AB EOYT 2018
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@bones Haven't watched much of him in the NPC.
He went OK in Super rugby, but it didn't remotely cross my mind that he was ready to step up to the ABs.
Bridge and Mataele were the ones who were more impressive for the Crusaders - but, what I've seen of Mataele in NPC - he's been pretty awful.
I would pick Bridge ahead of all of them.
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Ennor has been very good this year. Got a few opportunities in Super rugby and played well and has continued to up his game. Not sure if he’s an AB, but given some of the names being thrown around....
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@chris-b said in AB EOYT 2018:
@bones Haven't watched much of him in the NPC.
He went OK in Super rugby, but it didn't remotely cross my mind that he was ready to step up to the ABs.
Bridge and Mataele were the ones who were more impressive for the Crusaders - but, what I've seen of Mataele in NPC - he's been pretty awful.
I would pick Bridge ahead of all of them.
Mataele has been struggling with injuries right from the start of the season, so he hasn't really had regular game time. It's no surprise that he hasn't impressed much. "Awful" is an exaggeration IMO.
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@act-crusader said in AB EOYT 2018:
Ennor has been very good this year. Got a few opportunities in Super rugby and played well and has continued to up his game. Not sure if he’s an AB, but given some of the names being thrown around....
Yeah that was my thinking.
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@machpants said in AB EOYT 2018:
Cheers for that, "... between 18, 19 players..." So 18 and a half players.
18 players and a halfback
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Using the RC squad as a starting point, they originally named 33 players.
Hookers
Dane Coles
Nathan Harris
Codie TaylorProps
Owen Franks
Joe Moody
Tim Perry
Karl Tu'inukuafe
Ofa TuungafasiLocks
Scott Barrett
Brodie Retallick
Samuel WhitelockLoose Forwards
Sam Cane --> Dillon Hunt
Shannon Frizell
Jackson Hemopo
Kieran Read
Ardie Savea
Liam Squire
Luke WhitelockHalfbacks
TJ Perenara
Aaron Smith
Te Toiroa TahuriorangiFirst five-eighths
Beauden Barrett
Damian McKenzie
Richie Mo'ungaMidfielders
Ryan Crotty
Jack Goodhue
Anton Lienert-Brown
Sonny Bill WilliamsOutside backs
Jordie Barrett
Rieko Ioane
Nehe Milner-Skudder
Waisake Naholo
Ben SmithSo one player has to miss out, probably Hemopo. There might be a temptation to find a place for Tuipulotu so there are 4 locks. That would have to be at the expense of a loose forward (Frizell or L Whitelock) or an outside back (NMS).
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@98blueandgold said in AB EOYT 2018:
@akan004 I feel the other way in games I watched. Didn't rate strange until this season, has impressesed with physicality I didn't think he had.
Was impressed with his play in Super Rugby but not so much in the NPC so far. Perhaps Parkinson has just stood out more, for me anyway.
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@chris-b said in AB EOYT 2018:
@bovidae That will be pretty close.
I wonder whether NMS holds his place. They've hardly used him and the back three look pretty thin compared to the past.
NMS must either be carving it up in training, or holding incriminating photos to still be there. Surely the three wise men see something in him that we're missing - I'd be stoked to be proved wrong, but he ain't NMS v2015.
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@nzzp I think the real selectors are just generally a bit more conservative than the armchair selectors, when it comes to dropping the axe on players. Don't want to be calling up, discarding, recalling....etc.
So they give their players plenty of rope.
But if they're going to introduce new players into the mix before RWC, they're pretty close to the last chance saloon. And, I think NMS has been in both the France and Rugby Championship squads - and they've given him one game. Which doesn't seem like a huge vote of confidence.
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Even though NMS is lucky to be in the AB squad I wouldn't be selecting a replacement for him in the 32. That's what Hansen is going to do with the extra 18.5 players, bring them into camp for a closer look and give some an opportunity vs Japan.
The likes of NMS, Hemopo and Akira will have 2 bites at the cherry as they can play for the Maori in their later games if not on the AB tour.
