All Blacks 2023
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@Bovidae Georgia is 11th which means the Aus, Wales, Fiji, Georgia pool will be competitive....
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@Machpants said in All Blacks 2023:
@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2023:
@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2023:
@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2023:
it's hilarious that two of the top 4 will definitely be out by the end of the quarters, but huge chance the other two make the final.
On the other hand pool play would be pretty bloody boring if the top 4 were in 4 separate pools.
Real uncertainty as to who is going to win any pool
i love it. The World Cup is so much better with real early jeopardy.
Feck off, that's only good if it is not my team in jeopardy!
fair. The England/Wales/Australia/Fiji pool in 2015 was enormous fun
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So the jeopardy, McCaw needs to travel to France
Former All Blacks captain Richie McCaw continues to be on the fringes of the squad, which will train in Christchurch for the majority of the week, due to the FIFA Women's World Cup teams having first crack at the facilities in Dunedin.
"Then you have got Ricko walking around there in the hotel, he is keeping us on edge I think,'' hooker Codie Taylor said. "Just to have his presence there, it shows what it means to be an All Black.''
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@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2023:
it's hilarious that two of the top 4 will definitely be out by the end of the quarters, but huge chance the other two make the final.
I haven’t studied it that closely, for the two sides that make it to the semis .
Who are the likely opponents there ?
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@kiwiinmelb said in All Blacks 2023:
@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2023:
it's hilarious that two of the top 4 will definitely be out by the end of the quarters, but huge chance the other two make the final.
I haven’t studied it that closely, for the two sides that make it to the semis .
Who are the likely opponents there ?
It can be anyone of the teams from the other side of the draw, Ozzie, England, Argentina, Scotland on world ranking
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@kiwiinmelb said in All Blacks 2023:
@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2023:
it's hilarious that two of the top 4 will definitely be out by the end of the quarters, but huge chance the other two make the final.
I haven’t studied it that closely, for the two sides that make it to the semis .
Who are the likely opponents there ?
who knows? One probably gets England. The other Aus/Arg/Wales hell even Fiji.
If i was forced to make a bet, you say the Quarters are Eng v Wales and Aus v Argentina. And then Eng and Arg progressing from that.
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@TheMojoman said in All Blacks 2023:
Given Havili has had zero game time it’s hard to see him get picked over Goodhue or Nankivell?
He's only been out for a couple of months and reports are he will play for the Mako on Friday. Easily get in several games before RWC kicks off.
Slim possibility that he misses out to Goodhue, I think Nankivell is a fair way off - behind Havili, Ennor, McLeod, Goodhue and probably Tupaea.
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I think it's fair to say we are playing a significantly different style now, compared to the helter skelter stuff of the last two years. Jordie has been a big upgrade with his direct runs. I wonder if Havili, assuming he makes the cut, would be encouraged to play a more direct game and could he do this successfully if needed?
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My strong money is on Havili, assuming he is fit.
Foster drops nobody. Not for form, not for a better mix, not to change the style of play. You only leave the Foster team or squad because you are injured or retire.
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@canefan said in All Blacks 2023:
I think it's fair to say we are playing a significantly different style now, compared to the helter skelter stuff of the last two years. Jordie has been a big upgrade with his direct runs. I wonder if Havili, assuming he makes the cut, would be encouraged to play a more direct game and could he do this successfully if needed?
He has been playing that, he has been hitting it up for most of the last few years. It is just fucking ineffective when he does it
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@Chester-Draws That's not entirely true. Bridge, Sotutu & Akira have all been dropped (among others).
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@Machpants yep, ironically when they wanted/needed a Laumape style player, they didnt have one...so just played that style anyway.
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@Machpants said in All Blacks 2023:
@canefan said in All Blacks 2023:
I think it's fair to say we are playing a significantly different style now, compared to the helter skelter stuff of the last two years. Jordie has been a big upgrade with his direct runs. I wonder if Havili, assuming he makes the cut, would be encouraged to play a more direct game and could he do this successfully if needed?
He has been playing that, he has been hitting it up for most of the last few years. It is just fucking ineffective when he does it
May the rugby Gods protect Jordie Barrett, at least until November.... 🙏
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@Stargazer Different profiles though. If they want a hard ball-carrier, Tupaea and McLeod would be better bets than Havili imo.
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@frugby Not the same distribution and kicking skills though. Also not the same versatility and experience. At this time of the year, with little time to go before the RWC, Havili is a far more usefull squaddie than Tupaea and McLeod. They are for the future.
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@Stargazer Did you read what I said? I said, of they are looking for a like-for-like option, they might have Tupaea and McLeod in mind.
It wasn't a comment on Havili's overall ability, though that in itself can be debated, because he hasn't exactly set the world on fire at test level...
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God i hope Havili doesn't go
