All Blacks 2021

[Machpants]

@duluth I'm not saying he's not in the frame, but as uncontested no 1 eight? Nope

[Old Samurai Jack]

I think Sotutu and Akira Inoue should be fighting for the No. 8 spot. A very green but accurate Grace will be waiting in the background as well.

[nostrildamus]

@old-samurai-jack said in All Blacks 2021:

I think Sotutu and Akira Inoue should be fighting for the No. 8 spot. A very green but accurate Grace will be waiting in the background as well.

Better on keyboards.

[Old Samurai Jack]

@nostrildamus Cheap Italian red

[nostrildamus]

@old-samurai-jack
I was not sure if you had a ph auto-correcting to the Japanese composer..slightly less facial hair...

[Yeetyaah]

Not even a Thursday.

[Siam]

@yeetyaah came to the thread to ask just that! Ta

[Bovidae]

I didn't watch Breakdown but enjoyed this.

[Tim]

Anyone know who is showing the tests and NPC games in Asia this year? Rugbypass?

[Tim]

Sport, Rugby

Gregor Paul: Ian Foster's most intriguing choice

Opinion: Foster needs to appoint a care-taker skipper who can glue squad together.

With 36 names, at least, to be announced in the All Blacks squad this Monday, it's unlikely there will be a host of wildly unpredictable selections or shock omissions.

We can expect a few new names, possibly Leicester Fainga'anuku, and maybe Salesi Ryasi and Finlay Christie, while Brodie Retallick, David Havili and Braydon Ennor should all return after not being involved last year for various reasons.

But 2021 isn't a fresh start year. The door isn't closed to new arrivals, but having only been able to play six tests last year, All Blacks coach Ian Foster has his sights set on building the experience and ability of the group he mostly used last year.

[antipodean]

I'll laugh fucking maniacally if Salesi Ryasi gets into an All Black squad. With his error rate and decision making he's barely NPC level.

[Stargazer]

@antipodean I'll laugh harder if Finlay Christie gets in.

[KiwiMurph]

Does Bryn Hall being named in the Maori ABs mean no AB callup?

[Stargazer]

@kiwimurph I guess. I think the most likely back-ups to Smith and Weber are Drummond and TTT, as both have already been capped. Less likely, but still possible: Christie (heaven forbid) and maybe Roe?

TTT has hardly played, so you'd have to think Drummond? I'd have preferred Hall.

[KiwiMurph]

@stargazer yeah I agree. Christie was part of the South squad last year so is on their radar and unlike TTT is getting plenty of playing time. Whoever gets picked will be 'right place right time' rather than knocking the door down.

[Nepia]

Hopefully TJP is being whisked straight in on a technicality because all those options are pretty average.

[Bovidae]

TJP to play a club game this weekend.

[gt12]

They may as well have a look at someone else, probably Drummond I guess, although an apprentice look for Roe could be a good idea with TJP on the way back.

I still think they should cap Fakatava even if he is in a moon boot.

[Old Samurai Jack]

TJP's form was pretty dire before he left......

[Machpants]

@old-samurai-jack said in All Blacks 2021:

TJP's form was pretty dire before he left......

But no worse, at SR level, than what remains - It's time to clone Aaron!