2019 Rugby Championship

[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.

[KiwiMurph]

It will be interesting to see who comes in the AB squad announced tonight to replace Crotty and S Barrett.

My first thought is they might lean on bringing in a 13 rather than a 12 to replace Crotty as they already have plenty of cover for 12 (ALB, Laumape, SBW, Goodhue can play 12) whereas not as much at 13.

The names that come to mind for 13 would be Ennor or Proctor.

For Barrett I'd assume they'd replace him with a lock (rather than a 6) so someone like IWL, Franklin or Parkinson?

[Stargazer]

@KiwiMurph If he's not already in, Havili might be another option, as he can cover both 12 and 15, and has a great boot.

For Barrett, they might also fall back on Romano, especially because it's only a temporary replacement.