All Blacks 2024
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As far as bolters making the squad I'd like to see Lakai, Funaki and Millar given a shot.
Lakai has played consistently well all season and made quite the impact, good on the carry, good on the clean and is young and up and coming. Deserves some time in camp.
Funaki has made every post a winner this season, confident and decisive at the back of the ruck, good pass, good running game and can keep defenders on their toes.
Millar who I admit I've never heard of before has really impressed me the last few weeks. Very good tactical kicking game, very accurate off the tee, low error rate, good decision making. The AB's have lacked a consistently good goal kicker since Carter left unfortuntely which has cost us in tight matches (like the RWC final). I think his style of play suits pressure, test match footy.
I'd just like to see some up and coming guys given a go.
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im as one eyed about otago players and anyone....and millar would be a huge smokie....4 weeks ago he would have been 3rd choice for the Highlanders...maybe even 4th behind Gilbert...playing someone like Millar decides how you are going to play...little versatility
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Millar might develop, I hope he does, but jeez way too early for him to even be in conversation I would have thought.
I'd like to see Plummer given a chance. He has done very well at 10 for the Blues recently and he is a handy 12 (can probably play 15 too at a pinch). Plummer over DH please.
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@Windows97 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@nzzp said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Windows97 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
I'd feel a little sorry for Reece if he doesn't get into the squad, top try scorer in the comp playing for a team at the bottom of the table - its quite an effort.
He's been very good for some time. I think the AB selectors may see him as too small; I disagree - I'd ahve him on the wing ahead of Jordan (for instance)
I hope Razor deosn't see him as too small, it certainly hasn't affected Reece on attack given he score tries off the pick and go close to the line.
Size would be for defence work I suspect.
Look I have rated him for some time - his workrate is awesome ... but trying to understand why the ABs prefer others there.
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@nzzp said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
I think the AB selectors may see him as too small;
Where do you get that idea from? I've seen no such suggestion from anywhere relevant throughout his career. IMO he would have made a difference to our chances at the RWC.
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@Crazy-Horse said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Millar might develop, I hope he does, but jeez way too early for him to even be in conversation I would have thought.
I'd like to see Plummer given a chance. He has done very well at 10 for the Blues recently and he is a handy 12 (can probably play 15 too at a pinch). Plummer over DH please.
Yeah Millar is one of the most ridiculous suggestions in quite a while, especially when Plummer has been making every post a winner. I'd be interested to see kicking stats compared...
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@Bones said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@nzzp said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
I think the AB selectors may see him as too small;
Where do you get that idea from? I've seen no such suggestion from anywhere relevant throughout his career. IMO he would have made a difference to our chances at the RWC.
mate, this is the Fern. I'm guessing.
I don't know why they didn't play him more - I htink he's dynamite
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@nzzp said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@nzzp said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
I think the AB selectors may see him as too small;
Where do you get that idea from? I've seen no such suggestion from anywhere relevant throughout his career. IMO he would have made a difference to our chances at the RWC.
mate, this is the Fern. I'm guessing.
I don't know why they didn't play him more - I htink he's dynamite
You're not falling into the same trap as me referencing last year when he was injured are you?
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@cgrant said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Reece is small but stocky. He is punching far above his weight (and height).
Not his head size though. Biggest melon since Zinzan Brooke. If him and McKenzie take the field at the same time it might affect the moons orbit.
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@MN5 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@cgrant said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Reece is small but stocky. He is punching far above his weight (and height).
Not his head size though. Biggest melon since Zinzan Brooke. If him and McKenzie take the field at the same time it might affect the moons orbit.
Yeah it always surprises me when I see he's 179cm, which isn't really short. A good proportion of that has gotta be dome.
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@Crazy-Horse said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Millar might develop, I hope he does, but jeez way too early for him to even be in conversation I would have thought.
I'd like to see Plummer given a chance. He has done very well at 10 for the Blues recently and he is a handy 12 (can probably play 15 too at a pinch). Plummer over DH please.
Lets put it this way - if were to have a bolter at 10 I would prefer it to be Millar than DH...
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With no absolutely stand-out back-ups to McKenzie and Barrett, first five is one position I can see Robertson opting for a proper bolter.
Plummer would be someone I wouldn't mind starting to hold down the fort as a stopgap option if everyone else was struck down by injury, but I don't see a massive upside to having him in the squad when now is the prime time to start preparing for the future. Millar has probably performed the best of the young 10s, so I wouldn't be completely blown away if he does get a surprise call-up.
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@Mr-Fish said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Plummer would be someone I wouldn't mind starting to hold down the fort as a stopgap option if everyone else was struck down by injury, but I don't see a massive upside to having him in the squad when now is the prime time to start preparing for the future. Millar has probably performed the best of the young 10s, so I wouldn't be completely blown away if he does get a surprise call-up.
Plummer is only 25, has actually played well, and can develop further given more time in the position.
Millar looks nothing more than an unproven journeyman at this stage. -
@Bones said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@MN5 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@cgrant said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Reece is small but stocky. He is punching far above his weight (and height).
Not his head size though. Biggest melon since Zinzan Brooke. If him and McKenzie take the field at the same time it might affect the moons orbit.
Yeah it always surprises me when I see he's 179cm, which isn't really short. A good proportion of that has gotta be dome.
Makes him harder to legally tackle...
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I was hoping Fakatava's poor decision making was linked to getting limited minutes under Aaron Smith and trying too hard to impress.
Unfortunately it doesn't seem to be improving even when he has regular starts.
He may be given a lifeline and we haven't seen much of him at test level as perhaps he would up his game in black but hard to argue if he is left out.
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@Tim said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
The Super Rugby final is on the 22nd of June. The first test against England is two weeks later.
If Lomax isn't available then who replaces him?
Newell
If Aumua isn't available then who is third hooker?
Bell
If Scott Barrett isn't available then who are the locks?
Has to be Strange, already has at least one card this year for being a deadshit so likely meets the criteria.
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