All Blacks XV - New second tier team

[Duluth]

Finally

It's crazy that the JAB's last played in 2009??

A better name too

[mariner4life]

grumpy old man mode

i hate how everything is "All Blacks something" now.

All Blacks XV? Come on.

[Yeetyaah]

Good idea. Excited to see the games to be honest. Name doesn't really matter too much

[Kirwan]

@Crucial said in All Blacks XV - New second tier team:

Something for Akira to play in I guess

I'd be happy with that, we need to a team to develop talent for the ABs. The Maori team is not that

[Bovidae]

I'm predicting that Robertson gets the coaching gig to throw him a bone.

I hope "international opposition" means the respective 2nd teams from the 6N teams not club teams. Georgia would be a good choice.

[Duluth]

@mariner4life said in All Blacks XV - New second tier team:

i hate how everything is "All Blacks something" now.

All Blacks XV? Come on.

One thousand times better than Junior All Blacks

AB XV is pretty much what you'd call a midweek tour side. This side is the equivalent of that

[Stargazer]

@Bovidae said in All Blacks XV - New second tier team:

I'm predicting that Robertson gets the coaching gig to throw him a bone.

I hope "international opposition" means the respective 2nd teams from the 6N teams not club teams. Georgia would be a good choice.

.

If the reports in the media are correct, one of the games will be against Fiji.

https://www.forum.thesilverfern.com/post/408811

[Bovidae]

OK. I just assumed this team would be playing European opposition but more likely USA and Canada with the LFL connection if Fiji is to be one of those games.

A game against England A would be meaningful and informative about the players than playing the same level of teams the Maori usually play.

[Unite]

Assume this will be the offical 2nd team and tie players to NZ?

[Tim]

Who's in the frame for selection?

If the Ofa T, Laulala, Moody, and Karl T + 1 are in the ABs, then who are the props?

[mariner4life]

@Tim said in All Blacks XV - New second tier team:

Who's in the frame for selection?

If the Ofa T, Laulala, Moody, and Karl T + 1 are in the ABs, then who are the props?

spuds

but they won't be worse than the locks that are left

[Machpants]

Keep Calm
Piri's (put the weight) on

[Crucial]

Yes. A good tight five may be a struggle to find this year.
Then again it may be what is needed to develop one.

[Tim]

Eligible tightheads:

Moli
Taavao
Lomax
Mafileo
Tokolahi

Any others?

Looseheads:

Moli
Ross
Hodgman
Johnstone
Numia
Thwaites

[Tim]

Out of that lot I'm going to assume that Moli is in the ABs.

Taavao
Lomax

Ross
Hodgman

+1

[Nogusta]

This team will capture international status so I hope guys with dual eligibility think long and hard before they sign on!

[Tim]

Locks

Whitelock, Tuipulotu, Barrett + 1 in the ABs.

Contenders:

Allardice
Cowley-Tuioti
IWL
Dunshea
Strange
Dickson

Maybe Strange to the ABs, leaving IWL, GCT, and Dunshea for the B team. Dickson for fourth lock?

[Tim]

I'll skip loose forwards for now. Probably the toughest decisions there.

Halfbacks:

Assume that the three from the WC will stay in the ABs.

TTT and Hall obvious choices.

Nock
Drummond
Booth
Fakatava
Enari

I'd like to see more of Taumateine.

[Tim]

1st 5:

Big question over third AB ten.

Ioane, Black, and Smith are probably the most prominent this year. Perhaps two of those (Black and Smith) plus a player who covers 10 from another position like Havili, Stevenson, or Perofeta.

[Tim]

Roll on the midfield. Goodhue, ALB, and Laumape in the main squad. Perhaps Ennor too. Not a lot of 12s around.

Contenders:

TJ Faiane
Havili at 12?
Vince Aso
Tupaea

Some players like Nankivel, Walden, Thompson, Tele'a, and Manu haven't shown much or haven't had a chance yet.