AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?
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@Chris-B said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@gt12 said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@kiwiinmelb said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
Interesting to hear selectors talk about more emphasis on players having specialist positions, and the need for more physicality.
Where is that in this squad? Who exactly?
This is a pretty uninspiring squad, I doubt that SA is shaking in their boots looking at that lot.
And we're going to develop more outside backs than you can shake a stick at, while
only carrying two specialist first fives. When Joane bolts for the money overseas, think about your selections for squads like this Fozzy.One thing I didn't like last year was the number of little guys we were starting in the backs - Smith, Mo'unga, Reece and Beaudy - while none of ALB, Goodhue or Bridge were exactly big units for their position either. The creaking SBW was our only big bopper.
Talk of people specialising more seems like a pointer, to me, that Beaudy will be playing first five and Jordie will be playing fullback - and Jordie looks significantly bigger than he was, this year. Caleb Clarke also potentially adding some size in the backs, and even Jordan compared with Reece. So potentially a fair bit of additional physicality out there - especially if and when Laumape returns.
In the forwards, we lose a bit with Retallick absent. But a starting loose forward trio of Frizell, Cane and Sotutu (Ardie on the bench) would be a bit more dynamic than Barrett, Ardie and the ageing Read.
Aumua > Coltman
Lomax > Ta'avaoEven though neither of those guys are likely to get a start in any early tests.
All good points (I agree about Barrett and JoOrdie), but we are still likely to see Moody, Taylor, and Laulala starting, with Sam Whitelock and Patty. So, it will be up to Patty, Frizell, and Sotutu to be the physical forces?
I dunno.
There are only two loosie positions to play with there and I'm not sure that makes up for the lack of physicality up front. If they man up and drop Laulala (by starting Ofa and using Lomax off the bench) and maybe even Moody, then I might start to be a bit more convinced.
And Aumua needs to learn to throw. And show some of this supposed "physicality". Being fast isn't the same as being physical.
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@akan004 said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
Pleasantly surprised by that squad. Seems like an improvement on Hansen's selections. There are only three selections that I question, they are Vaa'i who barely seems SR level to me, Webber who has an even worse pass than TJP and the third one is DMac. What must Bryn Hall do to get in? The rest are solid selections. Glad to see Paps, Akira and Sotutu get picked, well deserved boys.
Erase the memories of the selectors who remember what he's like not playing for the Crusaders?
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@Yeetyaah said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@Crucial he was good last night but I don't think his season form warrants a selection.
He's a definite know what they can do selection so I don't think that's an issue - his direct competitor JB got picked on potential back in the day so it's not like players don't ever get picked off iffy form.
@Stargazer said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@Nepia If Hall's performance is dependent on the players around him as you seem to suggest, he should do well for the ABs. Glad Weber made the cut, though. Fakatava will get plenty of game time in M10, so win-win.
Weber is another who the coaches know so I guess they're happy to give him a shot - the Chiefs were dysfunctional this year as a unit so I think all of their selections can contain reputation and faith bases and that shouldn't be an issue. I don't mind if Hall is a rotating 3rd of 4th halfback (in another thread I noted it was weird Drummond was capped and he wasn't), I was more just responding to @akann's questioning of his omission.
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@Crucial I agree with some of that. He runs at the line better than most with pace. I just makes those errors that leave you scratching your head. That pass to Clarke was a shocker compounded by Clarkes response. I like Barrets physical presence, he can kick and he is not bad injecting himself.
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@broughie said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@Crucial I agree with some of that. He runs at the line better than most with pace. I just makes those errors that leave you scratching your head. That pass to Clarke was a shocker compounded by Clarkes response. I like Barrets physical presence, he can kick and he is not bad injecting himself.
That's the thing though, previous to this year JB was making scratch your head errors but the Canes (and some Cantab) Illumanti would circle the wagons tighter than the voortrekkers to defend him.
He's come right, so there's no reason to suggest that DMac wont either.
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@Stag said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
Papalii does not deserve to be there ahead of Christie, on form neither does “Captain Kane”🙄
Was Christie as good as people think? He didn't make the top 10 of tackles won stats which both Cane and Papali'i did (despite both being injured for a time) and yet I thought that was his strongest area?
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@shark said in [AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?]
It'd be outstanding if someone with more time than I could post the names, stats, provinces and status of the U20 locks since 2016 or so. Those are the guys we should now be turning to.
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A fairly uninspiring squad all up but fairly solid overall. Don't reckon there are any glaring omissions or players who are particularly (besides that lock) lucky to be there. Maybe I'm still getting over the McCaw years where we often had 3-5 of the best players in the world in the squad.
Would anyone in this squad be hands down the best player in the world in their position? Maybe the halves Smith, BB & RM? Just Smith?? I reckon a form Rioane would be the best winger in the world but he's picked in the midfield. Retallic used to be but who knows how he will come back.
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@bobily2 said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@shark said in [AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?]
It'd be outstanding if someone with more time than I could post the names, stats, provinces and status of the U20 locks since 2016 or so. Those are the guys we should now be turning to.
Blade Thompson has been chowing down on the haggis since this list was compiled
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Congratulations to the 7 new ABs. Exciting to see new talent coming through. Congratulations as well to the players who have worked hard to get back in the squad.
Lots of depth in most positions, but strikingly less so at Lock and at Half Back.
Glad Hodgman, Strange and Grace are fit and good to go.
I wasn't bowled over by either Aumua or Vaa'i in the North Vs South game, but they still make it on athleticism/potential.
Disappointed for Peter Umaga-Jensen but his time will come.
Still no clarity on who the ABs will play, where and when.
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@Nepia said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@Tim said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
Said they wanted to identify big, bruising loose forwards who could get the ABs over the gainline with sheer "brutality".
Seems to point Akira being picked at 6 - or least until he is sent on the Uruguayan invitational tour as non-playing reserve to work on his fitness.
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@Toddy I sense your frustration, but history has shown that it’s cyclical when it comes having world class players. These players often have oodles of games under their belts and experience to burn.
We have a pretty young squad. Whether they are the best or in the top 3 in their position, the likes of Aaron Smith, B. Barrett, Sam Whitelock - they are our 3 most experienced.
There’s potential for others to evolve, much like many past AB greats that developed into world class players.
To me that makes it pretty exciting for what lies ahead. It could present a few squeaky bum moments, but that’s no different to when we had Carter, Nonu, McCaw, Franks, Read, where even with a litany of world class players we pulled some games out in the dying moments.
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@shark said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@bobily2 Will Tucker stands out on that list as a recent U20 with the size to make an impact who should be managed carefully so he's an AB option soon. Sadly, going to the Highlanders may not be the solution.
Hope he fills out. At 2.02m and 111kg, he is currently classified as string-bean.
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That was his weight when he was selected for the U20s. He might be a bit heavier now.
It is pretty normal for the u20s to gain a fair bit of weight in the 2 or so years after being selected, particularly at lock. As I understand it, Josh Dickson has gained around 30kg.
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@Yeetyaah said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@Tim agree to disagree. He's been average this year but he's always been a consistent performer. I'm hoping Fozzie and co aren't looking at Goodhue as a 12.
Random thought based on nothing but the fact Goodhue's best position is 13 ... Could Ennor become a decent 12?
People with better idea of what makes a backline please discuss.
