All Blacks 2021
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ALB injured:
Exclusive: All Blacks star ruled out after surgery
The injury will seriously challenge the All Blacks' depth during the upcoming test window.
The depleted All Blacks midfield stocks have suffered another hit after Anton Lienert-Brown underwent minor elbow surgery yesterday.
As New Zealand's most experienced, accomplished, fit midfielder, Lienert-Brown was set to be an influential rock in the All Blacks backline this season, with Crusaders centre Jack Goodhue already out for the season after rupturing his ACL.
The Weekend Herald understands Lienert-Brown has been troubled in recent weeks by his elbow that began locking up. Scans revealed bone fragment concerns, and he underwent minor keyhole surgery.
The surgery is believed to have been successful and the 26-year-old, one appearance short of 50 tests for the All Blacks, is expected to miss the opening match against Tonga at Mt Smart Stadium on July 3 and the first outing against Fiji in Dunedin the following week. He could return for the second test against Fiji in Hamilton on July 17.Lienert-Brown's injury will seriously challenge the All Blacks' depth — and there may be further worries, with David Havili understood to be carrying a niggly calf complaint.
Ngani Laumape would be the obvious replacement for Lienert-Brown after playing 15 tests but his imminent three-year deal with Stade Francais is likely to rule him out.
Havili, after impressing at second five-eighth for the Crusaders this season, has the inside running to start alongside either Rieko Ioane or Braydon Ennor in the All Blacks' midfield but that will depend on the severity of his calf issue.
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NZ Herald squad prediction:
Exclusive: All Blacks star ruled out after surgery
The injury will seriously challenge the All Blacks' depth during the upcoming test window.
Possible All Blacks squad
Props: Nepo Laulala, Karl Tu'inukuafe, Tyrel Lomax, George Bower, Angus Ta'avao, Alex Hodgman/Aidan Ross/Ethan de Groot.
Hookers: Dane Coles, Codie Taylor, Asafo Aumua.
Locks: Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Scott Barrett, Patrick Tuipulotu, Tupou Vaa'i.
Loose forwards: Ardie Savea, Dalton Papalii, Hoskins Sotutu, Luke Jacobson, Shannon Frizell, Akira Ioane, Ethan Blackadder/Cullen Grace.
Halfbacks: Aaron Smith, Brad Weber, Mitchell Drummond/Finlay Christie.
First five-eighths: Richie Mo'unga, Beauden Barrett.
Midfield: Rieko Ioane, David Havili, Braydon Ennor, Anton Lienert-Brown/Peter Umaga-Jensen.
Outside backs: Jordie Barrett, Will Jordan, Sevu Reece, Damian McKenzie, George Bridge/Leicester Fainga'anuku. -
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@bones said in All Blacks 2021:
@nepia said in All Blacks 2021:
@act-crusader said in All Blacks 2021:
I’d go the John Connolly approach and just select two halfbacks - Smith and Weber. Then have DMac covering as 3rd option**. Make a better halfback then 1st 5**
I'm beginning to wonder if you've ever seen him play because you clearly don't know his strengths. He'd be wasted being the first ball player at the ruck. I might as well just nominate Mo if picking small people seems to be the key metric for the halfback.
I'm beginning to wonder if you've ever watched rugby because his strengths are fantastic for a halfback. Great pass and kick, brilliant in traffic, strong in contact, good tackler, fantastic support player, 1000% less opportunities to receive the ball deep and run directly across and/or back.
Edit: basically probably a good version of Weber.
I'm not going to argue against those strengths with you, but the dude carves up teams from from first or second receiver.
In saying that if somehow Mitchell Drummond is an option for 3rd halfback then I wont mind them picking DMac as 10/15 and 9 back up instead.
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@booboo said in All Blacks 2021:
Liam Napier reporting ALB has surgery on elbow. Can't read article to see how long he's gone.
Gone definitely for the Tonga test and First Fiji test.
Maybe ok for 2nd Fiji test.I Shouldn’t call them tests training runs.
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So this is Napier's prediction?
Bower may get in but I am amused he is not one of the bracketed LH props. Sure, he was a replacement in Aust last year but mainly due to circumstances, i.e., all the other options (Johnstone, Ross) were unavailable. It was mentioned he could play both sides but I can't remember him playing at TH.
There are a couple of other players who would consider themselves very lucky to be selected too, because it isn't on form.
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Ennor is better than and played more games recently than PUJ?
If I was PUJ I think I'd be a little pissed off. -
@bovidae said in All Blacks 2021:
So TJ reads the Fern and took my advice.
Let’s hope he doesn’t read the Fern for inspirational purposes because he’s not the most popular round here…
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@bovidae said in All Blacks 2021:
So this is Napier's prediction?
Bower may get in but I am amused he is not one of the bracketed LH props. Sure, he was a replacement in Aust last year but mainly due to circumstances, i.e., all the other options (Johnstone, Ross) were unavailable. It was mentioned he could play both sides but I can't remember him playing at TH.
There are a couple of other players who would consider themselves very lucky to be selected too, because it isn't on form.
Bower can play both sides which may help him getting selected.He was a TH before the Crusaders picked him up and they have mainly used him as a LH.
The time frame for ALB was a media release from the chiefs. -
@tim said in All Blacks 2021:
NZ Herald squad prediction:
Exclusive: All Blacks star ruled out after surgery
The injury will seriously challenge the All Blacks' depth during the upcoming test window.
Possible All Blacks squad
Props: Nepo Laulala, Karl Tu'inukuafe, Tyrel Lomax, George Bower, Angus Ta'avao, Alex Hodgman/Aidan Ross/Ethan de Groot.
Hookers: Dane Coles, Codie Taylor, Asafo Aumua.
Locks: Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Scott Barrett, Patrick Tuipulotu, Tupou Vaa'i.
Loose forwards: Ardie Savea, Dalton Papalii, Hoskins Sotutu, Luke Jacobson, Shannon Frizell, Akira Ioane, Ethan Blackadder/Cullen Grace.
Halfbacks: Aaron Smith, Brad Weber, Mitchell Drummond/Finlay Christie.
First five-eighths: Richie Mo'unga, Beauden Barrett.
Midfield: Rieko Ioane, David Havili, Braydon Ennor, Anton Lienert-Brown/Peter Umaga-Jensen.
Outside backs: Jordie Barrett, Will Jordan, Sevu Reece, Damian McKenzie, George Bridge/Leicester Fainga'anuku.That looks very close to what they will pick IMO.
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@nostrildamus PUJ can comfortably play 12/13 so that will play into his favour.
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@victor-meldrew said in All Blacks 2021:
@nzzp said in All Blacks 2021:
it's the only logical conclusion.
Not sure the words "logical" and "The Fern" quite go together.
Although some of the threads do have a knack of turning the logical into illogical.
@KiwiMurph you’re on the money. If we were playing tier 1 NH side, there would be at least an article or two on them and some quotes from their captain or coach. And if there is a NZ born player in their side, they’d be asked for a quote about facing the ABs etc.
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@canes4life said in All Blacks 2021:
@nostrildamus PUJ can comfortably play 12/13 so that will play into his favour.
Not sure that’s a given at test level.
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As for the loose forwards, I'd select Blackadder over Grace (on form), but Big Red over both. I am expecting 5 locks to be chosen and one to be on the bench, which negates any thought of using Robinson as a lock/6. However, this would be the perfect time to look at this possibility (assuming he is over his concussion symptoms).
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@yeetyaah said in All Blacks 2021:
Laumape apologists everywhere on social media being like "ShOuLdn'T hAvE lEt NgAni Go."
They only watch highlights. Otherwise even they'd know on form he wouldn't make the squad if he was staying.
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@act-crusader Jack Goodhue waves his hand gingerly from the sidelines..
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@nostrildamus He hasn't looked very good at 12.
