AB RWC squad
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@pakman said in RWC squad. Who's in, who's out?:
@sparky said in RWC squad. Who's in, who's out?:
@pakman Todd will be in the main squad IMHO. They are picking Ardie as a 6/8 so far this year. Todd is the main back-up Openside.
I don't disagree, but if it were me I'd rather have Luke Jacobson. My thinking is I'd want Ardie covering 7 against Boks & Poms, and Jacobson can cover 6 & 7 against more lightweight teams.
For me key is the Scooter on bench can cover 4/6 against the big, slow teams and is lineout booster.
In those games Squire starts and Savea on bench.
Need someone to cover 7 against weaker teams if Savea or Cane rested.
Aganst lighter, faster, teams, if both Cane and Savea started then 7 is covered. Scooter or Read cover lock. Other bench loosie a hitter (Squire) or someone faster if pace the imperative. That's the real call for last place.
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@Stargazer said in RWC squad. Who's in, who's out?:
@sparky I think you're not reading between the lines what I am reading. To me this reads like "not being selected for the RWC". If that's what it means, he/they has/have every right to be very disappointed.
I read it as being grateful for Nani's support when he'd just lost brother.
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I reckon Josh Ioane has to go, probably needs to start against Tonga and a warm up game at least. Difference in 2011 was Cruden and Donald already had played for ABs and spent a lot of time in the environment. Ioane needs every minute he can in the environment. Reiko Ioane on the other hand loses out I think. They tried to play him into form at that failed, really low on confidence . I am guessing they go Jordie and Bender for wing cover maybe even play ALB there in a warmup game or two.
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@DMX During Sunday's press conference, Hansen answered questions about Mo'unga's injury. It's an AC joint "issue", of which he said that - while not long-term - he'll be sore for a couple of weeks, hopefully not more. A journalist (Yalden?) then asked whether Hansen - for the Tongan game - would be able to use players from outside the RWC squad if players [named in the squad] were still unavailable. Hansen answered that with 'yes'. When the journalist then suggested that there would be a chance that Josh Ioane could get game time, Hansen literally said: "maybe, if Richie is not right. If Richie is right, he won't".
I'm still waiting for the full media conference to be posted on YouTube.
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@Chris-B said in RWC squad. Who's in, who's out?:
@Crucial It's a pretty brutal game, because there will be a couple who will be very unlucky to miss out.
I think Laumape will be the unlucky one in the midfield, because I can't really recall a big game selection where he's been a preferred choice. Whereas, it wouldn't surprise me if Hansen's first choice midfield is still SBW and Crotty.
I feel pretty stink for everyone caught up in the midfield situation. Laumape deserves better and so as ALB - both have done everything asked of them in black and more.
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@pakman said in RWC squad. Who's in, who's out?:
@pakman said in RWC squad. Who's in, who's out?:
@sparky said in RWC squad. Who's in, who's out?:
@pakman Todd will be in the main squad IMHO. They are picking Ardie as a 6/8 so far this year. Todd is the main back-up Openside.
I don't disagree, but if it were me I'd rather have Luke Jacobson. My thinking is I'd want Ardie covering 7 against Boks & Poms, and Jacobson can cover 6 & 7 against more lightweight teams.
For me key is the Scooter on bench can cover 4/6 against the big, slow teams and is lineout booster.
In those games Squire starts and Savea on bench.
Need someone to cover 7 against weaker teams if Savea or Cane rested.
Aganst lighter, faster, teams, if both Cane and Savea started then 7 is covered. Scooter or Read cover lock. Other bench loosie a hitter (Squire) or someone faster if pace the imperative. That's the real call for last place.
And Fifita, according to The Gregorian, is the fastest forward in NZ 'by some distance'.
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@Machpants said in RWC squad. Who's in, who's out?:
Squad announced August 28th.
That is a Wednesday.
Is there NOTHING SACRED anymore FFS
Pressure on @SouthernMann to have it posted here on Tuesday night then.
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@Stargazer said in RWC squad. Who's in, who's out?:
@sparky I don't think you can conclude, from the decision about who to release for Mitre 10 Cup, who'll be in or out of the RWC squad. Some players just need game time. I've already posted more info in the Mitre 10 Cup thread.
So basically guys that weren’t in the 23 on the weekend and don’t have niggles and aren’t old buggers.
Nothing new in this.
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@Steven-Harris said in RWC squad. Who's in, who's out?:
@Chris-B if body language was anything to go by at the end of last nights game..watching Laumape when he was in some of the background shots, I reckon he’s already been told..just an observation..hes bloody unlucky, he would be in every other World Cup country squad.
But have you ever seen him smile or look happy?
He always seems quiet and grumpy, look at interviews with him, he doesn't often speak and just looks serious. -
The back 3 choices were really thrown up in the air!
