AB EOYT 2018
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@nepia Watching him play behind the North Harbour pack really does show his level. He should thank the Crusaders pack for making him look so much better than what he really is.
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@nepia said in AB EOYT 2018:
I'm from Hawkes Bay and there's no way Evans should be in there over Akira.
Maybe it is trying players out for the world cup. With the reduced squad size, less space for specialists, so you need players who can cover multiple positions
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@stockcar86 surely Akira can cover 6/8, which is multiple isnt it?
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@african-monkey said in AB EOYT 2018:
@nepia Watching him play behind the North Harbour pack really does show his level. He should thank the Crusaders pack for making him look so much better than what he really is.
Yeah he's great for the Crusaders, but I'm always disappointed watching him play for harbour.
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Is Todd being selected the wedge of not needing to play in NZ? He is a great servant of NZ rugby, and he is coming back, but my understanding is that he is currently not under contract. An open door for the future?
No Akira is just, well, fuck, I don't know. If they want to look at everyone and his dog, why not take Akira?
No new lock? I like the Romano selection, but they should have picked another young one as well.
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@stockcar86 said in AB EOYT 2018:
@nepia said in AB EOYT 2018:
I'm from Hawkes Bay and there's no way Evans should be in there over Akira.
Maybe it is trying players out for the world cup. With the reduced squad size, less space for specialists, so you need players who can cover multiple positions
Obviously I'm not saying Evans is shit ... he's awesome for us and the Canes but it's FU they can find a spot for him but not Akira.
Akira may as well fuck off overseas now if this is how they rank him.
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@gt12 yeah is an odd call, although Todd is still playing super rugby next year isnt he?
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@taniwharugby said in AB EOYT 2018:
@gt12 yeah is an odd call, although Todd is still playing super rugby next year isnt he?
As I said earlier in the thread, he went for money reasons, and stated so, he should therefore be ineligible for the ABs until next year, when he can slot right in assuming Papali'i doesn't streak past him.
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@nepia said in AB EOYT 2018:
@stockcar86 said in AB EOYT 2018:
@nepia said in AB EOYT 2018:
I'm from Hawkes Bay and there's no way Evans should be in there over Akira.
Maybe it is trying players out for the world cup. With the reduced squad size, less space for specialists, so you need players who can cover multiple positions
Obviously I'm not saying Evans is shit ... he's awesome for us and the Canes but it's FU they can find a spot for him but not Akira.
Akira may as well fuck off overseas now if this is how they rank him.
Would be nice if one of the lapdog press actually pushed hard for an explanation of this. I won't hold my breath.
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My understanding is that he's not under contract now though. I could be wrong about that.
he is definitely coming back and that was cited as a reason. Very ARUish.
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@taniwharugby He'll just have to wait I guess. Most know that he deserves a run but who knows, maybe Shag is hiding him for next year's world cup? I certainly have no idea what the situation is with him. Does anyone lol?
@SammyC The Crusaders make it easy for him where he can do what he likes where he's always playing with front foot ball. For other teams (North Harbour/Blues) he has to get in, create more from the base and play more physically which he doesn't like. In cricketing terms he's nothing more than a flat track bully.
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I'm happy with the main squad, especially because Matt Todd is in it. IMO he's the best back-up for Cane, despite Ardie's good performance against SA.
Out of the main squad are:
Not picked:
Tim Perry, Laumape, Coltman, NMS, who are all in the wider squadUnavailable:
Cane, Frizell, TaufuaOf the newbies in the wider squad, I agree with all except O’Neill and Cameron, although I'm disappointed for Weber, who has been in good form for Hawke's Bay. Agree that Hunt is much better than Cameron. I don't understand these selections at all.
About Akira, I can only guess, but there just must be something we don't know of why he isn't picked. Maybe they have given him a list of work-ons, and he hasn't delivered on those points. Or there's a character issue we don't know of.
IMO, Papali'i is taking the spot that would otherwise have gone to Akira; not Evans. Evans is a completely different player and much more versatile than Akira, which makes him an excellent bench player. Evans absolutely deserves his call-up.
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@mariner4life said in AB EOYT 2018:
I have no idea what is happening, are they naming the giant squad? It's so exciting to hear names being selected who i genuinely have no idea who they are.
Welcome to my last 10 years of All Black support.
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Personally, I think they should have taken Dalton and Evans in the main squad, with Todd not selected. I agree about Evans’ versatility.
I’m so surprised to see Fifita back - how does he fit in to a squad with four locks, one of who can cover 6 from the bench? I don’t get it. Having Akira there in his place looks the ticket to me.
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@gt12 Todd's selection says something about how high they rate Todd compared to the other options and how much importance they attach to having a specialist openside in the squad to replace Cane; Papali'i is more a 6 and Evans is more an 8 and utitlity loosie.
Maybe they consider Fifita as a direct swap for Frizell?
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@stargazer said in AB EOYT 2018:
About Akira, I can only guess, but there just must be something we don't know of why he isn't picked. Maybe they have given him a list of work-ons, and he hasn't delivered on those points. Or there's a character issue we don't know of.
Getting in at 4pm in the Morning at a recent training when the head coach was informed and was waiting for you to arrive probably does not help your cause..Akira is a talent no question,but until you get your shit together in and around off field and training ethic,you don’t catch too many breaks let me give you the tip..!
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@stargazer said in AB EOYT 2018:
@gt12 Todd's selection says something about how high they rate Todd compared to the other options and how much importance they attach to having a specialist openside in the squad to replace Cane; Papali'i is more a 6 and Evans is more an 8 and utitlity loosie.
Maybe they consider Fifita as a direct swap for Frizell?
Clearly. But, I think that's dangerous, given that Squire will be healthy for about 5 minutes.
Edit: I strongly disagree about Dalton being a better 6. He is the most Cane-like flanker we've had since Cane was the most Richie-like flanker around. Tackles like mad, is built, and can carry.
