AB squad for the EOYT
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@ACT-Crusader said in AB squad for the EOYT:
@Chris-B. said in AB squad for the EOYT:
@Nepia said in AB squad for the EOYT:
Who makes way for the other two Barretts? Hmm, it's all getting a bit Whitelocky.
Scott Barrett as lock cover really surprises me. Presumably they weren't that thrilled with Franklin when they had him in camp earlier this year - otherwise seems a bit odd to promote SB based on NPC form. If I was picking a lock from Mitre10 Cup it would probably have been Bird. Still, they probably know what they're doing.
I suppose if they are taking an apprentice it was pretty likely it would be Jordie. Not sure I'm completely sold on the apprentice scheme - anointing people as future All Blacks - somehow it doesn't sit quite right. And even if you take one away every year, you're probably always going to have at least 25 ABs in your squad who've never been apprentices.
Barrett's form during Super rugby was pretty good I reckon. His combo with Romano was surprisingly pretty effective. What was noticeable with him (and other younger players) was that towards the back end of the season it looked as if he was feeling the pinch and didn't have the motor. I think he's got all the tools of a class lock, just needs to build that stamina that the AB selectors seem to demand these days.
Well if what Gill says about his training routines is even half true he'll either build that stamina by the end of the tour or be a broken man.
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@No-Quarter I think that by the end of the tour, all three Barrett's will look even more like each other than they already do now.
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Some interesting selections!
Props - happy for Coltman but also feel for Harris, seems to have all the potential but can't seem to stay fit for long enough.
Locks - as expected. Feels like Romano is on borrowed time but there isn't really anyone else putting their hand up for the impact bench sport bar PT who is also in the squad, and he has the experience. SB as injury cover, well, they've had a good look at Bird and obviously don't think he has it mentally so want to look at SB now. Fair enough, we don't know exactly what attributes they are looking for but Hansen has said that the mental side of this is very important, and that not all players have what it takes at test level despite carving up the lower levels.
Loosies - stoked for Todd, he's done a job for us this year and deserves his spot. Mr dependable. Also stoked to see Luatua back in, as he was immense in the Super season. Steve, if you're reading this, make bloody sure you turn up to the tour in shape!! Amazing that Read already has 94 caps! He's on target to better McGod...
HBs/10s - as expected. Happy they are taking Jordie, as time in the AB camp will do him a world of good before the next Super season...
Midfield - ALB officially jumped ahead of Tamanivalu. Talk about taking your chances! Well played that man. Happy to see Moala in. Though if SBW is fit who misses out? Probably Fekitoa, though they have invested a lot into him...
Outsides - can't believe they took fat lazy Savea. Sheesh, if they'd read the Fern they'd know how utterly useless he is, only there on reputation. 45 tries in 49 tests, foodbill alert...
In seriousness though nothing unexpected. Hansen had already singled Rieko out for this tour some time ago. DMac is there in NMS's absence.
Overall can't complain about any of the selections. Really looking forward to seeing how some of the younger guys go, particularly Rieko who is a super exciting prospect.
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Pretty good squad. Even with the guys we have missing. SBW/NMS/Harris/Ngatai
Not good that our locks both have i jury concerns now but im sure pat t and romero can do the job again Ireland if needed.
Happy to see Ioane there. He has a heap of potential. Will be interesting to see if they play him as a wing or a midfielder. Haven't see any comments for Hansen so this might have been covered. Also haven't therefore heard about Dmac. Where are they seeing him playing now?
Also good to see Luatua there. But they have a lot of back rowers now with Todd in. Will be interesting to see how they play it.
Bit surprised to see S Barrett and Fifita (more so)called in ahead of Bird. Fifita doesn't strike me as a test lock and we have plenty of 6 cover.
Good to see Jordie taken as an apprentice. Can only be good for him IMO.
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@pukunui said in AB squad for the EOYT:
Pretty good squad. Even with the guys we have missing. SBW/NMS/Harris/Ngatai
Not good that our locks both have i jury concerns now but im sure pat t and romero can do the job again Ireland if needed.
Happy to see Ioane there. He has a heap of potential. Will be interesting to see if they play him as a wing or a midfielder. Haven't see any comments for Hansen so this might have been covered. Also haven't therefore heard about Dmac. Where are they seeing him playing now?
Also good to see Luatua there. But they have a lot of back rowers now with Todd in. Will be interesting to see how they play it.
Bit surprised to see S Barrett and Fifita (more so)called in ahead of Bird. Fifita doesn't strike me as a test lock and we have plenty of 6 cover.
Good to see Jordie taken as an apprentice. Can only be good for him IMO.
Hansen said that they'll be using him as a wing only.
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The Fifita call is a little odd although the EOYTs are one of the opportunities they have to get someone on their wanted list into camp. I'm pretty sure his athleticism has caught their notice and given that they are always on the hunt for a lock/6 of quality I guess it isn't too much of a surprise.
My guess is that they see great potential in Fifita for a bench role. Imagine bashing the shit out of the opposition with Cane and Kaino then bringing Fifita and Ardie on to cut lose.
Fififita has some freakish qualities and playing lock as well has jumped him ahead of Akira. -
@pukunui said in AB squad for the EOYT:
Also good to see Luatua there. But they have a lot of back rowers now with Todd in. Will be interesting to see how they play it.
Bit surprised to see S Barrett and Fifita (more so)called in ahead of Bird. Fifita doesn't strike me as a test lock and we have plenty of 6 cover.
In the past they talked about using Luatua as a 6/8 with ability to cover lock. I wonder if they're pitching Luatua directly against Fifita (a lock with potential to cover 6).
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@Tregaskis said in AB squad for the EOYT:
If Squire's bench cameos slip from "wicked" to merely "quality" we might have to look at Fifita. But yeah, he's definitely a prospect to be another weapon in that lock / 6 area.
I understand Fifita's pretty "fresh". Is he some sort of poach?
I saw during the Grant Fox interview with Sumo at the announcement that Fifita wasn't eligible earlier this year.
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@Crucial said in AB squad for the EOYT:
Fififita has some freakish qualities and playing lock as well has jumped him ahead of Akira.
Not in the same category. They called Fifita a lock who can cover loose forward (the opposite of Luatua, who they called a loosie who could cover lock at a pinch)
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@Crash said in AB squad for the EOYT:
While I 'm stoked for a recall for Luatua, and the likes of DMac, PT, Rieko, Fifita - I also think Reggie Goodes / Kane Hames (I know Hames is in the Maori squad) were unlucky to miss the cut. Do they really want to unleash Tu'ungafasi on an unsuspecting NH? Unless the thought was to try him out and give him a rude awakening against NH scrums, can't see why he would be picked over either Hames/Goodes.
Tu'ungafasi supposedly can play both sides, though is predominantly a tighthead - so I guess he's not really competing much with Hames/Goodes/Paulasi Manu (looseheads). I don't mind that Ofa has gone as the third tighthead, because I've not seen anyone else beating down the door - though, quite what happens next year when hopefully Nepo Laulala will be back, I'm not sure.
Does seem a bit strange to me that with a 36 man squad they've only taken five props - especially since
Wyatt Crockett is pushing 34, so we're going to be looking for a replacement fairly shortly. I guess they've had Hames and Manu in before and Hames went pretty well playing - but, you'd think he'd benefit quite a lot from having a month in the AB environment.We seem to have no shortage of good looseheads, but a dearth of tightheads. If I were in the loosehead queue (near, but not at the top) I'd be thinking about trying to become another "plays both sides option". Seems like there's a bright neon "Vacancy" sign shining there. Doubtless easier said than done.
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@Rapido said in AB squad for the EOYT:
Worried about the height of our lineout minus Sam and Brodie.
I absolutely love our lineout.
I want me some Bird!
Yeah what exactly has he done to get the push ? I thought this had been a bit of a breakout year for him in that he was finally playing with the aggression to match the presence.
"Thrush and Bird slipping down the pecking order" is still one of THE best Dad jokes of the old fern though.....
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@Chris-B. said in AB squad for the EOYT:
Does seem a bit strange to me that with a 36 man squad they've only taken five props
Yeah, I was surprised but they did have a good point about Hames. He'll be on the Maori tour and can be called in at short notice.
They believe he is better off playing at the momentHe won't be that far away throughout the tour:
04 Nov Chicago
vs USA Eagles12 Nov Limerick
vs Munster17 Nov London
vs Harlequins
