How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?
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@Crucial said in How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?:
@Billy-Tell said in How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?:
@Crucial said in How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?:
@Billy-Tell said in How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?:
And Taine Ran-dell.
It Randle!
I know! I'm mocking the Chanel 9 commentators...Ran-dell...High-LAND-ers.
Oh in that case I see your channel nine and raise you SkySports UK...
Sah-vay-ah!
Isn't that just Nisbett as well?
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www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11857140
Good stuff from Shag
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For those that can't/won't click on the stuff link, here is Cully's squad of 33:
Forwards (19): Dane Coles (Hurricanes), Codie Taylor (Crusaders), Nathan Harris (Chiefs); Owen Franks (Crusaders), Charlie Faumuina (Blues), Joe Moody (Crusaders), Wyatt Crockett (Crusaders), Ofa Tu'ungafasi (Blues); Brodie Retallick (Chiefs), Sam Whitelock (Crusaders), Luke Romano (Crusaders), Scott Barrett (Crusaders); Kieran Read (Crusaders, captain), Liam Squire (Highlanders), Jerome Kaino (Blues), Steven Luatua (Blues), Sam Cane (Chiefs), Ardie Savea (Hurricanes), Matt Todd (Crusaders)
Backs (14): Aaron Smith (Highlanders), TJ Perenara (Hurricanes), Tawera Kerr-Barlow (Chiefs); Beauden Barrett (Hurricanes), Aaron Cruden (Chiefs), Lima Sopoaga (Highlanders); Ryan Crotty (Crusaders), Sonny Bill Williams (Blues), Anton Lienert-Brown (Chiefs), Malakai Fekitoa (Highlanders); Israel Dagg (Crusaders), Julian Savea (Hurricanes), Waisake Naholo (Highlanders), Ben Smith (Highlanders).
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@ACT-Crusader Can't really disagree with any of that and I'd be surprised if that is off the mark.
Is it weird that a little bit of me wants a bolter in there purely to mix it up a bit and maybe provide a bit of a surprise to the Lions? I'm thinking Laumape or maybe McKenzie. Its a shame Giraffe isn't quite there yet.
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@gt12 said in How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?:
I'm not sure that Barrett has done enough to keep out Pat T.
I wouldn't be surprised to see one of Todd or Ardie to miss out and carry an extra 6/8.
What has Pat T done this season?? If he makes the squad it'll be on potential alone.
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Not too much to debate, but I don't think they'll pick Luatua, so with that in mind, I think they will take three 7s. Accordingly, I think I'd go 19/14 and carry an extra loosie (such as an all rounder like Elliot or Messam ahead of Luatua - who is playing better, but I don't see him getting picked).
Forwards (19):
Dane Coles (Hurricanes), Codie Taylor (Crusaders), Nathan Harris (Chiefs) with Coltman and Parsons on standby
Owen Franks (Crusaders), Charlie Faumuina (Blues), Joe Moody (Crusaders), Wyatt Crockett (Crusaders), Ofa Tu'ungafasi (Blues) with Hames and Laulala on standby
Brodie Retallick (Chiefs), Sam Whitelock (Crusaders), Luke Romano (Crusaders), Pat T (Blues), with Barrett and Bird on standby
Kieran Read (Crusaders, captain), Liam Squire (Highlanders), Jerome Kaino (Blues), Elliot Dixon (Highlanders), Ardie Savea (Hurricanes), Sam Cane (Chiefs), Matt Todd (Crusaders) with Luatua or Messam ready depending on who is still a bit sick, with Seu, Fifita, Shields, Taufua, and Gibson also on standbyBacks (14 - 15):
Aaron Smith (Highlanders), TJ Perenara (Hurricanes), Tawera Kerr-Barlow (Chiefs) with Pulu on standby
Beauden Barrett (Hurricanes), Aaron Cruden (Chiefs), Lima Sopoaga (Highlanders) with Mo'unga, Mackenzie and Beaver on standby
Ryan Crotty (Crusaders), Sonny Bill Williams (Blues), Anton Lienert-Brown (Chiefs), Malakai Fekitoa (Highlanders) with half the world on standby - Moala, Taimanivalu, Laumape, Proctor, Barracuda, Goodhue, Aso, J. Barrett, Beaver
Israel Dagg (Crusaders), Julian Savea (Hurricanes), Waisake Naholo (Highlanders), Ben Smith (Highlanders) with Mackenzie, Ioane, Duffie, J. Barrett, and Nanai on standbyInjured: NMS
I'm not super happy about the form of Fekitoa (although he's been better lately), and there are a bunch of guys coming back from injury....
Luatua is playing well and I'd take him, but I've tried to pick the team they'll select here.
I'd love to see Messam get one last series, but he might be in Rodders land now, though. -
That's a good point.
See also: Coles, Harris, Read, Sopoaga, SBW, Fekitoa, J. Savea, and Dagg
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@ACT-Crusader Odd, because driving home last night (I live in London), I was musing that the selectors see Crotty very much as a 12 (they picked Nonu and SBW as 12s in RWC, leaving Crotty at home). I see he and SBW as certs for 12. Then we need at least one specialist 13, and on reflection Fekitoa fits that bill, even though like others I fret when I see his 'headless chicken' look in attack. Switched on PC and saw article.
For me it is close. As commented on, Foxy has indicated 18/15, so one less forward and one more back.
On balance I'd add Ioane to backs and Todd unluckily out, but will attend squad training. -
@gt12 said in How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?:
That's a good point.
See also: Coles, Harris, Read, Sopoaga, SBW, Fekitoa, J. Savea, and Dagg
I'm not quite sure what you are trying to say. Players like Coles Read Savea are proven ABs. Pat T has yet to definitively stamp his mark on the black jersey. You're comparing apples and oranges.
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@Crucial said in How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?:
This is the squad I expect to see named. All the key players with injuries just coming right will be named.
5 Props: Moody, Crockett, Franks, Faumuina, Ofa
3 Hookers Coles, Taylor,ColtmanHarris
4 Locks: BBBR, Whitelock, Romano, S Barrett
6 Loose Forwards: Cane, Read, Kaino, A Savea, Todd, Squire3 Halfbacks: TJP, TKB, A Smith
3 10s: BB, AC, Sopoaga
4 Midfielders: Crotty, ALB, SBW,R Ioane, Fekitoa
4 Outsides: B Smith, Dagg, J Savea, Naholo
1 Utility: D Mac/JBThose invited to camp to hear the gameplan as 'just in case' call ups would include. If anyone is out for the series early on then these are the next in line.
Hames, Laulala
HarrisColtman
Bird, PT, Fifita
Luatua, Dixon, Shields, A Ioane
Pulu
Fekitoa, Ngatai, R Ioane
NMS
JB/DMacMade a couple of changes to my earler guess. Harris looks to be tracking well enough to jump back in. Not sure on the fourth lock but the selectors seemed very pleased with what they got from SB on the EOYT.
Fekitoa looking steady enough and provides an option of ALB at 12 if Crotty isn't ready.
Big call will be JB or DMac
