AB squad for the Rugby Championship

[Billy Tell]

@Stargazer said in AB squad for the Rugby Championship:

@pukunui said in AB squad for the Rugby Championship:

@Tim said in AB squad for the Rugby Championship:

Any chance Nathan Harris will come back in? Neither of Aumua or Coltman have thrown competently.

Has Aumua even played?

No, he and Josh Ioane haven't had any game time.

Edited to add: Neither has Tu'inukuafe, but he's not an unknown at test level.

Basically he’s a known known whereas the others are known unknowns.

[Stargazer]

All Blacks squad for the Bledisloe Cup:

Forwards
Hookers: Dane Coles, Liam Coltman and Codie Taylor.
Props: Owen Franks, Nepo Laulala, Joe Moody, Atu Moli, Angus Ta'avao and Ofa Tuungafasi.
Locks: Scott Barrett, Jackson Hemopo, Patrick Tuipulotu and Samuel Whitelock.
Loose forwards: Sam Cane, Vaea Fifita, Luke Jacobson, Kieran Read, Ardie Savea and Matt Todd.

Backs
Halfbacks: TJ Perenara, Aaron Smith and Brad Weber.
First five-eighths: Beauden Barrett and Richie Mo'unga.
Midfielders: Jack Goodhue, Ngani Laumape, Anton Lienert-Brown and Sonny Bill Williams.
Utility backs: Braydon Ennor and Jordie Barrett.
Outside backs: George Bridge, Rieko Ioane, Sevu Reece and Ben Smith.

Hansen further added that first five-eighth Josh Ioane had also been invited to assemble with the squad to continue his development. Meanwhile, Nepo Laulala and Sonny Bill Williams will both play for Counties Manukau in a pre-Mitre 10 Cup season game on Saturday. Laulala will then join the squad in Perth, while Williams will stay and play Counties Manukau's Mitre 10 Cup season opener on Saturday August 10, before joining the squad in Auckland for the second Bledisloe Cup Test week.

http://www.allblacks.com/News/34477/all-blacks-squad-named-for-bledisloe-cup-tests

[Duluth]

No Frizell? That's a surprise

[Stargazer]

So, missing out are:
Aumua, Tu’inukuafe, Frizell, Papali'i, Josh Ioane

To return for RWC: Crotty and - hopefully - Retallick

They kept Fifita ...

[Toddy]

Fifita leads a charmed career.

Jacobson has leapfrogged Dalton?

Three players who are 7s points to some interesting combos down the track.

[Bovidae]

Surely Karl needs time on the field for NH to prove his fitness.

Papalii wasn't given a chance unlike Fifita.

Let's see who plays in Perth.

[KiwiMurph]

I'm glad Jacobson is there.

[Chris]

I seem to be missing something with Fifita,I must be falling asleep during games and missing all the great work he is getting through to keep him in the AB squad.

[Chris]

@KiwiMurph Yep me too Rate him he's very physical in contact Really like that.

[MN5]

@Chris said in AB squad for the Rugby Championship:

I seem to be missing something with Fifita,I must be falling asleep during games and missing all the great work he is getting through to keep him in the AB squad.

He's the Akira Ioane that they actually pick.

[Chris]

@MN5 HAHAHA True

[Bovidae]

You can only assume what the players are doing in training is also taken into consideration. Still can't justify Fifita's inclusion.

[akan004]

After Argentina, I thought we would never see Fifita in black again. Losing confidence in Shag and co very quickly. You never want to see an AB get injured but I might just have to make an exception for Fifita.

[Hooroo]

Surprised and stoked for Jacobson.

[canefan]

Still willing to trust in Shag, we seem to be holding back and this is consistent with our lead up in 2015. The team is not as good as the 2015 version though, time will tell

[Crazy Horse]

@akan004 said in AB squad for the Rugby Championship:

After Argentina, I thought we would never see Fifita in black again. Losing confidence in Shag and co very quickly. You never want to see an AB get injured but I might just have to make an exception for Fifita.

I said it last season, but the frustration around AB game plans and selections reminds me of the Chiefs when Fozzie was running the show. Wonder if he is having a lot more influence now Smith has jumped ship.

[Machpants]

Dear Fafita

[Bovidae]

The articles say that Laulala will play for C-M before joining the squad for Perth. No mention of the reason behind Tu'inukuafe's exclusion (yet) so he might have been overtaken by Moli with Tu'ungafasi also able to play LH. It could be down to Laulala vs Ta'avao now.

[Stargazer]

Good to see that they keep Ioane in the environment as an apprentice. I never expected him to make the RWC squad, but it's good that they keep developing him for the worst case 10 scenario.

[Bovidae]

@Crazy-Horse I'd point the finger at Hansen and Cron for the continued selection of Fifita.