How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?
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@Rembrandt said in How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?:
So if they were looking at playing Coles against the Chiefs does that mean the AB's will be available for that game? Anyone know when their training camp starts?
Pretty sure ABs aren't available only for the Lions game.
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@Frye said in How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?:
ABs are only available for Crusaders and Blues matches.
All ABs will be available for those games (although how fond Hansen will be of Umaga if he runs a full strength team 4 days after Apia remains to be seen).
Hansen as recently as two weeks ago said for the remaining three franchises players will be released on a case by case basis.
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@westcoastie said in How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?:
@Stargazer said in How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?:
Special AB jersey for the LIons tour:
This wouldn't have happened under Sir Richies Reign. I reckon he had a big say on the traditional nature of AB jerseys and how they should look, or at least his pretty staunch leadership team - gnarly ol' veterans n' all. Get a few of these newbies in there and look whats happened...
I actually don't mind the new jersey . It's certainly better than the tight white collar one we wore circa 2011
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This is a very concerning article, apparently the Haka has lost its mystique. Thankfully no mention of Aura, who I assume has been hiding out in Christchurch the past few months.
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ALL BLACKS INJURIES & CONCERNS - UPDATED 3/6/17
Injured...
Starting with most concerning...
Coles - dicky calves 50/50 for 'Canes v Stormers, now with added Concussion, return TBC
Kaino - out for 4-6 weeks (6 weeks means back for the Samoa test)
Read - out for 6 weeks, fractured thumb (back in time for Samoa test)
Squire - annnnd, out for 4-6 weeks (busted thumb) back, I don't know when...
Scotty Barrett - Knee & Ankle - "couple of weeks", Back Crusaders v B&I Lions?
SBW - concussion, return TBC
Crotty - Popped rib, back vs Samoa apparently
Ben Smith - Concussion v Crusaders? Testing protocols now?
Julian - R&R v Force, returning v ChiefsReturning or returned...
Beaudy - Back v Force
Ardie - Back v Force
Dagg - Played vs Rebels
Cruden - played vs Waratahs
Lima Sopoaga - back vs Waratahs
NMS - Back vs Force
Naholo - back and scoring tries
Todd, Franks - Rested v Rebels, both were back v Highlanders -
AB's watching the Lions Baabaa game
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Nice.
I feel this sums it up also...
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Nigel Yalden said today he believes Crotty will be named in the squad but will probably miss the first test ,
Coles will be named but may not feature at all .
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So I'm guessing ALB-Fekitoa with SBW off the bench then.
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@No-Quarter said in How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?:
So I'm guessing ALB-Fekitoa with SBW off the bench then.
That would be what I'd like to see as well.
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@kiwiinmelb said in How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?:
Nigel Yalden said today he believes Crotty will be named in the squad but will probably miss the first test ,
Coles will be named but may not feature at all .
Bugger, that is really shitty for Coles. At least Crotty may get a shot at the Lions at some point.
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I think what's likely to happen is that Hansen will name his team of 33 and then he'll name quite a few extras as a cover/training/stand-by group for those under injury clouds. So, I reckon we'll see a team of something close to:
Moody
Crockett
Coles
Taylor
Coltman
Franks
Faumuina
Tu'ungafasi
Retallick
Whitelock
Romano
Barrett
Kaino
Squire
Cane
Todd
Savea
ReadSmith
Perenara
TKB
Barrett
Cruden
Sopoaga
Crotty
SBW
Lienert-Brown
Fekitoa
Savea
Naholo
Milner-Skudder
Dagg
SmithTraining/Stand-by
Hames
Harris
Laulala (?)
Franklin/Tuipolotu
Luatua/Dixon
Goodhue/Ioane
DMac(I'm suspecting Hansen might strategically pick people like Scott Barrett and Skudder, so that he can justify extra players in his training squad).
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Lock Brodie Retallick has emerged as the latest injury worry for the All Blacks ahead of the test series against the British and Irish Lions.
Radio Sport rugby editor Nigel Yalden understands Retallick has had headaches since the Waratahs game at the weekend and won't be considered for selection this week against the Hurricanes.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11870419
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Fuck you Will Smith!!
Seriously, the All Blacks are starting to sound like my wife. There's a fucking headache epidemic. HTFU!!
I am actually quite worried about how undercooked a few certain starters are likely to be. Like most of our loose forwards for instance. Both Read and Kaino haven't played in yonks, will either get a game beforehand? Squire would have been next, but he's in the same boat. We've got 3 AB sevens playing well, but nothing in 6 & 8. The ABs are usually a bit rusty first up, but add in a couple of months off. Actually Read has barely played at all.
Coles has been a significant point of difference for us over the past couple of years. While his replacements will do a job, they don't offer what he does. So obviously we want to play him if possible, but can we add a 3rd starting forward who has had that long off?
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@mariner4life I don't think we can afford to play Read and Kaino together if neither has played a warm-up game. Similarly Coles - at best he comes off the bench.
Assuming these guys can't make the Samoa test, then I reckon the loose forward trio for the 1st test should be Luatua, Cane, Read.
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