All Blacks XV 2023

[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.

[frugby]

Wouldn't be shocked to see Bell get a run. I think had he not spent most of the year injured, he would have been the in the squad.

[Stargazer]

@frugby Yep. I just hope that doesn't mean Thompson gets dropped.

[Wurzel]

Sounds sketchy

[frugby]

@Stargazer said in All Blacks XV 2023:

@frugby Yep. I just hope that doesn't mean Thompson gets dropped.

Riccitelli should go for me. Played well in SR no doubt, but he is too small/not dynamic enough to be a test match hooker.

[matty_kcrams]

Does the All Blacks XV count as our 2nd team for eligibility criteria? Either something dodgy happened over there or Jager has declared for Ireland and Walker-Leawere for Fiji. Don't know about Aumua; but he may be eligible for Samoa from next year?

[frugby]

@matty_kcrams It is an option, but with all signed on with NZR seems unlikely.

[matty_kcrams]

Jager and Walker-Leawere have only signed for next year haven't they? Will be interesting to see what's going on.

[Machpants]

@matty_kcrams said in All Blacks XV 2023:

Does the All Blacks XV count as our 2nd team for eligibility criteria? Either something dodgy happened over there or Jager has declared for Ireland and Walker-Leawere for Fiji. Don't know about Aumua; but he may be eligible for Samoa from next year?

No it doesn't same as Aumua from last year

[Stargazer]

Maybe referring to "personal reasons" could just be a way of not having to say they have covid? I wouldn't go looking for more meaning behind it. It's no conspiracy of some sort.

[frugby]

@Stargazer No it isn't, and this is entirely possible. I think it just doesn't look great because it is a group of three.

If it is COVID, why not just say? Seems unlikely that they aren't linked...

[frugby]

Aumua playing for Wellington. Something's up.

[Chris]

@frugby
Yeah that is strange.

[frugby]

I had heard initially (Middle of last week) That Aumua was, "no good." I just assumed that was an injury, but that certainly isn't the case.

[Bovidae]

@frugby said in All Blacks XV 2023:

Riccitelli should go for me. Played well in SR no doubt, but he is too small/not dynamic enough to be a test match hooker.

Bell isn't a big hooker either. I'd keep the same two hookers that played the Japan XV.

[frugby]

@Bovidae Bell isn't big? Really? Seriously? He isn't as big as Thompson who is absolutely huge lol. Bell would be the same size as Taukei'aho. Listed at 6ft and 107kg, and the latter is likely to end up around 112kg I'd think.

[Stargazer]

The Chiefs website has Thompson as 18.6m tall. I think that's a slight exaggeration, but going by last year's NPC guides, he's about 5 cm taller than Bell and Taukei'aho. Weights may have changed since last year, but in 2022 Taukei'aho and Thompson were similar in weight, and about 8 kgs heavier than Bell.

[Bovidae]

Bell didn't look that big to me. Riccitelli is short but solid. Sami T is built like a typical Tongan.