All Blacks 2022
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@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.
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@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 will be close. Very close to what I am picking.
Changes that I think Fozzie might make:
*****Robinson in for Frizell.
Christie in for Fakatava.
Havili into midfield for Big Leicester.
Big Leicester into the outside backs for Perofeta.*****
Hodgman would be unlucky at loosehead, but I think can play for the Maori - so not losing ground?
Hooker should be settled.
I'd like to see Newell apprenticed at tighthead, but I think Angus has done enough for now.
Locks seem settled as long as they pick five.
Six loosies should be settled assuming Jacobson in for Blackadder - seventh could be any of Robinson, Frizell, MMT or Grace. I'm favoring Robinson.
Halfback, they have to pick three from five. Smith and two others - one who should be experienced. I'm thinking TJP to the Maori. Fakatava apprenticed.
First five - settled.
Midfield - if they're happy with Jack Goodhue as their second best centre (in the absence of ALB) then they can pick three other 2nd fives - with potentially Big Leicester as a 3rd centre option who won't be needed there. I'd like to see Bailyn Sullivan apprenticed.
Outsides - I'm picking Perofeta to be unlucky, but he plays the same role as DMac who is waiting in the wings. Jordie and Jordan are the two best fullbacks. Jordan, Reece and Clarke are the three best wings. Leicester a squaddie who might cover centre at a pinch.
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@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2022:
@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.
I don't think Robinson or Frizell are legitimate lock options vs serious international opposition. You can field them there against the likes of Italy - but their main value is as RWC minnow lock resting options.
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@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2022:
@Gunner Robinson is too small to be a genuine international lock.
correct.
He's squad cover for lock/loosie. As discussed above. Not a front line lock (but seemed to do well in the scrums last night, despite my trepidation)
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@Chris-B if you believe stats online he is taller than Scott Barret and only a kg lighter...4cm shorter than Lord and same weight.
I'm not advocating he be selected, as above I think if he was a shot he is in competition with Vaii who is same height but 7kg heavier...I don't see them ditching Vaii.
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@taniwharugby I don't think he is.
He looks a fair bit lighter than SB.
If I'm being blunt (are you reading this Leon?) I'm quite hoping the Blues play him at lock at the weekend, because I think we can exploit that.
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@Bovidae That probably muddies the waters a bit for me then.
It's handy if Fozzie can send a few players to the Maori with a message that they're receiving no discount on their AB aspirations.
Anyone know for sure who are Maori-qualified looseheads?
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@nzzp That's because he had Laulala infront of him.
Despite people criticising his play around the field, Laulala is still the best scrummaging tighthead in the country by a long long way and it showed again against the Brumbies.
I'd expect to see Robinson there tbh as he can cover 2 positions effectively.
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@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2022:
Anyone know for sure who are Maori-qualified looseheads?
Rakete-Stones, Norris and Williams. All young players, not in the conversation for the ABs.
Hodgman could be like Deacon Manu but has never been selected for the Māori before.
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@African-Monkey I suspect you might be right about Nepo, but I'm far from convinced about TR at lock.
And with competent selecting you would never need him there.
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@African-Monkey said in All Blacks 2022:
@nzzp That's because he had Laulala infront of him.
Despite people criticising his play around the field, Laulala is still the best scrummaging tighthead in the country by a long long way and it showed again against the Brumbies.
I'd expect to see Robinson there tbh as he can cover 2 positions effectively.
Laulala certainly put his name on the certainties with that performance, but it requires loosies and locks doing most of the heavy lifting with the ball.
Ofa (1 run, 0 metres) and Hodgman (2 runs, 3 metres) don't need to be heavy runners when you have Robinson (10 runs, 31 metres, 1 clean break, 1 offload), Akira (6 runs, 21 metres, 3 defenders beaten, 1 offload), and Sotutu (8 runs, 40 metres, 4 defenders beaten, 1 offload) as danger men with the ball. The blues have shown the way to have props who can scrum, tackle, and clean as they have enough running threats from 5-8.
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@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2022:
Anyone know for sure who are Maori-qualified looseheads?
See the list here (for all positions):
https://www.thesilverfern.com/post/undefined-maori-all-blacks-to-play-ireland -
@nzzp said in All Blacks 2022:
@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2022:
@Gunner Robinson is too small to be a genuine international lock.
correct.
He's squad cover for lock/loosie. As discussed above. Not a front line lock (but seemed to do well in the scrums last night, despite my trepidation)
Barrett and Vaa’i can cover 6 in emergencies.
I’m more in the genuine lock plus a bruiser loosie on the bench. And it makes more sense if we continue to start both Cane and Savea. Hence someone like Robinson is surplus unless he is in the top 4 locks.
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@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)
Would not be hoping mad with that, although I'd go Ginge over Frizell.
Toss up for me Weber v Christie
Not sold on Faiunga'anuku ... but not sure who is better
Who misses out from that lot?
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@taniwharugby said in All Blacks 2022:
@nzzp As much as I think Robinson would be vwry good in the test environment, who does he replace?
In a way I think he is competing directly with Vai who is a lock that can play 6 while Robinson is a 6 that can play lock, and Vai has shown enough to continue the investment in him.
And this is where the NZ Maori is an issue for guys like Robinson, Eklund, Seger, Holland, MMT, Morgan, Roe etc, even Frizzel if he isn't in the main squad*
Guys that would likely thrive if given a chance against Ireland if it was NZ A, not NZ Maori playing them.
*Assuming none have any Maori ancestors.
Frizell
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