All Blacks Squad for France
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ALB for me is a so-so Super player and a better test player. He is a good support player and keeps the ball alive better than any other 13. When he is paired with either SBW or Crotty he has looked very good for ABs. In saying that i still think SBW and Crotty is best mix but if either goes down ALB at 13 and either t 12 works. Also remember ALB is only turning 23 this year. conrad Smith didn't even play ABS until he was 24!
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@nzzp said in All Blacks Squad for France:
@nepia said in All Blacks Squad for France:
@duluth I wish I grew 5cm in my 20s.
I did, but it wasn't up
Only 5cm!
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@nepia said in All Blacks Squad for France:
@nzzp said in All Blacks Squad for France:
@nepia said in All Blacks Squad for France:
@duluth I wish I grew 5cm in my 20s.
I did, but it wasn't up
Only 5cm!
It started at 5 ... and then I needed a new belt
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@nzzp said in All Blacks Squad for France:
@nepia said in All Blacks Squad for France:
@nzzp said in All Blacks Squad for France:
@nepia said in All Blacks Squad for France:
@duluth I wish I grew 5cm in my 20s.
I did, but it wasn't up
Only 5cm!
It started at 5 ... and then I needed a new belt
Thought you were going to say every morning!
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@pakman said in All Blacks Squad for France:
@nzzp said in All Blacks Squad for France:
@nepia said in All Blacks Squad for France:
@nzzp said in All Blacks Squad for France:
@nepia said in All Blacks Squad for France:
@duluth I wish I grew 5cm in my 20s.
I did, but it wasn't up
Only 5cm!
It started at 5 ... and then I needed a new belt
Thought you were going to say every morning!
If it hasn't grown by the time you're in you're twenties, you may be one of those people who click on that spam mail you get sent...
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@roninwc said in All Blacks Squad for France:
@shadowtrooper said in All Blacks Squad for France:
@cgrant I concur - mostly. It seems both Crotty and SBW spend a fair amount of time out injured these days and will need to be managed carefully prior to the TRC and through the SR finals. I think we will see Goodhue and Laumape spend time in the centres, Laumape is developing into a Nonu-esque type of player, and Goodhue I can see will eventually succeed Crotty. t's a pity Aso is out injured and Procter seemingly not in the mix, as I think that would have added extra extra spice to the competiton for places.
Have to say I'm quite frustrated with the midfield at the moment.
SBW is a lock when healthy but doesn't have the speed or agility he once had. Crotty is a better 12 than 13 certainly.
The NZ SR form 13's seem to barely get a mention - Proctor and Rob Thompson. IMHO, both are playing better than ALB and the "great white hope" Goodhue and both offer more around the park.
ALB is having a better year than last year but not as good as Proctor and Thompson. Again, IMHO, both Proctor and Thompson are better defenders and offer more in attack.
In terms of combinations, I think we could do a lot worse than starting Laumape and Proctor and have SBW on the bench for impact given his match fitness will be much lower than all the others in the running.
Personally, I think it's a little early for Goodhue, who is a terrific prospect, but I prefer the maturity of both Proctor and Thompson.
My $0.02 worth anyway.
Only seen a little of Thompson, but I was impressed.
Key for me in this selection is that French and TRC are the very last chance to blood anyone before locking in combos for the RWC. Loosehead is probably one such area.
Also, anyone who is in 30s and on way down has to be questionable for RWC. Which would argue against cajoling Crockett and Kaino back for one last time where the usual selections are injured.
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@nzzp said in All Blacks Squad for France:
@pakman said in All Blacks Squad for France:
@nzzp said in All Blacks Squad for France:
@nepia said in All Blacks Squad for France:
@nzzp said in All Blacks Squad for France:
@nepia said in All Blacks Squad for France:
@duluth I wish I grew 5cm in my 20s.
I did, but it wasn't up
Only 5cm!
It started at 5 ... and then I needed a new belt
Thought you were going to say every morning!
If it hasn't grown by the time you're in you're twenties, you may be one of those people who click on that spam mail you get sent...
I was just waiting for this to descend into dick jokes
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@MN5 I think they were trying to ascend.
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@no-quarter said in All Blacks Squad for France:
@MN5 I think they were trying to ascend.
Next you'll be telling me that all the hot singles in my area don't want to meet me afterall
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@mn5 said in All Blacks Squad for France:
@no-quarter said in All Blacks Squad for France:
@MN5 I think they were trying to ascend.
Next you'll be telling me that all the hot singles in my area don't want to meet me afterall
Sorry, but they're just after your Iron.............Bru!
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@ploughboy said in All Blacks Squad for France:
i think alb been handicapped by who he has been partnered with at the chiefs
Totally agree. ALB showed out really well playing alongside Ngatai. He is quieter alongside Fa'auli and Nankivill.
On attack, he runs good lines and good lines only pay off if the guy with the ball is in sync with you. Players like SBW, Crotty and Ngatai are very aware of where others are (or will be)
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Don’t think he’ll ever be an AB but Thompson has actually been very very good this season. He’s the kind of player who until recently would have been overseas and Hello! playing for Wales/Scotland/Ireland in 3 years. Not sure of his contract status but he won’t be going unnoticed up north that’s for sure.
I’d say Crotty, SBW, Goodhue, ALB and Laumape going for 4 spots. Thompson, Proctor and Aso and I suppose Ngatai probably the pick of the rest and JB can play 12 too.
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@crucial said in All Blacks Squad for France:
@ploughboy said in All Blacks Squad for France:
i think alb been handicapped by who he has been partnered with at the chiefs
Totally agree. ALB showed out really well playing alongside Ngatai. He is quieter alongside Fa'auli and Nankivill.
On attack, he runs good lines and good lines only pay off if the guy with the ball is in sync with you. Players like SBW, Crotty and Ngatai are very aware of where others are (or will be)
Yeah agree, he's been hurt by Ngatai playing at the back, but has been very good nonetheless. Both players chances have suffered as a result of that IMO.
We have crazy depth in the midfield now.
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@billy-tell said in All Blacks Squad for France:
Don’t think he’ll ever be an AB but Thompson has actually been very very good this season. He’s the kind of player who until recently would have been overseas and Hello! playing for Wales/Scotland/Ireland in 3 years. Not sure of his contract status but he won’t be going unnoticed up north that’s for sure.
I’d say Crotty, SBW, Goodhue, ALB and Laumape going for 4 spots. Thompson, Proctor and Aso and I suppose Ngatai probably the pick of the rest and JB can play 12 too.
That would be very disappointing. Again, as I stated earlier in this thread, I think he, along with Matt Proctor, have been the form 13's in the comp thus far.
I think both are playing better than the incumbents. Crotty seems pretty fragile these days, and everything that @Crucial said about ALB can also be said for Thompson and Proctor.
I think Thompson offers more in attack, he's been very creative for his team and lifts his rookie inside centre partner more than what ALB does.
And Proctor and Goodhue are the best defending midfield backs in NZ rugby but again, I think Proctor offers a lot more in attack.
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Tuipulotu was a likely bubble selection but this makes the AB selectors decision easier. With Romano out I expect that Fifita will be the 4th locking option which allows either another loose forward or midfield back in the squad. If they want 4 specialist locks then Franklin should be the lucky player.
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Thompson is a bit niggly though, on a couple of occassions this year i have seen him doing that stupid head rub shit, or giving someone a sneaky push after a try. Can't have that in the ABs now can we?
