AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?
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@antipodean said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
Watching Ofa this year I think I'd prefer he started. He hasn't looked troubled in his scrummaging and I like the thought of him destroying people in tackles from the first minute.
I'm on board with this except who comes off the bench? Laulala doesn't offer much in the loose.
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@mariner4life Lomax.
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@antipodean said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
Watching Ofa this year I think I'd prefer he started. He hasn't looked troubled in his scrummaging and I like the thought of him destroying people in tackles from the first minute.
In fact I think Armstrong went pretty well against him.
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@pakman said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@cgrant said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@pakman
So, if scrummaging is not the highest priority, why did you choose Laulala ahead of Ofa T ?Not sure I actually posted a team. But if Boks front I'd want Nepo to start. I like the thought of Ofa and Karl T coming on after 55.
Against Oz, relaxed with Ofa (who's been huge in loose) starting and perhaps Lomax on bench.
You're right. It was MarinerforLife who did.
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@cgrant said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@pakman said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@cgrant said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@pakman
So, if scrummaging is not the highest priority, why did you choose Laulala ahead of Ofa T ?Not sure I actually posted a team. But if Boks front I'd want Nepo to start. I like the thought of Ofa and Karl T coming on after 55.
Against Oz, relaxed with Ofa (who's been huge in loose) starting and perhaps Lomax on bench.
You're right. It was MarinerforLife who did.
Nonetheless, a fair point!
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My guess at the 35 man squad
Moody, Tu'inukuafe, Laulala, Tu'ungafasi, Lomax, Ta'avao
Taylor, Coles, Coltman
Whitelock, Tuipulotu, Dunshea, Scrafton
Frizell, A Ioane, Cane, Papali'i, Savea, Sotutu
Smith, Perenera, Weber
B Barrett, Mo'unga, J Ioane,
ALB, Goodhue, R Ioane, Umaga-Jensen
Clarke, Bridge, Jordan, Reece, J Barrett, D.Mac
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Locks main area of uncertainty. Herald team: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=12362487
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Also worth noting Grant Fox mentioned that if the opening Bledisloes are in Aus then the ABs are going to need more than 35 to be in the squad that travels over as it won't be possible to fly players over if there are injuries.
So i'd expect extra players named either today or later.
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Scrafton making an AB squad would be embarrassing. The guy doesn't dominate provincial rugby, let alone higher levels. Dunshea is only marginally better: at least he stands out at NPC level. And yet I have to recognise that in the absence of Retallick, Barrett, Parkinson, Strange and Dickson, we're a little bereft in this position.
At hooker I hope Aumua makes it ahead of Coltman, who I used to like but his line out throwing scares the shit outta me.
Midfield will be interesting. ALB, Ioane and Goodhue are givens, and there really aren't any other 12 options so it's clearly one of Ennor or Peter Umaga-Jensen, but that's a tight call. I'd stick with Ennor for the time being. I think he's the more likely long-term AB.
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Is it fair now that we're in this position, to question the development pathway for genuine locks over the last few years? We haven't seen anyone of genuine size and clear international ability emerge for a while, and in the meantime many of the SR franchises have been pissing about playing blindside flankers at lock far more frequently than can be healthy, whilst also promoting the likes of Scrafton and Whetton. Jeez, Hamish Dalziel wouldn't even shit on those guys. Parkinson might be the only one who's come through of late.
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@shark said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
Scrafton making an AB squad would be embarrassing. The guy doesn't dominate provincial rugby, let alone higher levels. Dunshea is only marginally better: at least he stands out at NPC level. And yet I have to recognise that in the absence of Retallick, Barrett, Parkinson, Strange and Dickson, we're a little bereft in this position.
At hooker I hope Aumua makes it ahead of Coltman, who I used to like but his line out throwing scares the shit outta me.
Midfield will be interesting. ALB, Ioane and Goodhue are givens, and there really aren't any other 12 options so it's clearly one of Ennor or Peter Umaga-Jensen, but that's a tight call. I'd stick with Ennor for the time being. I think he's the more likely long-term AB.
I think this is living proof that the Rugby gods are punishing the ABs for having guys as good as Retallick and Whitelock playing at the same time.
