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.
-
@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.
-
@rancid-schnitzel that's your opinion.
-
-
@kiwimurph said in All Blacks Squad for France:
@rancid-schnitzel that's your opinion.
Firmly based on fact.
-
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.
-
-
-
@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.
-
@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.
-
@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.
-
@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.
-
This thread is starting to resemble the good old days around AB selection time ,
All we need is Toeava to make himself available .
-
@kiwiinmelb said in All Blacks Squad for France:
This thread is starting to resemble the good old days around AB selection time ,
All we need is Toeava to make himself available .
DMac is the new Toeava
-
@crucial said in All Blacks Squad for France:
@kiwiinmelb said in All Blacks Squad for France:
This thread is starting to resemble the good old days around AB selection time ,
All we need is Toeava to make himself available .
DMac is the new Toeava
Toeava could play ten.
-
@kirwan said in All Blacks Squad for France:
@crucial said in All Blacks Squad for France:
@kiwiinmelb said in All Blacks Squad for France:
This thread is starting to resemble the good old days around AB selection time ,
All we need is Toeava to make himself available .
DMac is the new Toeava
Toeava could play ten.
Burn.
-
@kirwan said in All Blacks Squad for France:
@crucial said in All Blacks Squad for France:
@kiwiinmelb said in All Blacks Squad for France:
This thread is starting to resemble the good old days around AB selection time ,
All we need is Toeava to make himself available .
DMac is the new Toeava
Toeava could play ten.
Every position in the backline , in a heartbeat
-
With Perry injured, Hames still feeling symptoms of his concussion and Crockett retired, who is going to be the reserve LHP ? Let's have a look at the different teams.
Blues : Manu. I think he is not fit enough for international rugby.
Canes : Smith. He is Australian. Eves. Cannot scrum.
Crusaders : Allan. Too green. King. Too old.
Landers : DLB. Not up to the task in terms of scrummaging.
Chiefs : Tu'inukuafe. Maybe the best scrummager in the country. Questions about his workrate though.Your opinion ?
