AB squad for the EOYT
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From a players workload perspective the 8 loosies / 5 props combo is certainly a bit strange. You wonder whether they'll find a way to draft in a loosehead (Hames) for the Italy test, so that Franks and Moody can get a rest prior to the big two games of the tour.
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@Chris-B. Certainly there's that risk, and with a Super campaign that can mean injuries, they will want the biggest pool available for next year.
With the loosies I get the feeling that they just aren't settled on the whole two loosies vs lock and loosie bench.
Barring injury the starting loose trio appears to be settled. But Kaino's workload has been and will no doubt continue to be managed. So there is a need for a blindside to start the odd test.
But what this coaching staff sees as starters and bench options are different, so there is a need to carry extra bodies.
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Both BBBR and Whitelock have repeatedly shown they can go 80 minutes of physical and high tempo code, and so this year we've typically seen Squire and Savea come on for Kaino and Cane / Todd.
Whitelock will miss at least the first half of the tour, and BBBR may miss the first game. None of our other locks appear capable of playing 80 minutes at test level - maybe they will against Italy or if any of the other games are one-sided game - so it seems we'll have to carry a specialist lock on the bench and get 80 from two of the loosies. Kaino still seems the most likely to be subbed for fatigue reasons, so this might mean Cane / Todd going 80 and Ardie Savea missing out.
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@Tregaskis said in AB squad for the EOYT:
Both BBBR and Whitelock have repeatedly shown they can go 80 minutes of physical and high tempo code, and so this year we've typically seen Squire and Savea come on for Kaino and Cane / Todd.
Whitelock will miss at least the first half of the tour, and BBBR may miss the first game. None of our other locks appear capable of playing 80 minutes at test level - maybe they will against Italy or if any of the other games are one-sided game - so it seems we'll have to carry a specialist lock on the bench and get 80 from two of the loosies. Kaino still seems the most likely to be subbed for fatigue reasons, so this might mean Cane / Todd going 80 and Ardie Savea missing out.
the whole 80 min locks thing kinda fecked them the other night with no bench cover - i wonder how much more damage was done to whitelock by not yanking him - he was down in front of where i was sitting for long periods and he could barely walk for about the last 15. they must have known brodie was going to have to come off because it was crazy not to replace whitelock
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This All Blacks and Maori All Blacks cross-over selection is interesting.
On Sunday, at the All Blacks squad naming, it was said that they took 5 props because the sixth, Kane Hames, was in the Maori squad and could be used, if needed.
It was also said that the halfback who didn't get to play against Ireland, would play for the Maori team against the USA. As all 3 AB halfbacks are Maori, that could be either of the three.
Today at the Maori All Black team naming, they said that the AB hooker, who didn't get to play against Ireland, would play with the Maori against USA. Unless they want to give Coles a slightly lighter workload or unless Coltman has any Maori heritage I'm not aware of, I assume Taylor will play with the Maori.
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@Stargazer interesting on the hookers given that the Maori captain is Ash Dixon and no doubt will start and play a good 55 minutes. So whoever it is (can's see it being Coles) will come off the bench.
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@Chris-B. said in AB squad for the EOYT:
I don't mind that Ofa has gone as the third tighthead, because I've not seen anyone else beating down the door - though, quite what happens next year when hopefully Nepo Laulala will be back, I'm not sure.
I have never been impressed by Laulala, to be honest. He is a very good scrummager but his workrate needs to improve significantly. He doesn't carry a lot either.
Atu Moli is one who is beating down the door IMO and who is looking to be a better prospect : he is big, strong, mobile and still very young. He had a very good end of season with the Chiefs. He must be a natural leader as well, that's why he was captain of the NZ U20 last year. -
There's big question marks over Moli's scrummaging ability.
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As I said in the other thread, 13 points is nothing. Barrett this year has probably gained 13 points for the All Blacks from his play around the field in one game. There are plenty of other aspects of play which can cost a team more points per game than goal kicking. They are just harder to measure.
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Missed conversions are really the only true measure of lost points.
Missed penalties can result in scoring points in the next phase or 2, that you probably wouldn't have otherwise given the game restarts at half way, not the 22, or opposition can get back down the other end and score after restart...so many variables.
That being said, his kicking % of 63% is not good enough.
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I'm not worried he'll only be kicker for the next year until Jordie takes over the responsibility from 12.
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Meh, stats like those where they give different weighting for different things are pretty useless. Way to many variables that could be tweaked to say completely different things.
Remember a year or two ago there was that ex wallaby who had developed some software that analysed past results and showed that the ABs were getting worse and the gap was closing to other sides? How is that one working out?Do I want BB to get better? Hell yes. Would I swap him with someone who kicks 90% but doesn't bring the attack BB does? Hell no.