All Blacks Squad for France
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@akan004 said in All Blacks Squad for France:
Lots of forwards named in that squad that I wouldn't be comfortable seeing start in a test. Frizell, Taufua, Barrett, JTA, Perry, Ofa, Savea, Fifita and even L Whitelock to name a few. It just shows that having Super Rugby depth doesn't necessarily mean that you will have a lot of International quality depth.
To be fair, we've got a fair few injuries - Hames and Laulala would be significant upgrades on the two props selected. It will be interesting if Franks goes for a skate, who the next tighthead off the rank will be - Ta'avao?
In the loose forwards, losing Read and Kaino (permanently) is always going to create a bit of a gap, so it's no surprise that we look a bit weak there.
What is concerning is that lots of these players have got two "near test match" intensity derbies to play - and then three tests - attrition will certainly test our depth.
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@chris-b said in All Blacks Squad for France:
Not sure about that for Taufua. He's played a bit of openside at NPC, so at a pinch he could cover all three positions.
Yeah, no. We're talking about Tests here.
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So what’s the line at the TAB for that to happen?
So who's stepping in for Crotty's inevitable injury?
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@antipodean said in All Blacks Squad for France:
@chris-b said in All Blacks Squad for France:
Not sure about that for Taufua. He's played a bit of openside at NPC, so at a pinch he could cover all three positions.
Yeah, no. We're talking about Tests here.
We've really missed a trick not selecting Messam - 8, 6, Best Ever Waterboy and 7 in Super Rugby this year.
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@antipodean The plan would be for Cane to play 80 minutes.
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https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=12055111
Hurricanes captain Shields, recently selected for his adopted team England, would "probably" have been included in the 2018 All Blacks squad, according to coach Steve Hansen.
Just several years too late there Steve.
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Just diggin the knife in!
Is it possible, with Akira joining the squad in the last EOYT, that he didn't impress the selectors in training/touring and they're seeing if his attitude etc has improved there? Juat a thought as to why. I have no idea how awesome Frizzell has been, only watch home Highlander games, but not read anything about how great he is up until very recently.
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I’m assuming that Akira lost out to Luke Whitelock, with Squire, and Ardie and Taufua providing 8 cover. I can’t believe he’s not there, so there must be something in his stats or workrate that they don’t like. Maybe he needs a fucking shave and a haircut? Seemed to work magic for Squire?
Frizzell seems to have taken the ‘project’ ‘amazing athlete’ 6 position of Fifita. Who, after a second look, I see is still there, there, covering lock? WTF? Jesus, the boy better be good.
I came to try to defend how these selections may have came about, but, now, I, can’t...
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@bovidae said in All Blacks Squad for France:
Looking ahead to the 1st test vs France, based on the comments from Hansen, Foster and Fox the only question mark in the backs is who plays between Naholo and J Barrett. That will also determine the makeup of the bench (TJP, DMac and ??).
If Jordie plays, then they could stick Mo'unga on the bench. If DMac is on the bench then he's presumably covering first five and fullback.
I think, either way, the third bench player is probably a midfielder. Given that Crotty is the starting centre, I'd be inclined to pick one of the specialist centres on the bench, but I'd guess that Hansen and Co. don't think like that.
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@gt12 said in All Blacks Squad for France:
Frizzell seems to have taken the ‘project’ ‘amazing athlete’ 6 position of Fifita.
That's my take. Barring an injury disaster in the squad I reckon he won't get anywhere near selection. They just want to get a closer look at him and see how he responds in the AB environment.
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@marty said in All Blacks Squad for France:
@gt12 said in All Blacks Squad for France:
Frizzell seems to have taken the ‘project’ ‘amazing athlete’ 6 position of Fifita.
That's my take. Barring an injury disaster in the squad I reckon he won't get anywhere near selection. They just want to get a closer look at him and see how he responds in the AB environment.
Wouldn't the way to do that be as an attached player and not full squad member?
Why select a full squad member who you aren't going to play? They'd be better off selecting another midfielder since ours break all the time.
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@nzzp said in All Blacks Squad for France:
@kiwiinmelb said in All Blacks Squad for France:
@mariner4life said in All Blacks Squad for France:
@tim said in All Blacks Squad for France:
@mariner4life Weak loose forwards. Cane the only top quality player.
Good thing we're only playing France, and the SANZA teams are so weak.
Now that perma-crocked Read can't be relied on, what's the plan at #8? If it's A Savea (who is a shit test player) then we're basically Australia.
If we lose either of our top locks we are fucked.
I don’t want to sound like a stuck record , the one bloke we couldn’t afford to lose was victor Vito , he should’ve been a priority to keep , couldn’t believe how he left with a minimum of fuss .
Or Luatua. Both those guys would have slotted into this lineup very nicely , thank you very much.
Wiki tells me VV is 1.92, and Luatua is 1.94
for fun, Ardie is apparently 1.88 m. Doesn't say with or without hair
Or if doing handstands
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@booboo said in All Blacks Squad for France:
@nzzp said in All Blacks Squad for France:
@kiwiinmelb said in All Blacks Squad for France:
@mariner4life said in All Blacks Squad for France:
@tim said in All Blacks Squad for France:
@mariner4life Weak loose forwards. Cane the only top quality player.
Good thing we're only playing France, and the SANZA teams are so weak.
Now that perma-crocked Read can't be relied on, what's the plan at #8? If it's A Savea (who is a shit test player) then we're basically Australia.
If we lose either of our top locks we are fucked.
I don’t want to sound like a stuck record , the one bloke we couldn’t afford to lose was victor Vito , he should’ve been a priority to keep , couldn’t believe how he left with a minimum of fuss .
Or Luatua. Both those guys would have slotted into this lineup very nicely , thank you very much.
Wiki tells me VV is 1.92, and Luatua is 1.94
for fun, Ardie is apparently 1.88 m. Doesn't say with or without hair
Or if doing handstands
Taufua's hair towers over Hansen!
Actually, that's a nice Harry and Megan moment!
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As much as spats between Auckland and Canterbury fans always make for enthralling reading, the most interesting tidbit was only taking 32 players on the EOYT. England at Twickenham and Ireland at Dublin is 2 tough games, but possibly a masterstroke of planning. I should be moaning about AI's non-selection, instead I'm strangely just "meh". Glad Goodhue made it, so Bidwell was only half right. Canes fans are lucky Lam signed an extension, that guy could command serious money in France on his current form. As for Shields being an AB, I'm not buying that - I really hope England don't beat NZ with Shields scoring a try and a man of the match performance, would be just a little sickening.
