How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?
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NZ Maori:
Props
Chris Eves - North Harbour - Waikato/Tainui (7 appearances)
Kane Hames - Ta$man - Ngāi Tuhoe/Ngāti Porou (5)
Mike Kainga - Taranaki - Ngāti Kahungunu (2)
Ben May - Hawke’s Bay - Ngāti Maniapoto (12)
Marcel Renata - Auckland - Ngāti Whānaunga / Te Aupouri (4)Hookers
Ash Dixon (captain) - Hawke’s Bay - Ngāti Tahinga (8)
Hikawera Elliot - Counties Manukau - Ngāti Awa (9)Locks
Tom Franklin - Otago - Ngāti Maniapoto (4)
Leighton Price - Taranaki - Waikato/Ngāti Maniapoto (3)
Joe Wheeler - Ta$man - Ngāi Tahu (2)Loose forwards
Elliot Dixon - Southland - Ngāpuhi (9)
Akira Ioane - Auckland - Ngāpuhi/Te Whānau ā Apanui (5)
Liam Messam - Waikato - Ngāti Maniapoto (12)
Reed Prinsep - Canterbury - Te Rārawa (2)
Kara Pryor – Northland - Ngāti Awa/Ngāti Pikiao/Ngāti Rangitihi (2)Halfbacks
Bryn Hall* - North Harbour - Ngāti Ranginui
Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi* - Taranaki - Ngāti PikiaoFirst five-eighths
Otere Black - Manawatu - Ngāi Tuhoe/Te Whānau ā Apanui/Ngāti Tūwharetoa (4)
Ihaia West - Hawke’s Bay - Ngāti Kahungunu/Ngāti Porou (7)Midfielders
Tim Bateman - Canterbury - Ngāi Tahu (12)
Charlie Ngatai - Taranaki - Ngāti Porou/Te Whānau ā Apanui/Te Whakatōhea (9)
Matt Proctor - Wellington - Ngāi Te Rangi/Ngāpuhi (9)
Rob Thompson* - Canterbury - Ngāti Kahungunu
James Lowe - Ta$man - Ngāpuhi/Ngāi Te Rangi (5)Outside backs
Damian McKenzie - Waikato - Ngāti Tūwharetoa/Ngāti Tahinga (3)
Nehe Milner-Skudder - Manawatu - Ngāti Porou/Tapuika (2)
Declan O’Donnell - Taranaki - Ngāti Tūwharetoa/Ngāti Porou (1) -
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@akan004 said in How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?:
JK certainly asks a lot of irrelevant questions. People want to hear why individuals missed out.
What is irrelevant about "So we [Fox and Foster] all played with Gatland. Right? So are you excited about this Lions Tour".
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The only 'surprise' for me was Todd being left out. Even though it was a possibility, I refused to believe it... 😎
The other omissions and promotions are much of a muchness really.
Luatua has been on the outer with Hansen and co for a while, so no real surprise there.
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@ACT-Crusader is right though. This coaching team has not viewed Luatua well since he turned up unfit in his second AB year
The chances since have appeared to be given begrudgingly.
No wonder he got his agent to look around.With DMac they have obviously decided he isn't big enough. Big shame as he is now tainted with that and will end up overseas IMO.
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Well I really like the look of that squad.
On the loose forwards - the only obvious change there is Luatua for Squire. Personally I think they should have gone with Luatua, but I guess they are annoyed at all the work they've done to get him up to test standard, and now he's bolting before contributing anything meaningful on the field. Agree there's a bit of spite, but at the end of the day Luatua made his bed there. The rest of them pick themselves, despite age and a lack of recent game-time. If Cane gets injured then Todd comes straight into the starting 15 - fuck we are lucky to have a guy like that waiting in the wings.
Midfield... Laumape!! Great selection, he's been pure class all year and has more then filled the Nonu-sized hole in our backline. Those that don't rate him clearly haven't watched him play this year - he's scored a truckload of tries and set up most of Aso's. He's also a great bailout option for the 10 if we are on the backfoot, similar to Nonu. Unlikely to feature in the first test but I'm really happy he's in the environment now - well deserved. We've got two playmakers in Crotty and ALB, and two bruisers in SBW and Laumape. I like it.
Hookers, Props and Locks all largely predictable. Coles must offer a lot off the field to make the squad...
Half-backs and five-eights predictable. Mo'unga has had a great season but is clearly number 4 in the pecking order.
Outside backs.. Jordie the bolter there as while he's been good for the Canes, he hasn't been outstanding. I guess they see a lot more potential in him at test level then DMac largely due to his size. Happy to see Rieko there and I hope he gets the start at 11 or 14 - he'll be giving the Lions players nightmares.
Overall a sensible squad with a couple of newbies, which is how Hansen has rolled since the start of his tenure.
Bring it on!
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I think my biggest surprise is that they've gone with a 17 forwards, 16 backs split. I thought it would be 18/15 or even 19/14.
So automatically, at least one (maybe two?) extra outside backs (Jordie) in for one (or two) extra loose forwards (Todd or Luatua in my book).
Laumape easily my biggest surprise in terms of personnel - I didn't really have him in the frame, though I also haven't ever watched him closely.
Also pretty surprised that Jordie makes it over DMac. I half-pie thought both might miss out, but if only one were to make it I would have gone for DMac, who's been there before and has been carrying the Chiefs, a bit, for the past few weeks.
I guess the paucity of loose forward selections pretty clearly points (injuries permitting) to a Kaino, Cane, Read loose forward trio, with Savea on the bench.
In the backs, an interesting selection with be the third bench spot, given that it's highly doubtful Crotty will be fit for the first test or Samoa. Do you pick Rieko to cover the midfield (assuming he's not starting and since he's released to the Maori I'd say that's doubtful) - or Jordie or Laumape?
It looks to me like it's geared to something like:
Smith, Barrett, SBW, ALB, Savea, Dagg, Smith
Perenara, Cruden, ???? (Ioane, Laumape or Jordie?)
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Such a conservative team. Only Laumape and Barrett rewarded by form. Loads of players in better form than Savea J and Dagg at the moment. Dagg might play himself into form but I fear that Savea keeps getting picked so Hansen can tell us 1 game in 5 how good he is. Can we really go into the series without a healthy experienced 6? It is unfortunate there are so many injuries because I think Lions would catch a severe hiding from the full strength team.
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The combination of the two Barrett backs has been pretty special this year. Jordie has a number of work ons which is not surprising given his age and experience.
Plus he's playing Super rugby out of his natural position. He will eventually move in closer, but not 1st 5 as some have mentioned.
If he does see action, and I still think that's a big if, we may see him on the wing to build experience.
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@DMX said in How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?:
Such a conservative team. Only Laumape and Barrett rewarded by form. Loads of players in better form than Savea J and Dagg at the moment. Dagg might play himself into form but I fear that Savea keeps getting picked so Hansen can tell us 1 game in 5 how good he is. Can we really go into the series without a healthy experienced 6? It is unfortunate there are so many injuries because I think Lions would catch a severe hiding from the full strength team.
They interviewed Kaino before the match last night and he said he's fit and raring to go. I'd pick him on that alone - Kaino is beast mode in unstoppable.
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@No-Quarter In the past he's been a player who needs a few games to get up to speed.
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On Jules - I know he's become pretty unpopular on here but at the start of this season he was fit and raring to go, and was very good up until Boyd rested him. He hasn't come back as strong from that for whatever reason, but I guess Hansen has seen enough this year to pick his 52 test veteran with 45 tries under his belt.
In saying that, I think Rieko's class is becoming undeniable and I expect him to surpass Jules this year - just maybe not in the cauldron against the Lions.
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@Chris-B. said in How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?:
It looks to me like it's geared to something like:
Smith, Barrett, SBW, ALB, Savea, Dagg, Smith
Perenara, Cruden, ???? (Ioane, Laumape or Jordie?)
This will probably upset a few, but given the versatility in the backline, you could easily select Naholo on the bench and let Ben Smith cover centre in case of an injury to ALB, and ALB cover 12 in case of injury to SBW.
