World Cup Squad Positions
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@sparky said in World Cup Squad Positions:
@Paj said in World Cup Squad Positions:
Got a weekend coming up with a few mates and we have to bring our WC Squad predictions.
Are your mates called Shag, Foz and Foxy? If so, we got ourselves a scoop.
Finally TSF gets the recognition it deserves.
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@Paj Nooooo keep TJ as half back please. Don't want hime near the 10 jersey. Can see the thinking, but nooooo. Otherwise we may as well move Rieko to centre...oh wait
Guess it will come down to whether taking 3 halfbacks are more important than 3 first fives, on the back of skill-set, goal-kicking etc.
Hate it when we make light of Namibia and Canada, they will be all out to do some damage. for sure -
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@ACT-Crusader said in World Cup Squad Positions:
@Paj said in World Cup Squad Positions:
Got a weekend coming up with a few mates and we have to bring our WC Squad predictions.
got a few ideas, but need a few thoughts on breakdown of squad in what think will be position wise?
3 hookers, two 1st fives etc?
Thoughts?
Is this spam? 😀
If it’s 31, it might be something like:
3 x hookers
5 x props
4 x locks
5 x loosies3 x halfbacks
2 x 1st 5’s
4 x midfielders
4 x outside backsI think there will be flexibility with some of those back positions.
I reckon that mix is the most likely as well.
One other option I would consider is losing a midfielder for a loosie but as the midfield probably has to include SBW and Crotty and Goodhue plus the versatility of ALB, I doubt that would be considered for long.
2 Halfbacks AND 2 10s would be a big risk. -
@Crucial said in World Cup Squad Positions:
2 Halfbacks AND 2 10s would be a big risk.
Hansen said they were thinking of taking two halfbacks, but now DMac is injured they will definitely take three. The last back position is a 4th outside back or 3rd first-five.
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@Crucial On the other hand, I reckon that mix is no chance.
There's only 30 players.
I hope Sparky's mix is right and they take 3 first fives.
I can't really see Ennor displacing SBW (and Laumape), despite that he would give an additional wing option. I think it's more likely that we might see Lienert Brown given a run on the wing during TRC.
Lomax can't displace Laulala - he's required by the Mako!
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I don't think for a second that they'll take four specialist locks. Three and a utility, or two and two utilities. But these are just labels really.
The biggest variable in this mix for mine is how much faith they have in Barrett being able to play blindside.
They'll obviously take Whitelock, Retallick and Barrett and then probably one of Fifita and Hemopo. You could say that's three and a utility, or two and two utilities. There's a chance they'll take Tuipulotu and Barrett could take the Fifita/Hemopo spot.
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This is my first lick at a squad all year, I think. And this is who I think they'll pick. If I'm really unsure between two players, I've picked who I'd pick:
Taylor
Coles
Coltman (could easily be Harris)Moody LH
Karl T LH
Franks TH
Laulala TH
Ofa T TH LHRetallick
S Whitelock
S BarrettFifita BF L
Squire BF
Cane OF
Savea OF
Read 8
L Whitelock 8 BFA Smith
Perenara
DrummondB Barrett
Mo'unga
J IoaneALB 12 13
Crotty 12 13
SBW 12
Goodhue 13J Barrett W FB
R Ioane W
Bridge W
B Smith W FBI think they'll go safety first in several situations. Number 8 cover is one, where I don't think they'll use Savea except maybe as game day cover. I'm super keen on Ennor going, but I think they'll take the four proven performers in midfield and Bridge (who I don't consider a FB option at the highest level yet, same as Goodhue at 12) will be the fourth outside back, or Naholo.
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@shark said in World Cup Squad Positions:
I don't think for a second that they'll take four specialist locks.
I think they almost certainly will; Whitelock, Rettalick, Barrett and probably Patty T.
Rettalick and Whitelock are on a shortlist of players who would be given the Richie treatment and retained in the squad if they picked up a serious injury with a questionable prognosis where they might be able to return later in the tournament. I'll take either at 85% with a five week layoff in a potential semi-final and final over most other options. The selectors are unlikely to put themselves in a situation where they could be forced to make a call to send either one home because of inadequate cover. Along those lines Chicago was a good reality check on how grim things can be without legitimate locking.
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@rotated said in World Cup Squad Positions:
@shark said in World Cup Squad Positions:
I don't think for a second that they'll take four specialist locks.
I think they almost certainly will; Whitelock, Rettalick, Barrett and probably Patty T.
Rettalick and Whitelock are on a shortlist of players who would be given the Richie treatment and retained in the squad if they picked up a serious injury with a questionable prognosis where they might be able to return later in the tournament. I'll take either at 85% with a five week layoff in a potential semi-final and final over most other options. The selectors are unlikely to put themselves in a situation where they could be forced to make a call to send either one home because of inadequate cover. Along those lines Chicago was a good reality check on how grim things can be without legitimate locking.
Add to that their apparent satisfaction with Barrett as a blindside if required.
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@antipodean said in World Cup Squad Positions:
Add to that their apparent satisfaction with Barrett as a blindside if required.
Contrasted with their explicit dissatisfaction when Fifita is selected as a lock.
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@rotated said in World Cup Squad Positions:
I think they almost certainly will; Whitelock, Rettalick, Barrett and probably Patty T.
The coaches seem to rate Tuipulotu higher than TSF users do
I suspect he'll be on the bench against sides like Ireland/England etc. They've always commented on his ability to bend the line (assuming he doesn't drop the ball..)
However if one Whitelock/Retallick is injured, Barrett comes straight into the starting xv.
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@shark said in World Cup Squad Positions:
I don't think for a second that they'll take four specialist locks. Three and a utility, or two and two utilities. But these are just labels really.
The biggest variable in this mix for mine is how much faith they have in Barrett being able to play blindside.
They'll obviously take Whitelock, Retallick and Barrett and then probably one of Fifita and Hemopo. You could say that's three and a utility, or two and two utilities. There's a chance they'll take Tuipulotu and Barrett could take the Fifita/Hemopo spot.
I think they'll take four locks because they'll be reasonably confident in Barrett as a blindside option. I think the big game plan for locks and loosies will be:
Retallick plays 80
Whitelock probably plays 80
e.g. Squire - plays 50
Cane plays 80
Read plays 80Barrett covers lock and blindside if necessary - comes on if one of locks gets injured or fades. Or if we need height in the lineout - or if one of our 80 minute loosies is fading.
Ardie covers all three loosie positions plays 30 -
I agree that selectors likely to shoot for four locks, which means Patty T competing with Hemopo. Also expect that they'll go with two 10s and look for a fullback who can play 10 against Canada. Jordie seems to have the inside running. As for Luke W, he only gets in if Read is crocked. More likely he's only a plane trip away.
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@Duluth Well Blues players are hardly the most loved on this forum haha (apart from Rieko) but yeah, Pat's fitness seems to have improved a lot this season and is looking a lot busier around the field. He's certainly hitting much harder in the tackle to go with his strong ball carrying.
