AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?
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All Blacks coach Ian Foster has hinted a major change could be coming to the make-up of his starting fifteen.
Foster's confirmed he'll stick with dual playmakers when the international season gets underway, but it appears it's game-on as to who will get the fullback spot. It was a much-maligned strategy since its inception under Steve Hansen, and the tactic won't be going anywhere under Foster. But that doesn't mean there won't be changes, with Foster hinting the current combination of Richie Mo'unga and Beauden Barrett is no certainty to continue. "It's a style that is part of our game," Foster tells Newshub. "But the names that fulfill it, well we've got the ability to mix and match there. "The good thing is we've got more options in that space in terms of personnel." Foster feels one of five players could fill the fullback position - Beauden Barrett, Jordie Barrett, Damian McKenzie, David Havili and Will Jordan. Barrett played all but two of his All Blacks tests at fullback last year. But it seems even the player seen as one of the best in the world has a challenge on his hands to retain his starting spot. "The fact is we've now got some fullbacks who are really putting their hands up as well, so we've got a lot more options in terms of fulfilling that double playmaker," Foster notes. One man Foster doesn't have any questions over is Blue captain Patrick Tuipulotu. "He's been outstanding," Foster says. "He was one of the players I phoned up in January and just wanted to make sure he was really aware of the opportunity that he had." Along with the makeup of the loose forwards, the locking situation is what's causing Foster the most headaches.Note the comments about Tuipulotu.
Rugby: Coach Ian Foster hints at major All Blacks selection change | Newshub
Ian Foster says depth of talent could see significant change in his side.
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@pakman said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@Bovidae said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@Crucial said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
Word. Clarke had to be in, he is a real weapon with all the extra skills.
Needs a touch more experience and he looks like he could be Bridge with a bit more power.
Clarke is young, but needs to get himself more involved if the ball isn't going his way.
Saw somewhere that Bridge was one of the fastest in AB squad, along with Rieko, BB and DMac.
I would hope that he's fast given he plays on the wing and offers little else
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@antipodean said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@kiwiinmelb said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@akan004 said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@canefan said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@akan004 passive is a great description. They got over the gain line with relative ease without a Jerome Kaino or a Richie McCaw to smash them back
Yeah, and no line speed too. It worries me that we have retained the same defence coach. Compare our defensive system to SA's and England's and it's like we have forgotten that the game has moved on and are still defending like it's 2015. Blitz defence is the way to go atm.
It’s interesting, because I got that feeling during the wc ,
We have gone from being the innovators to being left behind , when it comes to defence in particular
Our defensive structure looks needlessly complicated and designed to have people ready to exploit counter attack opportunities. Opportunities that we couldn't organise but provided others.
I find this strategy particularly baffling given that we generally don't play with an out-and-out poacher in our back row. If we had, say, a Pocock in our back row trying to win turnovers at every second breakdown (and very often succeeding in doing so), a defensive alignment primed to feed off those turnovers would make a great deal of sense. As it is, it seems we don't even really look to pressure the opposition breakdown when defending.
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@Bones said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@Chris said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@Bones excuse my fat fingers Wow does that say something about the size of our locks now ,scary we need some big young units coming through the system
BETTER ??
I don't really know what you're trying to say, so no.
He’s saying we need some big fluffybunnies. Parkinson is to everyone except you.
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@junior said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@pakman said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@Bovidae said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@Crucial said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
Word. Clarke had to be in, he is a real weapon with all the extra skills.
Needs a touch more experience and he looks like he could be Bridge with a bit more power.
Clarke is young, but needs to get himself more involved if the ball isn't going his way.
Saw somewhere that Bridge was one of the fastest in AB squad, along with Rieko, BB and DMac.
I would hope that he's fast given he plays on the wing and offers little else
That’s a bit unfair — he does seem good under high ball.
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@Bovidae said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
But that doesn't mean there won't be changes, with Foster hinting the current combination of Richie Mo'unga and Beauden Barrett is no certainty to continue.
So we might be seeing DMac at 10 then...
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@MN5 said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@Bones said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@Chris said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@Bones excuse my fat fingers Wow does that say something about the size of our locks now ,scary we need some big young units coming through the system
BETTER ??
I don't really know what you're trying to say, so no.
He’s saying we need some big fluffybunnies. Parkinson is to everyone except you.
When did I say that?
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Definitely a sign that Fozzie may want to go back to this:
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@Bones said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@voodoo said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
Ooooh, 2x deleted posts, saucy!
Knowing @MN5 he was disgusted in his own poor grammar/spelling and has now taken himself off to throw up.
Turns out I’m too dumb to screenshot on here. @Chris-B can you help me out ?
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@MN5 said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@Bones said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@Chris said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@Bones excuse my fat fingers Wow does that say something about the size of our locks now ,scary we need some big young units coming through the system
BETTER ??
I don't really know what you're trying to say, so no.
He’s saying we need some big fluffybunnies. Parkinson is to everyone except you.
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@Chris said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@MN5 said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@Bones said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@Chris said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@Bones excuse my fat fingers Wow does that say something about the size of our locks now ,scary we need some big young units coming through the system
BETTER ??
I don't really know what you're trying to say, so no.
He’s saying we need some big fluffybunnies. Parkinson is to everyone except you.
It's not obvious.
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Got a lot of time for DMac and really hope he gets back to his best.
That said, his form of late has been utter shite.
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@Victor-Meldrew said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
Got a lot of time for DMac and really hope he gets back to his best.
That said, his form of late has been utter shite.
When you're making Jordie look like the safe option, it's time to take a bit of a look at yourself eh.
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@Bones said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@Victor-Meldrew said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
Got a lot of time for DMac and really hope he gets back to his best.
That said, his form of late has been utter shite.
When you're making Jordie look like the safe option, it's time to take a bit of a look at yourself eh.
At the risk of raking over old coals, how I winced when he came on in RWC semi. Relieved when first play sensible.
You know the rest...
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@pakman said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@Bones said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@Victor-Meldrew said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
Got a lot of time for DMac and really hope he gets back to his best.
That said, his form of late has been utter shite.
When you're making Jordie look like the safe option, it's time to take a bit of a look at yourself eh.
At the risk of raking over old coals, how I winced when he came on in RWC semi. Relieved when first play sensible.
You know the rest...
Well no, I don't know the rest of your imaginary game.
