All Blacks Squad for France
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@tim I was just about to post that!
Has this been posted?
Why Ben Lam missed out on All Blacks spot
All Blacks head coach Steve Hansen has cleared up questions regarding the omission of Hurricanes wing Ben Lam from the national squad to take on France next month.
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@bones said in All Blacks Squad for France:
@tim I was just about to post that!
Has this been posted?
Why Ben Lam missed out on All Blacks spot
All Blacks head coach Steve Hansen has cleared up questions regarding the omission of Hurricanes wing Ben Lam from the national squad to take on France next month.
'Player doesn't get picked because incumbents have been there and done that'
Shit, what a scoop.
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@bones said in All Blacks Squad for France:
@tim I was just about to post that!
Has this been posted?
Why Ben Lam missed out on All Blacks spot
All Blacks head coach Steve Hansen has cleared up questions regarding the omission of Hurricanes wing Ben Lam from the national squad to take on France next month.
From the quotes in that, which could just be selective, it sounds like Lam was in direct competition with Reiko and Naholo and not so much NMS.
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@bovidae said in All Blacks Squad for France:
@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.
More than just reputation. He conducted himself well against Wilco Louw (Stormers) and Forearm Franks, whom I'm sure was asked his opinion by the AB selectors. In fact a step up in this department from Perry.
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@stargazer said in All Blacks Squad for France:
"including All Blacks' test series against France". WTF, they're dropping like flies!
Cue Todd training with squad as precaution. Crafty AB selectors getting 35 in squad for price of 32 -- cake and?
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@broughie said in All Blacks Squad for France:
@stargazer Because we need to develop the squad. Crockett has retired. Next please.
One area the French team isn't injury weakened is prop. It could be a steep 'learning'?!
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@pakman said in All Blacks Squad for France:
@bovidae said in All Blacks Squad for France:
@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.
More than just reputation. He conducted himself well against Wilco Louw (Stormers) and Forearm Franks, whom I'm sure was asked his opinion by the AB selectors. In fact a step up in this department from Perry.
Doesn't say much for our Super rugby selectors if that's the case.
Actually, I thought Perry went pretty well against Tu'ungafasi, which was what (I think) you were billing as his AB audition?
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@chris-b said in All Blacks Squad for France:
@pakman said in All Blacks Squad for France:
@bovidae said in All Blacks Squad for France:
@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.
More than just reputation. He conducted himself well against Wilco Louw (Stormers) and Forearm Franks, whom I'm sure was asked his opinion by the AB selectors. In fact a step up in this department from Perry.
Actually, I thought Perry went pretty well against Tu'ungafasi, which was what (I think) you were billing as his AB audition?
Not me. Ofa is a great athlete, but borderline at scrum time. And check out his twitter photo -- he's the shrimp of the family!!! -
@arhs said in All Blacks Squad for France:
Poirot is suspended and unavailable isn't he? And Ben Arous and Gomes Sa likely to be involved in French final. If they are, it might be a good time to try out Tuinukuafe as France may be down 3 leading props.
Yes, Poirot out -- but isn't he a LH?
Slimani will probably be the starting TH, and a bloody good one, but Moody will be there to deal with him. Antonio likely off the bench. I expect Ofa to get bench LH in first, and probably second test, but if Tuinukuafe did come up against Antonio he's not renowned as a good scrummager at international level. They could exchange Wesley College 'pleasantries' though!
By third test, Gomes Sa will be in side. Very mobile prop, and although not a technician his strength and bulk make him no slouch at scrum time.
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@pakman said in All Blacks Squad for France:
@arhs said in All Blacks Squad for France:
Poirot is suspended and unavailable isn't he? And Ben Arous and Gomes Sa likely to be involved in French final. If they are, it might be a good time to try out Tuinukuafe as France may be down 3 leading props.
Yes, Poirot out -- but isn't he a LH?
Slimani will probably be the starting TH, and a bloody good one, but Moody will be there to deal with him. Antonio likely off the bench. I expect Ofa to get bench LH in first, and probably second test, but if Tuinukuafe did come up against Antonio he's not renowned as a good scrummager at international level. They could exchange Wesley College 'pleasantries' though!
By third test, Gomes Sa will be in side. Very mobile prop, and although not a technician his strength and bulk make him no slouch at scrum time.
That's a shame. I bet he could solve a lot of problems for them.
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All the talk about Akira - shit I'm more bloody worried we only have 2 fit hookers - with the news that Coles is expected to spend more time on the sidelines. Plus even though Harris pulled out a decent game on the weekend against the Tahs, not sure I want him starting a test against France.
I know Coltman has been traing with the ABs as reserve - but he wasn't sighted for the Landers against the Reds (injury/rest) - and he seems to share the starting spot when he is named to play (rotation or otherwise?) with Dixon.
I can't see what the selectorial fisheads see in Coltman, for mine, (and Riccitelli didn't do himself any favours against the Saders) I would rather see them put energy into the bustling Makalio or even Matt Moulds, who seems to have an authority about him. Coltman doesn't convince me, and I'm sure he won't have the French scrum quaking in their boots. Id like to see some effort put into development of some of these younger guys in specialist positions - it wouldn't do them any harm - and I'd say do them a power of good to include them with the squad training with the ABs.
Anybody else have concerns over hooker - will Coles even make it to the RWC? If he doesn't I'd like to think someone other than Coltman will be there. -
@shadowtrooper My take is that selectors see their three hookers as Coles/Taylor/Harris, with Aumua being 'developed' to take over from Coles after the RWC. Fine as long as Coles recovers?!
I'm more concerned about TH. We seem to have only two international grade scrummaging props (Forearm Franks and Laulala), and two passable but mobile THs (Ofa & JTA). I must say I've been impressed recently at scrum by Ta'avao, whom I never rated previously.
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@pakman I agree with you on Ta'avao, maybe the Chiefs should just draft in all the Blues unwanted players??!
Don't forget we also have Tu'inakuafe - and Hames should com back into the mix at LH.
Do you not rate Ala'alatoa at TH? Some work-ons maybe, but he could be a factor in 2019. -
@shadowtrooper said in All Blacks Squad for France:
Ta'avao
1.94m 124kg apparently. I did not realize he was such a big lad. -
@shadowtrooper So far I think Ala'alatoa has suffered in comparison with Forearm Franks. Seems a good all-rounder, and the time in the Chch prop factory can only make him better. Two more years and who knows?
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