Thursday 25 February 2016 16:39, UK
There are some exciting times ahead for New Zealand rugby as we get ready to see new crop of players in the 2016 Super rugby competition.
The All Blacks' historic back-to-back World Cup winning efforts showed that the game in New Zealand is stronger than ever but there are still plenty of questions to ask in 2016.
Who will step up to replace the likes of Richie McCaw, Dan Carter, Ma'a Nonu and the impeccable Conrad Smith?
Former All Black captain Sean Fitzpatrick looks at the New Zealand conference and who may be sticking their hand up for international honours.
Coach: Tana Umaga
Captain: Jerome Kaino
Last season: 14th
Players In: Quentin MacDonald (Chiefs), Hoani Matenga (Wellington), Gerard Tuioti-Mariner (North Harbour), Tanerau Latimer (Toshiba Brave Lupus), Kara Pryor (Northland), Billy Guyton (Crusaders), Sam Nock (Northland), Rieko Ioane (Auckland), Rene Ranger (Montpellier), Male Sa'u (Yamaha Júbilo), Matt Duffie (Melbourne Storm)
Players Out: Angus Ta'avao (Waratahs), Tony Woodcock (retired), Keven Mealamu (retired), William Lloyd (Auckland), Culum Retallick (Rebels), Hayden Triggs (Leinster), Luke Braid (Bordeaux), Brendon O'Connor (Leicester Tigers), Jimmy Cowan (Tasman), Jamison Gibson-Park (Hurricanes), Daniel Bowden (Bath), Simon Hickey (Bordeaux), Pita Ahki (Hurricanes), Hamish Northcott (Manawatu), Francis Saili (Munster), Matt Vaega (North Harbour), Frank Halai (Wasps), Charles Piutau (Wasps)
Sean says: The Blues have been the perennial underachievers for the last five or six years and I really hope this year they finally come good - their senior players will really need to step up to the plate.
They have got the likes of Akira and Rieko Ioane, Jerome Kaino, Steven Luatua, Tanerau Latimers George Moala and Rene Ranger is back from France. Ranger is a huge boost, he has that X-factor and has always played well in Super Rugby.
I think they still have a few issues surrounding their half-back combinations and they have not really got a real playmaker. However if Ihaia West is given a good platform along with this kid Matt McGahan, who everyone is talking about, then they could be on to something.
Coach: Dave Rennie
Captain: Aaron Cruden and Sam Cane
Last season: 5th
Players in: Nepo Laulala (Crusaders), Atunaisa Moli (Waikato), Nathan Harris (injury returnee), Dominic Bird (Crusaders), Mitchell Karpik (Auckland), Tom Sanders (Canterbury), Taleni Seu (Auckland), Tawera Kerr-Barlow (injury returnee), Glen Fisiiahi (New Zealand Warriors), Toni Pulu (wider training squad), Chase Tiatia (Bay of Plenty), Sam McNicol (Hurricanes)
Players out: Jarrod Firth (Counties Manukau), Jamie Mackintosh (Southland), Ben Tameifuna (Racing 92), Quentin MacDonald (Blues), Rhys Marshall (wider training group), Brian Alainu'uese (Waikato), Michael Fitzgerald (Leicester Tigers), Matt Symons (London Irish), Mitchell Crosswell (Taranaki), Ross Filipo (Racing 92), Liam Messam (Toshiba Brave Lupus), Sean Polwart (Auckland), Liam Squire (Highlanders), Kayne Hammington (Manawatu), Hosea Gear (Clermont), Bryce Heem (Worcester Warriors), Tom Marshall (Gloucester), Tim Nanai-Williams (Ricoh Black Rams), Marty McKenzie (Crusaders)
Sean says: There are not that many star names that jump out at you which is not necessary a bad thing. They do of course have Sonny Bill Williams but his participation in the Sevens could have an impact as he comes and goes.
Brodie Retallick is another key man for them but it is a big year for their nine and ten - Tawera Kerr-Barlow and Aaron Cruden. Cruden will really want to stamp his authority on that All Black No 10 jersey. He is a class act - as his Kerr-Barlow who showed at the World Cup just how good he can be.
The other big name in their team is Sam Cane. He has been the man in waiting for so long and now has the opportunity to get his hand on that No 7 All Blacks jersey.
Coach: Todd Blackadder
Captain: Kieran Read
Last season: 7th
Players In: Michael Alaalatoa (Waratahs), Tim Boys (Southland), Peter Samu (Tasman), Marty McKenzie (Chiefs), Ben Volavola (Waratahs), Sean Wainui (Taranaki), Sione Fifita (Counties Manakau), Mitchell Hunt (Auckland)
Players Out: Nepo Laulala (Chiefs), Dominic Bird (Chiefs), Richie McCaw (retired), Luke Whitelock (Highlanders), Billy Guyton (Blues), Willi Heinz (Gloucester), Dan Carter (Racing 92), Colin Slade (Pau), Tom Taylor (Toulon)
Sean says: They have plenty of key players like Kieran Read, Israel Dagg, Ryan Crotty, Owen Franks, Wyatt Crockett, Nemani Nadolo and Sam Whitelock but they also have some massive holes to fill as they are without Richie McCaw and Dan Carter.
On top of that they have a coach in Todd Blackadder who is under huge pressure - he has just not delivered.
Good news to hear that Read will be playing in the season's opener - he was set to miss out on the first couple of rounds but I think they need him from the start. He needs a big Super Rugby year. His form was not the best outside of the All Blacks and he'll be looking to get back to his best for the Crusaders.
Coach: Jamie Joseph
Captain: Shane Christie and Ben Smith
Last season: Champions
Players in: Siua Halanukonuka (Tasman), Luke Whitelock (Crusaders), Liam Squire (Chiefs), Matt Faddes (Otago), Rob Thompson (Canterbury)
Players out: Ma'afu Fia (Ospreys), Kane Hames (Tasman), Pingi Tala'apitaga (Bay of Plenty), Jackson Hemopo (wider training group), Joe Latta (Gloucester), John Hardie (Edinburgh), Nasi Manu (Edinburgh), Scott Eade (Southland), Fumiaki Tanaka (wider training group), Shaun Treeby (Wellington), Trent Renata (Tasman), Kurt Baker (Taranaki)
Sean says: The names that stand out for me are Marty Banks, Richard Buckman, Shane Christie, Patrick Osborne. Then you throw Ben Smith, Aaron Smith and Lima Sopoaga into the mix and the defending champions are looking pretty solid.
They enjoyed being the underdogs last season and it will be interesting to see how they handle the mantle of defending champions - the belief they showed last season should hold them in good stead.
I think it will be a very interesting season for Waisake Naholo - 2015 was a stand-out year for him but he would have been very disappointed with his World Cup after being such a sensation in Super Rugby. He will now know what he has to do to make that step up.
Coach: Chris Boyd
Captain: Dane Coles
Last season: Runners-up
Players In: Loni Uhila (Waikato), Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi (Taranaki), Pita Ahki (Blues), Ngani Laumape (New Zealand Warriors)
Players Out: Ben Franks (London Irish), Jeremy Thrush (Gloucester), Chris Smylie (Treviso), Rey Lee-Lo (Cardiff Blues), Ma'a Nonu (Toulon), Conrad Smith (Pau), Sam McNicol (Chiefs)
Sean says: This is a team that really excites me. They will be so disappointed in terms of last year where they set the standard all through the competition only to fall at the final hurdle.
They have plenty of stars with the likes of Beauden Barrett, Dane Coles, the Savea brothers, Milner-Skudder, Brad Shield, Victor Vito - all world class players.
Milner-Skudder exemplifies the work ethic that is needed to get to that next level - he was superb in the World Cup, the player of the tournament for me. I think they have been a little distracted by all their All Blacks coming in late after the World Cup triumph - the Canes have been effected more than most.
It will be interesting to see how Ngani Laumape gets on - the former league man has been injured since last year and will no doubt be raring to go. The Hurricanes have of course lost Ma'a Nonu and Conrad Smith but we all know in New Zealand that these holes get filled pretty quickly and this is a great opportunity for players like Laumape, Vince Aso and Pita Ahki to step up.
