All Blacks Squad for France
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@mariner4life Missing from the first test 23 vs the Lions last year will (most likely) be Kaino, Read, Dagg, Crockett, Faumuina, Cruden plus Coles would have been there if fit.
I guess we've had a bit of a post-Lions cleanout.
Starting XV should be pretty strong (according to me):
Moody, Taylor, Franks, Retallick, Whitelock, Squire, Cane, Whitelock, Smith, Barrett, Ioane, SBW, Crotty, Smith, BarrettAfter that it's getting a bit thinner (bench): Perry, Harris, Laulala, Barrett, Todd, Perenara, McKenzie, Laumape
There's some assumptions about people who are going to make it back in time and also a pretty big assumption that no-one else is going to get injured in the meantime. Seems to me that on average about two players per team hobble off injured per game - sometimes they're back the following week...sometimes not.
For a game like Crusaders-Hurricanes, where about half the starting players are going to be AB squad members, we could easily lose two or three just in that game - and there's still three or four Super games left for all our teams before the French arrive. Lose the wrong people and we will be tested!
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@mariner4life said in All Blacks Squad for France:
@taniwharugby said in All Blacks Squad for France:
@mariner4life assume your comment re 10 is sarcastic...
not at all, I've made the comment before. BB is a fantastic rugby player, but a pretty ordinary test match 10. Having mad wheels, and a halfback with an insane pass allows him to bail himself and us out a lot.
Get off the crack pipe.
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@mariner4life said in All Blacks Squad for France:
I know we're talking "on paper" but could this be the weakest AB squad in a good number of years? Some of the names floating around are pretty average.
We're a Codie Taylor injury away from playing a couple of very ordinary hookers
Props are starting to go okay with the cantab boys coming back.
Two of the locks are only just test standard, and not really starting quality. If Patty T is next in line then, well, jesus...
In the loosies, i have faith in the opensides (not named Savea), but the rest are green as all fuck.3rd halfback is a cripple fight, and the 2nd guy isn't exactly a reliable test player despite years of experience.
At 10 our starter isn't that good, the anointed backup is definitely not up to standard, lets hope Mo'unga goes alright
The midfielders are either injured, or green (though ALB is having a better year this compared to last)
At least the back 3 look alright.Good post apart from the nonsense about the no. 10. Yes I would go gay for the guy but seriously man. While you can question the relevance and selection process, not very good players do not win back-to-back world player of the year awards.
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@mariner4life said in All Blacks Squad for France:
@taniwharugby said in All Blacks Squad for France:
@mariner4life assume your comment re 10 is sarcastic...
not at all, I've made the comment before. BB is a fantastic rugby player, but a pretty ordinary test match 10. Having mad wheels, and a halfback with an insane pass allows him to bail himself and us out a lot.
My "white knight Canes players" alarm just went off, but that's probably a pretty accurate statement. He's not your traditional test 10 that's for sure, but he does have some pretty obvious strengths which the AB coaches really like:
- Outrageously quick off the mark.
- Strong defender.
- Brilliant at seizing half chances and turning them into points, which can turn a test match.
No doubt Aaron Smith plays a key role against rush defense. He struggles a bit without him.
We were bloody spoilt with DC who has to go down as the GOAT 10 of the modern era - we're unlikely to see someone of his ilk again in our lifetimes. But I'd say most, in fact probably all international sides right now would give their left nut to have Beauden at 10.
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@rancid-schnitzel said in All Blacks Squad for France:
@mariner4life said in All Blacks Squad for France:
I know we're talking "on paper" but could this be the weakest AB squad in a good number of years? Some of the names floating around are pretty average.
We're a Codie Taylor injury away from playing a couple of very ordinary hookers
Props are starting to go okay with the cantab boys coming back.
Two of the locks are only just test standard, and not really starting quality. If Patty T is next in line then, well, jesus...
In the loosies, i have faith in the opensides (not named Savea), but the rest are green as all fuck.3rd halfback is a cripple fight, and the 2nd guy isn't exactly a reliable test player despite years of experience.
At 10 our starter isn't that good, the anointed backup is definitely not up to standard, lets hope Mo'unga goes alright
The midfielders are either injured, or green (though ALB is having a better year this compared to last)
At least the back 3 look alright.Good post apart from the nonsense about the no. 10. Yes I would go gay for the guy but seriously man. While you can question the relevance and selection process, not very good players do not win back-to-back world player of the year awards.
He means as an out and out 10 not as a rugby player.
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@kiwimurph said in All Blacks Squad for France:
@rancid-schnitzel said in All Blacks Squad for France:
@mariner4life said in All Blacks Squad for France:
I know we're talking "on paper" but could this be the weakest AB squad in a good number of years? Some of the names floating around are pretty average.
We're a Codie Taylor injury away from playing a couple of very ordinary hookers
Props are starting to go okay with the cantab boys coming back.
Two of the locks are only just test standard, and not really starting quality. If Patty T is next in line then, well, jesus...
In the loosies, i have faith in the opensides (not named Savea), but the rest are green as all fuck.3rd halfback is a cripple fight, and the 2nd guy isn't exactly a reliable test player despite years of experience.
At 10 our starter isn't that good, the anointed backup is definitely not up to standard, lets hope Mo'unga goes alright
The midfielders are either injured, or green (though ALB is having a better year this compared to last)
At least the back 3 look alright.Good post apart from the nonsense about the no. 10. Yes I would go gay for the guy but seriously man. While you can question the relevance and selection process, not very good players do not win back-to-back world player of the year awards.
He means as an out and out 10 not as a rugby player.
Saying he's not a good 10 is also bullshit.
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@rancid-schnitzel that's your opinion.
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@kiwimurph said in All Blacks Squad for France:
@rancid-schnitzel that's your opinion.
Firmly based on fact.
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This thread looks like the yearly 'freak out' and let's bag all the players and 'the end is upon us' 🤣🤣
Looking at what we went through last year with our injuries most of the starters (who won all but two tests) will be bench options which will only benefit us.
world class players missing, Coles but he has been for a year and Taylor is playing 'lights out' and Read which is only issue.
World class players available and in top form(opinion)
Retallick, Whitelock, Cane, A Smith, B Smith
World class players returning from inj or not in top form but you know will be conebtest time
Moody, Franks, BB, SBW, Iaone
Plus All the other talent we have trying to establish Jordy, Squire I can't see why any doom or gloom.
Just saying! -
@stargazer I will come out of the woodwork. If Taufua is an enforcer at test level I am a horses ass. Seriously. Not wanting to read the article but who makes this shit up? He is too small and one dimensional for a test player and remember he plays in a Cantab pack that as a group never seems to be shown up. Anyway my dos pesos.
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@tim You don't think they'll ever want to use him and Jordie in the same team?
It's a biggish (and slightly provocative!) call for me to say it will happen in the first test, but I'll be pretty surprised if we don't see Ben get some minutes there with Jordie off the bench during the French series.
I'll be similarly surprised if we don't see Ben start a game for the ABs on the wing this year - if Jordie plays well maybe quite a few. After all, the Highlanders started him on the wing less than ten days ago.
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@no-quarter said in All Blacks Squad for France:
My "white knight Canes players" alarm just went off, but that's probably a pretty accurate statement. He's not your traditional test 10 that's for sure, but he does have some pretty obvious strengths which the AB coaches really like:
- Outrageously quick off the mark.
- Strong defender.
Let's not get carried away. Improved or solid are the words you are looking for. When I think of a strong defender at 1st 5 I think of DC, Honiball and Wilkinson. Beauden isn't like them.
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@bovidae said in All Blacks Squad for France:
@no-quarter said in All Blacks Squad for France:
My "white knight Canes players" alarm just went off, but that's probably a pretty accurate statement. He's not your traditional test 10 that's for sure, but he does have some pretty obvious strengths which the AB coaches really like:
- Outrageously quick off the mark.
- Strong defender.
Let's not get carried away. Improved or solid are the words you are looking for. When I think of a strong defender at 1st 5 I think of DC, Honiball and Wilkinson. Beauden isn't like them.
Good cover defender (due to his speed) is probably more accurate, and he has definitively improved his front on defence.
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@nepia said in All Blacks Squad for France:
Good cover defender (due to his speed) is probably more accurate, and he has definitively improved his front on defence.
Yes, to the first statement. But let's be honest, BB's front-on defence used to resemble a speed bump so there was only one way he could go.
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This thread is starting to resemble the good old days around AB selection time ,
All we need is Toeava to make himself available .
