All Blacks 2024
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It feels like I am reading an alternative Fern when I see people upset that RR was not selected. The same RR that has been ridiculed as an angry toddler and every rag doll moment of his gets pointed out? Up until this season of course.
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Yep, and I genuinely think one thing we tend to do is say players in certain positions should do certain things , and perhaps not accepting that the game and team needs to evolve, and players need different skills. Hells teeth we have got a couple of props that were loosies, in Tosi's case just a 3-4 years back. Goes against this idea that players can't learn new skills and adapt pretty quickly.
I was surprised with Bell getting in, thought some of his lineout work was iffy, but don't know how much was his fault, or how much was jumpers, lifters etc. And if they see they can sort out what's wrong easily. I will say Crusaders lineout looked best when Barrett was playing, and he wasn't throwing. -
@Crazy-Horse said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
It feels like I am reading an alternative Fern when I see people upset that RR was not selected. The same RR that has been ridiculed as an angry toddler and every rag doll moment of his gets pointed out? Up until this season of course.
I think the annoyance is that Bell feels a bit like the teacher's pet. He hasn't had to work for his AB selection at all - but is auto-picked as the next hooker after the main 3 regardless of form.
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@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@frugby said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Prop I think could be an interesting one. Though Tu'ungafasi and Williams can both play tighthead, they pretty much only play loosehead these days. Ryan has tended to pick specialists, which means those two + EDG, Numia and Bower are playing for three spots.
Would leave a gap at tighthead, and with few options to fill it. Ta'avao for a recall? Tosi as a bolter? Dyer?
Good call from more than 3 weeks ago.
Hang it in the Louvre
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This has never been an accusation about them before on this matter.
I don’t believe you could work in NZ rugby if you had a race problem.
Sotutu is a bit baffling but I do think it must be a relationship thing.
I would love to see him back in the AB squad but after today it makes it a distant prospect
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Sotutu's reaction to missing the squad last year I'm sure has done him no favours. If they already see him sitting behind Ardie, and see him as a specialist 8, maybe they have decided that he is not the man they want in the environment.
I don't actually believe Razor and Jase Ryan think Sititi is a better player right now, this is clearly more nuanced than that.
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@DaGrubster said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
I would love to see him back in the AB squad but after today it makes it a distant prospect
You can understand his perspective though. He's had a monster season, played every game (I think - maybe missed one), and been near the top offensively and defensively. Outplayed his opposite twice in big games.
Then he misses selection and gets called mentally soft by the coaches. Frankly, I can understand if he goes overseas and takes the chance to play for England next year. I cannot see him staying after this - if this season doesn't get you inot the ABs, what would?
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Sotutu will go down in my estimation if he does throw his toys out of the cot and plays for England. Cheapens international rugby too.
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@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Crazy-Horse said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
It feels like I am reading an alternative Fern when I see people upset that RR was not selected. The same RR that has been ridiculed as an angry toddler and every rag doll moment of his gets pointed out? Up until this season of course.
I think the annoyance is that Bell feels a bit like the teacher's pet. He hasn't had to work for his AB selection at all - but is auto-picked as the next hooker after the main 3 regardless of form.
Apart from Ricci (30 year old Ricci), who else was there? I'm no fan of Bell, but it seems like he gets time in the squad to hold tackle bags and be in the environment as a long term project. He won't see the field (maybe garbage time vs Fiji but probably not)
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@frugby said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Not only have they only picked three locks, they've also picked three very short locks... doesn't suggest they think much of Darry.
It is conceivable that in the selectors minds Lord and Holland are actually #2 and #3 in the pecking order I reckon.
After a great season, Darry is another one who got a raw deal. I think he at least earned a chance to show if he could make the step up
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@canefan said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Crazy-Horse said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
It feels like I am reading an alternative Fern when I see people upset that RR was not selected. The same RR that has been ridiculed as an angry toddler and every rag doll moment of his gets pointed out? Up until this season of course.
I think the annoyance is that Bell feels a bit like the teacher's pet. He hasn't had to work for his AB selection at all - but is auto-picked as the next hooker after the main 3 regardless of form.
Apart from Ricci (30 year old Ricci), who else was there? I'm no fan of Bell, but it seems like he gets time in the squad to hold tackle bags and be in the environment as a long term project. He won't see the field (maybe garbage time vs Fiji but probably not)
Yeah cos it's not like hookers get injured. Where is Samisoni again? Aumua played every game this season?
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Yeah on Sotutu, to leave him put altogether suggests that they don't like him. Sure, they may think he has a few flaws in his game, but if they really wanted him, wouldn't they work on trying to iron those out whilst having him in the environment? He doesn't need to be playing down in the NPC, He's way too good for that level and will gain nothing from beating up a bunch of semi pros from Manawatu, Canterbury, Northland etc. so yeah, to me, they clearly don't like the guy, unless they want him to take out his anger out by playing for the AB XV first before calling him up later?
Either way, he should be in the squad, even if he isn't currently in their starting 23.
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@Bovidae said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
If Brodie McAlister was fit, does Bell even make the Crusaders 23? He has certainly been fortunate due to injuries to other hookers.
McAllister is back fit from what I've heard, Bell preferred.
Just to throw my two cents in on Riccitelli, what is the point in picking a 29 year old journeyman to be your number three hooker? Granted, I've heard Taukei'aho has done his achilles, so it really depends how badly, so he could be out for the year.
Did Riccitelli play well for the Blues? Yes. Is Riccitelli a good player? Yes. Is he ever going to be a test hooker? No. He's another Parsons. If we get an injury, he can always be called into the squad, but I'm quite happy for them to develop a younger third hooker, especially when in theory at this moment he really only is a placeholder.
Was his lineout throwing perfect? Of course it wasn't, but the other hookers the Crusaders used were hardly any better... it only improved right at the end of the year when they changed their locks. For those floors, Bell clearly has a bigger frame, and has the potential to grow into being an All Black hooker.
His defence was quite a lot stronger... (Aumua & Taukei'aho added for context)
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@MajorRage said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Machpants said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
A journo looks at the stats and attempts to figure out the Sotutu omission
All Blacks: The telling stats that provide clarity to Hoskins Sotutu's snub
Blues star Hoskins Sotutu was a major omission from Scott Robertson's first All Blacks squad of the year after a brilliant Super Rugby Pacific season.
EDIT: and ignore the click bait headline (headline editors are fluffybunnies) it is a bit more thoughtful than SOTUTU SHIT AT THIS ZOMFG
That is a great bit of analysis and starts to make sense.
Has no place on TSF.
In Blues loosies Akira is the best for the hard carries.
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@sparky said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Do Robertson, Ryan and co. have a race problem?
Selection after selection after selection, they have overlooked a brown-skinned player for the paler alternative. A really grim start to the supposed new era.
This crosses a line.
Be pissed off about selection, but throwing the race card out is shockingly poor form snd has no substance whatsoever.
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@frugby said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Just to throw my two cents in on Riccitelli, what is the point in picking a 29 year old journeyman to be your number three hooker?
because if he comes on at the back end of a test match and stuffs up the linout throwing that's a major headache. Core role. Same reason Christie gets so much shit.
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@MajorRage Ardie overlooked for the captaincy, albeit for a very good candidate in Scott Barrett
Akira Ioane, nowhere to be seen, although he's signed to go to Japan.
Hoskins Sotutu not included, but given some encouraging comments by the Head Coach.
We might not like it, but questions will be asked if there's a pattern here?
