All Blacks vs Wales

hydro11

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="rotated" data-cid="583662" data-time="1464477595">
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That's got to be a wee bit crushing for Cane. Hansen has been talking about Cane is the model for how they have brought guys through ready to be full time contributors without missing a beat. Now he's basically been told before camp begins that all that's happened with Richie going is he is going to play the first 40 minutes instead of the last 30 (assuming that is the Smith/SBW model).
 
Cane has the motor and has earned the right to be playing Richie minutes.
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I don't think Cane will be crushed by it. If having Savea play the whole second half if best for the All Blacks, it will happen. I imagine Savea will be only given about 20 minutes per game to start. Savea may not be subbed on for Cane either.

mimic

Ngatai and Crotty fighting it out at 12 til SBW comes back looks good i reckon.. 
It's the 13 jersey I'm worried about.. 
If Malakai and Tamanivalu don't step up.. I'd like to see Reiko given a shot a centre..

hydro11

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Frank" data-cid="583661" data-time="1464477476">
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Part of the planning (I would guess) is that definitely Akira, and maybe Reiko, Ioane will be on the EOYT.
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Not much chance for Reiko, IMO. He is still very young and only has a handful of Super Rugby games. Plus NMS will be back in the squad so already one of Dagg/McKenzie will probably miss out.

Frank

What are Cruden's advantages over Sopoaga? (played more tests?)

hydro11

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SammyC" data-cid="583669" data-time="1464478639">
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Not sure about Crockett, he's still the second best loosehead in the country by a considerable margin. 
And who's the next power lock in line? 
Fox pretty much said that Cruden will be starting the first test
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I find Romano being a power lock interesting. Obviously the selectors must have some sort of info which categorises him like that.

Nepia

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Frank" data-cid="583676" data-time="1464480000">
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What are Cruden's advantages over Sopoaga? (played more tests?)
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Shit man, we've been doing this for the past three months and you're wanting to kick it off again. :)

KiwiMurph

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="hydro11" data-cid="583674" data-time="1464479852">
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Not much chance for Reiko, IMO. He is still very young and only has a handful of Super Rugby games. Plus NMS will be back in the squad so already one of Dagg/McKenzie will probably miss out.
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I wouldn't write off his chances just yet. Hansen said this a few weeks ago.
 
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"Ngatai is playing really well (and) Rieko Ioane's best position is probably going to be centre. He's going to be involved with the sevens but will be free later in the year," Hansen added.
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hydro11

I don't know how I would feel about picking someone at centre for the All Blacks off of 1 or 2 Super Rugby games there. Reiko is talented but a lot of other talented players have had to show a lot more.

Chris B.

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="hydro11" data-cid="583677" data-time="1464480002">
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I find Romano being a power lock interesting. Obviously the selectors must have some sort of info which categorises him like that.
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I think you can basically look at the size of him. He's significantly shorter and heavier than e.g. Whitelock.
 
Tuipolotu/Retallick/Romano all around 120kg plus.
 
Whitelock/Barrett/Franklin all 110-112kgs.
 
The first guys are providing more power in the scrums - the second guys are lighter to be thrown up in the lineout.

Chris B.

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Nepia" data-cid="583665" data-time="1464477904">
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Cheers for that Chris B. Very interesting comments.
 
I'm sure I told you that Squire would pick up higher honours one day (him and Lowe are my Ta$man favourites despite they're from Ta$man) - although TBF I didn't think he was close this year. I'll decide Lowe is off the radar at EOYT time and he might make the team too.
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Yeah - I thought Squire would be in the conversation, but wouldn't make the cut. He's certainly got the physical attributes.
 
Last year, I heard Rennie saying that he thought Lowe was an AB- in-waiting. He's only 23, so has time on his side. I think he's a good chance of making it - though obviously always depends on who else emerges. I don't see any other contenders in the current Mako$ squad barring an injury crisis that might let Marty Banks in (I think he's the 4th best first five in NZ, but he's on a plane out).
 
Hansen also said they pretty much had 30 players picked going into this weekend - Nathan Harris was one they were watching, which by default maybe means that Tu'ungafasi was the other. He said if they didn't pick Tu'ungafasi they'd have had to carry six props and that Ofa is big, mobile and athletic - they think he's got plenty of scope to improve his scrummaging with spending plenty of time in camp under Cron.
 
They said Dixon can play lock and even openside at a pinch. Squire is largely a specialist 8 (I also know he can play 6), but they'd consider bringing him on and pushing Read to lock (Hansen said Reado probably wouldn't be pleased to hear that news).
 
Fox said McKenzie has things to work on but he wasn't telling the world what those are - was obvious it's a case of when not if for McKenzie.
 
On Franklin, that the Highlanders pack is one that rolls its sleeves up and gets the job done and that hadn't gone unnoticed (presumably also applying to Dixon and Squire).
 
They asked Fox about halfback and threw Weber's name into the mix and I thought it was interesting that Foxy didn't really throw Weber a bone. More TJ. I do sort of wonder whether not picking TJ as part of the 32 is more about allowing them to cram another player into the squad and they've used TKB's injury as an excuse to allow them an expanded squad of 33/34 - so more about getting around NZRU strictures than dropping TJP (though it sends a message).

Chris B.

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Nepia" data-cid="583553" data-time="1464434743">
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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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I think the rationale is that: 
 
1. He's been there before;
2. Joseph threw his name in the mix;
3. He featured in discussions on The Breakdown.
 
I heard Toddy on the radio saying that one reason Luke had such a good game against the Crusaders is that he knows most of our systems inside out. An important intelligence gathering mechanism. Hopefully Bryn Hall is making copious notes at Tana's team talks. :)
 
I reckon there's too much quality at 6/8 for Luke to be close - though on the other hand he's kept Squire on the bench the last couple of weeks.

SammyC

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="hydro11" data-cid="583677" data-time="1464480002">
I find Romano being a power lock interesting. Obviously the selectors must have some sort of info which categorises him like that.</blockquote>
 
He's fucking strong, I'm a member of the franks gym and a friend of his wife. See him there quite a bit 
Also if you watched the blues game, he was the first tight forward replaced, and it affected our scrum quite a bit

Nepia

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Chris B." data-cid="583687" data-time="1464483922">
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I think the rationale is that: 
 
1. He's been there before;
2. Joseph threw his name in the mix;
3. He featured in discussions on The Breakdown.
 
I heard Toddy on the radio saying that one reason Luke had such a good game against the Crusaders is that he knows most of our systems inside out. An important intelligence gathering mechanism. Hopefully Bryn Hall is making copious notes at Tana's team talks. :)
 
I reckon there's too much quality at 6/8 for Luke to be close - though on the other hand he's kept Squire on the bench the last couple of weeks.
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Lucky for us Hansen is the coach and not JJ.
 
I'd be hoping that you never get to the point where you have to use Hall's knowledge on the field - with him on it as well. :)

Chris B.

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Nepia" data-cid="583690" data-time="1464484313">
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Lucky for us Hansen is the coach and not JJ.
 
I'd be hoping that you never get to the point where you have to use Hall's knowledge on the field - with him on it as well. :)
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I'm not really happy to be signing the Blues' cast-offs.

SammyC

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Chris B." data-cid="583691" data-time="1464484447">
I'm not really happy to be signing the Blues' cast-offs.</blockquote>
 
I'm still hoping it's a media beat up. Haven't heard anything from anyone in the know yet

MN5

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SammyC" data-cid="583688" data-time="1464483952">
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He's fucking strong, I'm a member of the franks gym and a friend of his wife. See him there quite a bit 
Also if you watched the blues game, he was the first tight forward replaced, and it affected our scrum quite a bit
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So he's the next best thing to Brad Thorn then ?
 
like others I'm not convinced. Looks rather solid around the middle too.

bobily

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Chris B." data-cid="583691" data-time="1464484447">
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I'm not really happy to be signing the Blues' cast-offs.
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It has worked out well for the Highlanders with Fekitoa and Naholo. Bryn Hall for the ABs in 2017?
 
Personally, I would have gone with two props in place of Harris and Tu'ungafasi (Goodes and To'omaga-Allen), but if they think they can work with Tu'ungafasi to improve his scrummaging, then he should be pretty handy to have around.
 
I was picking Squire to make the squad, as the selectors seem to really rate him, and he has had a pretty good season. He is strong, fast, a lineout option, has a good workrate and one of the best ball carriers in NZ Rugby, at the moment.
 
I also figured they'd go for Seta Tamanivalu but he looks a little slow to me. I don't know how comfortable I'd be with him at centre, so I hope that he moves in to 2nd five at some point.

Provincial Stalwart

Really good team...I'm thrilled at the debutant loose forward trio. Seems like TJP was the only available RWC squad member who got the axe but as someone said, the panel went and named him anyway in a backdoor fashion.the nzru accountant must be fucked off when the panel cheats on the budget like that. 
Really interesting discussion on the locks. I had earlier described franklin as a journeyman but what the fuck do I know. Clearly d Mac and ofa are project players, maybe seta and squire too. 
I was also interested that one of the panel - fozzie maybe - said that Dixon was on the radar last year but was never going to get game time at RWC. Therefore messam was chosen to lead the dirty dirties and the opposed training effort as he was experienced and respected as a bit of a veteran and it was not fair on Dixon to pick him and ask him to do that. Great little insight.

leytonandamanda

I like the squad a lot! Todd,luatua and moala are very unlucky not to make the squad. Tom Franklin I really like as I've already said so not suprised he been included as injury cover 
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Canes4life

My thoughts on today's squad announcement.
 
- Dixon and Ardie were shoe ins and were pretty obvious selections heading into today's announcement. 
 
- I still believe Taufua is more of an open-side than an international quality 6. Like Josh Kronfield said on the Breakdown this week he is more of a 6 1/2 type player who is probably a tad small to be a international blindside and is more suited to playing openside which probably counted against him. I do believe he will be an All Black, just not sure when at this stage.
 
- Ofa can probably count his lucky stars that no other prop in N.Z can cover both sides of the scrum. He's definitely the worst player in the squad and it is highly unlikely he will see game time.
 
- I love the selection of Damian McKenzie but he will probably only see game time in game three, more of a learning year for him.
 
- Squire was a surprise, however is size, speed and versatility would suit the A.Bs style of game.
 
I'm really looking forward to these first test matches against Wales. With players like Dixon, Coles, A Savea, A Smith, Nahalo and Barrett, this squad has the ability to take the speed of the test game to a whole new level. 
 
The 23 picks itself really and id say it will look something like this.
 
1. Wyatt Crockett
2. Dane Coles
3. Owen Franks
4. Brodie Rettalick
5. Sam Whitelock
6. Jerome Kaino
7. Sam Cane
8. Keiran Read (c)
9. Aaron Smith
10. Aaron Cruden
11. Julian Savea
12. Ryan Crotty (Id prefer Ngatai but selectors seem to like Crotty and his experience will be valuable).
13. Malakai Fekitoa
14. Waisaki Nahalo
15. Ben Smith
Reserves:
16. Codie Taylor
17. Joe Moody
18. Charlie Faumauina
19. Patrick Tuipolotu
20. Ardie Savea
21. Tawera Kerr Barlow (TJ Perenara if TKB is not fit)
22. Beauden Barrett
23. Charlie Ngatai

The Silver Fern

All Blacks vs Wales