AB RWC squad
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@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.
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@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.
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Forwards (17)
Laulala, Angus, Moody, Ofa, Franks
Coles, Taylor, Coltman
Whitelock, BBBR, SBarrett, Tuipolutou
Read, Savea, Cane, Todd + if available - Squire, if not - HemopoBacks (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 -
@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 - HemopoBacks (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, JBarrettI reckon that is about right. With the only question being whether it’s three 10s or 5 outside backs
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Few surprises but I went for the experience.
Forwards:
Hookers
Dane Coles
Keven Mealamu
Codie TaylorProps
Wyatt Crockett
Charlie Faumuina
Ben Franks
Owen Franks
Tony WoodcockLocks
Brodie Retallick
Luke Romano
Samuel WhitelockLoose forwards
Sam Cane
Jerome Kaino
Richie McCaw, captain
Liam Messam
Kieran Read
Victor VitoBacks:
Halfbacks
Tawera Kerr–Barlow
TJ Perenara
Aaron SmithFirst five–eighths
Beauden Barrett
Daniel Carter
Colin SladeMidfielders
Malakai Fekitoa
Ma’a Nonu
Conrad Smith
Sonny Bill WilliamsOutside backs
Nehe Milner-Skudder
Waisake Naholo
Julian Savea
Ben Smith -
@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.
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@Steven-Harris yeah and I wouldn't be surprised if we see him go overseas from his imminent non-inclusion.
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@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
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@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
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@Canes4life given 2 guys currently 'in front' of him will be gone next year, I hope he aint a sulky type
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@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.
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@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.
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@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?
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@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?
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@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
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@Machpants said in RWC squad. Who's in, who's out?:
@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
How did the 12 go last week?
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@Machpants said in RWC squad. Who's in, who's out?:
No idea my mind had been wiped
Hah. If mine serves me correctly I thought he was pretty not shit. On a level of this week's 12 who was surrounded by dominating players, unlike last week.
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Interesting to see plenty of people have elevated Bridge and Reece above Ioane and Smith on the back of one game. Even suggesting Smith and Ioane might not make the cut.
Just can’t see it myself. I don’t see the point in taking both Reece and Bridge with BB now playing at 15 and I don’t think those guys have done enough to go past Ioane or BFA and they don’t have the versatility of Jordie.
