All Blacks 2022
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@taniwharugby Eklund is alread MABs capped (see my article). I expect him to be the no. 1 hooker in the MABs squad. Easy to exclude Segner and Holland. MMT is Samoan. Frizell is Tongan. The rest, who knows? I was surprised by the call-ups of Josh Dickson, the Norris brothers, Nankivell and Trask, but their Māori ancester may just be further up the family tree.
I assume that if the rumours are true about the All Blacks XV playing a few games, later this year, some of these guys may be in that squad.
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@Stargazer but that's the point, some are probably better than some that make the Maori side, but are excluded due to not being Maori.
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@taniwharugby Just added another sentence.
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@Crucial said in All Blacks 2022:
@Bovidae said in All Blacks 2022:
Paul Cully with his possible AB squad (including 5 new caps):
Hookers: Codie Taylor (Crusaders), Samisoni Taukei’aho (Chiefs), Dane Coles (Hurricanes)
Props: Nepo Laulala (Blues), Ofa Tuungafasi (Blues), Angus Ta’avao (Chiefs), Ethan de Groot (Highlanders), George Bower (Crusaders), Aidan Ross (Chiefs)
Locks: Brodie Retallick (Chiefs), Sam Whitelock (Crusaders), Josh Lord (Chiefs), Tupou Vaa’i (Chiefs), Scott Barrett (Crusaders)
Loose forwards: Sam Cane (Chiefs, captain), Ardie Savea (Hurricanes), Dalton Papalii (Blues), Akira Ioane (Blues), Luke Jacobson (Chiefs), Hoskins Sotutu (Blues), Shannon Frizell (Highlanders)
Halfbacks: Aaron Smith (Highlanders), Brad Weber (Chiefs), Folau Fakatava (Highlanders)
No 10s: Beauden Barrett (Blues), Richie Mo’unga (Crusaders)
Midfielders: Rieko Ioane (Blues), Jack Goodhue (Crusaders), Quinn Tupaea (Chiefs), Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (Blues), Leicester Fainga’anuku (Crusaders)
Outside backs: Caleb Clarke (Blues), Sevu Reece (Crusaders), Jordie Barrett (Hurricanes), Will Jordan (Crusaders), Stephen Perofeta (Blues)
That won’t be far off at all.
Agree. Three only thing I'm not sure about is new props (cos I know nothing), and I think havili will still be in. Not saying should but will be
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@Machpants said in All Blacks 2022:
@Crucial said in All Blacks 2022:
@Bovidae said in All Blacks 2022:
Paul Cully with his possible AB squad (including 5 new caps):
Hookers: Codie Taylor (Crusaders), Samisoni Taukei’aho (Chiefs), Dane Coles (Hurricanes)
Props: Nepo Laulala (Blues), Ofa Tuungafasi (Blues), Angus Ta’avao (Chiefs), Ethan de Groot (Highlanders), George Bower (Crusaders), Aidan Ross (Chiefs)
Locks: Brodie Retallick (Chiefs), Sam Whitelock (Crusaders), Josh Lord (Chiefs), Tupou Vaa’i (Chiefs), Scott Barrett (Crusaders)
Loose forwards: Sam Cane (Chiefs, captain), Ardie Savea (Hurricanes), Dalton Papalii (Blues), Akira Ioane (Blues), Luke Jacobson (Chiefs), Hoskins Sotutu (Blues), Shannon Frizell (Highlanders)
Halfbacks: Aaron Smith (Highlanders), Brad Weber (Chiefs), Folau Fakatava (Highlanders)
No 10s: Beauden Barrett (Blues), Richie Mo’unga (Crusaders)
Midfielders: Rieko Ioane (Blues), Jack Goodhue (Crusaders), Quinn Tupaea (Chiefs), Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (Blues), Leicester Fainga’anuku (Crusaders)
Outside backs: Caleb Clarke (Blues), Sevu Reece (Crusaders), Jordie Barrett (Hurricanes), Will Jordan (Crusaders), Stephen Perofeta (Blues)
That won’t be far off at all.
Agree. Three only thing I'm not sure about is new props (cos I know nothing), and I think havili will still be in. Not saying should but will be
I'm thinking maybe one less lock. Havili in as midfielder and Lester F named as an outside back.
Perofeta is the DMac of the squad. Could be named as 10 or outside back, doesn't matter which. -
@Bovidae don't agree with Bower and Taavao in the squad. Angus has not done a lot to warrant selection, Bower replacing Moody is not a good enough reason to be selected either. Both have had mediocre seasons. I would replace them with Newell and Hodgman both have consistently played well throughout the season.
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@number9 said in All Blacks 2022:
@Bovidae don't agree with Bower and Taavao in the squad. Angus has not done a lot to warrant selection, Bower replacing Moody is not a good enough reason to be selected either. Both have had mediocre seasons. I would replace them with Newell and Hodgman both have consistently played well throughout the season.
I think Hodgeman should be in the team, I can't remember who posted it but he by far and away had some of the best stats of any NZ prop in Super Rugby for rucks hit, tackles etc etc. I thought AT was very strong on Friday vs the Crusaders, the scrum was very solid, he carts it up like a trooper and made plenty of tackles.
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@number9 said in All Blacks 2022:
@Bovidae don't agree with Bower and Taavao in the squad. Angus has not done a lot to warrant selection, Bower replacing Moody is not a good enough reason to be selected either. Both have had mediocre seasons. I would replace them with Newell and Hodgman both have consistently played well throughout the season.
Angus has also played well all season. Has been a big part of one of the best front rows of the comp and has fronted up against whatever the Blues, Saders and Brumbies could bring. He isn't my first pick starter but using your own logic should be there.
Newell was owned by Ross who is, by most accounts, a fringe selection. -
@Crucial said in All Blacks 2022:
@number9 said in All Blacks 2022:
@Bovidae don't agree with Bower and Taavao in the squad. Angus has not done a lot to warrant selection, Bower replacing Moody is not a good enough reason to be selected either. Both have had mediocre seasons. I would replace them with Newell and Hodgman both have consistently played well throughout the season.
Angus has also played well all season. Has been a big part of one of the best front rows of the comp and has fronted up against whatever the Blues, Saders and Brumbies could bring. He isn't my first pick starter but using your own logic should be there.
Newell was owned by Ross who is, by most accounts, a fringe selection.Newell didn't really prop against Ross Jager did and when Norris came on he got owned by Newell in the last 20 minutes.
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@Chris said in All Blacks 2022:
Newell didn't really prop against Ross Jager did and when Norris came on he got owned by Newell in the last 20 minutes.
That was only one scrum. When a fresh Dyer replaced Ta'avao the scrums were even. Ta'avao has been playing ~70 mins in recent weeks so there is going to be some fatigue late in the game. Bower and Jager were owned in the 1st half.
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@number9 I am not a Bower fan either, but I expect he'll be in the squad. Dominating a no-name Qld front row means little when we get to test rugby. Bower really struggled against the better international scrums last year.
Cully mentions that there have been concerns about de Groot's fitness, something many of us have noted. He could be the LH prop to miss out. You would want your best props starting, but I am not sure which LH that is myself. I like Hodgman but he might be better as the reserve LH.
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Hookers: Codie Taylor (Crusaders), Samisoni Taukei’aho (Chiefs), Dane Coles (Hurricanes)
Three ticks
Props: Nepo Laulala (Blues), Ofa Tuungafasi (Blues), Angus Ta’avao (Chiefs), Ethan de Groot (Highlanders), George Bower (Crusaders), Aidan Ross (Chiefs)
Who cares….
Locks: Brodie Retallick (Chiefs), Sam Whitelock (Crusaders), Josh Lord (Chiefs), Tupou Vaa’i (Chiefs), Scott Barrett (Crusaders)
Can’t really fault any of these. Whitelock’s health the only issue.
Loose forwards: Sam Cane (Chiefs, captain), Ardie Savea (Hurricanes), Dalton Papalii (Blues), Akira Ioane (Blues), Luke Jacobson (Chiefs), Hoskins Sotutu (Blues), Shannon Frizell (Highlanders)
For me Jacobson and Frizell are a bit ho-hum. Would rather they take a punt with MMT given Cane, Savea, Ioane, Sotutu/Papali’i will be getting most of the playing time.
Halfbacks: Aaron Smith (Highlanders), Brad Weber (Chiefs), Folau Fakatava (Highlanders)
With TJP possibly in the Maori, I guess it’s a call between Weber and Christie.
No 10s: Beauden Barrett (Blues), Richie Mo’unga (Crusaders)
All good
Midfielders: Rieko Ioane (Blues), Jack Goodhue (Crusaders), Quinn Tupaea (Chiefs), Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (Blues), Leicester Fainga’anuku (Crusaders)
Not sure if both RTS and LF will make it, but I wouldn’t mind it. I think LF is still more a wing that can play centre.
Outside backs: Caleb Clarke (Blues), Sevu Reece (Crusaders), Jordie Barrett (Hurricanes), Will Jordan (Crusaders), Stephen Perofeta (Blues)
Can see a strong argument for Perofeta, but could we just go in with BB and Mo’unga and have Jordie on emergency (ala Rangi all those years ago). That would open the door for a bolter like Lam or another midfielder.
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@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks 2022:
For me Jacobson and Frizell are a bit ho-hum. Would rather they take a punt with MMT given Cane, Savea, Ioane, Sotutu/Papali’i will be getting most of the playing time.
I'm with you on this. MMT should replace with Frizell.
I wonder if Robinson vs Lord for that 5th lock will be looked at. Gut says they'll go Lord.
Of course even after the ABs are named there could be some changes with potential injuries/suspensions in the final.
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@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2022:
@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks 2022:
I wonder if Robinson vs Lord for that 5th lock will be looked at. Gut says they'll go Lord.
Not a crack you you, but I’ve seen nothing of Lord to suggest he’s better than Robinson.
ABs are missing aggression and mongrel up front, look no further than the big ginga for that.
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@Gunner said in All Blacks 2022:
@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2022:
@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks 2022:
I wonder if Robinson vs Lord for that 5th lock will be looked at. Gut says they'll go Lord.
Not a crack you you, but I’ve seen nothing of Lord to suggest he’s better than Robinson.
ABs are missing aggression and mongrel up front, look no further than the big ginga for that.
Lord looks like he's a future Whitelock replacement with is lineout ability, so I can't see these players competing for the same place. Vaa'ii versus big Red right now with Barrett already there. In the future, we may be able to carry both.
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@number9 said in All Blacks 2022:
@Bovidae don't agree with Bower and Taavao in the squad. Angus has not done a lot to warrant selection, Bower replacing Moody is not a good enough reason to be selected either. Both have had mediocre seasons. I would replace them with Newell and Hodgman both have consistently played well throughout the season.
Hodgemen has a lot of leap frogging to do and I'm not sure everyone sees his game with the rose tinted specs you do. He'll have to have a big show in the final.
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@Crucial said in All Blacks 2022:
Angus has also played well all season. Has been a big part of one of the best front rows of the comp and has fronted up against whatever the Blues, Saders and Brumbies could bring. He isn't my first pick starter but using your own logic should be there.
He's in the Frizell camp for me.
Tried at test level and found wanting.
No thanks. -
@Bones no rose tinted specs. I just don't rate Bower and I think de Groot went well at scrum time and owned Ofa, but his work around the field needs more work. Hodgman's scrummaging has come along in leaps and bounds. Ross did not go to well at the beginning of the Crusaders game. 2021 ABs were weak at the breakdown and were totally dominated. He is the player you need to make an impact off the bench.
