All Blacks 2021
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Foster also confirmed other players – the Herald understands Crusaders lock Scott Barrett is expecting his first child – may return home early from the All Blacks' near four-month tour.
The All Blacks will reveal their initial travelling squad on Wednesday. Foster had already flagged his intent to leave injured players, including front-rowers Dane Coles, Joe Moody, Ofa Tuungafasi and midfielder Braydon Ennor, behind but with New Zealand in full lockdown for at least another week in some cases that may have changed too.
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@kiwimurph said in All Blacks 2021:
Maybe Mo'unga isn't wrong
Ha, yeah maybe. I may have incorrectly assumed the number of players unavailable for this reason (2) was correct. I had heard about Whitelock's wife and I'd seen photos of Smith's. If there are more than 2 players on parental leave, obviously that could include Mo'unga as well (I have no idea).
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I know he's going to come in for some grief, but I'm prepared to cut Foster & Co. a little slack if the length of this tour means some of our best players elect to go home early.
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@antipodean said in All Blacks 2021:
I know he's going to come in for some grief, but I'm prepared to cut Foster & Co. a little slack if the length of this tour means some of our best players elect to go home early.
He is certainly facing challenges no coach has dealt with before
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@booboo said in All Blacks 2021:
@booboo said in All Blacks 2021:
Possible skippers:
- Scott Barrett
- Paddy Tuipolutu
- TJP
- Coles
- Taylor
- Beauden Barrett
Ardie.
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Brad Weber?
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@kiwimurph said in All Blacks 2021:
@booboo said in All Blacks 2021:
@booboo said in All Blacks 2021:
Possible skippers:
- Scott Barrett
- Paddy Tuipolutu
- TJP
- Coles
- Taylor
- Beauden Barrett
Ardie.
Not high on my list but a possibility
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@act-crusader better captain than a few others named. Horses for courses 🤷♀️
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Losing these guys would be a good test. But plenty of good replacements luckily. Having Beauden as backup 10 is kind of ridiculous.
And with Retallick returning to form than that really strengthens the second row a lot. Along with Barret and Tuipulotu that's a good trio in the 23.
Weber is a step down from Smith but TJ I think off the bench offers a lot of experience at least.
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@yeahtheboys said in All Blacks 2021:
@act-crusader better captain than a few others named. Horses for courses 🤷♀️
Weber has started 1 test, I can’t see how he’s even in the discussion for AB captain.
All the other names have decent AB experience on top of their provincial/franchise captaincy.
Tuipoluto, Scott Barrett, Beauden Barrett, Taylor, Savea, Retallick, Coles, Perenara - all played 40+ tests.
I’d give it to Beauden Barrett. Guaranteed to start, highly likely to play 80, and has captained the ABs previously.