EOYT 2017
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The six being left behind for a few extras days are a bit of a curious mix - well, more the reasons why...
Coles didn't play the BIL and missed a heap of super-rugby, ALB has mostly been a bench man.Really looking forward to the team vs Barbarians being selected. Does BB come back in? or do we go with Lima? surely Dmac doesn't get a start at 10
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Whole tour plays out quite nicely like a end of pool-play through to RWC Semi-Final.
Soft team
Tough team
Soft team
Quarter
SemiWales are tough enough, and when you factor in a tired squad, it makes them England, Aust., Ireland-in-a-semifinal tough-ish
Good tour to build depth everywhere, except at 9
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@bovidae Eves and Hodgman both played well in the NPC.
Hodgkin was exposed at scrum time in a few games. He hasn't earned a call up
Edit.... Sorry Hodgman
Perry offers nothing to the Team very often MIA. Hodgman and Eves had excellent NPC campaigns and deserved a call up. Hodgman's 's scrum technique is getting a lot better with Canterbury dominating Harbour last week. Hodgman and Eves have excellent stats around the field they play like looseforwards. Perry is terrible around the field.
My boy Mitch Graham has also played better than Perry. -
What happened to Alaatoa? Is he eligible for NZ yet? Impressed in super rugby but he’s fallen of my radar since.
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@billy-tell said in EOYT 2017:
JS must be thinking of ways to get out of his contract. It’s a good reward for Seta who has done a good job of switching to the wing but his centre experience might get him a 23 shirt.
My understanding is he has a young child from a previous relationship. Going overseas means he wouldn't be able to see his kid for 9 months of the year. Probably won't happen.
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@bovidae Eves and Hodgman both played well in the NPC.
Hodgkin was exposed at scrum time in a few games. He hasn't earned a call up
Edit.... Sorry Hodgman
Perry offers nothing to the Team very often MIA. Hodgman and Eves had excellent NPC campaigns and deserved a call up. Hodgman's 's scrum technique is getting a lot better with Canterbury dominating Harbour last week. Hodgman and Eves have excellent stats around the field they play like looseforwards. Perry is terrible around the field.
My boy Mitch Graham has also played better than Perry.Mitch graham is laughable... was never in the frame down here in Canterbury. Didn't even shine at club level.
Razor was pretty reluctant to even select him for npc duties.
Perry is a better scrummager than the 2 others you mention..., so offers that at least. Props aren't loose forwards
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Watching the presser.
Hansen confirms Bird, Drummond, Hunt, Moli and Mounga all play vs French XV, so thats probably a bench role you'd think?Julian Savea - left out to have a bit of a spell, partner expecting a kid, gives him chance to have some off-season conditioning. Sounds like hes still part of the big picture.
BBBR - will come back when ready, clearly due to family situation.
Matt Duffie - watched him closely during Blues, good work ethic (Melbourne Storm background)
Dmac - learning process for him, hasn't been perfect and has made mistakes, backing him in. Time at 10 is going to take a while. May be a chance at 10 vs Barbarian selections.
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Maori All Black selections at halfback (TTT & Weber), plus Augustine Pulu with Barbarians v Australia, and Drummond with Barbarians v AB's explains non-selection of additional halfbacks.
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Could we perhaps split the Maori and AB threads?
Pretty interesting squad. Really stoked for Duffie, he's a class player and appears well suited for test footie.
No Akira sucks, one of Todd or Ardie should have stayed at home. Or Squire. This would have been the perfect time to get him in the squad and build experience.
Four hookers is odd. They pick Aumua based on one NPC campaign but no Akira (yes I am annoyed about Akira, he dominated against a massive Lions pack, he's more than ready).
It's a real shame Jordie is injured, this would have been a great tour for him to really stamp his mark.
Really feel for BBBR. Hoping the time off helps them come to terms with what happened and move forward. Can't be an easy time for the big man.
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I quite like the squad. Only quibbles I have is I'd like a young 3rd young halfback and i'd like to see Mo'ouga get AB minutes soon (but as a 38th pick rather than at expense of any of the others).
But it is more valuable to see Mo'ouga (and Drummond) get game time for the BaaBaas. I'm going to be very interested in Moli's efforts for the BaaBaas.
This BaaBaas game is proving to be really useful; huge payday, plus 5 fringe players get to play against ABs plus, plus expenses paid reserves for the midweek game .....
Halfback and LHP are the areas of obvious weakness. Drummond willl get games for BaaBaas, TTT & Webber for Maori (although not sure if they have any hard games?). Pulu for BaaBaas v Wallabies. I like Finlay Christie out of all them though at the moment.
Delighted for Duffie.
