All Blacks 2023
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@Victor-Meldrew Yes, it makes sense to give some players playing time via the AB XV rather than just holding a tackle bag for the ABs. The hookers are the same, so I wouldn't be surprised to see Aumua in the AB XV squad.
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@Stargazer said in All Blacks 2023:
@Dan54 Under international eligibility rules, you're right. Under NZR selection policy, you're wrong.
There's an agreement - whether legally binding or not - with MP not to select dual/triple eligible players for the ABs as long as they're contracted to MP. There's also NZR selection policy, not to pick players for the ABs that are not contracted to NZR or haven't been when they last played. Hence why TJP, Dmac etc first had to play NPC before being picked for the ABs again.
Aumua's contract with MP has expired by the time ABs play and he has a contract with NZR for next year, so if you consider playing for MP similar to playing overseas, you could argue that he first needs to play NPC before being picked for the ABs. But obviously it's not completely the same as playing overseas, because he was based in NZ.
Want he selected for the AB xv last year? Isn’t that a pointer to how NZR view his eligibility?
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@Dan54 said in All Blacks 2023:
@Stargazer yep mate I realised that about NZR policy, but meant intrenational rules he could be. But he now eligible as he NZ contracted. When MP started I do know that they were allowed to play ABs, but obviously they had to be contracted to NZR anyway. He is actuallu eligible internationally for NZ, Aus Samos and Fiji I think, I know first 3 are coorect.
As far as I know, Aumua isn't eligible for Australia based on heritage. He isn't eligible for Australia anymore on residency grounds as the residency period must be completed immediately before playing for the country. He left Australia when he was 17, so that was a while ago.
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@DaGrubster ABs XV is a non-capturing team, so didn't have any impact on his eligibility for Fiji and Samoa.
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@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2023:
Here is Paul Cully's prediction.
@george33 said in All Blacks 2023:
Wrong by about 8
Let's just pretend for half a second you have an inside line on the hierarchy of NZR and the ABs selection process let's look at this and try and find eight differences...
Samisoni Taukei'aho, Codie Taylor, Dane Coles
Can't see many issues here.
Aumua may tip out ColesProps: Ethan de Groot, Tyrel Lomax, Ofa Tuungafasi, Nepo Laulala, Tamaiti Williams
Williams the outsider
Newell may be available?
What other props we got?Locks: Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Tupou Vaa'i, Scott Barrett, Josh Lord
Can't see other locks in the conversationLoose forwards: Sam Cane, Ardie Savea, Shannon Frizell, Dalton Papalii, Luke Jacobson, Hoskins Sotutu, Ethan Blackadder
dislike Frizell, but in the convo ...
Finau maybe?
Ginge ... but can't see itHalfbacks: Aaron Smith, Brad Weber, Cam Roigard
Christe / RoigardNo 10s: Richie Mo'unga, Beauden Barrett, Damian McKenzie
Midfielders: Anton Lienert-Brown, Jordie Barrett, Rieko Ioane, Braydon Ennor/Jack Goodhue
Aumua maybe for the last twoOutside backs: Will Jordan, Mark Telea, Shaun Stevenson, Emoni Narawa, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Caleb Clarke
are we missing anyone? -
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@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2023:
@booboo others in the mix would be Tuipulotu, Akira, Heem, Harmon, Ross etc
Other than Akira (oops) seems to me they're in the "etc".
Paddy for Lord? Maybe. Fair call. But I have not been whelmed by him.
Can't see Harmon getting up over Cane, DP and Ardie.
Ross? Yeah, which side dies he pack? Have suspicion Williams is LH? Which leaves us short on TH.
Heem. That's a decent call. Been playing well. Big body. Wouldn't object. But can't really see it. And who does he replace?
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Israel Dagg predicts the All Blacks XV side to face Japan
Selections include players ascending into the fringe All Black conversation along with capped All Blacks unable to secure their position.
Aidan Ross
Brodie McAlister
Nepo Laulala
Quinten Strange
Tupou Vaa’i
Luke Jacobson (c)
Tom Christie/Du’Plessis Kirifi
Brayden Iose
Cortez Ratima/Noah Hotham
Stephen Perofeta
Caleb Clarke
Bryce Heem/Levi Aumua
Braydon Ennor
Emoni Narawa
Shaun Stevenson/Josh Moorby -
I'd say Aumua is behind Heem-might be a more exciting centre but Heem's useful utility is more important.
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@Tim said in All Blacks 2023:
Israel Dagg predicts the All Blacks XV side to face Japan
Selections include players ascending into the fringe All Black conversation along with capped All Blacks unable to secure their position.
Aidan Ross
Brodie McAlister
Nepo Laulala
Quinten Strange
Tupou Vaa’i
Luke Jacobson (c)
Tom Christie/Du’Plessis Kirifi
Brayden Iose
Cortez Ratima/Noah Hotham
Stephen Perofeta
Caleb Clarke
Bryce Heem/Levi Aumua
Braydon Ennor
Emoni Narawa
Shaun Stevenson/Josh MoorbyYuck.
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@Stargazer said in All Blacks 2023:
@DaGrubster ABs XV is a non-capturing team, so didn't have any impact on his eligibility for Fiji and Samoa.
Yep, but thinking @DaGrubster meant although it not a capturing team, he was picked because NZR viewed him as eligible for ABs etc.
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@booboo I reckon Cully is dreaming that they'll only pick five props in a 36 man squad.
I reckon Heem has as good a chance as anyone of being picked as the fourth/fifth midfielder. We're a bit thin in the midfield with Havili injured, Goodhue an injury magnet, and a few questions on form around Jordie and (for me) ALB a bit, as well.
Big Levi might be handy as a roll the dice bench option if you're 5 points down with 5 minutes to play - but, I'm not sold that his game is quite rounded enough to be a fully fledged test option yet.
Despite that Big Leicester is leaving, I think he's one of the form players of the Super comp. Looks test-ready this year and I would pick him.
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@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2023:
Despite that Big Leicester is leaving, I think he's one of the form players of the Super comp. Looks test-ready this year and I would pick him.
He was pretty much the form player last year, IIRC, but clearly something went wrong. If he wasn't leaving, then they'd maybe give him another chance, but now I'm not so sure.
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