All Black Squad for Rugby Championship

[Stargazer]

[pakman]

@Billy-Tell said in All Black Squad for Rugby Championship:

@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 Taylor

Props: Kane Hames, Nepo Laulala, Atu Moli, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen and Ofa Tu'ungafasi. + Crockett, Franks, Moody

Locks: Dominic Bird, Tom Franklin, Brodie Retallick and Patrick Tuipulotu. + Romano, Whitelock, Barrett

Loose forwards: Sam Cane, Vaea Fifita, Akira Ioane, Jerome Kaino, Ardie Savea and Liam Squire. +Read

Backs

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. +Crotty

Outside backs: Jordie Barrett, Rieko Ioane, Nehe Milner-Skudder, Waisake Naholo, Julian Savea, Ben Smith. +Dagg

I'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.

Super rugby over, and only area I can see changing from Crucial team is that I don't think DMac will make it, allowing either NMS or the bus to join.

[canefan]

@pakman If it's either or I think I'll take NMS. Bus is in a bad place right now

[Stargazer]

@pakman I'd prefer Tamanivalu on the wing after seeing him play so well in that position all SR season.

[taniwharugby]

he looked quicker than I thought he was too recently, especially this morning

[cgrant]

Having watched Crotty play so well at 2nd Five Eight, I am wondering if it is a good idea to have him pushed to outside centre to accomodate SBW. Yes, their combination worked well during the first test vs the BIL, but I am more and more inclined that a midfield with Crotty standing next to BB would be better. I would give Goodhue the 13 jersey.

[ACT Crusader]

@cgrant SBW and Crotty look the goods and probably the first choice combo when fit and not suspended.

Crotty's game is suited to either 12 or 13 in my view.

ALB at 13 with either SBW or Crotty at 12 also has most bases covered.

Laumape in the mix now and I don't think we need to be rushing Goodhue just yet.

[Siam]

Yeah no need for Goodhue yet but I can see a whole generation speaking of Barrett (Jordan) and Goodhue in the same vain as Osborne and Robertson, Taylor and Stanley, Little and Bunce or Nonu and Smith

fingers crossed anyway

[KiwiMurph]

Squad is being announced at 3.30pm nz time - there will be a live stream on the ABs fb site.

[gt12]

Right now I'd love to see what Laumape and Crotty could do - good on him for showing his class recently. Crotty would be the first midfield name on the sheet now.

[KiwiMurph]

[Number 10]

No Julian Savea or Matt Todd.

[Gunner]

Interesting selections.

Savea chopped.

Only two 10's, assume Jordie covers at a pinch.

5 outside backs.

[Chris B.]

Looks fairly predictable. Vaea Fifita the "bolter" to the extent there is one - though that was fairly telegraphed. Nepo replaces Charlie - that's no surprise, question of whether he or Ofa sits on the bench, assuming Owen Franks is fit to play.

Jules out, NMS in.

They've made no call on the third first five - probably concluding that whomever the third choice would be (presumably DMac or Mo'unga) will be better off playing Mitre10 Cup than hanging around an AB camp. Call in one if they need him.

[Virgil]

Happy birthday Julian..

[Rembrandt]

@Virgil Ouch. Who would have seen this coming a couple years back. Looked like he was going to cruise to the try scoring record. May not happen now. Anyone know how long he is contracted for? No doubt there is probably an out-clause anyway.

[KiwiMurph]

@Rembrandt I'm near certain Julian Savea is contracted through to 2019 World Cup but yes no idea on out-clauses.

[No Quarter]

Pretty predictable squad overall. Not even the biggest Jules fluffer (I.E. me) could justify his place, his form and confidence have fallen off a cliff to the point that he is a liability.

I rate Jordie as a better first-five option at test level than Mo'unga and DMac so not surprised that's what they've gone with - the kid has big game temperament no doubt about it.

[ACT Crusader]

I didn't listen to the announcement, but was anything said about what happens when Bender has time off? Will they bring in another player or given they have enough outside back stocks just keep as is and call in replacements on a case by case need?

[mimic]

@No-Quarter said in All Black Squad for Rugby Championship:

Pretty predictable squad overall. Not even the biggest Jules fluffer (I.E. me) could justify his place, his form and confidence have fallen off a cliff to the point that he is a liability.

I rate Jordie as a better first-five option at test level than Mo'unga and DMac so not surprised that's what they've gone with - the kid has big game temperament no doubt about it.

I agree with both points. I didn't expect Jules to make the squad, but I am surprised NMS was picked ahead of him..