All Blacks 2023
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So once again the ABs will be named after the semi finals which will take away from the Super final.
It's almost certain that there will be 1 NZ team in the final (if not 2) so I don't buy that the ABs naming can't be delayed until after the final as ABs won't have access to all the players until that week anyway.
Just have a training squad for the week before if you want to get a head start.
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@KiwiMurph there will at least three NZ teams NOT in the final. ABs will have access to them.
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@KiwiMurph agree naming before the final is just ruining the buildup of at least one team. With so many close calls this year, and in a World Cup year, there are going to be some very disappointed players.
But fuck Super Rugby, right?
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A squad of 36 after first round of playoffs. Mostly who I think they'll pick, but a couple of calls based on who I want in (e.g. No Frizell). Havili, Tuipulotu, Grace, and some props unavailable. Dyer and Finau other possibilities. Proctor looked pretty bad tonight.
de Groot
Tu'ungufasi
Ross (Mafileo as bolter?)
Lomax
Williams
Laulala
Taukei’aho
Taylor
Coles (massive injury risk)
Whitelock
Retallick
S Barrett
Vaa'i
Papalii
Cane
Savea
Sotutu
A Ioane
Jacobson
Blackadder
Smith
Weber
Christie (Roigard pushing hard)
Mo'unga
B Barrett
DMac
J Barrett
R Ioane
ALB
B Heem
Goodhue/Ennor/Pohipi/Aumua
Telea
Jordan
Clarke
Narawa
Stevenson -
My predicted squad isn't dissimilar (though I suppose everyone will likely nail close to 30 of the spots)...
Hookers (3) - Taukei'aho, Coles, Taylor
Props (6) - De Groot, Lomax, Moody, Williams* (injury replacement for Newell), Laulala, Tu'ungafasi
Locks (5) - Barrett, Whitelock, Retallick, Vaa'i, Lord
Loose forwards (7) - Cane, Savea, Frizell, Ioane, Jacobson, Blackadder, Papalii
Halfbacks (3) - Smith, Roigard*, Weber/Christie (whoever has the better game next week, basically)
First fives (3) - Barrett, Mo'unga, McKenzie
Centres (4) - Barrett, Lienert-Brown, Ioane, Heem* (injury replacement for Havili)
Outside backs (4) - Clarke, Telea, Jordan, Fainga'anuku, Stevenson*With a prop, a lock and a loose forward dropping out of the final squad for the World Cup.
The All Blacks XV will be an interesting one. Probably a top 23 of something like...
1 Ross
2 Aumua
3 Jager
4 Dickson
5 Gallagher
6 Finau
7 Harmon
8 Sotutu
9 Christie/Weber
10 Perofeta
11 Nanai-Seturo
12 Heem
13 Aumua
14 Narawa
15 Sullivan16 McAlister
17 Numia
18 Dyer
19 Suafoa
20 Lio-Willie
21 Fakatava
22 Cameron
23 Poihipi -
@Steve said in All Blacks 2023:
How can you drop a lad for the semi and then the assistant gives him the arm band the following year. Clown car on fire.
Cane should have started that semi. He had a strong shoulder and would have stopped Vunipola et al making hay. Scooter could have came in for the second half if needs be.
While I agree 100%, the logic of attacking the Pom lineout did have some merit and would have been a master-stroke if it came off.
It didn't and the rest of the team - particularly the forwards - had a string of brain-farts which were the real reason we lost that game.
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@Victor-Meldrew you mean if we HAD attacked their line-out, as it appeared we would, but didn't.
As I've said before, given BR was still coming back from his injury, I thought he should have been the one coming from the bench and starting both SB and SC.
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Totally agree. But the lineout tactics weren't the only dumb thing on display that day - not by a long shot.
That's loss pisses me off probably more than any other. Totally unavoidable.
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@Frank said in All Blacks 2023:
@Tim said in All Blacks 2023:
Christie (Roigard pushing hard)
Are you having a laugh?
Roigard passed Chrsitie long ago.Experience at the top level counts. Coaches want to know that folk will transfer their skills up - so form may not make it as easy a selction as you think.
Not defending Christie, just observing how the Coach's will probably think - a new player will have to bring another level to justify trying to get them up to speed in the environment in world cup year
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This is a big fault of the current management. At times been conservative to a fault. Talent is talent end of.
In some ways the AB environment can be easier to flourish than SR. -
Here is Paul Cully's prediction.
Possible 36-man All Blacks squad Hookers: Samisoni Taukei'aho, Codie Taylor, Dane Coles Props: Ethan de Groot, Tyrel Lomax, Ofa Tuungafasi, Nepo Laulala, Tamaiti Williams Locks: Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Tupou Vaa'i, Scott Barrett, Josh Lord Loose forwards: Sam Cane, Ardie Savea, Shannon Frizell, Dalton Papalii, Luke Jacobson, Hoskins Sotutu, Ethan Blackadder Halfbacks: Aaron Smith, Brad Weber, Cam Roigard No 10s: Richie Mo'unga, Beauden Barrett, Damian McKenzie Midfielders: Anton Lienert-Brown, Jordie Barrett, Rieko Ioane, Braydon Ennor/Jack Goodhue Outside backs: Will Jordan, Mark Telea, Shaun Stevenson, Emoni Narawa, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Caleb Clarke
Stuff