All Blacks squad - The Rugby Championship
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@Bones Totally agree. They might be the best scrummagers we've got, but they're not good enough to dominate and earn penalties against top tier nations, they're only going to be slightly better at holding their own.
If the guys who can run and hit breakdowns can just hold their own, then that's a massive improvement. -
@reprobate said in All Blacks vs Ireland - series decider:
@Bones Totally agree. They might be the best scrummagers we've got, but they're not good enough to dominate and earn penalties against top tier nations, they're only going to be slightly better at holding their own.
If the guys who can run and hit breakdowns can just hold their own, then that's a massive improvement.Doesn't matter how technically good your props are if the power isn't behind them.
Who are the best scrum/power locks in NZ right now behind Whitelock and Retallick?
Of these, which are good lineout jumpers?
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@stodders said in All Blacks vs Ireland - series decider:
@reprobate said in All Blacks vs Ireland - series decider:
@Bones Totally agree. They might be the best scrummagers we've got, but they're not good enough to dominate and earn penalties against top tier nations, they're only going to be slightly better at holding their own.
If the guys who can run and hit breakdowns can just hold their own, then that's a massive improvement.Doesn't matter how technically good your props are if the power isn't behind them.
Who are the best scrum/power locks in NZ right now behind Whitelock and Retallick?
Of these, which are good lineout jumpers?
Dickson might be a go. Does he pack behind Ainsley? Another I'd be strongly looking at.
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@Tim said in All Blacks squad - The Rugby Championship:
Another reason to hope for a coach change: Tuipulotu is a very big guy who is good for the Blues at physical stuff up the middle, but in the ABs he has been used as a replacement for the usual locks who are expected to play a more mobile game - he is not good at that.
He's a lock who can't jump in the line out. Hopeless at top International level, where most teams will have 2 locks and at least 1 loose forward who are line out offensive and defensive capable.
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@reprobate said in All Blacks squad - The Rugby Championship:
Smith
Mo'unga
Ioane
J Barrett
Goodhue
Reece
JordanBeauden, Webber, whoever else on the bench.
ALB when fit. Maybe Clarke or I'd give Faingaanuku another go, perhaps blood RTS. Havili another option.
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@Bones said in All Blacks vs Ireland - series decider:
@stodders said in All Blacks vs Ireland - series decider:
@reprobate said in All Blacks vs Ireland - series decider:
@Bones Totally agree. They might be the best scrummagers we've got, but they're not good enough to dominate and earn penalties against top tier nations, they're only going to be slightly better at holding their own.
If the guys who can run and hit breakdowns can just hold their own, then that's a massive improvement.Doesn't matter how technically good your props are if the power isn't behind them.
Who are the best scrum/power locks in NZ right now behind Whitelock and Retallick?
Of these, which are good lineout jumpers?
Dickson might be a go. Does he pack behind Ainsley? Another I'd be strongly looking at.
I think back to Henry's tenure. Keith Robinson was picked for his no frills, basic style of play. He was no Retallick, but you knew he would smash rucks and tackle anything that moved (whilst his back didn't give out). Chris Jack was phased out because he didn't do the basics well enough and didn't provide a hard enough edge as an AB forward.
As time progressed, the ABs uncovered Whitelock, then Retallick. Maybe it is time to pick some locks who will give a consistent 7 or 8 out of 10. You can build a pack on that.
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@Bones I like ALB, and would be happy with whoever is looking most dangerous and making fewest mistakes out of those wingers.
RTS maybe, and I'm not that down on Tupaea either - but the first thing we need to do is get our error count down. I'm not convinced yet by Jordie at 12, but I am convinced he isn't half the 15 that Jordan can be.
Havili I like as a player, but I think a bit of size at 12 as a bail-out option is a very handy thing with Mo'unga at 10. -
@TheMojoman said in All Blacks squad - The Rugby Championship:
Given Retallick’s injury plus the desire to use Barrett at 6 means Patty’s experience will be required. There might be an opening for another lock if they want to persevere with Barrett at 6 which given the Boks and Argies is probably a good idea.
South African locks (any of them) Vs Patty T. Eek.
Even more eek is that he looks lighter since his Japan stint. A more lightweight Patty T. 🙈
Seriously, is there nobody better anywhere in NZ?
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Maybe NZRU need to do what Ireland have done. Start scouting SA for some huge slabs of meat and offer them development places in NZ.
France have a South African lock (Willemse). Hasn't done them any harm.
May as well start living up to the poaching tag 🤣
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@cgrant said in All Blacks vs Ireland - series decider:
@stodders
Yes, but who ?
I like what I saw of Sangster and of Gallagher. Both are athletic and provide a good workrate. They are very young and raw but the EOYT could be a perfect occasion to test them at a higher level.Anyone who can push hard, jump well (enough), will tackle themselves to a standstill and can cart the ball up when required without losing it in contact. Just someone that can execute the basics.
They don't need to play first receiver, have soft hands, kick 50:22s or be able to run decoy lines 😁
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@Tim said in All Blacks squad - The Rugby Championship:
Another reason to hope for a coach change: Tuipulotu is a very big guy who is good for the Blues at physical stuff up the middle, but in the ABs he has been used as a replacement for the usual locks who are expected to play a more mobile game - he is not good at that.
Yep, but I have feeling maybe a physical lock wouldn't go astray Tim.
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Would love to see tom Robinson in the squad.
Weber to replace fakatava I think and de groot for tuuinukuafe and also fletcher newell for ofa tuungafasi
I may be tempted aswell to get grace in there as well but not sure who to drop -
Looks like some good ideas, I not too sure about too many back changes, although I wouldn't mind seeing how Caleb is fitness wise, LF just does nothing for my confidence, seemed to look like a deer in headlights in defence or under high kick etc. I hope that Will Jordan gets his mojo back, apart from his searing run for try on weekend he disappointed me a bit, didn't compete in air chasing kicks, and looked lost in defence a couple of times. I dtruggling with props too, not sure which way we go, but Karl T probably just using up a spot as no future there anyway, and Nepo after his stupid carry on weekend was enough to make me wonder if he needs to drift away.
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G’day Danny, hoped you enjoyed the weekend in Wellington? I’m sure Mike has been moaning your ear off about how poor the ABs are😂
Any changes will depend on who is actually coaching and selecting the side I suppose.
De Groot, newell need to come in. I would rather have ramano than Patty T tbh and Cullen Grace needs to come into the mix.
Backs are largely the right group but potentially worth being McKenzie in.
Frankly, it’s probably immaterial what the squad looks like as I have lost all faith that our coaching group has the ability to create a strong side, with a coherent gameplan, that is capable of winning these games.
Take decisive action and change that now and we can start to look forward. As it stands, lots of people won’t even bother to watch it; live or on demand.
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@FakatavaAllBlack
We have some real talent coming through at prop. All fairly young though and ideally would be given a bit more time to learn and grow.
Ideally we would send one or two to Europe for a season to accelerate their readiness but we would lose control of them if we that was possible.
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de Groot and Lomax would be the next in line for the props if the status quo of coaches remain. They were both involved at different stages during the Irish series. It's debatable that these are the right choices, so only a coaching change would allow a complete refresh.
Outside of TJP (and to a lesser degree Weber and Bridge), we haven't seen many experienced ABs dropped recently. Whoever the coach is needs to be decisive and cull under-performing players. That puts everyone on notice.
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