All Blacks Squad for France
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@rapido said in All Blacks Squad for France:
The poaching thing used to annoy me as we were trolled when we weren't actually doing any poaching, instead Polynesian-New Zealanders were country swapping.
Now we are actually doing it, so I'm chilled. Nothing to actually be annoyed about now. I expect plenty more, been a trend of about 1 every 2 years for the last decade.
Everyone is doing it - most more than us. So no need for us to try to be holier than thou.
Stephen Jones may still try to fire barbs but we have a Shields-wall to take cover behind.
It's a bit like rotation - remember the scandal when Mitch started doing it. Now it would be perceived as idiocy if Hansen ran out his best team every week. In fact, he's not just rotating his own team - he's requiring the Super teams to do it on his behalf.
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@kiwimurph Geezus, why not Crockett?
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@kiwimurph said in All Blacks Squad for France:
@ChiefsRugby and @HarbourRugby prop Karl Tu’inukuafe is to join the All Blacks squad as an injury replacement for Tim Perry.Talk about taking your chances!
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@stargazer said in All Blacks Squad for France:
@kiwimurph Geezus, why not Crockett?
Because they want to use the opportunity to look to the future?
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@kiwimurph I wonder what he adds, except an extra 30 kgs, what DLB doesn't. Same age; more SR experience.
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@stargazer said in All Blacks Squad for France:
@kiwimurph Geezus, why not Crockett?
Maybe Crockett actually meant it when he said he is retiring.
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@nepia said in All Blacks Squad for France:
I'm annoyed about it, especially with guys who come here as adults. At least Naholo, Tamanivalu etc came for schooling. Tamanivalu's international career is over, yet if not selected for the ABs he could be starting for Fiji while earning the big coin in France.
More likely still three years away from his international debut while earning big coin in Ireland or Scotland.
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@rotated said in All Blacks Squad for France:
@nepia said in All Blacks Squad for France:
I'm annoyed about it, especially with guys who come here as adults. At least Naholo, Tamanivalu etc came for schooling. Tamanivalu's international career is over, yet if not selected for the ABs he could be starting for Fiji while earning the big coin in France.
More likely still three years away from his international debut while earning big coin in Ireland or Scotland.
Well, as long as it's others doing the poaching and not us I'm happy.
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@stargazer said in All Blacks Squad for France:
@kiwimurph I wonder what he adds, except an extra 30 kgs, what DLB doesn't. Same age; more SR experience.
Tu’inukuafe has a reputation of being a very good scrummager, which was one of the main reasons that the Chiefs brought him in. I'm sure the Chiefs will want to keep him and add another to the list of one that got away from the Blues.
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@stargazer said in All Blacks Squad for France:
@kiwimurph I wonder what he adds, except an extra 30 kgs, what DLB doesn't. Same age; more SR experience.
You've got a good part of your answer right there.
Size matters in rugby and in some positions more than others. We've seen Hansen asking people like Coles to add several kilos to their frames.
DLB's internet stats have him being only the size of a big hooker and, not only that, when you see him on the field he looks like a small prop.
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@chris-b said in All Blacks Squad for France:
@bovidae Yep - he's a very good and destructive scrummager - but, he will struggle to get past Moody who is also an excellent scrummager, but also significantly bigger.
I'm not saying he will, just pointing out that DLB's lack of size won't be the only reason he was overlooked. And size doesn't translate into scrummaging power, e.g. Mackintosh.
We're building up some depth at prop when you bring back Laulala and add Moli and Ross to the mix.
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@bovidae Not the only reason, but an important one.
You will find plenty of fat club props running around - who have the size but aren't going to play for the ABs.
But, if you look at most of the props who've been picked for the ABs in recent times they've tended to be getting up around 120kgs. Some like Faumuina have been bigger.
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