AB RWC squad

Crucial

@canefan said in RWC squad. Who's in, who's out?:

A few boys whose futures weren't assured punched their tickets to Japan tonight. Bridge, Reece, SBW, Patty T all rocked. Laumape looks like just missing out, JB strengthened his case with a nice cameo. The picture feels like its becoming clearer

I think Laumape will get the nod over an unlucky Crotty. Would be pretty unfair to ditch a guy doing nothing wrong for someone who hasn’t played and may take time to get up to speed.
Also, if SBW is the game plan for the midfield balance then Laumape is a better like for like.

Back three will be interesting. I guess that BB allows an extra because he counts as a 10 but with Bender not likely to be dropped there is room for 3 more from Rieko, JB, Bridge and Reece. (Ennor not required)
I’m pretty sure Reece is the X factor that always pops up just before the RWC. The TWM will know more about Rieko’s headspace and whether he has hit a wall very early (lesson learned from Julian Savea?) but without him we lack punch should Reece get injured and Bridge is also then the only real left wing option.
That kind of points to only one of Bridge and JB going.

taniwharugby

@Crucial said in RWC squad. Who's in, who's out?:

I think Laumape will get the nod over an unlucky Crotty. Would be pretty unfair to ditch a guy doing nothing wrong for someone who hasn’t played and may take time to get up to speed.

Crotty get up to speed? He is all class, if fit I can't see him being left behind.

SBW didn't break last night, so will he be on ice v Tonga so his seat for Japan is booked.

ACT Crusader

I don’t see much similarity in Laumape and Sonny’s game. All of our midfielders take on the line but Sonny is a far more subtle than Laumape.

Frank

@Crucial said in RWC squad. Who's in, who's out?:

@canefan said in RWC squad. Who's in, who's out?:

A few boys whose futures weren't assured punched their tickets to Japan tonight. Bridge, Reece, SBW, Patty T all rocked. Laumape looks like just missing out, JB strengthened his case with a nice cameo. The picture feels like its becoming clearer

I think Laumape will get the nod over an unlucky Crotty. Would be pretty unfair to ditch a guy doing nothing wrong for someone who hasn’t played and may take time to get up to speed.
Also, if SBW is the game plan for the midfield balance then Laumape is a better like for like.

Back three will be interesting. I guess that BB allows an extra because he counts as a 10 but with Bender not likely to be dropped there is room for 3 more from Rieko, JB, Bridge and Reece. (Ennor not required)
I’m pretty sure Reece is the X factor that always pops up just before the RWC. The TWM will know more about Rieko’s headspace and whether he has hit a wall very early (lesson learned from Julian Savea?) but without him we lack punch should Reece get injured and Bridge is also then the only real left wing option.
That kind of points to only one of Bridge and JB going.

No way Bender is now first choice 15.
No way George Bridge isn't going.

No Quarter

@taniwharugby said in RWC squad. Who's in, who's out?:

@Crucial said in RWC squad. Who's in, who's out?:

I think Laumape will get the nod over an unlucky Crotty. Would be pretty unfair to ditch a guy doing nothing wrong for someone who hasn’t played and may take time to get up to speed.

Crotty get up to speed? He is all class, if fit I can't see him being left behind.

SBW didn't break last night, so will he be on ice v Tonga so his seat for Japan is booked.

Agree, Crotty is pretty used to coming off injury breaks and looking class.

He doesn’t make my 23 at the moment but he’s a great man to have in the squad for both on and off-field reasons. If we lose a midfielder to injury at the business end of the tournament he is the only player I want slotting in.

Chris B.

@Crucial It's a pretty brutal game, because there will be a couple who will be very unlucky to miss out.

I think Laumape will be the unlucky one in the midfield, because I can't really recall a big game selection where he's been a preferred choice. Whereas, it wouldn't surprise me if Hansen's first choice midfield is still SBW and Crotty.

Real question is who is the second choice second five if SBW gets injured - Ngani needs it to be him, but I'm not sure it is.

In the outside backs, seems like there's plenty thinking it will be Bridge, Reece, Ben Smith, Rieko and Jordie - plus Beauden. And it could be. But my question is - what is Jordie's role? Third choice fullback? Someone who can play wing at a pinch against the minnows (we've got four specialists)? Someone who can play in the midfield at a pinch (against the minnows) (we've got four specialist midfielders)?

I can't see that he offers more value than Josh Ioane, who could end up having a crucial role if either Mo'unga or Beauden get injured.

westcoastie

Forwards (17)
Laulala, Angus, Moody, Ofa, Franks
Coles, Taylor, Coltman
Whitelock, BBBR, SBarrett, Tuipolutou
Read, Savea, Cane, Todd + if available - Squire, if not - Hemopo

Backs (14)
TJP, Aaron, Weber
Mounga, BB (TJP could play 10 against minnows - no coincidence he played some time at 10 during Super Rugby)
SBW, ALB, Goodhue +1 (I want Laumape, but suspect Crotty)
Bridge, Reece, Rieko, Bender, JBarrett

Crucial

@westcoastie said in RWC squad. Who's in, who's out?:

Forwards (17)
Laulala, Angus, Moody, Ofa, Franks
Coles, Taylor, Coltman
Whitelock, BBBR, SBarrett, Tuipolutou
Read, Savea, Cane, Todd + if available - Squire, if not - Hemopo

Backs (14)
TJP, Aaron, Weber
Mounga, BB (TJP could play 10 against minnows - no coincidence he played some time at 10 during Super Rugby)
SBW, ALB, Goodhue +1 (I want Laumape, but suspect Crotty)
Bridge, Reece, Rieko, Bender, JBarrett

I reckon that is about right. With the only question being whether it’s three 10s or 5 outside backs

Magpie_in_aus

Few surprises but I went for the experience.

Forwards:

Hookers
Dane Coles
Keven Mealamu
Codie Taylor

Props
Wyatt Crockett
Charlie Faumuina
Ben Franks
Owen Franks
Tony Woodcock

Locks
Brodie Retallick
Luke Romano
Samuel Whitelock

Loose forwards
Sam Cane
Jerome Kaino
Richie McCaw, captain
Liam Messam
Kieran Read
Victor Vito

Backs:

Halfbacks
Tawera Kerr–Barlow
TJ Perenara
Aaron Smith

First five–eighths
Beauden Barrett
Daniel Carter
Colin Slade

Midfielders
Malakai Fekitoa
Ma’a Nonu
Conrad Smith
Sonny Bill Williams

Outside backs
Nehe Milner-Skudder
Waisake Naholo
Julian Savea
Ben Smith

Steven Harris

@Chris-B if body language was anything to go by at the end of last nights game..watching Laumape when he was in some of the background shots, I reckon he’s already been told..just an observation..hes bloody unlucky, he would be in every other World Cup country squad.

Canes4life

@Steven-Harris yeah and I wouldn't be surprised if we see him go overseas from his imminent non-inclusion.

Steven Harris

@Canes4life did you sense that as well..?,did not look to have that real excitement of having just retained the Bledisloe and being part of a superb performance

canefan

@Canes4life said in RWC squad. Who's in, who's out?:

@Steven-Harris yeah and I wouldn't be surprised if we see him go overseas from his imminent non-inclusion.

I hope not. He will be a shoe in for the ABs next year if he keeps his form up. He is young, he has time

taniwharugby

@Canes4life given 2 guys currently 'in front' of him will be gone next year, I hope he aint a sulky type

Stargazer

@Canes4life Laumape is signed through to 2021. Unless he has an outclause, he isn't going anywhere any time soon. He turns 28 in 2021, though, so unless he firmly owns that 12 jersey by then, I can't see him stay for the next RWC.

Two years is a long time; time enough to grab that jersey, but also to lose it.

Bones

@Steven-Harris said in RWC squad. Who's in, who's out?:

@Chris-B if body language was anything to go by at the end of last nights game..watching Laumape when he was in some of the background shots, I reckon he’s already been told..just an observation..hes bloody unlucky, he would be in every other World Cup country squad.

Yeah I thought it was striking how glum Laumape looked while he was waiting to sub on, didn't looked to be enthused about going on at all - I figured because he'd just watched SBW not stink up the joint.

For mine, while SBW had an adequate game, I really didn't see anything from him to make him stand out. Lost the ball once or twice too, didn't he? I noticed he's really poor at making the ball available when tackled, which leads to slow/sloppy/turnover ball. Scored a try that I'd back Laumape to waltz in. Any other good points that aren't easily covered by other midfielders? Laumape strikes me as the better bench man too.

Crazy Horse

@Bones I agree re SBW. He was ok, but he didn't do anything exceeding what one would expect from a 12 on a wet day. He did get caught out a couple of times on defence I thought.

The conditions and the game style suited him because he didn't need to do much ball playing. I still think he stifles the backline when they are trying to play expansively. Maybe the duel playmaking between Mo'unga and Barrett will negate the need for SBW to do it?

Machpants

@Crucial no way we're taking Josh, need be in the squad otherwise

Bones

@Crazy-Horse yeah, I'm intrigued to see him being picked for POTM just because he wasn't shit. Is that what we want from 12?

Machpants

@Bones said in RWC squad. Who's in, who's out?:

@Crazy-Horse yeah, I'm intrigued to see him being picked for POTM just because he wasn't shit. Is that what we want from 12?

Not many managed it last week

The Silver Fern

AB RWC squad