All Black Squad for Rugby Championship
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"Damian is a very good rugby player. At the moment there is no clear and obvious third 10 and we know Waikato are going to play him at 10 which will be great and he's a goal kicker as well and a good one and he's been in fine form at 15.
"If you look beyond today and the World Cup he could be someone we get going at 10 and then maybe give him some training time, not so much game-time, at nine so he could be your third nine. He's got a big part to play in the All Blacks over the next few years there's no doubt about that."
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/news/article.cfm?c_id=80&objectid=11898097
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@mariner4life said in All Black Squad for Rugby Championship:
@chimoaus add in probably 13 Crusaders, and it's a really high proportion of our pro players.
Only 13?
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@Stargazer said in All Black Squad for Rugby Championship:
@Tim Of course, because they're still in SA and have final to play, the Crusaders aren't part of the discussion yet. I'd be very interested to find out whether the AB coaches have any plans regarding Mo'unga.
AS they state, no one apart from BB and Lima has really put their hand up sufficiently.
I have seen Mo'unga play some very good games but also seen him show a lot of inexperience in others.
I think the selectors desire to find a role for DMac because of his suite of talents has put him in with a chance in the 10 jersey, but only because they can't see how he would be any worse there than any other candidate. Meanwhile they get to play around with him at trainings to work out what they are going to do with him.
The concept of him being a back up 9,10,15 is not a silly one when you look ahead to the problems faced when selecting a RWC squad. Versatility (especially among backs) is very valuable in the RWC for both cover and rotation though pool games. They are hoping DMac can fill this role and that they can rely on BB and Lima. At some point they will also have to select a genuine 3rd 10 (like Lima has been up to now) just in case 2011 happens again. -
@ACT-Crusader said in All Black Squad for Rugby Championship:
@mariner4life said in All Black Squad for Rugby Championship:
@chimoaus add in probably 13 Crusaders, and it's a really high proportion of our pro players.
Only 13?
Max.
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@ACT-Crusader said in All Black Squad for Rugby Championship:
@mariner4life said in All Black Squad for Rugby Championship:
@chimoaus add in probably 13 Crusaders, and it's a really high proportion of our pro players.
Only 13?
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@Rancid-Schnitzel said in All Black Squad for Rugby Championship:
Awesome news for Buckmann! He's a smart player and they tend to do well at test level. Good on him.
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Last years squad for TRC was 32. This training squad is 34. A couple of Crusaders to slot back in as well.
A possible final squad... (33 with an extra outside back to cover Bender's departure)All Blacks squad for two-day camp:
Forwards
Hookers: Dane Coles, Nathan Harris. +Codie TaylorProps:
Kane Hames, Nepo Laulala,Atu Moli,Jeffery Toomaga-Allenand Ofa Tu'ungafasi. + Crockett, Franks, MoodyLocks:
Dominic Bird,Tom Franklin, Brodie Retallick andPatrick Tuipulotu. + Romano, Whitelock, BarrettLoose forwards: Sam Cane,
Vaea Fifita, Akira Ioane, Jerome Kaino, Ardie Savea and Liam Squire. +ReadBacks
Halfbacks: Tawera Kerr-Barlow, TJ Perenara and Aaron Smith.
First five-eighths: Beauden Barrett, Damian McKenzie and Lima Sopoaga.
Midfielders:
Richard Buckman, Ngani Laumape, Anton Lienert-Brown,Charlie Ngatai, Sonny Bill Williams. +CrottyOutside backs: Jordie Barrett, Rieko Ioane,
Nehe Milner-Skudder, Waisake Naholo,Julian Savea, Ben Smith. +Dagg -
mounga isn't ready. he's been vastly better this year, but choked a bit in a couple of big games. fine for him to spend a bit of time with the squad, but in terms of any game time he needs another year of soup rugby (and this final to show peformance under pressure) to show that once other teams have seen a bit of him and had the opportunity to plan, that he can still perform - i.e. no second season blues.
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@Crucial said in All Black Squad for Rugby Championship:
Nehe Milner-SkudderBased on Hansen's comments they back when the Lions squad was picked they are very keen to get NMS back in the squad, and his exclusion was given with a nod and a wink that he would make it for the TRC squad.
He may be released to get maximum game time with a view to bringing him in when Bender goes on sabbatical. But I don't see any scenario where he doesn't make it back during TRC.
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@rotated said in All Black Squad for Rugby Championship:
@Crucial said in All Black Squad for Rugby Championship:
Nehe Milner-SkudderBased on Hansen's comments they back when the Lions squad was picked they are very keen to get NMS back in the squad, and his exclusion was given with a nod and a wink that he would make it for the TRC squad.
He may be released to get maximum game time with a view to bringing him in when Bender goes on sabbatical. But I don't see any scenario where he doesn't make it back during TRC.
That's a fair assessment. I can't see that as a non-goer.
Who would be left out then? My list already has 5 outside backs with Bender being an 'extra'. Who gets swapped out for NMS? Rieko? -
For me the biggest surprise is no Moala. Sure, his form this year wasn't great. But he was very good last year for ABs and his elbow injury swung the game in Chicago just when ABs were about to run away with it.
They are one midfielder short of being able to run 15 v 15.
Clear that Moli and JTA are there because we're thin on ground at TH: https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/sport/rugby/steve-hansen-reveals-owen-franks-achilles-issues-before-rugby-championship
With Read also having to manage knee, 8 also looks weak in the absence of Luatua.
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@Milk said in All Black Squad for Rugby Championship:
Both TKB and Fekitoa are available until the end of the year. I'm assuming they feel the gap between TKB and Pulu et al is big enough to warrant keeping him in the squad as opposed to the gap between Fekitoa and Buckman.
Good to see Buckman and Ngatai there. Both have good experience and rugby brains. Fekitoa is a hell of an athlete but hard to believe will ever be known for his decision making.
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@Crucial said in All Black Squad for Rugby Championship:
Last years squad for TRC was 32. This training squad is 34. A couple of Crusaders to slot back in as well.
A possible final squad... (33 with an extra outside back to cover Bender's departure)All Blacks squad for two-day camp:
Forwards
Hookers: Dane Coles, Nathan Harris. +Codie TaylorProps:
Kane Hames, Nepo Laulala,Atu Moli,Jeffery Toomaga-Allenand Ofa Tu'ungafasi. + Crockett, Franks, MoodyLocks:
Dominic Bird,Tom Franklin, Brodie Retallick andPatrick Tuipulotu. + Romano, Whitelock, BarrettLoose forwards: Sam Cane,
Vaea Fifita, Akira Ioane, Jerome Kaino, Ardie Savea and Liam Squire. +ReadBacks
Halfbacks: Tawera Kerr-Barlow, TJ Perenara and Aaron Smith.
First five-eighths: Beauden Barrett, Damian McKenzie and Lima Sopoaga.
Midfielders:
Richard Buckman, Ngani Laumape, Anton Lienert-Brown,Charlie Ngatai, Sonny Bill Williams. +CrottyOutside backs: Jordie Barrett, Rieko Ioane,
Nehe Milner-Skudder, Waisake Naholo,Julian Savea, Ben Smith. +DaggI'd like to see the AB selectors back themselves to get Tuipolotou and Ioane up to speed. Just think Romano as a 4th lock is a bit meh. Doesn't le the side down, but he has a ceiling. I'm quite underwhelmed by Naholo these days also. Dagg, Smith, Barrett, Ioane & NMS for mine.
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@Billy-Tell Romano just doesn't have the physicality of Tuipulotu. The coaching staff seem happy to bring guys in to help them deal with issues and are confident they can bring out the best in guys so I hope they achieve that with Patrick.
