring a killer blow try at the other end of the field. This X factor is bubbling in the PNC; the style of play is positive, the teams playing are positive and with this out comes the rugby games that people love. Either as a spectator or a player the buzz around the field is gripping and our game grows from the occasion.

In all these 16 men that have played in the PNC in the past two years make up half of the touring squad for the All Blacks, we know where they have come from and now we can watch where they go next.

The PNC players are:
Stephen Donald, Cory Jane, Anthony Tuitavake, Andrew Ellis, Ma'a Nonu, Jimmy Cowan, Hosea Gear, Ross Filipo, John Afoa, Corey Flynn, Jerome Kaino, Kieran Read, Jason Eaton, Liam Messam, Scott Waldrom, Piri Weepu.


The touring all black squad is.
John Afoa – Auckland Anthony Boric - North Harbour Daniel Carter - Canterbury Jimmy Cowan – Southland Stephen Donald – Waikato  Jason Eaton - Taranaki Andy Ellis – Canterbury Ross Filipo – Wellington Corey Flynn - Canterbury Ben Franks * Tasman Hosea Gear * Wellington Andrew Hore – Taranaki Cory Jane * Wellington Richard Kahui - Waikato Jerome Kaino – Auckland Richie McCaw - Canterbury (Captain) Jamie Mackintosh * Southland Keven Mealamu - Auckland Liam Messam * Waikato Malili Muliaina – Waikato Ma’a Nonu – Wellington Kieran Read * Canterbury Josevata Rokocoko – Auckland Sitiveni Sivivatu – Waikato Conrad Smith – Wellington Rodney So’oialo - Wellington Adam Thomson – Otago Brad Thorn - Tasman Neemia Tialata – Wellington Isaia Toeava - Auckland Anthony Tuitavake - North Harbour Piri Weepu – Wellington Scott Waldrom * Taranaki Ali Williams – Tasman Tony Woodcock - North Harbour