All Blacks 2021
-
-
@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.Lomax? Christie? Ennor? Bridge?
Some workmanlike players there.
-
@old-samurai-jack said in All Blacks 2021:
What does this distinct lack of All Black selection discussion/debate mean? The announcement is on Monday but.........even the newspapers aren't interested.
AB should win easily all three of these tests against the Tonga and Fiji reserves. Least excited I've ever been about the opening tests of the AB's year.
-
-
@sparky said in All Blacks 2021:
@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.
#booboo'ed by @Tim
Glad ALB is getting a rest. Magnificent player. We'll need him when we play the Boks.
Oh no, not the Boks. It won’t matter who we have playing, because the Boks (and English) are super human, massive, run over freight trains for breakfast.
-
I am not sold on Bower. He did struggle at scrum time vs the Rebels, which does not augur well. He is not a bad prop but is not of international calibre IMO.
Tonga and Fiji do not represent big threats for the ABs so it could be a good opportunity to test young and promising props such as Aidan Ross and/or Ethan de Groot, who both have the physique to compete at the highest level. -
@act-crusader said in All Blacks 2021:
@sparky said in All Blacks 2021:
@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.
#booboo'ed by @Tim
Glad ALB is getting a rest. Magnificent player. We'll need him when we play the Boks.
Oh no, not the Boks. It won’t matter who we have playing, because the Boks (and English) are super human, massive, run over freight trains for breakfast.
Thought you were @bones for a second there ...
-
-
-
AB team then for First test. I'd rest Aaron Smith.
- Karl T
- Taylor
- Laulala
- Whitelock (c)
- Retallick
- A. Ioane
- A. Savea
- H. Sotutu
- B. Weber
- R. Mo'unga
- Leicester Fainga'anuku
- Havili
- R. Ioane
- W. Jordan
- J. Barrett
- Aumua
- Hodgman
- ????? Newell, maybe Angus T
- S. Barrett
- Papalii
- Drummond
- B. Barrett
- P Umaga-Jensen
-
-
-
-
-
@tim said in All Blacks 2021:
@chris Best of luck to him then. Does he cover tighthead particularly well or something? Hodgman was good tonight.
Better TH than LH I think.
Bower and Williams will have to cover TH for the Crusaders to back up Jager and Newell if needed next season,if the rumours are true about not picking a 7th prop to replace Michael A as they had this season. -
-
@tim said in All Blacks 2021:
@chris said in All Blacks 2021:
Better TH than LH I think.
Thanks, Chris. The Ofa T out, there is certainly a gap there to be filled.
That helps Bower and Lonax
congrats on the win tonight enjoy. -
