All Blacks 2022

[Tim]

@Crucial you can, and you should, he hasn't produced a quality performance since 2019.

That is a very long time, and this year he was out played by Goodhue and others.

[Tim]

@Frank I am hoping too, but he showed nothing in about 8 tests last year.

[Frank]

@Tim said in All Blacks 2022:

@Frank I am hoping too, but he showed nothing in about 8 tests last year.

Agreed.

[Crucial]

@Tim said in All Blacks 2022:

@Crucial you can, and you should, he hasn't produced a quality performance since 2019.

That is a very long time, and this year he was out played by Goodhue and others.

It would have been pretty hard to produce a quality performance for the ABs in 2020 when he wasn’t around, a kind of dumb statement.
Yes, he wasn’t at his best last year after losing bulk in Japan.
Was just starting to hit his straps before that thumb break.
He may well not come back to previous standards but writing him off right now seems OTT.

[Tim]

@Crucial you should write a new poem for him.

He had many tests last year and he was shit.

[Tim]

Here's food for thought, RTS is an expert stepper, but is he better than Pita Alatini, who was the worst AB 12 in living memory. He was an expert stepper

[KiwiMurph]

@Tim Pita Alatini the worst AB 12 in living memory? That's harsh he had some good moments in 2000/01.

Worst AB 12 in living memory would be guys like Mark Mayerhofler, Benson Stanley, Mark Ranby etc

[Tim]

@KiwiMurph Mayerhofler, definitely, but Alatini was terrible.

[Kiwiwomble]

i remember alatini being pretty good in that 2000 "game of the century"

edit: just re watched the first 6mins...bloody hell that was enjoyable

[taniwharugby]

@KiwiMurph wasnt Ranby the player 'foodbill' was coined for?

Ha, I do hate when we call someone the 'worst AB' though, as above, I thought Alatini was pretty good in the 2000/01 period.

[Frye]

Hard to attribute the Blues scrum dominance to Eklund when he's surrounded by 4(!) All Black props. But he's been playing well and he's hungry, he should definitely be in the picture. I've been a huge fan of Taylor but his form just isn't there at the moment.

Taukei'aho is the best hooker in the comp, it would be crazy not to start him. The tight five desperately needs spark. You can't simply fill the pack with players that have experience but lack form and think they will deliver when it matters. The second row will probably have to be experienced, so start the tyro at 2.

Loosehead is a problem. It would be great to see someone stand up in these last few games because it's wide open honestly. Bower might be the best scrummager so looks most likely to get the tick at 1.

[Chris]

I can't see Eklund getting selected over Taylor,ST and Coles.

[Stargazer]

@Chris Look who wrote the Rugbypass article. The same sports writer who writes bs all the time.

[Frank]

@Frye said in All Blacks 2022:

Taukei'aho is the best hooker in the comp, it would be crazy not to start him.

Fuck yeah.

[Chris]

@Stargazer said in All Blacks 2022:

@Chris Look who wrote the Rugbypass article. The same sports writer who writes bs all the time.

Just spotted that

[Tim]

@Chris I wouldn't, but if Coles is out then he would be the next choice.

[Chris]

@Tim said in All Blacks 2022:

@Chris I wouldn't, but if Coles is out then he would be the next choice.

Yeah I think over Amua yes

[mariner4life]

@Tim said in All Blacks 2022:

Here's food for thought, RTS is an expert stepper, but is he better than Pita Alatini, who was the worst AB 12 in living memory. He was an expert stepper

Shit take from you

Alatini is hugely underrated

[Tim]

@mariner4life My best friend marked him in Auckland 1st XV rugby, so maybe I am a little biased over that!

[MN5]

@Tim said in All Blacks 2022:

@mariner4life My best friend marked him in Auckland 1st XV rugby, so maybe I am a little biased over that!

He played 13 more tests than Lowen, Steinmetz, Ranby and King managed between them.

Show some respect Timothy.