AB EOYT 2018
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@bovidae @Tim in a squad of 51 you'd think there will be a big number of locks, as there is a void behind BBBR & SW, why would they take Romano? Meaning PT, SB and I'd say 5 or 6 others...it will go deep.
I think they will be looking at players potential, and IMO Goodhue's trajectory (when not injured) has been as good as any in the M10 cup.
I'm expecting almost half of the extra 20 or so to not even play.
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There will be ten of the normal squad of 32 staying behind, joined by nineteen extras, so only six will not play. Our do you think they'll change the numbers staying behind?
Also this will be a Japanese squad without a lot of players (maybe, not sure how Japanese club rugby works), with no prep time so a real ABs C/D team should still be ok
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From that 51 men squad, you'll have to scratch every player who will be in the Māori All Blacks squad, as their game in Chicago is the day after the Japan game. So if - for example - Akira isn't in the main ABs squad, he'll be in the MABs squad. It won't apply to many players, but Rob Thompson and Matt Proctor are likely to be players who this applies to.
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@stargazer unless they name a larger Maori AB squad and have players join the Maori tour after the first game. For example, Akira gets named in the Maori AB squad, misses the USA Eagles game as he's in Japan, but plays the following two games v Brazil and Chile.
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Where’s Oprah when we need her - everyone gets a go!
I suspect Akira will be with the ABs not the Maori unless he is named Maori captain.
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@crucial said in AB EOYT 2018:
On another EOYT matter, just had a look at tickets for Rome and there are still plenty available.
If airfares and accom aren't too pricy this could be a weekender.Ooooh, very tempting. I went a couple of years ago and it was excellent. Porchetta sandwiches outside the stadium! Other half wasn't too impressed with them not serving wine though.
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Motivates me to restart my 'campaign' to get the non-official test matches of the past retrospectively given test status. E.g Argentina All Black tour of 1976 at same time as South Africa tour.
1974 v Fiji
1976 v Argentina x 2,Uruguay
1979 v Argentina x 2, v Italy
1980 v Fiji x 2, USA, Canada
1984 v FijiSome of those guys are classed as All Blacks, but non-capped all blacks, where as the 45th best (at least) available player in NZ this year is going to get capped.
All together now! Justice for the 31st best player of 1976! Stats nerds UNITE!
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@nepia said in AB EOYT 2018:
@rapido We need to find a way to award Bevan Holmes a cap - if he was playing in the modern era he'd have 10 to 20 test matches, instead he's got none but played 31 matches for the ABs.
Justice for Geoff Valli and Tu Wylie (and whoever the hell S.B. Conn is).
Mark Shaw robbed of a test hattrick:
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This, not a test according to NZRFU (but Fiji would have awarded caps):
It was a full All Black tour, but with a non-offical test, with 8 of the starting 15 being normal test match starters during the rest of 1984.
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Probably bollaux too. I would imagine without the carrot of a ton of easy Yen he might be signed permanently overseas. This way he makes his cash and the ABS keep him for, basically, an emergency backup at RWC. There has to be some good offer to keep someone of his calibre around as nothing but emergency backup, with no time in the black jersey guaranteed or even likely. The ABs will cope with Mr A N Other for 7 this tour in the north
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Here's a rough shot by the numbers. I've got no great opinion on the replacement 7, so I've chucked in John Hart's pick.
I've tended to go for people who've been there before among the 19 reinforcements, with a few exceptions for balance.
32 MAN SQUAD
Joe Moody
Karl Tu'inukuafe
Owen Franks
Ofa Tuungafasi
Tim PerryCodie Taylor
Dane Coles
Nathan HarrisSamuel Whitelock
Brodie Retallick
Scott BarrettKieran Read
Ardie Savea
Liam Squire
Luke Whitelock
Shannon Frizell
Dillon Hunt??Aaron Smith
Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi
TJ PerenaraBeauden Barrett
Richie Mo'unga
Damian McKenzieAnton Lienert-Brown
Jack Goodhue
Ryan Crotty
Sonny Bill WilliamsBen Smith
Jordie Barrett
Rieko Ioane
Nehe Milner-Skudder
Waisake NaholoTEAM FOR JAPAN (INCLUDING 10 FROM ABOVE)
Tim Perry
Dane Coles
Nepo Laulala
Luke Romano
Patrick Tuipolotu
Shannon Frizell
Dillon Hunt
Luke Whitelock
Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi
Richie Mo'unga
George Bridge
Ngani Laumape
Anton Lienert-Brown
Nehe Milner-Skudder
Jordie BarrettLiam Coltman
Angus Ta'avao
Alex Hodgman??
Jackson Hemopo
Akira Ioane
Bryn Hall
Otere Black
Matt ProctorPLUS ANOTHER SIX
Asafo Aumua
Jeff Toomaga-Allen
Vaia Fifita
Brad Weber
Ben Lam
David HaviliEdit: And a slight shuffle, because I've got a loose forward too many.
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@footy01 To be honest I only saw him come off the bench against Ta$man and he looked pretty sharp.
Any of our next options are a fair way from international quality IMO. And if I'd picked Mitch Hunt I'd be accused of bias!
In all honesty, if we had a run like 2011 at RWC and lost a couple of Beauden, DMac and Richie, I'd be inclined to break our own rules and call up Sopoaga, Cruden or Slade.
