AB RWC squad
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@Chris-B said in RWC squad. Who's in, who's out?:
@gt12 Can't really disagree with you - but, seems like we're struggling to find that second specialist loosehead.
I'm picking they've got Cron working intensively with Angus and that's their preferred option.
But, that's mainly based on Hansen saying that tighthead, six and the midfield have been the biggest selection challenges.
Maybe they've locked in Moli or Karl, but somehow it doesn't seem like it.
If you follow this line of logic through there needs to be a back up for each of TH and LH and who can step in against Poms/Boks if either of top pair injured. I can live with Ofa starting at TH against Poms, but not game at LH.
Which means another 'starter level' LH and that is Karl. Against Wales/Oz/Scotland etc. Ofa on bench as LH is fine and provides impact. Against Poms/Boks Karl is big enough to make impact off bench and his lack of pace not a biggee over 30 minutes. Ofa would be TH bench. Those two provide BIG impact.
On the TH it would logically mean one of Owen/Nepo to start and one of Nepo/Angus on bench when Ofa covering LH.
Hard to go past Angus for impact, so if I were selecting it'd be one of Nepo or Owen who missed out.Tough calls.
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@pakman Yeah - and I'd be happy enough with that logic, but I'm struggling to get around that they cut Karl from the squad, so it seems he's on the outer.
It would be interesting to know what they're seeing inside the camp in regard to these guys. They'll have a great deal more information than us. I'd think prop is the hardest position to pick from the TV?
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@gt12 said in RWC squad. Who's in, who's out?:
We should just take two THs, two LHs, and Ofa.
Common sense eh?
My biggest concern if they don't select 2 LH props plus a LH/TH is that Moody and Ofa pretty much have to be in the 23 each match, forgetting about injuries. I've never seen Franks or Laulala play at LH, and you are right about Ta'avao at LH with the Chiefs.
I wouldn't be surprised if the hard call at TH is Franks vs Laulala, and the latter's performance in Bled II made that decision even harder.
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@Bovidae said in RWC squad. Who's in, who's out?:
@gt12 said in RWC squad. Who's in, who's out?:
We should just take two THs, two LHs, and Ofa.
Common sense eh?
My biggest concern if they don't select 2 LH props plus a LH/TH is that Moody and Ofa pretty much have to be in the 23 each match, forgetting about injuries. I've never seen Franks or Laulala play at LH, and you are right about Ta'avao at LH with the Chiefs.
I wouldn't be surprised if the hard call at TH is Franks vs Laulala, and the latter's performance in Bled II made that decision even harder.
No, it made it easy. This tournament ent is taking place in 2019, not 2011 or 2015. Owen Franks has won two World Cups but in 2019 Nepo Laulala is the better player
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@Chris-B said in RWC squad. Who's in, who's out?:
@pakman Yeah - and I'd be happy enough with that logic, but I'm struggling to get around that they cut Karl from the squad, so it seems he's on the outer.
It would be interesting to know what they're seeing inside the camp in regard to these guys. They'll have a great deal more information than us. I'd think prop is the hardest position to pick from the TV?
Karl had a pretty bad illness that sapped his energy and reduced his fitness. He was just coming back from that when he got injured.
He was dropped because he couldn’t play not for other reasons -
@sparky said in RWC squad. Who's in, who's out?:
Fifita pulled out of the Wellington game with a knee injury. Must reduced his chances of making the RWC.
Doubt it, him making the squads so far hasn't had fuck-all relation with on-field performance.
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@sparky said in RWC squad. Who's in, who's out?:
@Bovidae said in RWC squad. Who's in, who's out?:
I wouldn't be surprised if the hard call at TH is Franks vs Laulala, and the latter's performance in Bled II made that decision even harder.
No, it made it easy. This tournament ent is taking place in 2019, not 2011 or 2015. Owen Franks has won two World Cups but in 2019 Nepo Laulala is the better player
I hope that is the situation. This isn't the time for sentiment.
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Squire was excellent for Ta$man so must have a good chance of making the squad instead of Jacobson. I was impressed by Will Jordan's skills and work rate in the same game.
Reiko Ioane not entirely convincing for Auckland. But will probably make the 31.
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@Bovidae said in RWC squad. Who's in, who's out?:
I hope that is the situation. This isn't the time for sentiment.
The NZ selector's give some players rope (Reado), but wield the axe mercilessly otherwise. Dagg and Jane at RWC2015; Dagg starting voer Mills in 2011 ... they'll give yo uthe chance to show the attributes they like, but if you're surpassed it's sayonara baby
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@sparky said in RWC squad. Who's in, who's out?:
Squire was excellent for Ta$man so must have a good chance of making the squad instead of Jacobson. I was impressed by Will Jordan's skills and work rate in the same game.
Reiko Ioane not entirely convincing for Auckland. But will probably make the 31.
I think Jacobson's outing vs Counties was superb. Waikato were immediately worse once he went off.
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So from this round of NPC games:
Excellent performances: Luke Jacobson, Liam Squire, Josh Ioane, Will Jordan, Brad Weber
Good performance: Liam Coltman, Asafo Aumua, Dalton Papali'i, Jackson Hemopo
Okay performance: Tim Perry, Rieko Ioane,
Anonymous: Atu Moli, Braydon Ennor
Now Injured: Nathan Harris, Vaea Fifita
Whether any of this at all influences the make-up of the All Backs RWC 31 remains to be seen.
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@Stargazer Probably not, still a bit green but a classy player with all the skills, the medium-term replacement for Ben Smith.
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@pakman said in RWC squad. Who's in, who's out?:
If Fifita injury serious Jacobson run times perfectly.
If Squire is going they should have the loose forwards sorted.
6: Read/Savea, Squire, Barrett
7: Cane, Savea, Todd
8: Read/Savea, SquireBut if Squire isn't in the squad 6/8 cover is more needed than a 6/lock. I don't think Fifita adds anything to the squad with 4 locks expected to be selected, one of which (SB) can also play 6. We need a more like-for-like replacement.
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@sparky said in RWC squad. Who's in, who's out?:
@Stargazer Probably not, still a bit green but a classy player with all the skills, the medium-term replacement for Ben Smith.
Highlight packages like this annoy me. Just show the usual camera angle FFS.
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@Bovidae said in RWC squad. Who's in, who's out?:
@pakman said in RWC squad. Who's in, who's out?:
If Fifita injury serious Jacobson run times perfectly.
If Squire is going they should have the loose forwards sorted.
6: Read/Savea, Squire, Barrett
7: Cane, Savea, Todd
8: Read/Savea, SquireBut if Squire isn't in the squad 6/8 cover is more needed than a 6/lock. I don't think Fifita adds anything to the squad with 4 locks expected to be selected, one of which (SB) can also play 6. We need a more like-for-like replacement.
Fifita adds speed. Could cover Read against Namibia/Canada and good bench option if dual sevens played. Best hard shoulder hitter replacement? Frizell?
