All Blacks XV 2023

[Canes4life]

@BerhamporeNinja yeah Mafileo is training with the ABs as cover. Another the Canes are rumoured to not have signed. Ffs.

[Bovidae]

A replacement for Mafileo will need to be named ASAP.

[frugby]

Off the top of my head, Saula Ma'u might be someone they look at?

[Canes4life]

@frugby get the old dog O Franks in there.

[SouthernMann]

Just chuck the next available Crusaders tighthead in there

[george33]

@Canes4life Tevita is most likely at Blues next season replacing Nepo/Hodgman but nothing in concrete yet , has moved provinces, blues have chased 2 crusaders props 1 maybe over line but nothing signed as of yesterday,and

[Canes4life]

@george33 changing NPC sides doesn't always mean a change of Super franchise. I will be surprised if he moves, again he's part of a maturing front row at the Canes that includes Aumua and Lomax.

[george33]

Very True just putting it out there and yes this is rumour at this stage ok but it's there

[Bovidae]

Back to a potential replacement, it will depend on whether they want a LH or TH. Mafileo would have been covering both with only 5 props. Rakete-Stones would be one option as he did make the squad last year, but hasn't played much.

[Stargazer]

@Bovidae Rakete-Stones can play both LH and TH.

[Bovidae]

@Stargazer That's why I mentioned him.

[Stargazer]

[Bones]

@Stargazer whatever it was they've deleted it...

[Tim]

@Bones Three players returning home for personal reasons.

[Bones]

@Tim said in All Blacks XV 2023:

@Bones Three players returning home for personal reasons.

Sounds ripe for speculation.

[Stargazer]

@Tim said in All Blacks XV 2023:

@Bones Three players returning home for personal reasons.

Oliver Jager, Isaia Walker-Leawere and Asafo Aumua were the players named in that tweet.

[family man]

George bell,George dyer and Aidan Ross called up apparently but I thought Aidan Ross was already there

[Bovidae]

Ross was named in the original squad but then withdrew himself for personal reasons (replaced by Ollie Norris).

[Stargazer]

And now the same tweet has been posted again:

[Bovidae]

With those departures there will be minimal changes to the tight five to play Japan. Ross could start at LH prop, but not too many other options at lock. Suafoa to stay on the bench.