All Blacks 2024
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Scott Robertson request sees ‘versatile’ All Black named in surprise position for Crusaders
All Blacks boss Scott Robertson has made a request to the Crusaders which has prompted a backline shuffle for their clash with the Reds.
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@Mr-Fish said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Here are my predictions for Robertson's first All Blacks squad...
Hooker - Codie Taylor, Samisoni Taukei'aho, Asafo Aumua
I can't see any changes here. I don't think any of the young guys coming through are likely to be ready for Test rugby in the next year or two so I think Robertson will refrain from bringing in anyone new.Prop - Ethan de Groot, Xaver Numia, Tamaiti Williams, Fletcher Newell, Tyrel Lomax, Ofa Tu'ungafasi
The propping group is quite young and should be incredibly well resourced for the next Rugby World Cup. Numia has been performing well each week and I think that will be recognised.Locks - Scott Barrett, Tupou Vaa'i, Patrick Tuipulotu, Jamie Hannah
This is where I can see Robertson going for his first bolter. The likes of IWL and Laughlan McWhannell have been putting in some good shifts but I think with a few years to prep, Robertson will be looking to the World Cup and go for a young second-rower, even if he isn't necessarily ready for international rugby just yet. If Josh Lord is fit then I expect him to get selected ahead of Hannah.Loose forwards - Sam Cane, Ardie Savea, Peter Lakai, Samipeni Finau, Dalton Papali'i, Hoskins Sotutu
The only chance that Sam Cane isn't selected is if he's not fully recovered from his back injury. While his red card in the WC final was costly, they probably wouldn't have made it past the quarter-final against Ireland without him. Savea and Papali'i are incumbents in good form and Sotutu has probably earned a recall. I think Lakai grabs the last spot ahead of Brayden Iose and Luke Jacobson. He's still fairly raw but it's hard to imagine anyone better at bringing him up to standard than Robertson.Halfbacks - TJ Perenara, Finlay Christie, Cortez Ratima
Folau Fakatava has been pretty poor this season and needs more minutes under his belt to prove he can get back to the form he displayed pre-injury. Perenara and Christie are experienced and Ratima is the next cab off the ranks in my books.First five - Damian McKenzie, Beauden Barrett, Josh Jacomb
I can see Robertson going for another bolter here. I'm not certain it will be Jacomb but he's probably ahead of Ajay Faleafaga. Similar to lock, I don't think the selectors will opt for a mid-20s toiler.Midfield - Jordie Barrett, RIeko Ioane, Anton Lienert-Brown, Billy Proctor
Picks itself.Outside backs - Caleb Clarke, Mark Tele'a, Ruben Love, Sevu Reece, Shaun Stevenson
Similar to the midfield. These guys are all in form and, other than Love, have all been in the set-up before.Next cabs off the rank: George Bell, Saula Ma'u, Reuben O'Neill, Laghlan McWhannell, Luke Jacobson, Taufa Funaki, Stephen Perofeta, Rameka Poihipi, Emoni Narawa.
Narawa's selection is more probable than Stevenson's IMO.
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Throwing in a left field option ... based on one game this year but potential recognised last year. What if Levi Aumua keeps playing like last week?
Have seen players storm home in the latter part of the comp but have already been overshadowed by a player whose early season form slowly fades.
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@Machpants said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Tim said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Some good form options at wing (Telea, Reece, Clarke), but who will start at Fullback? Love, Stevenson, Barrett, or Sullivan?
On form, love. But probably Barrett
Probably right. Stevenson doesn't seem to have the form he had last year and Sullivan is the lowest in the pecking order, so It's BB or Love.
And I think Robertson will be conservative and go with known players initially, so I suspect BB with Love in the 23 at some point in the year. Then again, can Havili cover 15 as well as 12 & 10?
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@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Then again, can Havili cover 15 as well as 12 & 10?
Even if he can, Love still needs to regularly feature. They need to get Love up to speed at test level.
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@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Then again, can Havili cover 15 as well as 12 & 10?
Even if he can, Love still needs to regularly feature. They need to get Love up to speed at test level.
I totally agree. There is a rationale to picking BB to cover 10/15 as it allows newer players like Love to gain Test experience. Ditto ALB in midfield and the likes of Proctor and Aumua. I find Robertson's interest in Havili at 10 baffling to say the least.
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I think it's worth remembering that Havili has been one of the best performers at Super level over the last few years (he's largely been injured this year) and it's only when he's been asked to be a battering ram for the All Blacks that he's been ineffective. With a different strategy, it's possible that Havili can be a very good 12 for the All Blacks.
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@Mr-Fish said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
it's only when he's been asked to be a battering ram for the All Blacks that he's been ineffective. With a different strategy, it's possible that Havili can be a very good 12 for the All Blacks.
Robertson seem more keen to get Havili experience playing 10 but be interesting to see what strategy Robinson has in mind which would fit a 12 with a lack of physicality.
Also to see how Jordie (whose physicality is the main asset) fits in said strategy.
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@Bones said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Tim said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Aaron Mauger
Phenomenal player.
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Personally I think they will be do themselves a disservice if Reuben Love isn't in ABs this year. And I would say even with Jordn around I think I would lean towards Love, he is much better under high ball and defence. Couple of things I find important in a 15.
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@Tim said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Mr-Fish No 12 who cannot hold his own physically can be effective at test level. Same thinking that gave us Aaron Mauger. No thanks.
Word to this post. The All Blacks need a big munter who can hold his own against the De Allendes, the Akis, the Esterhuizens, the Henshaws etc. Not someone who gets stopped dead on the gain line and for a ‘playmaker’ really makes fuck all plays….
Shit it’s disappointing those Umaga Jensen boys are struggling to kick on.
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@Dan54 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Personally I think they will be do themselves a disservice if Reuben Love isn't in ABs this year. And I would say even with Jordn around I think I would lean towards Love, he is much better under high ball and defence. Couple of things I find important in a 15.
@Bones will be along to give this post a like shortly
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@Bovidae said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Love might make the AB squad but there is no way he makes the 23 unless the coaches believe he is also a viable option at 10. That's why BB seems more likely to be the fullback. Whether Beauden is really a test 1st 5 anymore is another argument.
He's currently playing well enough to be starting Fullback.
