All Blacks 2021
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@bovidae said in All Blacks 2021:
@sparky PPP won't be in the AB squad as he has already been named in the Maori squad. Same for Nankivell.
I expect that ALB will be included and another player (probabaly PUJ) will be added as cover.
Nothing stopping the coaches moving PPP and Nankivell from the Maori squad to the AB squad and naming replacements for the Maori, especially in Nankivell's case with ALB out. I thought PPP was excellent for the Highlanders on Saturday.
My squad is what I would name not what I think Foz and Co will name on Monday.
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I am not convinced by PPP, yet. I have my doubts about his fitness, and dare I say it his heart. He was struggling to move around last night before he got that knock. He was doing a lot of walking and taking his time getting off the ground.
His lineout work on his own throw and his ability to win the contact is pretty bloody good so I haven't written him off yet. Aren't I nice.
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@sparky said in All Blacks 2021:
Okay, Sparky's squad.
Ethan De Groot, Tupou Vaa'i, Tom Robinson and Zarn Sulivan just miss out.
Hookers: Taylor, Coles, Aumua
Props: Laulala, Karl T, Hodgman, Angus T, Newell, Ross
Locks: S. Whitelock, S. Barrett, Tuipulotu, Retallick, PPP
Loosies: Papali'i, Sotutu, Savea, A. Ioane, Blackadder, Grace, Jacobson
Half Back: Weber, Drummond, Smith (won't play)
First Fives: Mo'unga, B. Barrett
Midfield: Havili, R. Ioane, PUJ, Nankivell
Back 3: DMac, J. Barrett, Jordan, Reece, Fainga'anuku, Nareki
PPP over Vaa'i?
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@crazy-horse said in All Blacks 2021:
I am not convinced by PPP, yet. I have my doubts about his fitness, and dare I say it his heart. He was struggling to move around last night before he got that knock. He was doing a lot of walking and taking his time getting off the ground.
His lineout work on his own throw and his ability to win the contact is pretty bloody good so I haven't written him off yet. Aren't I nice.
Yeah me too - he has a severe case of concrete feet. When he makes it to the contact, he's brilliant and bloody strong, but man he's a worry on defence if there's even a hint of direction change.
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@booboo Yes, but we have lots of good locks.
The way I see our lock situation is three 2m + guys: Whitelock, Retallick, PPP
Four 1.98 guys: Tuipulotu, Scott Barrett, Tupou Vaa'i, Tom Robinson.
I'd always pick the three big guys for the AB squad because that extra height and physicality are a huge advantage at Test Level.
All four of the other guys are very good players (Robinson can also cover 6), but their leadership skills and smarts give Tuipulotu and Scott Barrett the edge.
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@bones Parkinson's defence is much improved in 2021. He made 12 tackles last night and missed 0.
I think they'll give the nod to Tupou Vaa'i who is an exceptional player. No significant complaints with that selection, although I see PPP as a more natural partner to Whitelock or Retallick if one of them can't play.
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@bovidae said in All Blacks 2021:
I think that Parkinson needs to add a few kegs to his lean frame to make him a more effective ball-carrier at the next level.
Fair comment. With Taylor, Whitelock, Akira Ioane and Hoskins Sotutu we are likely to have four bloody good ball-carriers in the forwards. I want to see the 2021 All Balcks use their forwards to carry more than the ABs have done in recent years.
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@bovidae said in All Blacks 2021:
I think that Parkinson needs to add a few kegs to his lean frame to make him a more effective ball-carrier at the next level.
But he's waaaaaay bigger than you, hur hur hur.
But seriously, he's already done that.
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@sparky said in All Blacks 2021:
Tupou Vaa'i
Nah Scott B is 197cm so he's third tier.
Then again Brad Thorn was even shorter and had ok physicality. -
@sparky said in All Blacks 2021:
@booboo Yes, but we have lots of good locks.
The way I see our lock situation is three 2m + guys: Whitelock, Retallick, PPP
Four 1.98 guys: Tuipulotu, Scott Barrett, Tupou Vaa'i, Tom Robinson.
I'd always pick the three big guys for the AB squad because that extra height and physicality are a huge advantage at Test Level.
All four of the other guys are very good players (Robinson can also cover 6), but their leadership skills and smarts give Tuipulotu and Scott Barrett the edge.
Leadership wise, the Blues looked good when Robinson led.
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@kev Agree. But hard to argue he's a better Lock or leader than Patrick Tuipulotu or Scott Barrett.
I hope he's picked on Monday. He's a very good player and won't be out of place at all for the ABs.
Just missed out in my squad at both lock and in the backrow because I thought the alternatives were a little bit better. Not much in it. -
@sparky said in All Blacks 2021:
@kev Agree. But hard to argue he's a better Lock or leader than Patrick Tuipulotu or Scott Barrett.
I hope he's picked on Monday. He's a very good player and won't be out of place at all for the ABs
Just missed out in my squad at both lock and in the backrow because I thought the alternatives were a little bit better. Not much in it.Akira was dropped by Blues for Robinson - his effort for 80 minutes is still an issue. No doubt about what he brings and likely to get a place but he is the player under pressure.
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@sparky said in All Blacks 2021:
@kev Agree. But hard to argue he's a better Lock or leader than Patrick Tuipulotu or Scott Barrett.
I hope he's picked on Monday. He's a very good player and won't be out of place at all for the ABs.
Just missed out in my squad at both lock and in the backrow because I thought the alternatives were a little bit better. Not much in it.Which Patty T will turn up for the All Blacks. The 130kg behemoth that plays for the Blues or the 100kg nice guy who doesn't want to hurt anyone while playing in Black.
