How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?
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How amazing, lucky are we with outside backs in NZ? Pretty much any of the back three from any of the NZ franchises would not disgrace a black jersey.
Smith, Dagg, Naholo, NMS, Savea, Ioane, McKenzie, Barrett...and that's not mentioning quality players like Lowe.
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http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11872009
Fullbacks: Ben Smith, Damian McKenzie
Three-quarters: Julian Savea, Waisake Naholo, Rieko Ioane, Israel Dagg, Malakai Fekitoa, Anton Lienert-Brown
Five-eighths: Sonny Bill Williams, Ryan Crotty (if fit), Beauden Barrett, Aaron Cruden, Lima Sopoaga
Halfbacks: Aaron Smith, TJ Perenara, Tawera Kerr-Barlow
Loose forwards: Kieran Read, Steven Luatua, Sam Cane, Ardie Savea, Jerome Kaino, Elliot Dixon
Locks: Brodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Luke Romano, Scott Barrett
Props: Owen Franks, Charlie Faumuina, Nepo Laulala, Joe Moody, Wyatt Crockett.
Hookers: Codie Taylor, Nathan Harris -
Clickbait. That opinion article was already on the AB website yesterday at noon, not just "hours before" the team naming.
NZH just trying to make an article out of it. The timing of that article on the AB website could have been better though.This is the article:
http://www.allblacks.com/News/30919/opinion-all-blacks-selection-set-to-be-full-of-surprises
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Is anyone really expecting any surprises? From these selectors?
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@mariner4life yeah I was going to say, pretty easy to claim you have a "leaked" squad and then name all the players everyone expects to make it anyway. There's fuck all 50/50 calls overall.
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@Bovidae Ofa T looked pretty good last night
Dixon is only in because of injury. He was barely test standard last year when he had much better form
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@mariner4life Dixon must be a sign that article was BS. Ioane is in much better form.
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Hmm ...
NZR's broadcast partner Sky TV has declined the opportunity to pay more for the "rights" to live broadcast the announcement. Instead, NZR site allblacks.com will live-stream the announcement, promoting that fact prominently on Facebook and in other areas.
SKY's abstention carries some risk in itself, since NZ Rugby seems to be exploring a move towards its own rugby channel. Today's squad announcement is an opportunity to take a small step in that direction. Sky has secured New Zealand rugby broadcast rights until 2021.
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@Bovidae On the other hand, you don't really need three tighthead props, when Franks and Faumuina are clearly going to be the two who play. In that case, Ofa is more useful than Nepo.
I can't really see Matt Todd missing out - although three opensides might be a luxury they decide to forego.
Those would be the two likely changes I'd make to McConnell's squad. Maybe NMS somewhere - but, maybe not.
I think any surprises will come in the guys named on stand-by - I'm tipping Jack Goodhue to be named as cover for Crotty and Tom Franklin as cover for Scott Barrett.
I'm prepared to be wrong on both!
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