AB EOYT 2018
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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.
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Nepo Laulala will be there, probably ahead of Tim Perry.
I'd pick a proper fourth lock (either Romano or Patrick T) ahead of Jackson Hemopo and Luke Whitelock.
I'm worried that SBW and NMS's lack of pace will be exposed against both England and Ireland by the likes of Elliot Daly, Jonny May, Simon Zebo or Jacob Stockdale. I'd rather see Laumape, Aso or Bridge selected.
Dillon Hunt looks too wee to be a top class international backrow player. Cane and Gibson are injured. Is it too early to pick Dalton Papali'i?
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@sparky said in AB EOYT 2018:
Nepo Laulala will be there, probably ahead of Tim Perry.
I'd pick a proper fourth lock (either Romano or Patrick T) ahead of Jackson Hemopo and Luke Whitelock.
I'm worried that SBW and NMS's lack of pace will be exposed against both England and Ireland by the likes of Elliot Daly, Jonny May, Simon Zebo or Jacob Stockdale. I'd rather see Laumape, Aso or Bridge selected.
Dillon Hunt looks too wee to be a top class international backrow player. Cane and Gibson are injured. Is it too early to pick Dalton Papali'i?
I think he's bigger than Todd and close to Cane's size.
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Big decision coming up on who is the backup Openside. Dalton Papali'i's chances of making the 32 must have gone up in the last 24 hours.
Interesting to see, as well, if certain experienced backs who have been disappointed in 2018 continue to get selected ahead of promising youngsters.
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@cgrant said in AB EOYT 2018:
Has Rayasi a chance to be among the 18,5 players heading to Japan ? He's having an awsome M10 Cup.
Every player with two legs and a pair of footy boots are a chance
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@tim said in AB EOYT 2018:
Is Abel Australia eligible?
He is. But if he got signed by NZ super team he’d be AB eligible too.
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@act-crusader He looks like he'd be worth a spot in the Australian squad.
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@act-crusader said in AB EOYT 2018:
Refs shmefs. Won’t matter. We’ll cane the Paddies by 20.
That’s going down in my little green book. In the section, For Possible Future Retrieval.
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Papali'i and Parkinson both look to have a bit of mongrel and animal energy / spark about them which will be invaluable for the EOYT and SR heading into 2019 for RWC campaign.
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@nzzp said in AB EOYT 2018:
Also, Wayne Barnes is controlling the Ireland test.
With those two referees, we're going to do really really well to win both. Garces is French, and just random. Wayne-O is generally good, but then has random brain farts. As long as the fart direction is towards Ireland and not us, we'll survive - otherwise it's all on for young and old.
Going to be an epic couple of weeks, I can't wait. We are blessed with magnificent rugby tests each year, I cannot wait.
Wayne Barnes brings Irish fans out in blisters. He’s reffed15 tests and they’ve won just 5 under him.
Just sayin....
