How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?
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@Tim said in How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?:
@Hooroo It's punishment for leaving. Just like Piutau.
Luatua is in great form and is clearly better than anyone other than Read and Kaino.
Did they drop Cruden too? (I haven't seen squad)
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@Tim said in How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?:
@Hooroo Nope. He's been around for a long time though, and wasn't singled out for public criticism like Piutau and Luatua were.
So just selective spiting..... That's good to hear. I don't mind it. Reward for most that are staying on.
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Barrett of McKenzie makes sense. Is there suprise around TKB?
Big call around Coles. (In terms of match fitness)
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The All Blacks squad:
Forwards:
Hookers
Dane Coles (Wellington, 49)
Codie Taylor (Canterbury, 15)
Nathan Harris (Bay of Plenty, 4)Props
Wyatt Crockett (Canterbury, 58)
Charlie Faumuina (Auckland, 46)
Owen Franks (Canterbury, 90)
Joe Moody (Canterbury, 24)
Ofa Tu'ungafasi (Auckland, 4)Locks
Scott Barrett (Taranaki, 4)
Brodie Retallick (Hawke's Bay, 60)
Luke Romano (Canterbury, 26)
Samuel Whitelock (Canterbury, 84)Loose Forwards
Sam Cane (Bay of Plenty, 40)
Jerome Kaino (Auckland, 74)
Kieran Read, captain (Counties Manukau, 97)
Ardie Savea (Wellington, 12)
Liam Squire ( Ta$man,
Backs:
Halfbacks
Tawera Kerr-Barlow (Waikato, 25)
TJ Perenara (Wellington, 29)
Aaron Smith (Manawatu, 58)First five-eighths
Beauden Barrett (Taranaki, 49)
Aaron Cruden (Manawatu, 47)
Lima Sopoaga (Southland, 6)Midfielders
Ryan Crotty (Canterbury, 26)
Ngani Laumape (Manawatu, uncapped)
Anton Leinert-Brown (Waikato, 9)
Sonny Bill Williams (Counties Manukau, 33)Outside backs
Jordie Barrett (Taranaki, uncapped)
Israel Dagg (Hawke's Bay, 61)
Rieko Ioane (Auckland, 2)
Waisake Naholo (Taranaki, 12)
Julian Savea (Wellington, 52)
Ben Smith (Otago, 60)The selectors have also named the following five players as injury cover: midfielder Jack Goodhue, hooker Liam Coltman and loose forwards Matt Todd, Vaea Fifita and Akira Ioane.
http://www.allblacks.com/News/30915/all-blacks-squad-for-dhl-nz-lions-series
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Dissapointed with that squad to be honest. Laumape I don't rate, can't remember ever seeing him pass the ball and Ofa I think nobody rates. Also not sure if Jordie is ready yet, he has the lowest tackle percentage of all the NZ fullbacks.
They rate Goodhue above Fekitoa which is a positive.
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Big calls on those currently "injured" to be fit in time i.e Coles, Read, Squire, BBBR and Crotty.
Stoked for Rieko, JB, Harris and Laumape.
Bloody hell what does DMac have to do? And Mo'unga? Plus I know Todd is there as injury cover but can't help but think we may need him in the squad...that said don't know who he would make way for..Fifta hasn't been setting the world on fire, but pleased that Goodhue named as cover. -
@Tim said in How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?:
Fifita is extremely lucky.
He must be the lock cover if Retalicks injury doesn't come right. Based on the Irish loss last year I'd have him way down the list of locks I want playing in a test match.
