Possible All Blacks 2020
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@Tim said in Possible All Blacks 2020:
According to Nigel Yelden, Dalton Papalii's rest game was not due to his brief time in the ABs last year, but his possible inclusion in an AB squad this year. Doesn't mean they selected a squad.
This. everyone moaning about the rest weeks seems to be forgetting that they are there to make sure tat potential All Blacks (e.g., Ennor who didn't even go to the WC) are at their best when they are needed in black later in this year.
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@Tim said in Possible All Blacks 2020:
According to Nigel Yelden, Dalton Papalii's rest game was not due to his brief time in the ABs last year, but his possible inclusion in an AB squad this year. Doesn't mean they selected a squad.
Yeah last years games have nothing to do with the rest periods in SR, itis all about managing this years (possible) games, from a list of the coach's best guess possible team at the begginning of this year. Last year rest will mean f all if you play continually this year and are burnt out by the time th NH tour comes around.
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It’s a weird way of managing workload though.
Take someone like DMac. He trained through summer and had to reach match fitness. Has an early game off followed by a couple of weeks break around the bye playing golf. Sounds ok until you realise that if the Chiefs go long into the tournament and he gets selected for the ABs he could now play and train constantly for the next 9 months.
A couple of weeks at the end of Feb seem a lost cause -
@Crucial Yeah. Coaches are going to want to get the rests out the way ASAP to maximize their squad flexibility if injuries bite later in the season.
But, it's a pretty blunt instrument.
You'd think it wouldn't be that hard for the AB coaches to work with the Super coaches to map out season programmes for each individual player, with a bit of flexibility for most if they're really needed by their Super team. With "needed" clearly defined.
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@Crucial There is still the rule that ABs can't play more than 6 games in succession (during the regular season). Byes and rest weeks reset the count, but it depends entirely on when a franchise has their byes, whether this will affect a player. A very quick look at the schedule tells me that this rule does affect the Highlanders and Crusaders at the end of the season, but not the Chiefs and Hurricanes, and it affects the Blues (but not in the last two rounds).
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@Stargazer said in Possible All Blacks 2020:
@Crucial There is still the rule that ABs can't play more than 6 games in succession (during the regular season). Byes and rest weeks reset the count, but it depends entirely on when a franchise has their byes, whether this will affect a player. A very quick look at the schedule tells me that this rule does affect the Highlanders and Crusaders at the end of the season, but not the Chiefs and Hurricanes, and it affects the Blues (but not in the last two rounds).
Chiefs have a break in round 12. Cane and ALB likely to have to sit a game out before then. I assume that as you can't plan for finals they are exempt? Would be pretty shit to have to stand down players from finals because you have played them to get there.
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@Stargazer said in Possible All Blacks 2020:
... (during the regular season) ...
Don't expect people to actually read what you type. This is the Fern. I had a point to make
Anyway, that kind of goes back to my OP. Depending on the draw a player could easily have to do 9 games at the crunch end followed by AB camp, more games and a travel schedule around the world.
Not much of a way around that without a clear gap between Super and internationals for a refresh but I can't see how a break in Feb really helps much. -
Shirley a break in Feb is better than no break at all?
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@Crazy-Horse said in Possible All Blacks 2020:
Shirley a break in Feb is better than no break at all?
And isn't part of the break a mental break as well, not just fitness/game exposure.
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@Bovidae said in Possible All Blacks 2020:
@junior Cruden has a 2 yr contract at Kobe with the possibility of an extension so he won't be playing in NZ beyond this season.
If he is selected for the ABs this year, then in my view there is a chance of him coming back for 2023 - as I said above. Now, we might have an excellent third option by that time, which makes any discussion about selecting Cruden moot. However, we may not and, as a third option, I think he would be a good one.
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A guy I am picking who may not be an All Black this year, but I reckon he could be in the mix for RWC in 2023 is Manaaki Selby Rickett ..I know this selection may not go down well with many, but I believe through a couple of sources , that his form is being monitored..I would imagine on and off the field
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@Steven-Harris
I heard him mentioned in non rugby terms by Southlanders while down that way and his name is still mud.
Might need to look elsewhere for redemption -
@Steven-Harris said in Possible All Blacks 2020:
Manaaki Selby Rickett
Meh ....another athletic 112kg lock. Dime a dozen in NZ.
Fuckin STRINGBEAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!! -
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@sparky said in Blues v Lions:
Hoskins Sotutu continues to impress. Getting better and better.
When you consider a lot of our loosies over the years have hit their straps in their mid to late 20s and this kid is only 21 ,
he certainly looks like an exciting prospect -
I can’t see how he won’t be selected, at least for the end of year tour as the apprentice, but I suspect as a full playing member of the team - especially because I have my doubts about Jacobson’s return.
He’s not too young - I think both McCaw and Cane were already playing AB rugby at his age, and he’s got the tools and enough size to be a good 8.
We really do have plenty of young loosie talent around. If we had two good locks coming through, I’d feel really confident for the ABs, but hopefully we can keep BBBR and Patty going long enough for another couple to come through.
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@Stargazer yep. Grace, Cane Sotutu could be a devastating trio if the young fellas can keep it up at test level. Savea off the bench for the nail in the coffin.
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@Bones lol Savea starts before any of those three. Especially on last year's form, he was arguably the best player in the world.
