All Blacks 2024

[sparky]

@Mr-Fish What's going on with Sam Cane? He seems to have gone Missing In Action.

[sparky]

To answer my own question. Sam Cane did a meet and greet in Japan a few hours ago, but those photos look like he has lost a lot of weight.

1: I hope he is okay and in good health.
2. I'm not sure he'll play professional Rugby again, let alone captain the ABs.

[sparky]

@Bovidae Papalii at 7 ahead of Ethan Blackadder. This might be a season too early for Kini Naholo.

The rest about right.

[Bones]

@sparky said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:

@Winger I'd go Ardie Savea as Captain and then Scott, Beauden and Jordie Barrett as the Vice Captains.

Surely Lomax, Aumua, TJ could be Vice captain too

[MN5]

@sparky said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:

@Winger I'd go Ardie Savea as Captain and then Scott, Beauden and Jordie Barrett as the Vice Captains.

Great call. I’ve never known any brothers who’ve disagreed over anything

[Victor Meldrew]

I think Harry Plummer's doing enough to challenge for the utility back slot.

[sparky]

@MN5 Honest disagreement and debate in private among any leadership team is IMHO a very good thing. It helps drive excellence.

[Bones]

@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:

I think Harry Plummer's doing enough to challenge for the utility back slot.

In terms of playing style, he seems somewhere between Cruden and Jordie, with a very low error rate. Runs a backline a heck of a lot better than I remember Beauds doing last year.

I'm on board.

[Mr Fish]

@Bones said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:

@sparky said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:

@Winger I'd go Ardie Savea as Captain and then Scott, Beauden and Jordie Barrett as the Vice Captains.

Surely Lomax, Aumua, TJ could be Vice captain too

IWL and Billy Procotor too - and what about this Peter Lakai?

[Bones]

@Mr-Fish said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:

@Bones said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:

@sparky said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:

@Winger I'd go Ardie Savea as Captain and then Scott, Beauden and Jordie Barrett as the Vice Captains.

Surely Lomax, Aumua, TJ could be Vice captain too

IWL and Billy Procotor too - and what about this Peter Lakai?

Moorby can be the overseas based vice captain, surely need one.

[sparky]

If he stays fit, Laghlan McWhannell should be in the All Blacks squad when it's named.

[Tim]

McWhannell really good this season. Renata has been the biggest surprise. Massive improvement at the scrum.

[Bones]

Blues lineout the most accurate in the comp. Not sure about after Ekland came on.

[sparky]

This is my All Blacks Squad at the minute:

Props: Du Groot, Lomax, Ofa T, Newell, Williams, Numia.

Hooker: Taylor (if fit), Sami T, Aumua. Riccitelli if Taylor not fit.

Locks: S. Barrett, Vaii, Tuipolutu, McWhannell, Walker-Laewere

Back row: Finau, Papalii, Lakai, Savea (c), Sotutu, Iose, W. Sititi

Half Back: TJP, Christie, Funaki

First Fives: McKenzie, B.Barrett, Perofeta

Midfield: J. Barrett, R. Ioane, A. Leinert-Brown, B.Proctor

Back 3: Telea, Clarke, Narawa, Nanai-Seturo, Reece, Love.

[MN5]

@sparky said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:

This is my All Blacks Squad at the minute:

Props: Du Groot, Lomax, Ofa T, Newell, Williams, Numia.

Hooker: Taylor (if fit), Sami T, Aumua. Riccitelli if Taylor not fit.

Locks: S. Barrett, Vaii, Tuipolutu, McWhannell, Walker-Laewere

Back row: Finau, Papalii, Lakai, Savea (c), Sotutu, Iose, W. Sititi

Half Back: TJP, Christie, Funaki

First Fives: McKenzie, B.Barrett, Perofeta

Midfield: J. Barrett, R. Ioane, A. Leinert-Brown, B.Proctor

Back 3: Telea, Clarke, Narawa, Nanai-Seturo, Reece, Love.

No Blackadder ? What the FUCK dude ?

[sparky]

@MN5 I don't rate him as an international player. Decent at Super Level (when in a top side) but I can't remember him doing anything much in the Black Jersey.

There are younger players, with potentially a higher ceiling, who deserve the nod ahead of him.

[MN5]

@sparky said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:

@MN5 I don't rate him as an international player. Decent at Super Level (when in a top side) but I can't remember him doing anything much in the Black Jersey.

There are younger players, with potentially a higher ceiling, who deserve the nod ahead of him.

Finally someone has the courage to speak out

[Gunner]

@sparky you clearly don’t get @MN5’s humour…

[sparky]

The biggest concern for me is the lack, apart from Samipeni Finau, of an out and out 6.

Second biggest concern is the lack of midfield depth. A couple of injuries and we're in trouble.

[sparky]

@Gunner Or perhaps, I do. 😉