TRC squad
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<div><strong>Forwards:</strong><br><br><strong>Hookers</strong><br>
Dane Coles (Wellington / Hurricanes, 39)<br>
Codie Taylor (Canterbury / Crusaders, 5)<br>
Nathan Harris (Bay of Plenty / Chiefs, 4)<br><br><strong>Props</strong><br>
Wyatt Crockett (Canterbury / Crusaders, 48)<br>
Charlie Faumuina (Auckland / Blues, 36)<br>
Owen Franks (Canterbury / Crusaders, 80)<br>
Joe Moody (Canterbury / Crusaders, 14)<br>
Ofa Tu'ungafasi (Auckland / Blues, 1)<br><br><strong>Locks</strong><br>
Brodie Retallick (Hawke's Bay / Chiefs, 50)<br>
Luke Romano (Canterbury / Crusaders, 24)<br>
Patrick Tuipulotu (Auckland / Blues, 9)<br>
Samuel Whitelock (Canterbury / Crusaders, 75)<br><br><strong>Loose Forwards</strong><br>
Sam Cane (Bay of Plenty / Chiefs, 34)<br>
Elliot Dixon (Southland / Highlanders, 1)<br>
Jerome Kaino (Auckland / Blues, 69)<br>
Kieran Read, captain (Canterbury / Crusaders, 87)<br>
Ardie Savea (Wellington / Hurricanes, 2)<br>
Liam Squire ( Ta$man / Highlanders, 1)<br><br><strong>Backs:</strong><br><br><strong>Halfbacks</strong><br>
Tawera Kerr-Barlow (Waikato / Chiefs, 21)<br>
TJ Perenara (Wellington / Hurricanes, 19)<br>
Aaron Smith (Manawatu / Highlanders, 50)<br><br><strong>First five-eighths</strong><br>
Beauden Barrett (Taranaki / Hurricanes, 39)<br>
Aaron Cruden (Manawatu / Chiefs, 39)<br>
Lima Sopoaga (Southland / Highlanders, 2)<br><br><strong>Midfielders</strong><br>
Ryan Crotty (Canterbury / Crusaders, 18)<br>
Malakai Fekitoa (Auckland / Highlanders, 15)<br>
George Moala (Auckland / Blues, 2)<br>
Sonny Bill Williams (Counties Manukau / Chiefs, 33)<br><br><strong>Outside backs</strong><br>
Israel Dagg (Hawke's Bay / Crusaders, 51)<br>
Waisake Naholo (Taranaki / Highlanders, 6)<br>
Julian Savea (Wellington/ Hurricanes, 43)<br>
Ben Smith (Otago / Highlanders, 51)</div>
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<p>Hookers - tick</p>
<p>Props - tick. But Crockett is ageing. Needs some forward-thinking selections for the EOYT.</p>
<p>Locks - Romano argh. He's not going to get any better and his best is just not top AB quality IMHO. Once again, hope EOYT sees some new blood.</p>
<p>Loose forwards - happy enough. But Dixon had better step up or he should be gone. I won't be surprised to see Akira Ioane given a go on the EOYT.</p>
<p>Halfbacks - tick. Weber had a mini-mare in the weekend.</p>
<p>1st-fives - tick. Easiest AB selection at the moment.</p>
<p>Midfield - tick. SB has to have a lock on the 12 shirt, I'd hope 13 goes to Crotty or Moala. Where does Ngatai fit in for the EOYT?</p>
<p>Ouside backs - tick. I was beating Lowe's drum 2 weeks ago, but had a pretty terrible (certainly not AB standard) semi-final. Who makes way for NMS in October? Savea seems a protected species so we see.</p>
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<p>I think the ABs will comfortably win the RC. Argentina will comfortably come last. SA & Australia fighting it out for 2nd.</p> -
<p>Interesting to see that players who have been terrible during the QF and/or the SF have been included or added (Dixon, Romano, TKB, Fekitoa, Todd). I guess Todd has been added for injury cover since there are no other proven OSF. I am among those who think that he is not physical enough for the highest level as the game against the Lions has clearly showed. But the Pryors and Gibson are not (yet) convincing so Todd's inclusion as a special guest is not so surprising at all.</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="cgrant" data-cid="602122" data-time="1470035459">
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<p>Interesting to see that players who have been terrible during the QF and/or the SF have been included or added (Dixon, Romano, TKB, Fekitoa, Todd). I guess Todd has been added for injury cover since there are no other proven OSF. I am among those who think that he is not physical enough for the highest level as the game against the Lions has clearly showed. But the Pryors and Gibson are not (yet) convincing so Todd's inclusion as a special guest is not so surprising at all.</p>
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<p>These selectors have always had a soft spot for players from a certain team. Its not quite as bad as the Hart Wylie days yet but if the Crusaders ever won the title it likely would be.</p> -
<p>THese selectors have a fine track record with selections and winning, so I'm prepared to believe they select on more than just the Super colours, but thats just me! </p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Winger" data-cid="602123" data-time="1470036426"><p>
These selectors have always had a soft spot for players from a certain team. Its not quite as bad as the Hart Wylie days yet but if the Crusaders ever won the title it likely would be.</p></blockquote>
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Suggest you add "h" as the 2nd letter of your username. <br><br>
Painful. -
<p>What? A conspiracy to give Crusaders players preference for AB selection? Gosh, it's not like Winger to believe in a conspiracy. So out of character. Must have some merit.</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="No Quarter" data-cid="602133" data-time="1470038642">
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<p>What? A conspiracy to give Crusaders players preference for AB selection? Gosh, it's not like Winger to believe in a conspiracy. So out of character. Must have some merit.</p>
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<p>Thankfully in the Henry and Smith days the selections seemed to fairly represent the performance of the teams. Now its gone back to a Crusaders bias. They have 9 players in this team. Every other team has less. Romano is a joke selection for one.</p>
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<p>Its very clear bias. I hoped this crap was finished after we got rid of Hate and Wylie but it seems not.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="602125" data-time="1470036783"><p>THese selectors have a fine track record with selections and winning, so I'm prepared to believe they select on more than just the Super colours, but thats just me!<br></p></blockquote>
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NZRFU Shill -
I know we shouldn't question these guys, and they have more info than we do, and are tasked with creating culture, but<br><br>
Not taking Luatua is mystifying. He's been a dominant player who obviously sorted out what got him dropped in the first place. <br><br>
Have we reached the point where super form only counts if you are new? That's a dangerous proposition -
Those lineout and metres per run stats for Dixon would be pretty appealing to the AB selectors. Plus he has good leadership credentials from what I hear. <br><br>
Not overly surprised with the Luatua omission given he's been on the fringe for a while now and Dixon and Squire haven't yet done anything to say they aren't up to test level. There are always one or two players that "miss out" from a fan's perspective. <br><br>
I've been critical of Romano over the years, but he was better this season. There must be some key stats at test level that they like about his game which warrants continued selection. <br><br><br>
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Username" data-cid="602076" data-time="1470024972">
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<p>The stats, if interested:</p>
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<p>Shields / Dixon</p>
<p>Games</p>
<p>15 / 15</p>
<p>Minutes</p>
<p>1064 / 1112</p>
<p>Tries</p>
<p>2 / 4</p>
<p>Carries</p>
<p>112 / 69</p>
<p>Metres</p>
<p>219 / 299</p>
<p>Clean Breaks</p>
<p>5 / 12</p>
<p>Defenders Beaten</p>
<p>5 / 12</p>
<p>Offloads</p>
<p>4 / 11</p>
<p>Passes</p>
<p>29 / 59</p>
<p>Lineout Catches</p>
<p>15 / 63</p>
<p>Lineout Steals</p>
<p>0 / 11</p>
<p>Tackles</p>
<p>141 / 103</p>
<p>Missed Tackles</p>
<p>25 / 16</p>
<p>Tackles Success</p>
<p>84.8 / 86.6</p>
<p>Turnovers Conceded</p>
<p>16 / 11</p>
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<p>where are these from? wouldn't mind seeing luatua as well.</p> -
<p>I don't know where all the love for James Lowe comes from, or quite why some posters believe he's on the fringe. There was a single speculative story in the Waikato rag a few weeks ago talking him up, based purely on opinion. Nanai has been impressive and warrants a look in a training camp, so I'm pleased to see him named as cover. I'm also a big Moala fan, so am rapt to see him there.</p>
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<p>where are these from? wouldn't mind seeing luatua as well.</p>
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<p>There are a few places doing decent stats now. You could try</p>
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<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/statscentre.cfm'>http://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/statscentre.cfm</a> or download the app called 'Vodacom Rugby'.</p> -
<p>Luatua struggles a bit in that he only really works as a 8, he's probably the second best 8 in NZ right now, but a specialist 8 is not really a lot of use in a squad for the TN's with Read in there. </p>
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<p>Before people jump on the idea he is a 6, in super rugby yes, but he doesn't play like an All Black 6 - he very much plays like a AB 8, even when he is playing 6... It wouldn't surprise me to see him straight into statrting if Read got long term crocked.</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="shark" data-cid="602174" data-time="1470047062">
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<p>I don't know where all the love for James Lowe comes from, or quite why some posters believe he's on the fringe. There was a single speculative story in the Waikato rag a few weeks ago talking him up, based purely on opinion. Nanai has been impressive and warrants a look in a training camp, so I'm pleased to see him named as cover. I'm also a big Moala fan, so am rapt to see him there.</p>
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<p>Same every year, the Cheifs press / fans talk up some Super player who does not look a test player to anyone else, then are shocked when he is never getting capped. </p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="shark" data-cid="602174" data-time="1470047062">
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<p><strong>I don't know where all the love for James Lowe comes from,</strong> or quite why some posters believe he's on the fringe. There was a single speculative story in the Waikato rag a few weeks ago talking him up, based purely on opinion. Nanai has been impressive and warrants a look in a training camp, so I'm pleased to see him named as cover. I'm also a big Moala fan, so am rapt to see him there.</p>
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<p>Some posters like Lowe (clearly not you and Gollum), he's been a good player for the Chiefs the last couple of years (presumably for the North Christchurch Mako$ as well), so his AB chances are speculated on - the call for Lowe for higher honours has been going on much longer than 2 weeks.</p>
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<p>But then again, I'm a big fan of Nanai too - and it's not a zero sum game for a fan - so I'm happy that he's close to selection.</p>
