All Blacks v Tonga
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@machpants said in All Blacks v Tonga:
It's also a farce that the team isn't named, wtf happened to the 0600 release? Shows how the coaching team has got lazy
There hasn't been a 6am team release for years. Not enough tv etc exposure.
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@booboo said in All Blacks v Tonga:
@stargazer said in All Blacks v Tonga:
Tonga have named their squad for the test against the All Blacks:
Think I've heard of three of those guys, and thought Kapeli was a loosie.
Kapeli played loosie and lock for Chiefs. I just wondering if a few of these boys will be hoping to impress enough for a gig with Moana Pacifika.
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When's the team named?
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@booboo said in All Blacks v Tonga:
Think I've heard of three of those guys, and thought Kapeli was a loosie.
He is a 6/7, hence my previous comment.
A lot of NPC level players in the Tongan squad but they don't have a lot to choose from if European players aren't available and Japan collects them for the Brave Blossoms.
Nginingini played a few games for Waikato in the mid-2010s.
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@machpants not sure 80+ point hidings will help anyone?
Guess they may reveal a player or 2 with the potential to step even if all players were available.
I recognised 7 names from the 23, and 3 of them are on the bench!
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@billy-tell it was over 14 months ago the NZRFU released the results of the McKinsey report , to be honest nothing we did not already know ..but the one thing that was an easy fix , was FAN ENGAGEMENT.!…when is this dopy mob ever gonna listen to theirs stakeholders ..
If you ran an idea of an All Black internal tour with games against the winner of say the winner of Super Rugby Aotearoa and TTSR winner and finishing with a against NZ Maori ..how good would these 3 games be as warm up games for the Rugby Championship as opposed to what we are about to be dished up .?..last time something like this was done was 1972, if my memory serves me correct all these game were played in front of big crowds , with the All Blacks losing to the NZ Juniors in front of 25,000 people .. -
Yeah, I was wondering why this year - at least - we didn’t see a game between the Maori and Junior ABs. It’d make three teams - Maori, Junior ABs, and All Black Barbarians (mostly a shadow team with a few rested) and have them play.
Honestly speaking I’d prefer it if the ABs were in camp and it was the Juniors playing Tonga - we’d get to see young players and I might give a bit more of a toss.
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@gt12 great ideas well..I really fear for the Tongan Boys on Saturday..
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@nogusta said in All Blacks v Tonga:
Tuinukuafe
Coles
Taavao
Barrett
Whitelock
Ioane
Papalii
Jacobsen
Weber
Mounga
Bridge
Tupaea
Ioane
Jordan
MackenzieThat's a pretty sweet New Zealand A side
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@steven-harris said in All Blacks v Tonga:
@gt12 great ideas well..I really fear for the Tongan Boys on Saturday..
As long as they get a few token head high tackles in they’ll be happy
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@gt12 said in All Blacks v Tonga:
Yeah, I was wondering why this year - at least - we didn’t see a game between the Maori and Junior ABs. It’d make three teams - Maori, Junior ABs, and All Black Barbarians (mostly a shadow team with a few rested) and have them play.
Honestly speaking I’d prefer it if the ABs were in camp and it was the Juniors playing Tonga - we’d get to see young players and I might give a bit more of a toss.
With Junior ABs, do you mean our second XV, which is now called All Blacks XV, or do you mean the NZ U20s?
And with All Blacks Barbarians, I assume you mean the NZ Barbarians team that has been used in the past (I forgot the last time they played)? -
According to Stuff, the team list will be released at 11.30am.
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@stargazer said in All Blacks v Tonga:
@gt12 said in All Blacks v Tonga:
Yeah, I was wondering why this year - at least - we didn’t see a game between the Maori and Junior ABs. It’d make three teams - Maori, Junior ABs, and All Black Barbarians (mostly a shadow team with a few rested) and have them play.
Honestly speaking I’d prefer it if the ABs were in camp and it was the Juniors playing Tonga - we’d get to see young players and I might give a bit more of a toss.
With Junior ABs, do you mean our second XV, which is now called All Blacks XV, or do you mean the NZ U20s?
And with All Blacks Barbarians, I assume you mean the NZ Barbarians team that has been used in the past (I forgot the last time they played)?Have they changed the name again? Then, yes That’s what I mean.
Junior All Blacks was stupid but All Blacks XV is fucking stupid.
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Jordie will be happy as the midfield cover.
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1: Karl Tu’inukuafe (17)
2: Dane Coles (74)
3: Angus Ta’avao (14)
4: Scott Barrett (36)
5: Samuel Whitelock (122) – captain
6: Akira Ioane (2)
7: Dalton Papalii (4)
8: Luke Jacobson (2)
9: Brad Weber (7)
10: Richie Mo’unga (22)
11: George Bridge (10)
12: Quinn Tupaea (new cap)
13: Rieko Ioane (33)
14: Will Jordan (2)
15: Damian McKenzie (27)16: Asafo Aumua (1)
17: George Bower (new cap)
18: Tyrel Lomax (6)
19: Patrick Tuipulotu (35)
20: Ethan Blackadder (new cap)
21: Finlay Christie (new cap)
22: Beauden Barrett (88)
23: Jordie Barrett (23) -
They're clearly resting players given we're playing the Tonga Invitational Second XV.
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@antipodean said in All Blacks v Tonga:
They're clearly resting players given we're playing the Tonga Invitational Second XV.
BBBR doesn't need a rest he needs a game.
An underwhelming team for an underwhelming game.
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@antipodean said in All Blacks v Tonga:
They're clearly resting players given we're playing the Tonga Invitational Second XV.
I expect the majority, if not all of the players, will get a run over the first two games.
I'm interested to see how this loose forward trio combines.
Commenting on the make-up of the loose forward trio, Foster added: “Dalton gets a reward for a great campaign this year. In Akira’s case, he started at six last year and it’s a chance for him to put a marker down. Luke played very well for the Chiefs and he is back in great form.”
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@crucial said in All Blacks v Tonga:
@antipodean said in All Blacks v Tonga:
They're clearly resting players given we're playing the Tonga Invitational Second XV.
BBBR doesn't need a rest he needs a game.
An underwhelming team for an underwhelming game.
Yeah, that's silly not to chuck him in, even if they only get 40 minutes out of him.
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Meh, yeah its hardly the most competitive of games but better than nothing. Good opportunity for some of the island boys to play at the top level too so no complaints here.
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@crucial said in All Blacks v Tonga:
@antipodean said in All Blacks v Tonga:
They're clearly resting players given we're playing the Tonga Invitational Second XV.
BBBR doesn't need a rest he needs a game.
An underwhelming team for an underwhelming game.
It's a fixture we have desperatly been missing over the last few years. A low stakes game to start blooding new players and weeding out those that aren't up to it. I expect to see lots of changes across these three games.
It's been almost impossible to be dropped from the ABs over the last 2/3 years, to our detriment. Pretty much only got new players in when injuries happen.
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Underwhelming team. They’ll only win by about 70 or so.
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@mn5 said in All Blacks v Tonga:
Underwhelming team. They’ll only win by about 70 or so.
yeah...very little interesting this game...even less seeing the team
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@mn5 I will be surprised if they dont hit triple figures.
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@taniwharugby said in All Blacks v Tonga:
@mn5 I will be surprised if they dont hit triple figures.
Feels like a 100 is on the cards. Lots of players in the team playing for a proper starting spot.
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I think BBBR needs bulking back up rather than a game.
Didn't Wayne Smith say he was down 10kg in weight?
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NZRU should actually let some Tongans play professional rugby in NZ and remain Tongan (and so should the Aussies). Reap what you sow. A loss making 'The massacre of the amateur brigade'.
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@rapido said in All Blacks v Tonga:
NZRU should actually let some Tongans play professional rugby in NZ and remain Tongan (and so should the Aussies). Reap what you sow. A loss making 'The massacre of the amateur brigade'.
We have nothing to do with clubs in the NH not releasing players, and circumstances meaning even if they did they would have to spend two weeks in quarantine.
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@rapido plenty of them have played in NZ, Takalua played for Northland, was selected for Tonga, then got an overseas contract (currently at Toulon?) so they often choose to leave to earn much better money than they do as super players anyway.
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Geez, aren't we all chirpy today! We all know why the ABs are playing tests against Tonga & Fiji, and not against stronger opposition. We all know that Tonga and Fiji (and Samoa) can't field all the players they'd want to have in their squad, and why. And we all know that they wouldn't even be strong enough, if they had all the players they'd like to have.
So what? Why can't you lot just be happy to see the team play? These are exceptional times, so expect things to be different from our usual July Series. Just enjoy the game, even if it's a one-sided one.
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@kirwan said in All Blacks v Tonga:
@rapido said in All Blacks v Tonga:
NZRU should actually let some Tongans play professional rugby in NZ and remain Tongan (and so should the Aussies). Reap what you sow. A loss making 'The massacre of the amateur brigade'.
We have nothing to do with clubs in the NH not releasing players, and circumstances meaning even if they did they would have to spend two weeks in quarantine.
3 uncapped born and bred Tongans in Super Rugby not playing. I wonder why. Let alone in NPC which is too hard to research.
Let alone NZ players with Tongan heritage (who are what plenty of these European based players are anyway)
The gaps left by European based players are being filled by NZ amateurs rather than NZ based professionals because NZRU and ARU central contracting blocks them. We are a funnel, we are not saints.
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@kirwan said in All Blacks v Tonga:
@crucial said in All Blacks v Tonga:
@antipodean said in All Blacks v Tonga:
They're clearly resting players given we're playing the Tonga Invitational Second XV.
BBBR doesn't need a rest he needs a game.
An underwhelming team for an underwhelming game.
It's a fixture we have desperatly been missing over the last few years. A low stakes game to start blooding new players and weeding out those that aren't up to it. I expect to see lots of changes across these three games.
It's been almost impossible to be dropped from the ABs over the last 2/3 years, to our detriment. Pretty much only got new players in when injuries happen.
I know, George Bridge is still there.
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@rapido said in All Blacks v Tonga:
@kirwan said in All Blacks v Tonga:
@rapido said in All Blacks v Tonga:
NZRU should actually let some Tongans play professional rugby in NZ and remain Tongan (and so should the Aussies). Reap what you sow. A loss making 'The massacre of the amateur brigade'.
We have nothing to do with clubs in the NH not releasing players, and circumstances meaning even if they did they would have to spend two weeks in quarantine.
3 uncapped born and bred Tongans in Super Rugby not playing. I wonder why. Let alone in NPC which is too hard to research.
Let alone NZ players with Tongan heritage (who are what plenty of these European based players are anyway)
The gaps left by European based players are being filled by NZ amateurs rather than NZ based professionals because NZRU and ARU central contracting blocks them. We are a funnel, we are not saints.
Presumably because they want to play for the All Blacks.
Also, why should a NZer of Tongan heritage be automatically be available for Tonga? I presume most of them want to try for the ABs.
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@nepia said in All Blacks v Tonga:
@rapido said in All Blacks v Tonga:
@kirwan said in All Blacks v Tonga:
@rapido said in All Blacks v Tonga:
NZRU should actually let some Tongans play professional rugby in NZ and remain Tongan (and so should the Aussies). Reap what you sow. A loss making 'The massacre of the amateur brigade'.
We have nothing to do with clubs in the NH not releasing players, and circumstances meaning even if they did they would have to spend two weeks in quarantine.
3 uncapped born and bred Tongans in Super Rugby not playing. I wonder why. Let alone in NPC which is too hard to research.
Let alone NZ players with Tongan heritage (who are what plenty of these European based players are anyway)
The gaps left by European based players are being filled by NZ amateurs rather than NZ based professionals because NZRU and ARU central contracting blocks them. We are a funnel, we are not saints.
Presumably because they want to play for the All Blacks.
Also, why should a NZer of Tongan heritage be automatically be available for Tonga? I presume most of them want to try for the ABs.
Tokolahi? really? He's paying lip-service for employment reasons.
Taukei'aho? Yes, he will be an All Black.
Kata? He might play 1 year for Australia before buggering off like many of their Fijian wingers. He's still got a few years to go before qualifying. He is paying lip-service for employment reasons, but to his Australian employers.Re: this part:
why should a NZer of Tongan heritage be automatically be available for Tonga?
They shouldn't and they aren't. But plenty at NPC level (and a few at SR level) would IMO if it didn't hinder their employment chances. A few out of huge numbers would leave a team to pick from. Not club players.
We're not evil, but we are reaping what we sow here. We are a producer of talent and developer/polisher of talent (of the scholarships kids) - But we are not an an employer of non-NZ available talent. We have a only 5 poxy professional teams - for which those dual-qualified in those teams and those wanting to one day get in those teams delay their potential non-AB international careers.
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I did hear that Toutai Kefu asked a number of players based in NZ but some declined. He should be able to understand why, as he did exactly the same when choosing Aust over Tonga. Sekope Lopeti-Moli might have been one of those as his brother is starting at hooker.
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