All Blacks 2021
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@kiwiwomble Nareki is the form left wing in the country and should be picked.
He has a huge left boot and has underrated power to go with his footwork - what I liked today was his cleanup work - he looked good when things were going the Rebels way.
Leicester will be in the mix too but there could be room for both.
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First Five easy. Richie Mo'unga, Beauden Barrett and Dmac should all be in the AB squad.
Who is the 4th choice 10 is an interesting call. I'd give Mitch Hunt the nod ahead of Otere Black. Like what I've seen so far from young Reuban Love at 10 but clearly another who needs more Rugby under his belt before he should be considered for international honours.
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I think it's good to first establish how many players are likely to be picked in each position.
Because the first squad to be picked is for the July Internationals, it's probably best to look at the first squad named in 2018 as an example (no RWC, no Covid).2018 squad:
33 players (and 1 "apprentice")
17 forwards, 16 backs
2 hookers
5 props (2 LH, 2 TH, 1 covering both)
3 locks
7 loosies (1 openside, 1 openside/8, 1 lock/loosie, the rest 6/8 or 8/6)
3 halfbacks
3 first five-eights
5 midfielders
5 outside backsConsidering the financial constraints, it's hard to see them picking a bigger squad.
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@stargazer there no reason to pick a bigger squad, but maybe extra apprentices. For training needs, getting an eye on them. But the rest games in NZ, there's a lot of flexibility to be had. Even resting players like mo'unga, who've played too many minutes for their franchise.
Not saying they'll do that, but the opportunity for a change and flexibility is there
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@kiwiwomble said in All Blacks 2021:
Rolling over from the highlanders game thread
What’s everyone’s else’s thoughts on nareki for the abs?
If I try and be as unbiased as possible, I’d be worried he’s too much of a one man band, big fish small pond at the highlanders/Otago but would be fit in with an all blacks game plan, I’d like to see him try
Just came on here to post that question.
Am 57 mins in.
Been impressed with him all season.
Composure. Boot. Speed . X factor.
This year's Will Jordan.
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@stargazer Maybe 4 midfielders and 4 outside backs this year?
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@tim said in All Blacks 2021:
@stargazer Maybe 4 midfielders and 4 outside backs this year?
3 halfbacks
Smith
?
?3 first five-eights
Mo'unga
Barrett
DMac4 midfielders
ALB
Havili
Ioane
Fainga'anuku4 outside backs
Reece
Barrett
Jordan
Rayasi -
Karl Tu'inukuafe
Aidan Ross
Alex Hodgman
Nepo Laulala
Ofa Tu'ungafasiCodie Taylor
Dane Coles
Asafo AumuaSam Whitelock
Brodie Retallick
Patrick Tuipulotu
Scott BarrettSavea
Papalii
Jacobson
Ioane
Sotutu
Robinson
CrusaderSmith
Weber
BolterMo'unga
Barrett
DMacALB
Havili
Ioane
Fainga'anukuReece
Barrett
Jordan
Rayasi11 Blues
9 Crusaders
6 Chiefs
5 Hurricanes
1 Highlander
1 to be determinedUnavailable:
Moody, Cane, Perenara, Goodhue, Clarke, Bridge.
nb. Only one player from the 2021 Blues backline has been selected.
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@stargazer yeah certainly no need to rush Love, he's still far too young. Let him play Under 20s if they end up scheduling games against Australia, or if not let him focus on an NPC campaign with Wellington.
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@tim said in All Blacks 2021:
11 Blues
What planet are we living on.... I see room for one or two tokens
😎
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@tim I think four Blues loose forwards is a little bit of a stretch. Can't see Robinson getting in especially with the way Blackadder has played. I woud have Grace ahead of Robinson aswell.
I also think they will pick PUJ with his ability to play 12/13. Rayasi to miss out there and Fainga'anuku to be picked as a winger.
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@stargazer said in All Blacks 2021:
I think it's good to first establish how many players are likely to be picked in each position.
Because the first squad to be picked is for the July Internationals, it's probably best to look at the first squad named in 2018 as an example (no RWC, no Covid).2018 squad:
33 players (and 1 "apprentice")
17 forwards, 16 backs
2 hookers
5 props (2 LH, 2 TH, 1 covering both)
3 locks
7 loosies (1 openside, 1 openside/8, 1 lock/loosie, the rest 6/8 or 8/6)
3 halfbacks
3 first five-eights
5 midfielders
5 outside backsConsidering the financial constraints, it's hard to see them picking a bigger squad.
Quote below says 35 players for the championship and July tests
Foster said the plan was to pick 35 for July, then disassemble and re-select a second squad the same size for the championship and extra Bledisloe.I'd think we'd select an extra hooker and a lock with the extra 2 spots. Perhaps a loose forward swapped out for a prop
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Karl T
Hodgman
De Grott (Maybe Ross)Taylor
Aumua
Eklund (Coles not doing enough this season to justify his place)Laulala
Ofa T
Williams (Lomax and Angus T miss out)Whitelock (c)
Retallick
Tuipulotu
S Barrett
Vaa'i (PPP to the Maoris)Grace
A Ioane
Blackadder
Papali'i
A Savea
Sotutu (Jacobson just misses out)Smith
Weber
Drummond (might gamble on Roe or only pick 2 half backs)B.Barrett
Mounga
DMacHavili
ALB
Nankiwell
R. Ioane (Peter Umaga-Jensen misses out)Leicester Fainga'anuku
Jona Nareki
W. Jordan
Reece
J. BarrettCrusaders 12
Blues 11
Chiefs 6
Hurricanes 3
Highlanders 3
Stuff