2019 Rugby Championship

[pukunui]

@mofitzy_ said in 2019 Rugby Championship:

It's a shame there is no standout at 6 because seeing Squires name doesn't fill me with confidence. Would rather see 4-5 guys over him.

Agreed. This Super rugby season frustatingly offered no answers to the AB 6 question.

Squire hardly played snd when he did, he did something stupid and got carded and killed off his teams season.

Frizzel started the season really well but then got dropped.

Hemopo was decent but mainly played at lock (as far as i know).

Whitelock was tried there and was forgettable.

Taufua lost his starting spot to Douglas so wasn’t able to prove much.

Fifita was mainly anonymous. Most memorable thing he did was get suspended for a couple of weeks.

Papalii was mostly riding the pine behind big red and when he did play wasn’t really a stand out.

Akira didn’t show anything that duggested he could fill that spot. Was played into the ground and his performances tailed off badly in tve second half of the comp.

Robinson, Elliot Dixon and Jacobsen all had their moments but not enough to force their way into the conversation.

So in summary. 6 is still the biggest hole in the AB squad. We at least have a few contenders for the 14 jersey now.

[ACT Crusader]

@Jaguares4real said in 2019 Rugby Championship:

@mariner4life

Not liking that Combo at all!!!

Squire is a typical Highlanders journeyman forward with Honorable exceptions for Frizell & Coltman

Hemepo not back until 2021 & Lomax is moving north to Wellington

Squire as well as being injure prone is a bit of a meathead prone to poor discipline

That’s quite funny that a Puma’s fan is telling us about meathead forwards. You do know why most Argentinian’s went to France to play, so they could get away with all their cheap shots 😎

As for my 6,7,8 it’s not my preferred but given Hansen is a big fan of Squire and Ardie will be our bench man, I think this will be a simulated WC run.

I like Hemopo’s game and would prefer him at blindside.

[Bones]

If they're happy with Hemopo going overseas and being in black then he has to be there. Papalii is a bit the forgotten man eh, but thought he was quite impressive playing a tighter more kainoesque role. Would quite like to see him in the mix.

[mofitzy_]

@Bones
A year in Japan isn't too much of a concern. They will certainly pick other guys doing similar.

[Machpants]

@pukunui Yeah that's a good summary

[taniwharugby]

@pukunui said in 2019 Rugby Championship:

Akira didn’t show anything that duggested he could fill that spot.

would have been nice to see him run at 6, reckon the way the ABs play, he would fit in superbly well as a wide ranging loose forward, and with his pace and power would be a real weapon out wide.

[Bovidae]

@Stargazer said in 2019 Rugby Championship:

Just in case you missed it:

The first All Blacks squad of 2019 will be named next Tuesday on the Breakdown (Sky Sport 1, 8.30pm).

LIsted as live from 7:00 - 8:30 pm on SS1.

Getting further away from Thursday.

[Stargazer]

@Bovidae Yep, an earlier time than the usual starting time of the Breakdown. I wonder whether they'll also announce the Māori All Blacks squad?

[rotated]

@Gunner said in 2019 Rugby Championship:

If they pick Rueben Whitelock over Savea I will lose my shit.

As captain? Or just in general?

[Bovidae]

@Stargazer I would say so but the focus will be on the AB squad. The Maori actually play a week earlier so an enlarged AB squad will further reduce their options.

I'll watch my first episode of Breakdown this year.

[Stargazer]

@Bovidae I'd wonder whether some of the All Blacks that haven't played many minutes this year or are coming back from injury, will play the first MABs game, if they are eligible. Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, for example. Maybe Hemopo, too.

I actually looked at the possible MABs squad, and I think it won't be too difficult to select a squad, even with an elarged AB squad. It will be very similar to last year. I'll post something in the Māori All Blacks thread.

[Bovidae]

@Stargazer I wrote something before seeing your post.

[Stargazer]

@Bovidae I'm turning mine into a blog post. It's a bit longer than a thread post.

[Duluth]

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/news/article.cfm?c_id=80&objectid=12245516

[Stargazer]

@Duluth Hmmm, another article without any (new) info. Patrick McKendry is really a click-bait sports journo, who rarely writes anything interesting. I wish you could see who the author is before clicking on an article.

[Gunner]

@rotated said in 2019 Rugby Championship:

@Gunner said in 2019 Rugby Championship:

If they pick Rueben Whitelock over Savea I will lose my shit.

As captain? Or just in general?

Just in general

[cgrant]

Tu'inukuafa has not played for a while now. So the loosehead could be given to Atu Moli who had a big late season.

[taniwharugby]

so, Crotty out for upto 8 weeks, Scott Barrett upto 6...both with breaks in thier hands.

Changes things.

[Stargazer]

@taniwharugby Bad news, but at least both will be back in time for the RWC.

[Stargazer]

@nzzp said in 2019 Rugby Championship:

@taniwharugby said in 2019 Rugby Championship:

so, Crotty out for upto 8 weeks, Scott Barrett upto 6...both with breaks in thier hands.

Changes things.

@Jaguares4real will be bullish now 🙂

Made a massive difference when they went off

Won't make much of a difference to the Pumas' chances in the Rugby Championship (the thread we're in). Crotty and Barrett wouldn't have made the trip to Buenos Aires anyway.