All Blacks XV 2023

Bovidae

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

frugby

@Stargazer No doubting Thompson is a big boy. Bell is an absolute unit, I'd be surprised if he wasn't heavier than 107kg... especially as Ricky is allegedly 112kg.

Also we have to remember, Bell is only young, so 'big' is a bit of a potential term, because he still has some bulking out to do.

Winger

@frugby said in All Blacks XV 2023:

Aumua playing for Wellington. Something's up.

Agree. It seems like a being sent home situation although I hope it isn't as Aumua would likely be next in line for the ABs.

Canes4life

@Winger I’m sure what ever happened will come out eventually. If it was that bad surely Wellington would have excluded him from playing in the Shield game. Very strange indeed.

matty_kcrams

@Machpants yea that's right. Seems odd that it doesn't.

Canes4life

Here’s an article on the situation: https://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/300925308/oli-jager-asafo-aumua-and-isaia-walkerleawere-leave-all-blacks-xv-tour

Bones

So they left before the first game? Even stranger

Billy Tell

I smell a rat

gt12

Looking at two of those names, I wonder if they were called home by the AB selectors to be on standby incase anything goes wrong this week with the squad, or over the weekend.

Or, they are all having babies.

pakman

@Stargazer said in All Blacks XV 2023:

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.

18.6m is 56 feet or so. Yep, def a SLIGHT exaggeration.

Stargazer

@pakman Finally someone notices!

Bones

@gt12 if it's the former, why say personal reasons?

Bovidae

They haven't corrected Thompson's height all season. It took over a year for Ollie Norris' height to be changed.

Stargazer

@Bovidae They haven't corrected Thompson's province either.

gt12

@Bones said in All Blacks XV 2023:

@gt12 if it's the former, why say personal reasons?

Powder.

Dry as.

Nevorian

@Stargazer said in All Blacks XV 2023:

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.

Can you get on a plane if you are Covid positive?

Stargazer

@Nevorian No idea.

Kiwiwomble

@Nevorian at least in Aus there are no restrictions any more

Bones

@Nevorian said in All Blacks XV 2023:

@Stargazer said in All Blacks XV 2023:

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.

Can you get on a plane if you are Covid positive?

Who even tests anymore to know that?
Disgusting speculation from SG.

canefan

@Bones said in All Blacks XV 2023:

@Nevorian said in All Blacks XV 2023:

@Stargazer said in All Blacks XV 2023:

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.

Can you get on a plane if you are Covid positive?

Who even tests anymore to know that?
Disgusting speculation from SG.

What is disgusting is that the NZ government have not removed the isolation regulations when COVID is no worse than flu now. But yes, lots of people not testing now

The Silver Fern

All Blacks XV 2023