AB Positions up for grabs
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@tim I don't think "frequently injured" is an obstacle for selection. The best available players will be picked. Alaalatoa is definitely the best from the rest, but eligible for the later games of the RC at the earliest. Too late for the French series and Bledisloe I and II (and maybe all home games), but in time for the away RC games and Northern tour.
But it's not about who is available now, but in June and beyond. Franks is expected to be back in April. I think JTA will be back by then, too.
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@stargazer yeah I struggle to see just how an injury to a nobody in All Black terms is a very severe blow. In any case, I haven't seen anything from Hodgman to get excited about like cgrant and a couple of others. What is it people see in him?
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Yes, not every prop who comes out of the Canterbury rugby system is AB quality.
I note that both Crockett and Tamanivalu have not been invited to the SI AB camp due to retirement and going overseas. Maybe Crockett gets a phone call if the injuries to the props is still an issue in June.
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@bovidae said in AB Positions up for grabs:
Yes, not every prop who comes out of the Canterbury rugby system is AB quality.
I note that both Crockett and Tamanivalu have not been invited to the SI AB camp due to retirement and going overseas. Maybe Crockett gets a phone call if the injuries to the props is still an issue in June.
Has that training squad actually been named then? If so who is in there?
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I don't know if there are any new names from the Crusaders and Highlanders. I heard something on the radio about those two not being there and injured players like Mo'unga attending.
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No communication from NZR, but from the article below, I understand that these players have been invited to the SI AB camp:
Crusaders:
Joe Moody
Tim Perry
Codie Taylor
Owen Franks
Scott Barrett
Luke Romano
Sam Whitelock
Kieran Read
Matt Todd
Mitchell Drummond
Richie Mo'unga
Ryan Crotty
Jack Goodhue
Israel Dagg
David HaviliCouldn't find an article saying anything about Highlanders players in camp, but I assume these are the players as they seem to have invited all players who were on the Northern Tour, except retired or leaving players, and long-term injured incumbent ABs:
Highlanders:
Liam Squire
Dillon Hunt
Luke Whitelock
Aaron Smith
Waisake Naholo
Ben SmithAs Seta Tamanivalu, who's going overseas, hasn't been invited, I assume Lima Sopoaga also hasn't been invited, but maybe he is in camp due Mo'unga being injured and the uncertainty about whether he'll be back to full fitness in time for the French Series.
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Sorry, I didn't comment on your post but it seems the Fern had a hick-up while I edited my previous post exactly to include Luke Whitelock. I had already included the extra players, but forgot Whitelock had been added later as well.
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@bovidae said in AB Positions up for grabs:
I was just browsing an article about the Highlanders and this was mentioned:
A Highlanders spokeswoman later said they hadn't received permission from New Zealand Rugby to release the list of players.
Coltman was listed as a possibility in the article.
Coltman? Hmmm, the ABs already have Coles, Taylor, Harris, Aumua. Unless they ditch Harris (I don't think they will), I can't see why they would invite Coltman even to an SI only camp, unless they want another hooker because they're having doubts about Coles returning to rugby in June.
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@stargazer Coltman has been involved before hasn't he?
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@taniwharugby Yeah, but well down the pecking order now, although he has been injured. I think Parsons would be a more logic choice for the number 5 hooker spot, but maybe he's not.
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TV1's list:
All Blacks: Scott Barrett, Liam Coltman, Israel Dagg, Mitchell Drummond, Owen Franks, Jack Goodhue, David Havili, Dillon Hunt, Joe Moody, Richie Mo'unga, Wisake Naholo, Kieran Read, Luke Romano, Aaron Smith, Ben Smith, Liam Squire, Codie Taylor, Matt Todd, Luke Whitelock.
Coltman included. No Crotty and Sam Whitelock. No Perry, which I think is odd.
Nineteen players have been named, with no new faces that haven't been part of the All Blacks before. The likes of Crusaders halfback Mitchell Drummond and Highlanders flanker Dillon Hunt have been included, after their introduction to the All Blacks on last year's end of year tour. Kieran Read, Joe Moody, Owen Franks, Richie Mo'unga and Israel Dagg have both been named, despite ongoing injury worries, while the likes of Ryan Crotty and Sam Whitelock will not attend, with 1 NEWS understanding that there are concussion fears over both players. Unsurprisingly, the likes of Lima Sopoaga and Seta Tamanivalu have not been included, with the duo to leave New Zealand for Europe at the end of the current season. -
AB Squad to be named a week earlier this year:
Rather than wait until after the final round of Super Rugby on May 25-27, prior to the competition going to hiatus for the June test window, the national selectors will take the unusual step of naming a 32-man All Blacks squad prior to the two three-day "preparation" camps on May 20-22 and May 27-29. The All Blacks play France in three tests in June.
