All Blacks XV 2022

[Tim]

Post about Foster in one of the many threads. This is the AB XV thread.

[Tim]

After today's underwhelming announcement, what might an NZ A squad look like? Entire Blues squad is in, of course.

[Frye]

@Tim

Best Māori All Blacks plus the likes of:

Hodgman, Josh Goodhue, Tom Robinson

Ah Kuoi, Jacobsen, Samipeni Finau, Jonah Lowe, McKenzie?

Aumua, Morgan, Peter UJ, Savea, Rayasi

Newell, Williams

PPP, MMT, Thomas UJ, Nareki

[ACT Crusader]

The interesting one for me and this team is what they do at halfback.

It’s a new(ish) concept and we will want to win so do we take a couple of experienced heads or is this purely about eye to the future.

[Stargazer]

@ACT-Crusader Yep, and then there's the cross-over between the senior squad and this squad. Games of the ABs XV may be used to give game time to ABs who haven't played much. For example, if they use Smith and Fakatava for most tests, Christie may get a run for this team.

[Tim]

@ACT-Crusader Really hoping they don't take Perenara. Would like to see Ratima get a go. Maybe Roe too.

[Tim]

@Stargazer Hope Weber is the senior halfback, if he isn't in the ABs.

[Stargazer]

@Tim Yep, if they take two halfbacks, they should pick Weber and Ratima.

[KiwiMurph]

There's a bit of form to play out in NPC.

[Bovidae]

Surely they pick the next best players. There are only 3 tour games so not much time for development players, but that could be dependent on the squad size.

[mariner4life]

i hope they take Finau

[Billy Tell]

An AB XV vs the actual ABs would be interesting. Fozzie wouldn’t want to be losing that.

[ACT Crusader]

@Stargazer said in All Blacks XV:

@ACT-Crusader Yep, and then there's the cross-over between the senior squad and this squad. Games of the ABs XV may be used to give game time to ABs who haven't played much. For example, if they use Smith and Fakatava for most tests, Christie may get a run for this team.

I really hope that is the case. So you would think this squad would be no more than 25 or 26 players.

[Stargazer]

@ACT-Crusader Also from a cost perspective, that's the sensible thing to do.

[KiwiMurph]

Anyone who doesn't make the AB XV might find themselves in the Barbarian team if Razor is still the Barbarian coach by then.

[cgrant]

Possible squad :

Eklund, Aumua, Thompson (McAllister, Vikena eventual bolters)

Norris, Williams, Jager, Newell, Ainsley

Gallagher, Sangster, IWL, PPP (if fit)

MMT, Robinson, Harmon, Suafoa, Grace + an openside (Gibson, Christie ?)

Weber, Ratima, TJP

Ioane + AN other (Morgan, Love, Gatland, Burke, Gilbert ?)

TUJ, PUJ, Nankivell + AN other (Sullivan, Proctor, Evans, Savea ?)

Telea, Stevenson, Lam, Sullivan, Moorby (DMac ?)

[Stargazer]

@cgrant I hope Flanders is in the equation, too, although the Canes' selection policy and his injury late in the season haven't done him any favours. I guess it may depend on whether Grace will be in the ABs EOYT squad, as he should be. Otherwise, he may have to wait a year.

Bailyn Sullivan should not be listed under "AN other". I'd pick him over PUJ.

And whether we like it or not, Ennor is a near certainty for this team, unless he's in the ABs to stay. As a midfielder or a wing, or a utitlity back.

[ACT Crusader]

@cgrant too many players. There will be unselected players in the AB squad who will be able to get an AB XV game.

My mix would be something like below if the ABs take their standard size squad.

5x props
3x hookers
3x locks
4x loose forwards
2x halfbacks
2x 1st 5s
3x midfielders
3x outside backs

[Stargazer]

@ACT-Crusader Yep, that makes a lot of sense.

[Bovidae]

It will be hard to move players from the ABs to the AB XV as there will be clashes with the AB tests against Scotland and England.