All Blacks 2022
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@Stargazer said in All Blacks 2022:
@Nepia Yep, we may lose him if he isn't selected for the EOYT. I hope they have at least talked to him and given him some work-ons.
Wonder what the work ons are, start well and then fade as the season goes on rather then start slow and then peak for the rest of the season? 😄
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Pretty happy overall with the squad, though 1-2 surprises. Good mix of experience and new guys with opportunities to look at the likes of RTS & LF in the AB environment. Bit surprised by PGS , but they obviously see something in him and want to develop that if they can. Hope he prospers a bit better than Frizzell.
They seem to have gone for a known quantity in 1-2 key areas with Karl T & Havili, which makes sense in some ways, but maybe not if we are looking forward.
From what I've seen in SRP, it looks a pretty strong squad - loose forwards in particular look strong. We wait and see of Foster & co. can mould it into a winning team..
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I kind of understand PGS's inclusion (type of player) but when you have Grace, Robinson, Jacobson, MMT (haven't noticed too much but will defer to Fern narrative) running around.......
Grace and Robinson especially have been superb at the business end while PGS has looked overawed. Oh well... I hope he proves all the doubters wrong and becomes a beast in test rugby. -
@Tim said in All Blacks 2022:
Was Sowakula selected to stop him playing for Fiji?
There’s no reason to do that. He’s not going to worry the ABs playing for Fiji. Just assume Plumtree likes him, and the coaches need to balance out the good (ditching Frizell) with the bad.
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@Old-Samurai-Jack The problem is if they start Savea they have a player who runs superbly in the open field and on the fringes off quick ball, but doesn't carry well off slow ball, doesn't hit rucks effectively, and isn't a big tackler either. Need to try to create a player who is a big ball carrier, physical defender, and ruck/maul beast to compensate for him. Grace and Robinson are very good at certain things, but aren't big ball carriers.
They tried Jacobson last year, but he didn't provide any of those three qualities.
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@Stargazer said in All Blacks 2022:
@ACT-Crusader Last year, initially, for the RC as well, except then it was Smith and Frizell. De Groot was brought in later, when they travelled to Oz.
I think we’ve had only two players from the one franchise a few times previously, but never when those two play the same position.
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@Old-Samurai-Jack said in All Blacks 2022:
I kind of understand PGS's inclusion (type of player) but when you have Grace, Robinson, Jacobson, MMT (haven't noticed too much but will defer to Fern narrative) running around.......
Grace and Robinson especially have been superb at the business end while PGS has looked overawed. Oh well... I hope he proves all the doubters wrong and becomes a beast in test rugby.With 6/7/8 looking reasonably strong, it's probably a good time as any to take a punt on a bloke they think has potential.
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@Tim said in All Blacks 2022:
Cane maybe captain, but is recovering from injury … again.
Does anyone think he will play better than Papalii would in this series?
I do!! He is an international player I reckon. And probably one of every first named?
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@Tim said in All Blacks 2022:
Cane maybe captain, but is recovering from injury … again.
Does anyone think he will play better than Papalii would in this series?
Cane was written off in 2020 in the same way and finished the year as AB of the year. As I think @ACT-Crusader notes, Super form doesn’t always correlate with test form. Added to that he’s been good when he played, for posters actually taking notice.
Personally if either starts I’ll be happy as I like them both.
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@Dan54 said in All Blacks 2022:
@Tim said in All Blacks 2022:
Cane maybe captain, but is recovering from injury … again.
Does anyone think he will play better than Papalii would in this series?
I do!! He is an international player I reckon. And probably one of every first named?
I a real Ardie fan, but would be keen to see him on bench in one of tests and Sotutu or PGS get a start at 8. But really not something I would be to pissed off it doesn't happen
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@KiwiMurph obviously Blackadder would have been there, Luke Jacobson should be there and Cullen Grace absolutely should be there
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@Tim said in All Blacks 2022:
Cane maybe captain, but is recovering from injury … again.
Does anyone think he will play better than Papalii would in this series?
That's tricky one for Foster, isn't it? A fit Sam Cane for me every time and we seem to play better when he's on the field - but the key word is "fit".
There must be a thought in Foster's mind that he may have to drop his Captain if his injuries continues. Tough on Sam & a tough decision.
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@Nepia said in All Blacks 2022:
@Tim said in All Blacks 2022:
Cane maybe captain, but is recovering from injury … again.
Does anyone think he will play better than Papalii would in this series?
Cane was written off in 2020 in the same way and finished the year as AB of the year. As I think @ACT-Crusader notes, Super form doesn’t always correlate with test form. Added to that he’s been good when he played, for posters actually taking notice.
Personally if either starts I’ll be happy as I like them both.
I'd argue having to choose between DP & Sam is a good position for NZ rugby to be in.
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@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2022:
@Nepia said in All Blacks 2022:
@Tim said in All Blacks 2022:
Cane maybe captain, but is recovering from injury … again.
Does anyone think he will play better than Papalii would in this series?
Cane was written off in 2020 in the same way and finished the year as AB of the year. As I think @ACT-Crusader notes, Super form doesn’t always correlate with test form. Added to that he’s been good when he played, for posters actually taking notice.
Personally if either starts I’ll be happy as I like them both.
I'd argue having to choose between DP & Sam is a good position for NZ rugby to be in.
With Cane as capt you pretty much assure he’s starting. This means Ardie at 8 and likely Akira at 6 against a big Irish pack with Papali’i covering all 3 from the bench.
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@Victor-Meldrew Cane is fine in the squad but he is still not a captains arsehole. That’s the big problem here.
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@Stag said in All Blacks 2022:
@KiwiMurph obviously Blackadder would have been there, Luke Jacobson should be there and Cullen Grace absolutely should be there
That's fair. I wouldn't say the absence of those 3 make this the weakest loose forward group in years. Aside from PGS the rest of the loosies pick themselves.
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@Stag said in All Blacks 2022:
@KiwiMurph obviously Blackadder would have been there, Luke Jacobson should be there and Cullen Grace absolutely should be there
I agree. Not taking anything away from Sowakula but Jacobson is the incumbent plus a like for like swap with Blackadder. Selectors probably thought Papali’i could play all 3 back row spots as well meaning they could bet on the upside of Sowakula.
Cullen gives you a tall 8/6 which they don’t really have. You’d have to shift Va’ai there to give the necessary size. I would love to see a Robinson/Grace type loosie in there but I think at some stage they had to try Sowakula to see if he’s test match material. If not now when?
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@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2022:
@Tim said in All Blacks 2022:
Cane maybe captain, but is recovering from injury … again.
Does anyone think he will play better than Papalii would in this series?
That's tricky one for Foster, isn't it? A fit Sam Cane for me every time and we seem to play better when he's on the field - but the key word is "fit".
There must be a thought in Foster's mind that he may have to drop his Captain if his injuries continues. Tough on Sam & a tough decision.
Should have dropped McCaw too with all those injuries he used to get. And Papalii? appendicitis! Who the fuck gets that these days? Get rid of him.
