All Blacks vs Wales

pukunui

Add me to the group that doesn't see much in Lowe. Good ITM and super level player but haven't seen anything that would suggest he should be considered higher up. I'd rather Fekitoa/Moala were used as additional depth for the wings until NMS comes back.

sparky

Beauden Barrett and Ardie Savea have secured places in the starting XV IMHO.

Billy Tell

Not in a month of Sunday's. Cane will be 7, and either Cruden or Sopoaga will start at 10. And Smith at 15. 
I'll humbly recant if I'm wrong.

Samurai Jack

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Living in Brisbane, I saw Horan play heaps of times. He was amazing. The complete package. I used to think he was the best. 
But Nonu blew me away when I saw the Canes live last year. In addition to being an absolute beast of a man, he has a skill set up there with the best of all time. 
I'm eternally grateful he decided to hang around in 2008. Tbh I wouldn't really have cared if he'd gone. 
He doesn't just leave a hole in the team, he leaves a farking chasm. There are some promising 12s out there, but none of them come close to Nonu. 
I have to say that the midfield is a big concern for me this year. I'm still not sold on Fekitoa being a long-term solution.
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Yeah, Nonu leaves a chasm but I am impressed with Ngatai this year. He is a throwback to the "old school" 2nd fives but with a bit more dynamism (prob cos of professionalism). Also think Crotty is underrated here on the fern cos of the obvious anti-Canterbury thing. He has never had a bad game in black. We will never replace Nonu/Smith/Carter/McCaw etc but there are some seriously good footy players ready to make their own mark. 
This post is void if we loose a game to the Taffys

pukunui

After this weekend i would pick the following from the fringe guys. 
A Savea in 
Scott Barrett in 
Luatua in 
Elliot Dixon in 
Moala in 
Dagg in 
Ngatai in (if his head is right) 
Sopoaga in 
Pat t in 
Webber in (assuming tkb is out and they want 3x 9s) 
Romano out 
Todd not in 
Taufua not in 
D mac not in(waiting until eoyt for a chance) 
Luke whitelock not in 
Bird not in 
Front row i wouldnt have a clue. Maybe Ash Dixon as 3rd hooker and Reg Goodes plus someone to fill in until Laulala gets back. 
Not sure if Steve Hanson has been getting my texts though.

kiwiinmelb

Yeah i would pick Dagg over DMac , 
 
Just think if B Smith or Naholo went down now , id prefer Dagg starting a test match at this stage of their careers , 
 
If Dmac is going to be good enough , his time will come IMO

sparky

Sparky's Squad
 
 
Props: Wyatt Crockett, Charlie Fauminia, Owen Franks, Reggie Goodes, Joe Moody
Hookers: Dane Coles, Ash Dixon, Codie Taylor
Locks: Scott Barrett, Brodie Retallick, Patrick Tuipolotu, Sam Whitelock,
Loose Forwards: Sam Cane, Elliott Dixon, Jerome Kaino, Steven Lautua, Kieron Read, Ardie Savea
Half Backs: TJ Perenera, Aaron Smith, Brad Weber
First Five: Beauden Barrett, Aaron Cruden, Lima Sopoaga, 
Midfield: Ryan Crotty, Malakai Fekitoa, George Moala, Charlie Ngati,
Back Three:, Israel Dagg, , Cory Jane, Waisake Naholo, Julian Savea, Ben Smith

Nepia

Seriously, how did Luke of the Whitelocks get to the fringe from one good game in ... I'm thinking of the years, maybe a Cantab fan can tell me when he had a good game at NPC sometime?

pooler fan

Gatland giving a big hint on his Wales team tactics by picking by selecting Dan Lydiate as openside & captain for tomorrow's test vs England. So much for attempting to grow & evolve the Welsh gameplan.

Daffy Jaffy

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Gatland giving a big hint on his Wales team tactics by picking by selecting Dan Lydiate as openside & captain for tomorrow's test vs England. So much for attempting to grow & evolve the Welsh gameplan.
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That game is on Sky NZ Rugby channel 1:50am Monday. Interested to see how the young Kiwi loosie Harrison goes for England. Jones has big wraps on him.
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.rugby365.com/countries/england/73245-england-banking-on-street-fighter-against-wales'>http://www.rugby365.com/countries/england/73245-england-banking-on-street-fighter-against-wales</a>

pooler fan

He'll probably have a field day at the breakdown without a genuine openside playing for Wales. 
He's looked impressive for Northampton.

sparky

According to Liam Napier at Stuff this is going to be the AB's squad to play Wales:
 
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/80495144/all-blacks-to-balance-form-and-experience-for-squad-to-face-wales-in-june'>http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/80495144/all-blacks-to-balance-form-and-experience-for-squad-to-face-wales-in-june</a>
 
Charlie Faumuina, Owen Franks, Wyatt Crockett, Joe Moody, Ofa Tu'ungafasi, Dane Coles, Codie Taylor, Nathan Harris, Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Patrick Tuipulotu, Luke Romano, Sam Cane, Ardie Savea, Kieran Read, Elliot Dixon, Jerome Kaino, Aaron Smith, TJ Perenara, Brad Weber/Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Aaron Cruden, Beauden Barrett, Lima Sopoaga, Charlie Ngatai, Ryan Crotty, Malakai Fekitoa, George Moala, Israel Dagg, Ben Smith, Damian McKenzie, Julian Savea, Waisake Naholo 
 - Sunday Star Times

Billy Tell

5 loose forwards only allowing them to avoid the McKenzie vs Dagg choice.
 
My only reservation with that squad would be Tu'ungafasi...but the selection panel have credit ++ in the bank.

sparky

If the above is true, then Reggie Goodes and Steven Luatua are bloodyunlucky to miss out IMHO, but I'm happy with the rest.

rotated

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According to Liam Napier at Stuff this is going to be the AB's squad to play Wales:
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Is he saying that? It seems to be just his crack at it. I know in the past he has been able to nail some EOYT and TRC squads - but the June one has rarely been broken ahead of time.

hydro11

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Seriously, how did Luke of the Whitelocks get to the fringe from one good game in ... I'm thinking of the years, maybe a Cantab fan can tell me when he had a good game at NPC sometime?
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He's been good this season. It's more than one good game but not good enough for the All Blacks.
 
I actually really like Sparky's squad.

Crucial

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="rotated" data-cid="583583" data-time="1464462872">
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Is he saying that? It seems to be just his crack at it. I know in the past he has been able to nail some EOYT and TRC squads - but the June one has rarely been broken ahead of time.
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Speaking of which. What time is the announcement?

Crucial

If that Herald squad is correct (it also matches another leak of new names I saw), then Luatua is pretty hard done by.
 
He looks to be really knuckling down and purposely putting away the flashy stuff. He is playing Test style rugby at Super level rather than looking for the highlights reel.

Chris B.

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Crucial" data-cid="583589" data-time="1464466401">
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Speaking of which. What time is the announcement?
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10 am I think.
 
Who is the fucker who gives these leaks to the media? AB squad announcement should be as tightly guarded secret as the Reserve Bank OCR.
 
Napier's squad looks "right" to me - if he's saying this is it then it doubtless is.

JayCee

Harris and McKenzie has been spotted at the team hotel.....

The Silver Fern

All Blacks vs Wales