All Blacks Squad for France
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Very Shelley Berman
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@machpants said in All Blacks Squad for France:
Just diggin the knife in!
Is it possible, with Akira joining the squad in the last EOYT, that he didn't impress the selectors in training/touring and they're seeing if his attitude etc has improved there? Juat a thought as to why. I have no idea how awesome Frizzell has been, only watch home Highlander games, but not read anything about how great he is up until very recently.
One thing which seems to have passed unnoticed here is that Akira is still only a boy of 22. The others are several years older. Suspect the ABs are playing the long game: based on JK he's got another 13 years in him!
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@machpants I thought it was simply because there was only room for 3 locks in the squad because they wanted to include an extra loosie?
Edited to add this article about the players that didn't make the squad:
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All Blacks coach Steve Hansen says his 2018 squad to face France next month has been the toughest to select of his career, due to the sheer number of quality players currently plying their trade in New Zealand. With today's 33 man squad announcement, a number of standout players from Super Rugby have been left out of Hansen's reckoning, including top try-scorer Ben Lam, as well as the consistent duo of Matt Todd and Akira Ioane just some of those to miss out. Speaking to media, Hansen spoke about the difficulties his selection group faced. "Most of them are tough (to pick) because we've got some talented people and we're always leaving somebody out that you wish you could put in," he said. "A guy like Luke Romano, he's been really solid for us over a number of years, so to ring him and tell him he's not in is difficult." -
Comments re: Frizzell not being in a highlanders starting lineup if all were fit. Just occurred to me he probably also didn't make the Ta$man starting loose trio (Squire at Taufua filling 8 and 6, although they definitely made room for him as starting lock).
For the record I do rate Frizzell. Potential to be a tighter Fifita.
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@pukunui said in All Blacks Squad for France:
I don't see why Taufua coukdn't be perfectly adequate 7 cover off the bench. He pretty much plays the same role as recent AB 7s which is high work rate. Tackle like crazy and do a bit of ball carrying and support work. If anything he is more suited to that role than 6 or 8.
One of the big problems we have in the loose forwards is that Squire seems to have been made out of the same material as Crotty.
You seem to be from the Eddie Jones school of rugby 'thinking'?!
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@stargazer said in All Blacks Squad for France:
@mimic Different type of players, different teams, different roles. Stats only tell a small part of the story. People attach way too much importance to them. Where's that article of/about Wayne Smith about stats ....
Shag alluded to this in discussing selections.
At 7 Cane is no 1, Savea offers bench impact/tactical variation and Todd is a first rate injury back up.
They are looking for a Kaino/Collins (Jerry) replacement. Squire has been groomed for this. My take is that Fifita and Whitelock (L) are not seen as being 'assertive' enough on D for the role. Frizzell is being auditioned for it, with Taufua also being given a shot.
The post RWC Read replacement has to be good on D but can be a more ranging role. Fifita has the athleticism for this, but for me needs to get a bit tighter.
Whitelock (L) is very secure on D, has excellent leadership skills and can play tight enough for the role. However, he is not sufficiently dynamic to take over from Read, so I see him very much as a stop gap measure.
Ioane (A) is somewhat of a scragger on D, but is trying to get more productively involved at ruck time, and provides great go forward off the scrum and is outstanding lurking wide out.
Come TRC, and assuming Read is back, I see Whitelock (L) dropping out, Fifita retained and one of Frizzell/Taufua jettisoned.
Ioane (A) will probably train with TRC squad, but needs an injury break or suddenly to develop maturity to be in the frame for EOYT.
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@pakman said in All Blacks Squad for France:
@pukunui said in All Blacks Squad for France:
I don't see why Taufua coukdn't be perfectly adequate 7 cover off the bench. He pretty much plays the same role as recent AB 7s which is high work rate. Tackle like crazy and do a bit of ball carrying and support work. If anything he is more suited to that role than 6 or 8.
One of the big problems we have in the loose forwards is that Squire seems to have been made out of the same material as Crotty.
You seem to be from the Eddie Jones school of rugby 'thinking'?!
Haha wasn't it Eddie who first played George Smith and Phil Waugh in the same back row? Or was that someone else?
Jokes aside, tell me how Cane's and Taufua's games are so different. Other than Cane being better obviously.
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@pukunui I haven't watched Taufua closely enough to really comment, but if pressed I'd say that in D and taking the ball up they're quite similar, with Taufua having the edge on the later. In terms of ruck slowing/pilfering Cane seems to me very good, recognising that he chooses when to have a go. Haven't noticed that of Taufua, but I might be doing him a disservice.
What would you say?
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@tim said in All Blacks Squad for France:
@bones said in All Blacks Squad for France:
Mounga aren't up to it
Did I miss that? I thought the prevailing fern wisdom (which I share) was that he was a significantly better 10 than DMac.
Then they clearly haven't read this article from, who I can only assume is, DMac's dad:
The evolution of Damian McKenzie
McKenzie’s elevation into the Chiefs 10 position was one of the more intriguing storylines of 2018.
McKenzie at 22-years-old is already the most-rounded attacking 10 in New Zealand. His passing is superior to Barrett and his running game is more dangerous than Mo’unga.
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@milk said in All Blacks Squad for France:
McKenzie at 22-years-old is already the most-rounded attacking 10 in New Zealand. His passing is superior to Barrett and his running game is more dangerous than Mo’unga.
And his mistakes are more spectacular than Quade Cooper's.
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@pukunui Cane and Taufua are hugely different players. Cane would probably the 2nd worst ball carrier in the squad after Franks. But with Kaino out he is the best defender. Cane has a bigger engine too.
Taufua is a pretty good ball carrier. Out wide and in close. Jury (for me) is still out in whether he will go missing in a big game as he is prone to do in super rugby.
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@milk said in All Blacks Squad for France:
Then they clearly haven't read this article from, who I can only assume is, DMac's dad:
The evolution of Damian McKenzie
McKenzie’s elevation into the Chiefs 10 position was one of the more intriguing storylines of 2018.
McKenzie at 22-years-old is already the most-rounded attacking 10 in New Zealand. His passing is superior to Barrett and his running game is more dangerous than Mo’unga.
Crucial?
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Is it the weakest AB squad since 2004 ?
There is a lot of fringe players who do not seem to be of international calibre. Perry is struggling at SR level, Frizell is the third choice blindside flanker for the Highlanders, TTT, Mo'unga are largely untested, DMac has yet to have a good game at 1st Five, this season, Fifita has been very anonymous, Scott Barrett is lacking the necessary physique for an international lock while JTA has never propped at TH at the upper level. Moreover, L. Whitelock is just here to fill a gap in Read's absence, NMS does not have the pace of an international wing and Harris is a journeyman as is Ofa T. If the RWC was to be played toimorrow, I doubt this team could make the final. -
@cgrant said in All Blacks Squad for France:
Is it the weakest AB squad since 2004 ?
2009 June team was worse (at the time = picks like Read, Nonu/Smith combo, Jane and Thorn look better now).
The new caps were Ross, Latimer, Masaga, G Whitelock, Bryn Evans, Aled De Malmanche, Crockett and eventually Owen Franks.
