AB Positions up for grabs

[Crucial]

Let's hope the TMO isn't required too much

[Machpants]

LOL He's OK now, it's only taken dozens of matches to get him to average

[Crucial]

@machpants said in AB Positions up for grabs:

LOL He's OK now, it's only taken dozens of matches to get him to average

You reckon? Can't teach an old dog new tricks and Ayoub never learnt a feel for the game when he was a ref. Was moved to the admin dept then handed a lifeline with the advent of TMOs. Surely he can't stuff things up too much when he has time and replays? Oh yes he can!

[cgrant]

While the AB selectors are sweating about finding a good LH substitute for Moody, the left wing is the richest spot in NZ. The best IMO is Rieko Ioane but there is also Juilan Savea, Ben Lam, Solomon Alaimalo plus the likes of George Bridge and Tevita Li who are playing very good rugby this season though I doubt the latter to be called into the AB squad one day. Naholo has already played test rugby on the left wing too. And then there is Mataele who is equally at home on both wings and will be eligible this year. Melani Nanai is another one who can play left wing too.

[Bones]

@cgrant and Crotty of course.

[gt12]

@bones

You mean Ngatai?

[Stargazer]

@gt12 Or Thompson?

[gt12]

@stargazer

I'm not available.

Ah, that one.

[MN5]

Let's not rule out 2011 WC winner Richard Kahui plus Hosea Gear and maybe Zac Guildford if he stays off the piss.

[Bones]

@stargazer said in AB Positions up for grabs:

@gt12 Or Thompson?

I thought we'd decided Rob Thomas is better?

[Stargazer]

So the hand injury that kept Aumua out of the Hurricanes game v the Chiefs required surgery. I wonder for how long he'll be out for?

[KiwiMurph]

From All Blacks Twitter:

NEWS: Chiefs halfback Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi has been invited to attend the All Blacks ‘Foundation Day’ in Wellington today. North-Island based All Blacks from the Chiefs, Blues & Hurricanes are in for the day, which is aimed at laying the foundation for the All Blacks season.

[Bovidae]

Hansen and co are keeping their options open. I will be interested to see what happens at the Chiefs in the battle for the starting halfback position. TTT might have edged ahead of Weber.

[Bones]

@bovidae yeah I'm liking what I see. He is very busy, takes those "interesting" Smith type options with unique passing options. Plus good size too.

[Stargazer]

The list accorinding to Newshub:

Players attending Wellington Foundation Day are as follows: Aumua, B. Barrett, J. Barrett, Cane, Coles, Duffie, Fifita, Harris, A. Ioane, R. Ioane, Laulala, Laumape, Lienert-Brown, Milner-Skudder, Moli, Perenara, Retallick, A. Savea, J. Savea, Tahuriorangi, Toomaga-Allen, Tu’ungafasi, Williams

Chiefs first-five Damian McKenzie won't attend today's camp after suffering a head knock against the Reds on Saturday night.

Stuff

[Bovidae]

Moli still in the mix. But he, like a few others in that list, are long-term injured. As Hames isn't attending either they must automatically exclude any player suffering from concussion.

[Stargazer]

By the way, no Ben Lam. So apart from the position where they need to find another back-up (halfback), no other bolters in this list.

[antipodean]

@stargazer said in AB Positions up for grabs:

So apart from the position where they need to find another back-up (halfback), no other bolters in this list.

I was impressed by Tahuriorangi last weekend.

[Tim]

Unable to attend: Damian McKenzie (concussion), Patrick Tuipulotu (illness).

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/103310467/chiefs-halfback-te-toiroa-tahuriorangi-called-in-for-all-blacks-foundation-day

[akan004]

@bovidae said in AB Positions up for grabs:

Moli still in the mix. But he, like a few others in that list, are long-term injured. As Hames isn't attending either they must automatically exclude any player suffering from concussion.

There is confusion about the status of his injury. The media reported that he was out for the season but never specified if it was the Super season or the entire season including the Internationals. When I posed this question to Nigel Yalden on his facebook page, he wasn't sure and said that he would get back to me but he never did. So who knows, he might be available for the RC.