AB RWC squad
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@Chris-B said in RWC squad. Who's in, who's out?:
@gt12 Who knows.
They cut him in the first round of cuts and Hansen's comments at the time made it seem like it wasn't going to be easy for those guys to make it back in.
Wouldn't surprise me if they've got Cron on a near full time assignment helping Ta'avao improve as a loosehead.
I thought his cut was due to game time reasons more than a straight you're gone.
Is Crockzilla still playing? Is he the token homegrown player in the Invitational XV?
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@gt12 I just read this on the stuff website as well.
On reflection, I think these guys are going to be right (I think they've all picked the same eight players).
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@Nepia Wyatt did his calf (I think) in the warm-up vs Otago.
Ta$man has a heap of homegrown players and just about everyone else in the squad made their provincial debuts for Ta$man.
Being the smartest people in New Zealand makes us excellent recruiters.
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@sparky said in RWC squad. Who's in, who's out?:
Moli will make it as extra loosehead cover. Karl T is not fit enough. One of Franks and Ta'aevo isn't going.
Looseheads: Moody, Ofa T, Moli
Tightheads: Moody, Franks/Ta'aevo, Ofa T.They'll only take 5 tho, and 4 locks this time cos BBBR, so not 3 each
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Did you watch any of those games? He got fucking owned.
My problem isn't him playing against Canada - my problem is if Moody or Ofa get injured on the day of a game and he has to play against SA or Ireland etc.
We should just take two THs, two LHs, and Ofa.
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@gt12 Can't really disagree with you - but, seems like we're struggling to find that second specialist loosehead.
I'm picking they've got Cron working intensively with Angus and that's their preferred option.
But, that's mainly based on Hansen saying that tighthead, six and the midfield have been the biggest selection challenges.
Maybe they've locked in Moli or Karl, but somehow it doesn't seem like it.
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Well Josh Ioane sent a message to the coaches with a very good performance tonight. Looked almost Cruden-esque.
Positive sign when a young kid spends time in the AB camp and goes back to his provincial team and plays well.
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So Frank Bunce wouldn’t pick an ageing SBW. Hypocrisy has no bounds...
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@Duluth said in RWC squad. Who's in, who's out?:
There's a lot of assumptions in your post
If the story I heard is true and the situation has improved to the point he is allowed to tour - that's great.
I wouldn't assume it would affect his form on the field going forward.If he's available, it's just a matter of deciding if he is a better option than Fafita (or whoever else misses out)
I'll defer to you as I know nothing of the issue, although the "allowed to tour" sounds ominous, but that it will not effect his ability/form is good.
Hansen's policy of trusting (some senior) player's call on issues like this and other injuries has paid dividends in the past. Whether Squire has earned the right to call his own shot on this one (again totally ignorant of what it is) is debatable.
Don't rate Fifita. Don't rate Squire enough to take him with virtually a year out of international rugby. I guess I'd take Fifita if just for some entertaining moments in pool play.
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@Chris-B said in RWC squad. Who's in, who's out?:
@gt12 Can't really disagree with you - but, seems like we're struggling to find that second specialist loosehead.
I'm picking they've got Cron working intensively with Angus and that's their preferred option.
But, that's mainly based on Hansen saying that tighthead, six and the midfield have been the biggest selection challenges.
Maybe they've locked in Moli or Karl, but somehow it doesn't seem like it.
If you follow this line of logic through there needs to be a back up for each of TH and LH and who can step in against Poms/Boks if either of top pair injured. I can live with Ofa starting at TH against Poms, but not game at LH.
Which means another 'starter level' LH and that is Karl. Against Wales/Oz/Scotland etc. Ofa on bench as LH is fine and provides impact. Against Poms/Boks Karl is big enough to make impact off bench and his lack of pace not a biggee over 30 minutes. Ofa would be TH bench. Those two provide BIG impact.
On the TH it would logically mean one of Owen/Nepo to start and one of Nepo/Angus on bench when Ofa covering LH.
Hard to go past Angus for impact, so if I were selecting it'd be one of Nepo or Owen who missed out.Tough calls.
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@pakman Yeah - and I'd be happy enough with that logic, but I'm struggling to get around that they cut Karl from the squad, so it seems he's on the outer.
It would be interesting to know what they're seeing inside the camp in regard to these guys. They'll have a great deal more information than us. I'd think prop is the hardest position to pick from the TV?
