Possible All Blacks 2020

[Duluth]

With Super Rugby possibly reaching an end, who has done enough to earn selection in Ian Foster's first All Blacks squad?

With Super Rugby potentially over, new All Blacks coach Ian Foster has had considerably less time to scout out new players for the All Blacks than he would have liked. Who will have impressed him in the season to date?

[Hooroo]

@Duluth said in Possible All Blacks 2020:

With Super Rugby possibly reaching an end, who has done enough to earn selection in Ian Foster's first All Blacks squad?

With Super Rugby potentially over, new All Blacks coach Ian Foster has had considerably less time to scout out new players for the All Blacks than he would have liked. Who will have impressed him in the season to date?

Dude! Everytime I see you post something and the little avatar, on a smallish screen, it looks as though your mascot is facepalming, which seems very apt in this climate we are in

[KiwiMurph]

@Duluth I think that squad at the bottom of the article will be pretty close to mark.

Possible All Blacks squad for 2020:

Forwards: Codie Taylor, Dane Coles, Asafo Aumua, Joe Moody, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Nepo Lauala, Atu Moli, Tyrel Lomax, Sam Whitelock, Scott Barrett, Patrick Tuipulotu, Mitchell Dunshea, Sam Cane, Ardie Savea, Hoskins Sotutu, Cullen Grace, Dalton Papalii.

Backs: Aaron Smith, TJ Perenara, Brad Weber, Richie Mo’unga, Beauden Barrett, Anton Lienert-Brown, Ngani Laumape, Jack Goodhue, Braydon Ennor, Jordie Barrett, George Bridge, Sevu Reece, Rieko Ioane, Damian McKenzie.

[Crucial]

@KiwiMurph said in Possible All Blacks 2020:

@Duluth I think that squad at the bottom of the article will be pretty close to mark.

Possible All Blacks squad for 2020:

Forwards: Codie Taylor, Dane Coles, Asafo Aumua, Joe Moody, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Nepo Lauala, Atu Moli, Tyrel Lomax, Sam Whitelock, Scott Barrett, Patrick Tuipulotu, Mitchell Dunshea, Sam Cane, Ardie Savea, Hoskins Sotutu, Cullen Grace, Dalton Papalii.

Backs: Aaron Smith, TJ Perenara, Brad Weber, Richie Mo’unga, Beauden Barrett, Anton Lienert-Brown, Ngani Laumape, Jack Goodhue, Braydon Ennor, Jordie Barrett, George Bridge, Sevu Reece, Rieko Ioane, Damian McKenzie.

True. It is the logic used to get there that is often screwy though. Discarding players then supplanting them with someone with the same weakness.
I don't see Aumua standing out enough ahead of others. I don't see Bridge doing anything to warrant holding his place. Ennor? Hasn't stepped up yet.

[mariner4life]

@KiwiMurph said in Possible All Blacks 2020:

@Duluth I think that squad at the bottom of the article will be pretty close to mark.

Possible All Blacks squad for 2020:

Forwards: Codie Taylor, Dane Coles, Asafo Aumua, Joe Moody, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Nepo Lauala, Atu Moli, Tyrel Lomax, Sam Whitelock, Scott Barrett, Patrick Tuipulotu, Mitchell Dunshea, Sam Cane, Ardie Savea, Hoskins Sotutu, Cullen Grace, Dalton Papalii.

Backs: Aaron Smith, TJ Perenara, Brad Weber, Richie Mo’unga, Beauden Barrett, Anton Lienert-Brown, Ngani Laumape, Jack Goodhue, Braydon Ennor, Jordie Barrett, George Bridge, Sevu Reece, Rieko Ioane, Damian McKenzie.

looks shit

[KiwiMurph]

@Crucial said in Possible All Blacks 2020:

@KiwiMurph said in Possible All Blacks 2020:

@Duluth I think that squad at the bottom of the article will be pretty close to mark.

Possible All Blacks squad for 2020:

Forwards: Codie Taylor, Dane Coles, Asafo Aumua, Joe Moody, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Nepo Lauala, Atu Moli, Tyrel Lomax, Sam Whitelock, Scott Barrett, Patrick Tuipulotu, Mitchell Dunshea, Sam Cane, Ardie Savea, Hoskins Sotutu, Cullen Grace, Dalton Papalii.

Backs: Aaron Smith, TJ Perenara, Brad Weber, Richie Mo’unga, Beauden Barrett, Anton Lienert-Brown, Ngani Laumape, Jack Goodhue, Braydon Ennor, Jordie Barrett, George Bridge, Sevu Reece, Rieko Ioane, Damian McKenzie.

True. It is the logic used to get there that is often screwy though. Discarding players then supplanting them with someone with the same weakness.
I don't see Aumua standing out enough ahead of others. I don't see Bridge doing anything to warrant holding his place. Ennor? Hasn't stepped up yet.

I wonder in some close calls he's gone for players that are part of the ABs rest policy (Papalii, Ennor)

[Duluth]

One thing that counts against Ennor is how ordinary he looked in the NPC when Canterbury had a middling season

An AB should stand out at that level. The fact he disappeared when those around him were just goodish is a bad sign.

[Bovidae]

I was happy when Aumua replaced Coles against the Chiefs as you knew their lineout would turn to shit.

[antipodean]

@KiwiMurph said in Possible All Blacks 2020:

@Duluth I think that squad at the bottom of the article will be pretty close to mark.

Possible All Blacks squad for 2020:

Forwards: Codie Taylor, Dane Coles, Asafo Aumua, Joe Moody, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Nepo Lauala, Atu Moli, Tyrel Lomax, Sam Whitelock, Scott Barrett, Patrick Tuipulotu, Mitchell Dunshea, Sam Cane, Ardie Savea, Hoskins Sotutu, Cullen Grace, Dalton Papalii.

Backs: Aaron Smith, TJ Perenara, Brad Weber, Richie Mo’unga, Beauden Barrett, Anton Lienert-Brown, Ngani Laumape, Jack Goodhue, Braydon Ennor, Jordie Barrett, George Bridge, Sevu Reece, Rieko Ioane, Damian McKenzie.

Plenty of room in the squad.

[Crucial]

Back to the same old arguments about DMac eh?
The guy may not be perfect but to succeed in tests against Tier 1 countries these days you have to have something 'unusual'. Some piece of vision that unlocks a defence. It may only happen once in a game, but that can be enough. You can train how to mitigate mistakes (as long as they aren't horrendous).

That try DMac setup (then was handed) against the Sumwolves is a good case. Most will have seen the try highlight here at 2:08

But if you watch from another angle (sadly can't find on youtube) he comes on that line from a long way back. His vision was that the Wolves were leaving enough of a gap between channels 1 and 2 that he could squeeze through if he timed his run and collected the pass. That could have easily ended up in a knock on and everyone would have bagged him for fucking up an attacking position but as it came off it was one of the best line runs of the season.

[antipodean]

@Crucial said in Possible All Blacks 2020:

Back to the same old arguments about DMac eh?
The guy may not be perfect but to succeed in tests against Tier 1 countries these days you have to have something 'unusual'. Some piece of vision that unlocks a defence. It may only happen once in a game, but that can be enough. You can train how to mitigate mistakes (as long as they aren't horrendous).

That try DMac setup (then was handed) against the Sumwolves is a good case. Most will have seen the try highlight here at 2:08

But if you watch from another angle (sadly can't find on youtube) he comes on that line from a long way back. His vision was that the Wolves were leaving enough of a gap between channels 1 and 2 that he could squeeze through if he timed his run and collected the pass. That could have easily ended up in a knock on and everyone would have bagged him for fucking up an attacking position but as it came off it was one of the best line runs of the season.

Your evidence for including him in the Test sqaud is scoring a try against the Sunwolves?

[Smudge]

Looking to the bench, surely Covid has locked down the 19 jersey?

Sorry.

[Cyclops]

@Crucial said in Possible All Blacks 2020:

Back to the same old arguments about DMac eh?
The guy may not be perfect but to succeed in tests against Tier 1 countries these days you have to have something 'unusual'. Some piece of vision that unlocks a defence. It may only happen once in a game, but that can be enough. You can train how to mitigate mistakes (as long as they aren't horrendous).

That try DMac setup (then was handed) against the Sumwolves is a good case. Most will have seen the try highlight here at 2:08

But if you watch from another angle (sadly can't find on youtube) he comes on that line from a long way back. His vision was that the Wolves were leaving enough of a gap between channels 1 and 2 that he could squeeze through if he timed his run and collected the pass. That could have easily ended up in a knock on and everyone would have bagged him for fucking up an attacking position but as it came off it was one of the best line runs of the season.

That kind of thing is why being end on at a live game can be so great. You can see those gaps so clearly and tell the guys who are trying to set up lines to get into them.

[Gunner]

@Smudge said in Possible All Blacks 2020:

Looking to the bench, surely Covid has locked down the 19 jersey?

Sorry.

I go as far to say Covid has performed well enough to have jerseys 1-23 locked down.

[Bovidae]

@Cyclops said in Possible All Blacks 2020:

That kind of thing is why being end on at a live game can be so great. You can see those gaps so clearly and tell the guys who are trying to set up lines to get into them.

Earle Kirton's favourite spot to watch from.

[Hooroo]

@antipodean said in Possible All Blacks 2020:

@Crucial said in Possible All Blacks 2020:

Back to the same old arguments about DMac eh?
The guy may not be perfect but to succeed in tests against Tier 1 countries these days you have to have something 'unusual'. Some piece of vision that unlocks a defence. It may only happen once in a game, but that can be enough. You can train how to mitigate mistakes (as long as they aren't horrendous).

That try DMac setup (then was handed) against the Sumwolves is a good case. Most will have seen the try highlight here at 2:08

But if you watch from another angle (sadly can't find on youtube) he comes on that line from a long way back. His vision was that the Wolves were leaving enough of a gap between channels 1 and 2 that he could squeeze through if he timed his run and collected the pass. That could have easily ended up in a knock on and everyone would have bagged him for fucking up an attacking position but as it came off it was one of the best line runs of the season.

Your evidence for including him in the Test sqaud is scoring a try against the Sunwolves?

I'm trying to remember exactly what he said in that GIF.

[antipodean]

@Hooroo He's a fuckin' liability

[sparky]

@Smudge said in Possible All Blacks 2020:

Looking to the bench, surely Covid has locked down the 19 jersey?

Sorry.

Creates total carnage from the bench, to be sure.

[Hooroo]

@antipodean said in Possible All Blacks 2020:

@Hooroo He's a fuckin' liability

Thanks!!! That was annoying me as he was the best character in that movie. (One of my top 5)

[junior]

@Crucial said in Possible All Blacks 2020:

@KiwiMurph said in Possible All Blacks 2020:

@Duluth I think that squad at the bottom of the article will be pretty close to mark.

Possible All Blacks squad for 2020:

Forwards: Codie Taylor, Dane Coles, Asafo Aumua, Joe Moody, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Nepo Lauala, Atu Moli, Tyrel Lomax, Sam Whitelock, Scott Barrett, Patrick Tuipulotu, Mitchell Dunshea, Sam Cane, Ardie Savea, Hoskins Sotutu, Cullen Grace, Dalton Papalii.

Backs: Aaron Smith, TJ Perenara, Brad Weber, Richie Mo’unga, Beauden Barrett, Anton Lienert-Brown, Ngani Laumape, Jack Goodhue, Braydon Ennor, Jordie Barrett, George Bridge, Sevu Reece, Rieko Ioane, Damian McKenzie.

True. It is the logic used to get there that is often screwy though. Discarding players then supplanting them with someone with the same weakness.
I don't see Aumua standing out enough ahead of others. I don't see Bridge doing anything to warrant holding his place. Ennor? Hasn't stepped up yet.

I’m ambivalent about Ennor as a footballer, but I don’t see him being one of our top midfielders yet. As for Reece and Bridge, I’d rather be blind than see them wearing black jerseys ever again