All Blacks 2023
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Only 2 (at most) of Mo'unga, McKenzie, B.Barrett should be in our 23, or else it throws off the team mix/balance, B.Barrett's value is becoming redundant as already 2 out/out tens & Dmac can also play fullback, not to mention one of our wingers is most certainly going to be a fullback as well...
But sadly we've become accustomed to Foster's unbalanced XV's because he tries so hard to satisfy everyone that he ends up neglecting team balance entirely, playing both Cane & Savea in the starting backrow - having Mo'unga, ALB, Havili, DMac, sideways running, lightweight backs all in the same 23 a few years ago (2021?) without direct ball carriers to square-up the defensive line.
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@kiwi_expat said in All Blacks 2023:
sideways running, lightweight backs all in the same 23 a few years ago (2021?) without direct ball carriers to square-up the defensive line.
Thought that was why he persevered with Clarke and wanted LF Tupaea and Goodhue in the mix as well as Jordie Barrett.
What is wrong with Cane and Savea together if the 6 is a big unit?
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Props
I thought that Ross and Dyer were very good on the weekend. Lomax and Tu'ungufasi were good too. de Groot had a strong game and, as always, scrums well, though may need to up the work rate against NZ teams. Moody was unimpressive. Laulala was playing pretty well (hands aside) before his injury, though I hope we can do better than him.
If five props are in the WC squad, then Tu'ungufasi is a lock. Add Lomax and de Groot, and you have two places left. Ross is probably the form loosehead in NZ, with Williams playing pretty well on the other side of the scrum too. Have doubts about the latter's defence and workrate though. Chiefs ruck work has been noticeably better than Crusaders this year.
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@Tim A year or so too early for Williams I think. Moody is playing OK and having a grizzled old experienced prop backing up de Groot is common sense I think. His impact in the mauls and lineout drives might be just what is required in a knockout game.
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Any thoughts on WC squad make-up? With Beauden Barrett, DMac, and Jordie Barrett (plus Mo'unga) in the squad, you probably only need to take 4 back-three players. With the mandatory 3x halfbacks and hookers, that would leave 5 props, 4 locks, 6 loose forwards, and 4 midfield backs.
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@Steve said in All Blacks 2023:
Not for me.
I like my Allblack 15 to be a prolific try scorer from the back.
Will Jordan or Stevenson.
Teams need to be punished for kicking it to us.
Beaudy is gun shy now.
I agree. BB barely rates as a squad player right now. But Fozz will take him for his experience
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@Tim If this squad composition is assumed, then the next step is to look at who are squad certainties. I would suggest if fit:
de Groot
Lomax
Tu'ungufasiTaukei'aho
TaylorRetallick
Whitelock
S BarrettCane
Papalii
Savea
SotutuSmith
Mo'unga
B Barrett
McKenzieJ Barrett
R IoaneJordan
Probably will also see Clarke on the wing, with two of Stevenson, Narawa, Telea, and maybe Fainga'anuku joining him. (3)
Hooker will be Aumua or Coles, hopefully the former. (1)
The two props are tough to pick, and injury dependent. LH: Moody, Ross, maybe Numia. TH: Laulala, Williams, Dyer, Newell. (1 each)
Lock is between Vaa'i, Tuipulotu, and Lord. (1)
Loose forward: Frizell, Ioane, Blackadder, Jacobson, Finau. (2)
Halfback: Christie, Weber, Roigard. (2)
Midfield: Havili, ALB, RTS, Goodhue. (2)
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I see Mackenzie is locked in until 2025.
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@chimoaus said in All Blacks 2023:
So, for some reason I can't help but feel weird about the current coaching setup given the saviour is taking over post world cup. How do you think this impacts Fozzie and the current crop? I honestly hope it gives them that extra motivation to say fuck you to all who doubt them or don't believe they are capable. I guess anything but winning the cup will be deemed a failure by his reign.
I think we'll do better than we expect, but the Rugby world has changed and the gap has narrowed hugely. There's 4-5 teams pretty close at the top of the tree these days.
I wonder if Razor is secretly hoping they lose the WC as it would make his job a little harder taking over the world champions and trying to retain it. Thoughts?
Nah, doubt that completely. That's the sort of crazy conspiracy-theory bollocks you'd expect loons to throw at Foster.
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@Billy-Tell said in All Blacks 2023:
I see Mackenzie is locked in until 2025.
That's only two years. If DMac carries his SR form into the RWC, I'd expect him to get a longer contract.
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@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2023:
@Billy-Tell said in All Blacks 2023:
I see Mackenzie is locked in until 2025.
That's only two years. If DMac carries his SR form into the RWC, I'd expect him to get a longer contract.
Yup, he stay for two years, and if he hasn't nailed down the top ten role, he heads overseas. Still young enough to make a fair amount of money
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@Bones said in All Blacks 2023:
Reckon you can throw Clarke into the certainties and tempted to throw in Christie, Havili and ALB too.
The way Foster was talking up Havili on the Breakdown last week, he's a certainty if fit.
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@Tim said in All Blacks 2023:
Halfback: Christie, Weber, Roigard. (2)
Midfield: Havili, ALB, RTS, Goodhue. (2)If those selections go ahead as expected, that's terribly disappointing.
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@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2023:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2023:
Reckon you can throw Clarke into the certainties and tempted to throw in Christie, Havili and ALB too.
The way Foster was talking up Havili on the Breakdown last week, he's a certainty if fit.
I'm not a coaching genius, but I can't identify what they like about his play.
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@antipodean said in All Blacks 2023:
@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2023:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2023:
Reckon you can throw Clarke into the certainties and tempted to throw in Christie, Havili and ALB too.
The way Foster was talking up Havili on the Breakdown last week, he's a certainty if fit.
I'm not a coaching genius, but I can't identify what they like about his play.
Don't mind Havili, he reads game well and is more your 2nd 5/8th type player. Don't think he will be a starter if JB fit but at moment would be the back up I think.
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@antipodean said in All Blacks 2023:
@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2023:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2023:
Reckon you can throw Clarke into the certainties and tempted to throw in Christie, Havili and ALB too.
The way Foster was talking up Havili on the Breakdown last week, he's a certainty if fit.
I'm not a coaching genius, but I can't identify what they like about his play.
Too me he's a 'nearly there' player. A jack of all trades master of none. I don't get the argument that he is a second-five, he hardly ever goes to first receiver and also never directs play tactically from second man out.
I do get that he could be a squad option for the RWC as he has the versatility to play various roles in minnow games (including 10) -
