TRC squad
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Pretty likely with Pakman/Crucial's additions, however I think that they'll select L. Whitelock and leave out another 6/lock, just in case Read goes down in a heap. And before any Blues fans jump up and down, I'd select A. Ioane, but I suspect that won't happen until the end of year tour. Hope to be proven wrong.
Based on what I've seen so far, Hemopo looks a better prospect, so they'll select Frizzell instead no doubt. Fifita doesn't have much going for him either.
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@gt12 I like Hemopo's workrate and injections. I wonder how much better he'd be with an extra 5-7kg on his frame.
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@antipodean said in TRC squad:
@gt12 I like Hemopo's workrate and injections. I wonder how much better he'd be with an extra 5-7kg on his frame.
Release him to provincial rugby and get him playing 8 I say.
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I'm only concerned about his speed - is he a short lock or was he too slow getting around to play 6? Either way, I like his hustle and the way he throws himself around.
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@antipodean said in TRC squad:
@gt12 I like Hemopo's workrate and injections. I wonder how much better he'd be with an extra 5-7kg on his frame.
Release him to provincial rugby and get him playing 8 I say.
What's his height/weight ratio?
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Pakman's assessment seems pretty close to the mark.
I expect the selectors will be overly cautious with returning players from injuries given it is the third year of the cycle. In past campaigns the goal was to peak for the EOYT as a dry run for the RWC, so they will use TRC get good looks at players who have been in the picture but haven't had that many tests. The injuries are almost a blessing as it gives them the necessary openings to do that.
Picking a RWC 31-man squad assuming everyone were fit is a more entertaining task at this point.
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@antipodean said in TRC squad:
@gt12 I like Hemopo's workrate and injections. I wonder how much better he'd be with an extra 5-7kg on his frame.
Release him to provincial rugby and get him playing 8 I say.
What's his height/weight ratio?
Yes indeed and are the stats 100% accurate or are we looking at an Adam Thompson being listed as heavier than Jerome Kaino fiasco like we have in the past?
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@antipodean said in TRC squad:
@gt12 I like Hemopo's workrate and injections. I wonder how much better he'd be with an extra 5-7kg on his frame.
Release him to provincial rugby and get him playing 8 I say.
What's his height/weight ratio?
Nothing like Carl Hayman's
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when's the squad named?
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@machpants said in TRC squad:
got one!In my Mo'unga defence I did pause to ponder if @taniwharugby was runnning the old Fern gag, but decided as I'd already typed it to send it anyway! 🐡
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no real surprises, a couple can consider themselves lucky, but nothing too controversial (that hasnt been discussed already) it'll be the team naming some time next week might generate some chatter.
edit: JUst realised no LAumape, but then he has been called in to cover SBW anyway....
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With age, teams, caps and position:
Forwards:
Hookers
Dane Coles (31, Hurricanes / Wellington, 56)
Nathan Harris (26, Chiefs / Bay of Plenty, 13)
Codie Taylor (27, Crusaders / Canterbury, 32)Props
Owen Franks (30, Crusaders / Canterbury, 98)
Joe Moody (29, Crusaders /Canterbury, 34)
Tim Perry (30, Crusaders / Ta$man, uncapped)
Karl Tu'inukuafe (25, Chiefs / North Harbour, 3)
Ofa Tuungafasi (26, Blues / Auckland, 17)Locks
Scott Barrett (24, Crusaders / Taranaki, 19)
Brodie Retallick (27, Chiefs / Hawke's Bay, 68)
Samuel Whitelock (29, Crusaders / Canterbury, 99)Loose Forwards
Sam Cane (26, Chiefs / Bay of Plenty, 55)
Shannon Frizell (24, Highlanders / Ta$man, 1)
Jackson Hemopo (24, Highlanders / Manawatu, 1)
Kieran Read (32, Crusaders / Counties Manukau, 109) - Captain
Ardie Savea (24, Hurricanes / Wellington, 25)
Liam Squire (27, Highlanders / Ta$man, 17)
Luke Whitelock (27, Highlanders / Canterbury, 5)Backs:
Halfbacks
TJ Perenara (26, Hurricanes / Wellington, 45)
Aaron Smith (29, Highlanders / Manawatu, 74)
Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi (23, Chiefs / Taranaki, uncapped)First five-eighths
Beauden Barrett (27, Hurricanes / Taranaki, 65)
Damian McKenzie (23, Chiefs / Waikato, 15)
Richie Mo'unga (24, Crusaders / Canterbury, 1)Midfielders
Ryan Crotty (29, Crusaders / Canterbury, 37)
Jack Goodhue (23, Crusaders / Northland, 1)
Anton Lienert-Brown (23, Chiefs / Waikato, 24)
Sonny Bill Williams (33, Blues / Counties Manukau, 46)Outside backs
Jordie Barrett (21, Hurricanes / Taranaki, 5)
Rieko Ioane (21, Blues / Auckland, 16)
Nehe Milner-Skudder (27, Hurricanes / Manawatu, 11)
Waisake Naholo (27, Highlanders /Taranaki, 19)
Ben Smith (32, Highlanders /Otago, 67)As well as the 33-man squad, two other players will assemble with the squad as injury cover. Hooker Liam Coltman comes in as cover for Dane Coles, who is expected to return to Test match rugby some time during the Investec Rugby Championship, while midfielder Ngani Laumape comes in for Sonny Bill Williams, who is recovering from a shoulder injury. The squad also features two uncapped players. Crusaders and Ta$man prop Tim Perry, who played two non-Tests on last year's Vista Northern Tour, was named in this year's Steinlager Series squad but missed the series with injury, while young Chiefs and Taranaki halfback Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi has also been selected.Players Kane Hames, Nepo Laulala, Atu Moli and Jordan Taufua were not considered for selection due to injury.Squad breakdown The All Blacks squad is made up of 18 forwards (three hookers, five props, three locks and seven loose forwards) and 15 backs (three halfbacks, three first five-eighths, four midfielders and five outside backs) and has a total of 1078 Test caps experience. The squad is made up of three Blues players, seven Chiefs, six Hurricanes, 10 Crusaders and seven Highlanders while 13 of New Zealand's Mitre 10 Cup provinces are represented, with seven Canterbury players, five from Taranaki, three each from Wellington, Manawatu and Ta$man, Auckland, Counties Manukau, Waikato and Bay of Plenty have two players each while there is one player from Northland, North Harbour, Hawke's Bay and Otago. The All Blacks squad will assemble in Christchurch on Thursday this week with the team taking on the Canterbury and Otago provincial sides in the Game of Three Halves match at AMI Stadium on Friday night. A squad of 32 will head to Sydney on Sunday to prepare for the first Bledisloe Cup Test.http://www.allblacks.com/News/32796/all-blacks-squad-named-for-2018-investec-rugby-championship
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@kiwimurph Ardie probably covers lock too...
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@stargazer said in 2018 Rugby Championship:
This is the squad for the 2018 Rugby Championship:
yaaaawwwwnnnn
