AB EOYT 2018
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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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Steven Harrisreplied to Stargazer on 15 Oct 2018, 00:48 last edited by Steven Harris 15 Oct 2018, 00:52
@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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Good on Dalton on making the main squad, he's going to be great All Black, a beast.
The extra 19 selections are comically bad. Akira's omission being the obvious worst.
Has Hanson got money on Japan?
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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.
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Does the Japanese RU realise they are getting the All Blacks C team for their test?
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@virgil said in AB EOYT 2018:
Does the Japanese RU realise they are getting the All Blacks C team for their test?
D?
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@nepia said in AB EOYT 2018:
@virgil said in AB EOYT 2018:
Does the Japanese RU realise they are getting the All Blacks C team for their test?
D?
D is even pushing it.
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Finally something to post about aye fullas.
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@stargazer Papali'i is going as a 7. Evans is going as an 6/8 (who can cover 7 at a pinch). Evans has taken Akira's spot.
Don't get me wrong, I'm stoked for Evans and it's great we have another Magpie AB in the mix.
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@act-crusader said in AB EOYT 2018:
Finally something to post about aye fullas.
Are we looking into a Foster future here?
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I laughed out loud when I read the squad, especially the add on 19. Most left field squad since 2003?
As a die hard Canterbury fan I can't understand how Cameron makes it. Never mind Frizzel getting Isacc Rossed, and Akira getting Hika Ellioted. I assume Frizzell, Akira, Weber and Hemopo (and maybe a few others) are going to be playing for the Māori which makes sense for the fringe guys that might only have been the plus 19 or a couple of bench opportunities but not for Akira. I'd love a candid assessment of why not from Hansen. Is this a conspiracy to perform poorly and improve the case for government funding?
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@cyclops is Frizell Maori?
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@cyclops said in AB EOYT 2018:
I laughed out loud when I read the squad, especially the add on 19. Most left field squad since 2003?
As a die hard Canterbury fan I can't understand how Cameron makes it. Never mind Frizzel getting Isacc Rossed, and Akira getting Hika Ellioted. I assume Frizzell, Akira, Weber and Hemopo (and maybe a few others) are going to be playing for the Māori which makes sense for the fringe guys that might only have been the plus 19 or a couple of bench opportunities but not for Akira. I'd love a candid assessment of why not from Hansen. Is this a conspiracy to perform poorly and improve the case for government funding?
It would certainly stop the character assassination fantasy stories that get posted here about him.
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Any video of the press conference? I've only found the short 2min video
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@steven-harris is the sauce for this legit? Would really suck if it was his own behaviour sinking his chances. Or maybe he was on a bender after finding out he didn't make the cut.
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Frizzell has a should injury, apparently.
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Brett Cameron is a real head-scratcher.
He's the 4th best 10 in the country? I fucking doubt it.
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@taniwharugby said in AB EOYT 2018:
@cyclops is Frizell Maori?
I would assume not, then I'd have to start calling him the Tongan-Maori. Hmmm, I wonder if they've discovered he's not actually eligible for us yet?
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@tim said in AB EOYT 2018:
Brett Cameron is a real head-scratcher.
He's the 4th best 10 in the country? I fucking doubt it.
I'd rate him 4th out of the starting 10's in the NPC semis
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I assume that these players will miss out on the semi or final games of the NPC?
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The fixture against Japan shouldn't have Test status. None of the expected debutants should be able to call themselves All Blacks after that fixture.
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Suprised like a lot of others that they didn't introduce another lock to the Japanese leg. Would have liked to have seen Strange/Walker-Leawere play against Japan but never mind.
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Has Nathan Harris been dropped?
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I guess I've probably heard of Reuben O'Neill, but I can't recall it. However, I knew they needed another loosehead and was struggling to think who it would be. I'd gone for Hodgman, but I think he must be injured.
Brett Cameron is the other one that surprises the hell out of me. I would have gone with Black, Hunt, Gatland and Perofeta ahead of him. And, I suspect he'll be sitting on the bench. (Actually, on second thoughts probably not - they need to have three first fives in Japan in case of a late injury).
Looking at the balance of this side, I reckon the team to play japan will be pretty close to.
Tu'inukuafe, Coles, Ta'avao, Romano, Tuipolotu, Hemopo, Papali'i, Whitelock, TTT, Mo'unga, Bridge, Laumape, Lienert-Brown, NMS, JBarrett
Res. Perry, Coltman, Lomax, SBarrett, Evans, Hall, McKenzie, Proctor
Back ups in case of last minute injury: Aumua, O'Neill, Hunt, Drummond, Cameron, Havili
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@chris-b said in AB EOYT 2018:
I'd gone for Hodgman, but I think he must be injured.
Hasn't been selected by Canterbury for a couple of weeks, I think?
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Goodhue has glandular fever, and won't tour Japan.
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@tim assume that is still a hangover of the illness from SA? What was it he got sick with before they toured last year? Sheesh kid, take better care of yourself!
GUess that means he wont be getting released to Northland this weekend either! haha
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@paekakboyz got that from a good source,he was not the only one,Nani Laumape was the other player,he’s probably a bit more fortunate that we don’t have a ton of midfield cover..
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@rocky-rockbottom said in AB EOYT 2018:
FFS. Akira has CLEARLY somehow ran afoul of the No Dickheads test
Let's review Shag's selection notes:
Loose Forwards:
Reado and Ardie: always going to pick these two:
Dick Frizzle: injured (RSI bum splinters from Landers bench. could've happened to anyone)Luke Whitelock: a cantab so must be a good bloke. On tour it's all about having good blokes around that I can relate to. I can't relate to that huge terrifying hua from Auckland. He scares me. Holding up mauls by himself, all that frightening rugby stuff, gah, no thank you.
Dalton Papalii: 21 and uncapped? fuckit still seems like a better bloke than that scary bully boy "Akira" (sp?) dickhead from Auckland.
Matt Todd: gave the fuck up and went to Japan. That Akira fella didn't give up and go to Japan oops hang on, shot my own argument in the foot there, scribble that part out if you wouldn't mind thanks Fozzie
Jackson Hemopo: all these Highlanders. So many I get mixed up!
Gareth Evans: 27 year old journeyman. ANOTHER Highlander! Something must be really brewing down there!
Dillon Hunt: did fuckall for the landers in soup rugby. Nice lad though. Not like that Akira fella. Can't stand that guy.
Vaea Fifita: called me a "fucking liar" and confessed he "hates doing rugby work". fuckit I still like the guy better than I like Akira, who, incidentally, I fucking hate.
Liam Squire: flat track bully who gets injured the minute he plays against big boys. At least he has a mullet. Akira? No mullet. Another black mark next to this "Akira" fellas name.or the less controversial and slightly boring - Akira got given his KPI's that he needs to improve on, and has completely failed to do so. And in doing so has proven to the coaches that he doesn't want to be there.. thus also putting him into the dickhead pile.
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@rocky-rockbottom said in AB EOYT 2018:
Reado and Ardie: always going to pick these two:
Dick Frizzle: injured (RSI bum splinters from Landers bench. could've happened to anyone)Luke Whitelock: a cantab so must be a good bloke. On tour it's all about having good blokes around that I can relate to. I can't relate to that huge terrifying hua from Auckland. He scares me. Holding up mauls by himself, all that frightening rugby stuff, gah, no thank you.
I can't stand LW either - but i did have to laugh the other day when i was at a presso taken by none other than my "fav" invisible man / rugby player Ruebs Thorne (Phooey - wherever you are i thought of you)... and the first slide they put up was why they'd always pick Whitelock ahead of Ioane.
Anyway obviously Akiras 'attacking' stats were good.. but the rest were mud -
Anyway, it's good that Luke Whitelock isn't in the main squad, as he's so fucking far off test level. Worst selection of the year. Absolute plodder.
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@steven-harris said in AB EOYT 2018:
@paekakboyz got that from a good source,he was not the only one,Nani Laumape was the other player,he’s probably a bit more fortunate that we don’t have a ton of midfield cover..
An AB's training, then - not just Auckland?
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@steven-harris said in AB EOYT 2018:
@paekakboyz got that from a good source,he was not the only one,Nani Laumape was the other player,he’s probably a bit more fortunate that we don’t have a ton of midfield cover..
Didn't some bloke on here do a play-by-play of a stag weekend for the 3rd AB-France test in Dunedin this year and mention Akira at the pub buying up a heap of drinks?
That was the last time Akira was around the AB squad....
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