AB squad for the Rugby Championship
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@Machpants said in AB squad for the Rugby Championship:
@sparky What you want or what you expect to see? Cos SBW is def in for Eden Park
Most guys have to excel to stay in the All Blacks.
SBW just has to get through games ( 3/4 of a game at that ) without injury or getting carded.
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@MN5 said in AB squad for the Rugby Championship:
@Machpants said in AB squad for the Rugby Championship:
@sparky What you want or what you expect to see? Cos SBW is def in for Eden Park
Most guys have to excel to stay in the All Blacks.
SBW just has to get through games ( 3/4 of a game at that ) without injury or getting carded.
Same goes for Owen Franks
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I just hope Ennor isn’t sent packing.
I see Hansen said crotty, Barrett.........and Perry were having scans on Monday.
Perry?!
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@sparky I think Will Jordan will have to wait until next year now. He's a bit unlucky, because drums were starting to beat for him until he was injured and he could have been equally in the frame as Ennor and Reece.
I assume SBW is retained in the 34 despite that they've said he won't play in Perth - which presumably means a combination of Laumape, ALB and Goodhue. Does that mean Ennor hangs around?
I think they'll cut a hooker, a prop, two loosies and an outside back. I don't think they will cut Jordie Barrett.
Aumua, Moli, Papali'i, Jacobson, Ennor (because they gave Reece the starting chance).
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Will Jordan's ability to accelerate while carrying the ball in two hands (as Ben Smith used to do) is special and could really test organised defences at RWC.
I suspect Jordie Barrett will make the cut for now, not least for his goalkicking.
Tim Perry makes sense for the 5th prop who can play both sides and if they are looking at him, the I suspect they have concerns about Karl T.
Shag rates SBW as the best athlete he has worked with and will pick him for RWC if at all fit.
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@KiwiMurph Yeah - Todd is a bit vulnerable, as is Fifita - but, Hansen appears to like both and Todd especially has played a lot of good tests for the ABs, where Dalton and Luke have minimal minutes.
My cuts would leave:
- Frizell, Fifita
- Cane, Todd
- Read, Savea
Lock/blindside - Hemopo
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@sparky I think if they were looking at Will Jordan he would have made the 39. But, if he stays fit I think he'll be there next year - he is very gifted.
I don't think Tim Perry can play both sides. I don't recall him ever playing tighthead - even for Ta$man.
Yeah - I still think Laumape will be the unlucky one, but if you listen to Hansen's comments on SBW he's started hedging his bets a bit. I don't think SBW is a mortal lock anymore - but, I'm sure they'll count all of SBW, ALB, Goodhue and Laumape as part of their 34.
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@Chris-B said in AB squad for the Rugby Championship:
Yeah - I still think Laumape will be the unlucky one, but if you listen to Hansen's comments on SBW he's started hedging his bets a bit. I don't think SBW is a mortal lock anymore - but, I'm sure they'll count all of SBW, ALB, Goodhue and Laumape as part of their 34.
Yeah, he wasn’t altogether that positive about it, but sending him to MTC doesn’t sound like an action you’d take unless he has a spot. It could and should be that they’ll evaluate who of Crotty and SBW is playing better (I.e., not injured) and take that person alongside the other three.
On the sixes - well, I honestly don’t know. I’ll try to do a rewatch today to see Frizell and Fifita’s impact. From what I saw, we’d be better finishing with Read, Ardie, and Cane. It’s tempting to start them, but I still think we need more size early though, as I don’t love our line out losing one jumping option. If that goes to pot early, we’d lose a lot of the extra workload benefit from not being able to secure set piece ball.
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@gt12 I think (when not injured) Crotty has been pretty much a first choice midfielder for the past three years. He's only once come off the bench and played the big tests. So the selectors know pretty much exactly where his form is - which is a fair bit different to SBW. In my view, if all five are fit it will come down to a choice between Laumape and SBW and I think Sonny will win that. But, I think the only guy who can really confidently buy some yen travellers cheques at present is probably Goodhue - though ALB can probably at least check out where the bank is.
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Edit: I'll be interested to see the details of Frizell's game if you get around to it.
@Stargazer Technically I don't think Crotty (or Scott Barrett) are part of the 34 - but, he's definitely a part of the midfield equation.
@Bovidae @Wurzel Crikey! Even though Tim Perry is a good Mako man, I think I'll be happier if he's playing for them!
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