All Black Squad for Rugby Championship
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People are hoping Luatua coulda been a contender, coulda been somebody...
...instead of heaving overseas, which is what he's done, let's face it. It was you, Charley (Piutau then Faumuina...)
Maybe he would have been great. We'll never know...
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@reprobate
What I mean is that the Lions threw the ball relentlessly to their big men (Van Rooyen, 120 kg, Marx, 117 kg, Ferreira 120 kg and Mostert, 112 kg) to punch holes through the Canes defense, and that Shields managed to stop them dead in their tracks, at least during the first half. These men are not exactly punies, aren't they ? -
When are these opportunities that Luatua should have been given? During the Lions tour when he had already signed to go overseas?*
He had worked his way back into the ABs for the EOYT after a drop in form which saw Messam, Squire and Dixon go ahead of him. He then chose to piss off chasing cash. How is that Hansen's fault?- personally i would have picked him for the Lions instead of the injured Squire but based on form not 'giving him a chance'.
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I'm not sure who you are replying too, but I think the argument many were making was that on form, he should have been there for the Lions.
While he went on the end of year tour in 2016, he didn't get many opportunities - not chosen to play against Ireland, but played the full 80 against Italy, wasn't chosen against Ireland, and didn't play against France. He was pretty clearly seen as the back up 8, so I wonder if the message he got was that he's got no path until Read retires. In Hansen's defense, I'm not sure how they could have used him differently, because they clearly want Read to play 80.
He announced he was leaving in February, and was clearly one of the best 6 loosies going around, so I think it's a bit sad that he wasn't chosen for the Lions - on form.
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The All Blacks, minus the Crusaders contingent, head into training camp tomorrow and it will be worthwhile keeping an eye on who is invited as previous get-togethers have thrown out big clues about who the selectors are considering for future selection. This year there is particular relevance as with two games and three tests in November, the All Blacks intend to take 37 players with them to Europe and have a proper look at a handful of emerging players. Presumably the coaches will take the opportunity to bring some of those players on the far range of their radar into camp so they can start the process of embedding them into the systems and game plans. Also, given the intense nature of the Rugby Championship, the All Blacks will end up having to call in reinforcements from outside their original squad and it pays to have a wider group having had some kind of exposure rather than be thrown in cold. There's also been a couple of departures - and a few more pending - from the squad that was picked to play the Lions, with Charlie Faumuina and Aaron Cruden already in France and Tawera Kerr-Barlow and Malakai Fekitoa making their way after the Mitre 10 Cup.The rest of the article is the usual speculation about which players could be called up. What's interesting to read is that apparently the squad is going into camp tomorrow without actually having been named (unlike last year).
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11897722
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You would expect there will be an extra layer of fatigue for this group coming on the back of the Lions series plus the Chiefs, Hurricanes and Crusaders All Blacks having all made an extra trip to South Africa. Will be interesting how this plays out over the RC and EOYT.
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@gt12 said in All Black Squad for Rugby Championship:
I'm not sure who you are replying too, but I think the argument many were making was that on form, he should have been there for the Lions.
While he went on the end of year tour in 2016, he didn't get many opportunities - not chosen to play against Ireland, but played the full 80 against Italy, wasn't chosen against Ireland, and didn't play against France. He was pretty clearly seen as the back up 8, so I wonder if the message he got was that he's got no path until Read retires. In Hansen's defense, I'm not sure how they could have used him differently, because they clearly want Read to play 80.
He announced he was leaving in February, and was clearly one of the best 6 loosies going around, so I think it's a bit sad that he wasn't chosen for the Lions - on form.
Wasn't replying to anyone in particular, just the general theme of that article above.
I agree that he should have been picked for the Lions on form but can understand why he wasn't after he had signed overseas. -
@gt12 said in All Black Squad for Rugby Championship:
I'm not sure who you are replying too, but I think the argument many were making was that on form, he should have been there for the Lions.
While he went on the end of year tour in 2016, he didn't get many opportunities - not chosen to play against Ireland, but played the full 80 against Italy, wasn't chosen against Ireland, and didn't play against France. He was pretty clearly seen as the back up 8, so I wonder if the message he got was that he's got no path until Read retires. In Hansen's defense, I'm not sure how they could have used him differently, because they clearly want Read to play 80.
He announced he was leaving in February, and was clearly one of the best 6 loosies going around, so I think it's a bit sad that he wasn't chosen for the Lions -
I think that sums it up pretty well , he was pretty close , but not quite there,
IMO , shame he is going , not sure he will ever be a starting ab , but good depth player nonetheless
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@KiwiMurph Awesome to see Buckman's name on that list!
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@Stargazer said in All Black Squad for Rugby Championship:
@KiwiMurph Awesome to see Buckman's name on that list!
Totally! Would love to see him get a test, just for being him.
Interesting TKB is in the camp but Cruden is not
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@Hooroo said in All Black Squad for Rugby Championship:
@Stargazer said in All Black Squad for Rugby Championship:
@KiwiMurph Awesome to see Buckman's name on that list!
Totally! Would love to see him get a test, just for being him.
Interesting TKB is in the camp but Cruden is not
TKB doesn't go to France until after Mitre 10 Cup whereas Cruden is off already.
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@Hooroo said in All Black Squad for Rugby Championship:
@Stargazer said in All Black Squad for Rugby Championship:
@KiwiMurph Awesome to see Buckman's name on that list!
Totally! Would love to see him get a test, just for being him.
Interesting TKB is in the camp but Cruden is not
Cruden will be off to France soon; TKB will leave after Mitre 10 Cup season.
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@KiwiMurph said in All Black Squad for Rugby Championship:
@Hooroo said in All Black Squad for Rugby Championship:
@Stargazer said in All Black Squad for Rugby Championship:
@KiwiMurph Awesome to see Buckman's name on that list!
Totally! Would love to see him get a test, just for being him.
Interesting TKB is in the camp but Cruden is not
TKB doesn't go to France until after Mitre 10 Cup whereas Cruden is off already.
Cheers! Was unaware of that
