All Blacks XV - New second tier team

[Kirwan]

@Tim some bloody good players coming through there.

[Tim]

@Kirwan Yeah, traditional strength of NZ indeed.

[Tim]

Be interesting to see if Jordie Barrett plays at 12.

[Bovidae]

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

Locks

Hopefully Parkinson is back to full fitness and performs.

[Tim]

Okay, time for a guess at a 23.

1 Ross
2 Coltman
3 Taavao
4 IWL
5 Dunshea
6 Jacobson
7 Kirifi
8 Sotutu
9 Hall
10 Black
11 Talea
12 Faiane
13 Aso
14 Stevenson/Bridge
15 Barrett/Havili/Jordan

16 Aumua
17 Hodgman
18 Lomax
19 GCT
20 Boshier
21 TTT
22 Smith
23 Tupaea

Of course, this will change depending non injuries and form in derby matches.

[Bovidae]

More info here:

I do like the suggestion of rewarding NPC form.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/120132623/nzr-chief-rugby-officer-nigel-cass-denies-all-blacks-xv-will-cheapen-the-jersey

[Tim]

@Bovidae Yeah, is good to see an incentive to play NPC.

[ARHS]

Will hopefully stop a lot of players organising Northern hemisphere gigs after or during npc

[antipodean]

@Bovidae I don't understand the author's contention that it will cheapen the All Black jersey - the second tier teams won't be capped All Blacks unless I've got this all horribly wrong?

[Tim]

The "Maori All Blacks" will still assemble (in July) and Cass said he hoped some of those players would play on both the mid-year Maori tour and at the end of the year with the All Blacks XV..

[Bovidae]

@antipodean My reading of it, is the use of All Blacks in the team name, like the Sevens team. This point has been raised in this thread.

[booboo]

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

Any takers to pick a 23?

I've been meaning to do a list in the Possible All Blacks thread which would line up all these players in some sort of degree of probability of selection ... But don't have the time I used to ...

[booboo]

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

More info here:

I do like the suggestion of rewarding NPC form.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/120132623/nzr-chief-rugby-officer-nigel-cass-denies-all-blacks-xv-will-cheapen-the-jersey

What a fuct headline

[antipodean]

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

@antipodean My reading of it, is the use of All Blacks in the team name, like the Sevens team. This point has been raised in this thread.

Oh no, the precedent! Next they'll have the Maori All Blacks, or the All Black Sevens...

[Cyclops]

Will this be a registered second team and lock players in to NZ eligibility wise? I know the 7s pathway exists, but that's still significant if true.

Double edged sword though. The England, Ireland and Wales of the world will be missing out on the guys they're able to collect on residency and grandparent clauses, but it may also negatively impact on some of the Pacific Island players who may have played for one of those countries.

[Bones]

@Tim guessing you have Ioane in the ABs?

[Tim]

@Bones Akira Ioane is an optimistic pick from me at this point. Wouldn't be surprised if Josh Ioane is 3rd ten in the ABs.

[voodoo]

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

Be interesting to see if Jordie Barrett plays at 12.

Would he be the tallest 12 we have ever fielded?

[Kirwan]

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

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

@antipodean My reading of it, is the use of All Blacks in the team name, like the Sevens team. This point has been raised in this thread.

Oh no, the precedent! Next they'll have the Maori All Blacks, or the All Black Sevens...

The Junior All Blacks....

[pakman]

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

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?

For me a weak area. Compare England, who can choose from Kruis, Itoje, Lawes and Launchbury, not to mention Ewels, etc..