2020 All Blacks Squad

[Crucial]

@Bones said in 2020 All Blacks Squad:

@ACT-Crusader said in 2020 All Blacks Squad:

@Bones said in 2020 All Blacks Squad:

@Crucial I just don't get why with 12s coming out our ears we would want to see a proven excellent 13 shifted.

Especially when we don’t have a plethora of 13s putting their hand up. If I were selecting for a test next week I’d go

12 Crotty
13 Goodhue

23 ALB Chief

Fixed

I'm surprised it wasn't

23 Ennor

[MN5]

@Crazy-Horse said in 2020 All Blacks Squad:

What about that McLeod guy from Canterbury? Never seen him play, but he's bloody good.

This is bullshit rugby chat of MN5 like proportions

[Nepia]

@Crucial said in 2020 All Blacks Squad:

@ACT-Crusader said in 2020 All Blacks Squad:

@Bones said in 2020 All Blacks Squad:

@Crucial I just don't get why with 12s coming out our ears we would want to see a proven excellent 13 shifted.

Especially when we don’t have a plethora of 13s putting their hand up. If I were selecting for a test next week I’d go

12 Crotty
13 Goodhue

23 ALB

How did I know that before you posted it?

@Crucial said in 2020 All Blacks Squad:

@ACT-Crusader said in 2020 All Blacks Squad:

@Bones said in 2020 All Blacks Squad:

@Crucial I just don't get why with 12s coming out our ears we would want to see a proven excellent 13 shifted.

Especially when we don’t have a plethora of 13s putting their hand up. If I were selecting for a test next week I’d go

12 Crotty
13 Goodhue

23 ALB

How did I know that before you posted it?

I was genuinely surprised with ALB being in that selection ... and then I remembered he's originally from Christchurch.

[Crucial]

@Nepia said in 2020 All Blacks Squad:

@Crucial said in 2020 All Blacks Squad:

@ACT-Crusader said in 2020 All Blacks Squad:

@Bones said in 2020 All Blacks Squad:

@Crucial I just don't get why with 12s coming out our ears we would want to see a proven excellent 13 shifted.

Especially when we don’t have a plethora of 13s putting their hand up. If I were selecting for a test next week I’d go

12 Crotty
13 Goodhue

23 ALB

How did I know that before you posted it?

@Crucial said in 2020 All Blacks Squad:

@ACT-Crusader said in 2020 All Blacks Squad:

@Bones said in 2020 All Blacks Squad:

@Crucial I just don't get why with 12s coming out our ears we would want to see a proven excellent 13 shifted.

Especially when we don’t have a plethora of 13s putting their hand up. If I were selecting for a test next week I’d go

12 Crotty
13 Goodhue

23 ALB

How did I know that before you posted it?

I was genuinely surprised with ALB being in that selection ... and then I remembered he's originally from Christchurch.

Since when has 'from Christchurch' been equal to 'a Cantab'

[Nepia]

@Crucial said in 2020 All Blacks Squad:

@Nepia said in 2020 All Blacks Squad:

@Crucial said in 2020 All Blacks Squad:

@ACT-Crusader said in 2020 All Blacks Squad:

@Bones said in 2020 All Blacks Squad:

@Crucial I just don't get why with 12s coming out our ears we would want to see a proven excellent 13 shifted.

Especially when we don’t have a plethora of 13s putting their hand up. If I were selecting for a test next week I’d go

12 Crotty
13 Goodhue

23 ALB

How did I know that before you posted it?

@Crucial said in 2020 All Blacks Squad:

@ACT-Crusader said in 2020 All Blacks Squad:

@Bones said in 2020 All Blacks Squad:

@Crucial I just don't get why with 12s coming out our ears we would want to see a proven excellent 13 shifted.

Especially when we don’t have a plethora of 13s putting their hand up. If I were selecting for a test next week I’d go

12 Crotty
13 Goodhue

23 ALB

How did I know that before you posted it?

I was genuinely surprised with ALB being in that selection ... and then I remembered he's originally from Christchurch.

Since when has 'from Christchurch' been equal to 'a Cantab'

Hey, I was just trying to rationalise it!

[cgrant]

@Crucial said in 2020 All Blacks Squad:

@ACT-Crusader said in 2020 All Blacks Squad:

@Bones said in 2020 All Blacks Squad:

@Crucial I just don't get why with 12s coming out our ears we would want to see a proven excellent 13 shifted.

Especially when we don’t have a plethora of 13s putting their hand up. If I were selecting for a test next week I’d go

12 Crotty
13 Goodhue

23 ALB

How did I know that before you posted it?

Remember the thread is about the All Blacks squad for 2020. I guess Ryan Crotty wouldn't be there anymore. So :

12. Laumape / J. Barrett / Havili / Goodhue
13. Goodhue / ALB / Ennor

Nankivell put up an outstanding display last week. Let's see if he can keep on performing like that.

[sparky]

Warren Gatland to return to Waikato as player.

26 years after the playing the last of his 140 games for Waikato, Wales Coach Warren Gatland (55) is eyeing a return to the Mooloo men but not in the role that many expected. "I want to play" said Gatland, "I'm sick to death of watching guys play Hooker for NZ Pro Rugby sides who can't throw straight, can't hook straight and have shit hands. I was watching Ricky Riccitelli and James Parsons play at the weekend and I thought I can do better than that and soon I'll get my chance. I have signed a contract to play for Waikato and NZRU from April 1st 2020"

Asked if he was too old and out of shape for the rigour of professional Rugby, Gatland replied "Nonsense, Brad Thorn was 72 years old when he stopped playing, compared to him I'm a spring chicken. I might be 34 years older than Asafo Aumua, but I'm pleased to announce that I outperformed him in recent fitness tests and unlike him I am able to pass a KFC without ordering five Family Buckets for myself."

As to the extent of ambitions, Warren Gatland is clear: "I want to play Hooker for the All Blacks in 2020. The starter this time. Sitting on the bench and watching Fitzy play all those games got kinda boring in the end. I kept hoping the dirty blighter would get sent off so I could get a Test run-on, but it never happened."

[sparky]

[gt12]

A flow up article about the status of current ABs:

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=12218144

[Tim]

@gt12 From the article.

Angus Ta'avo and Atu Moli are also signed for next year. The front row is well covered.

 Hookers

Dane Coles - 2021
Codie Taylor - 2021

Props
Joe Moody - 2022
Ofa Tu'ungafasi - 2021
Karl Tu'inukuafe - 2021
Nepo Laulala - 2020

Locks
Scott Barrett - 2020
Patrick Tuipulotu - 2020
Sam Whitelock - 2020 (if he takes up a one year extension option)

Loose forwards
Dalton Papalii - 2022
Sam Cane - 2021
Ardie Savea - 2021
Vaea Fifita - 2020

Halfbacks
TJ Perenara - 2021
Aaron Smith - 2021

Midfield backs
Ngani Laumape - 2021
Anton Lienert-Brown - 2020

Wings
Rieko Ioane - 2022

Utilities
Damian McKenzie - 2021

[gt12]

Assuming the article above is correct, a few names jump out, such as keeping Brodie, and probably Barrett:

Hookers = Good shape
Dane Coles - 2021
Codie Taylor - 2021

Props = Good shape
Joe Moody - 2022
Ofa Tu'ungafasi - 2021
Karl Tu'inukuafe - 2021
Nepo Laulala - 2020

Locks = worrying without BBBR
Scott Barrett - 2020
Patrick Tuipulotu - 2020
Sam Whitelock - 2020 (if he takes up a one year extension option)

Loose forwards = Pretty good as we have Ioane also signed I believe
Dalton Papalii - 2022
Sam Cane - 2021
Ardie Savea - 2021
Vaea Fifita - 2020

Halfbacks = Excellent shape
TJ Perenara - 2021
Aaron Smith - 2021

First fives = umm, zero? Dmac is rightly a utility. Need a signing here soon - either Mo'unga or Barrett

Midfield backs = OK, but must sign Goodhue
Ngani Laumape - 2021
Anton Lienert-Brown - 2020

Wings = this will be fine if we sign Bridge (with others coming)
Rieko Ioane - 2022

FB = none, but Dmac is signed and Jordan is coming with Jordie Barrett no doubt to be re-signed

Utilities = pretty good, given Dmac can cover 10/15
Damian McKenzie - 2021

[Tim]

@gt12 said in 2020 All Blacks Squad:

Loose forwards = Pretty good as we have Ioane also signed I believe

Ioane and Evans are signed, as well as prospects Jacobson and Gibson.

[gt12]

Haere ra list (I added Naholo then removed him)

Kieran Read (signed with Toyota Verblitz, Japan)
Owen Franks (signed with Northampton)
Ben Smith (signed with Pau, turned down one year NZR option extension)
Liam Squire (signed with Red Hurricanes, Japan)
Jordan Taufua (signed with Leicester)
Jackson Hemopo (signed with DynaBoars, Japan, for 2020)
Luke Whitelock (signed with Pau)
Nehe Milner-Skudder (signed with Toulon)

[Stargazer]

@gt12 Naholo? Nothing confirmed about him leaving. Only a few rumours.

[gt12]

@Stargazer said in 2020 All Blacks Squad:

@gt12 Naholo? Nothing confirmed about him leaving. Only a few rumours.

Cheers, edited accordingly.

[gt12]

My question - who of these gets the money?

Hell yes

Brodie Retallick
Beauden Barrett / Richie Mo'unga
Jack Goodhue

Yes

Shannon Frizell
Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi
Jordie Barrett
Nathan Harris

Thanks for the memories

Ryan Crotty (could also be a question mark)
Sonny Bill Williams
Kane Hames
Israel Dagg

Question marks

Matt Todd (he's still very good, even though we are well served at 7)
Liam Coltman (there aren't that many good hookers around)
Waisake Naholo (Rumored to be off anyway)

[Stargazer]

@gt12 Or to phrase it differently:

Likely to take Japanese sabbaticals if they re-sign with NZR:
Retallick
B Barrett
S Whitelock
possibly: Todd (if he doesn't go overseas entirely)

Won't go anywhere:
Mo'unga
Goodhue
Frizell
Tahuriorang
J Barrett

Does anyone really care?
Harris
Coltman

Other test-capped players (I may have missed some):
Perry (off contract)
Lomax (2020)
Evans (2020)
Hunt (?)
Bridge (2022)
Havili (2021))
Drummond (2020
Cameron (??)

Non-test capped players
Aumua (2021)
Moli (2020, wait and see whether he can reach the required level again after his long-term injury)
A Ioane (2021)
Duffie (off-contract)

Subjective, but on current form/fitness, it's hard to see Moli, Duffie, Drummond and Cameron make the squad any time soon, but that can obviously change.

[sparky]

All Blacks whose deals run out in 2019:

2019

Brodie Retallick: Likely to re-sign, sabbatical in Japan
Jack Goodhue: Almost certain to re-sign
Beauden Barrett: Likely to re-sign, sabbatical in Japan.
Ryan Crotty: Strongly linked with move to Bath or Japan.
Jordie Barrett: Almost certain to re-sign
Richie Mo'unga: Likely to re-sign
Sonny Bill Williams: Almost certain to leave. Bath, Saracens and Bristol interested.
Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi: Likely to re-sign
Liam Coltman: ?????????
Nathan Harris: Wasps are interested.
Kane Hames: ?????????
Shannon Frizell: ???????
Waisake Naholo: Almost certainly off to London Irish, interest from Wasps.
Matt Todd: Probably off to Japan
Luke Romano: Interest from Sale and Bristol.
Sam Whitelock (Has one year extension): Probably off to France.

[sparky]

[cgrant]

It will be interesting to see who will get the nod as the starting THP after the RWC, with long serving Owen Franks off to Northampton.
Ofa-T and Laulala are the obvious choices but I think Tyrell Lomax could be the man. He has made a lot of progress this year and looks like a young Carl Hayman. His physicality cannot be questioned and he is not subject to brain explosions as Ofa-T is.
And there is Atu Moli. How will he recover from his injuries is the big question.