AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?

[junior]

@Kirwan said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:

https://reddit.com/r/rugbyunion/comments/inh2rq/tupou_vaai_telling_his_family_he_made_the_all/

Love seeing what it means to the players and their families

I was going to say something a bit uncharitable about his selection but after that I wish him all the best and hope he makes a really good go of it

[junior]

@shark said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:

So I see 8 U20 locks between 2016 and now with genuine height (1.99m or more) and only three of them are playing Super Rugby. There are a lot of guys on that list who are well under-sized. Around half of the 18 are 1.95 or less. Some of them may be flankers covering lock, but this is exactly the issue.

It seems that a lot of Super coaches are happy to take the easy way out and play undersized locks or converted sixes who can "keep up" with the speed of the game rather than develop some of the young tall timber. Also, you look at the coaching rosters around the country and you don't see a whole lot of ex-locks who can mentor guys with the physical gifts and help them become international quality locks

[ACT Crusader]

@Bones said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:

@ACT-Crusader SW?

Skinny white

[ACT Crusader]

@junior said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:

@Kirwan said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:

https://reddit.com/r/rugbyunion/comments/inh2rq/tupou_vaai_telling_his_family_he_made_the_all/

Love seeing what it means to the players and their families

I was going to say something a bit uncharitable about his selection but after that I wish him all the best and hope he makes a really good go of it

Surely not you @junior to write something critical and disparaging 🎣

[junior]

Well he's not a Crusaders player, so I suppose he can escape criticism from me on that basis alone

[Chris B.]

@Bones said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:

What is it that people see in Strange? I'm pretty unconvinced eh.

Key member of the Ta$man pack that dominated every other forward pack in the country in last year's NPC.

Now, if Retallick, Barrett, Dickson and Parkinson were all available, it's fair to say Quentin might have had to bide his time, but they're not, so he's quite likely the best of the rest.

[voodoo]

@Kirwan said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:

https://reddit.com/r/rugbyunion/comments/inh2rq/tupou_vaai_telling_his_family_he_made_the_all/

Love seeing what it means to the players and their families

Fucken tear to my eye!

[pakman]

@pakman said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:

Can't really argue with forward selections.

Aumua needs to learn to throw.

Lomax and Hodgman form justifes third stringer selection.

Tyro locks reflect injuries. From full deck would have been Barrett and Parkinson for me.

Loosies reflect focus on go forward. Hunt/Boshier/Christie lost out from that decision.

In backs all the usual suspects.

Thought PUV might have done enough. I prefer ALB 12/Goodhue 13 to vice versa.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=12362043&&ref=recommended

[sparky]

Sparky's 23 to take on Whoever:

Moody, Taylor, Laulala, Whitelock, Tuipulotu, Frizell, Cane (c), Sotutu, A. Smith, Mo'unga, C. Clarke, ALB, R. Ioane, Jordan, J. Barrett

Coles, Hodgman, Ofa T, Strange or Grace, A. Savea, TJP, B. Barrett, Goodhue

[Bones]

@sparky Hodgman over Tuinukuafe? Why's that?

Goodhue to start and Karl on the bench and I'm convinced.

[sparky]

@Bones Hodgman Vs Karl T. Not much in that but slightly prefer the taller Hodgman for lineout lifting and carrying.

Reiko Ioane Vs Jack Goodhue. Not much in that either. Ioane more of an attacking threat this year, but possibly no longer has the top-end speed for a starting 11. Goodhue better at 13 than 12. Both will feature, I'm sure.

[African Monkey]

@Bones I'd probably go Hodgman over Tu'inukuafe as well if it's for a bench spot. If it was for a starting spot I'd go for Tu'inukuafe but Hodgman is better around the field and his scrummaging is more than good enough.

[Bones]

@sparky yeah definitely at 13. He's been great for the ABs there. Fairly ordinary at twelve like most others so at least we could get the best out of one of them...

[shark]

@sparky Ioane only burst onto the scene 3-4 years ago. He must be in his mid-20s. Yet you speak of him like he's 30 years plus and/or coming back from a knee injury.

[pakman]

@sparky said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:

@Bones Hodgman Vs Karl T. Not much in that but slightly prefer the taller Hodgman for lineout lifting and carrying.

Reiko Ioane Vs Jack Goodhue. Not much in that either. Ioane more of an attacking threat this year, but possibly no longer has the top-end speed for a starting 11. Goodhue better at 13 than 12. Both will feature, I'm sure.

Goodhue is best AB 13 I’ve seen for a long time at running good lines and setting up his wings. For now prefer Roane on wing. No way at 23 he’s lost the X factor. Spoilt for choice for other wing.

[sparky]

@shark said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:

@sparky Ioane only burst onto the scene 3-4 years ago. He must be in his mid-20s. Yet you speak of him like he's 30 years plus and/or coming back from a knee injury.

He is 23. Played Centre at School/Under 20. Started pro-Rugby on the Wing. Was oustanding in 2017. Had some calf/hamstring problems in 2018 and 2019. Now says he prefers 13. Looking good there.

[DMX]

@sparky said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:

Sparky's 23 to take on Whoever:

Moody, Taylor, Laulala, Whitelock, Tuipulotu, Frizell, Cane (c), Sotutu, A. Smith, Mo'unga, C. Clarke, ALB, R. Ioane, Jordan, J. Barrett

Coles, Hodgman, Ofa T, Strange or Grace, A. Savea, TJP, B. Barrett, Goodhue

Nothing really screams Fozzie about this squad, I am still of the opinion he will be very conservative with first match
Moody, Taylor, Laulala, Whitelock, Tuipulotu, Frizell, Cane (c), Savea, A. Smith, Mo'unga, Bridge, ALB, Goodhue, Reece, B. Barrett
Coles, Hodgman, Ofa , Strange. Sotutu, TJP, J. Barrett, R. Iaone

[Billy Tell]

Hard to get excited about this. I mean you need opposition.

[ACT Crusader]

@Billy-Tell said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:

Hard to get excited about this. I mean you need opposition.

Perhaps we can now play “the Real ABs” vs “those that didn’t make it”

[Crucial]

@DMX said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:

@sparky said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:

Sparky's 23 to take on Whoever:

Moody, Taylor, Laulala, Whitelock, Tuipulotu, Frizell, Cane (c), Sotutu, A. Smith, Mo'unga, C. Clarke, ALB, R. Ioane, Jordan, J. Barrett

Coles, Hodgman, Ofa T, Strange or Grace, A. Savea, TJP, B. Barrett, Goodhue

Nothing really screams Fozzie about this squad, I am still of the opinion he will be very conservative with first match
Moody, Taylor, Laulala, Whitelock, Tuipulotu, Frizell, Cane (c), Savea, A. Smith, Mo'unga, Bridge, ALB, Goodhue, Reece, B. Barrett
Coles, Hodgman, Ofa , Strange. Sotutu, TJP, J. Barrett, R. Iaone

New blood will be introduced via the bench or through injury as usual.
The locks will rotate on the pine and I can see Savea playing cover while the likes of Sotutu are given a start.
Lomax and Hodgman will get some bench roles too.
The starting changes should be ditching Bridge and Reece (who have been fizzers IMO) and establishing Clarke and Jordan.