All Blacks 2021
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What does this distinct lack of All Black selection discussion/debate mean? The announcement is on Monday but.........even the newspapers aren't interested.
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@old-samurai-jack said in All Blacks 2021:
What does this distinct lack of All Black selection discussion/debate mean? The announcement is on Monday but.........even the newspapers aren't interested.
we've figured out Fozzie doesn't read the Fern, so we can't influence him.
Plus he's a truly shit selector and average coach.
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@bovidae said in All Blacks 2021:
I expect that the journos in the Sunday newspapers and Monday morning dailies will have articles with their predicted squad.
Will anyone play themselves into the squad in the final?
It’s the first time I remember no press articles on a squad or predictions of players.It’s very much who cares.
Is that down to Foster or waning of interest in the ABs -
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@nzzp said in All Blacks 2021:
it's the only logical conclusion.
Not sure the words "logical" and "The Fern" quite go together.
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Does anyone really expect any surprises?
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@kiwimurph said in All Blacks 2021:
@chris i'd say it's more to do with the opposition in the upcoming series.....
Yeah you could be right doesn’t inspire me much as an AB fan.
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@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2021:
Does anyone really expect any surprises?
I think we might see some surprises in positions in midfield and at 11 & 14, but not much else
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@cgrant said in All Blacks 2021:
Aidan Ross
Ethan Blackadder
Tom RobinsonAdd a recall of David Havili and that would be the bee's knees!
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@old-samurai-jack said in All Blacks 2021:
Add a recall of David Havili and that would be the bee's knees!
I'd expect/like to see him given some game time at 12
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@act-crusader said in All Blacks 2021:
I’d go the John Connolly approach and just select two halfbacks - Smith and Weber. Then have DMac covering as 3rd option**. Make a better halfback then 1st 5**
I'm beginning to wonder if you've ever seen him play because you clearly don't know his strengths. He'd be wasted being the first ball player at the ruck. I might as well just nominate Mo if picking small people seems to be the key metric for the halfback.
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@nepia said in All Blacks 2021:
@act-crusader said in All Blacks 2021:
I’d go the John Connolly approach and just select two halfbacks - Smith and Weber. Then have DMac covering as 3rd option**. Make a better halfback then 1st 5**
I'm beginning to wonder if you've ever seen him play because you clearly don't know his strengths. He'd be wasted being the first ball player at the ruck. I might as well just nominate Mo if picking small people seems to be the key metric for the halfback.
I'm beginning to wonder if you've ever watched rugby because his strengths are fantastic for a halfback. Great pass and kick, brilliant in traffic, strong in contact, good tackler, fantastic support player, 1000% less opportunities to receive the ball deep and run directly across and/or back.
Edit: basically probably a good version of Weber.
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ALB injured:
Exclusive: All Blacks star ruled out after surgery
The injury will seriously challenge the All Blacks' depth during the upcoming test window.
The depleted All Blacks midfield stocks have suffered another hit after Anton Lienert-Brown underwent minor elbow surgery yesterday.
As New Zealand's most experienced, accomplished, fit midfielder, Lienert-Brown was set to be an influential rock in the All Blacks backline this season, with Crusaders centre Jack Goodhue already out for the season after rupturing his ACL.
The Weekend Herald understands Lienert-Brown has been troubled in recent weeks by his elbow that began locking up. Scans revealed bone fragment concerns, and he underwent minor keyhole surgery.
The surgery is believed to have been successful and the 26-year-old, one appearance short of 50 tests for the All Blacks, is expected to miss the opening match against Tonga at Mt Smart Stadium on July 3 and the first outing against Fiji in Dunedin the following week. He could return for the second test against Fiji in Hamilton on July 17.Lienert-Brown's injury will seriously challenge the All Blacks' depth — and there may be further worries, with David Havili understood to be carrying a niggly calf complaint.
Ngani Laumape would be the obvious replacement for Lienert-Brown after playing 15 tests but his imminent three-year deal with Stade Francais is likely to rule him out.
Havili, after impressing at second five-eighth for the Crusaders this season, has the inside running to start alongside either Rieko Ioane or Braydon Ennor in the All Blacks' midfield but that will depend on the severity of his calf issue.
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NZ Herald squad prediction:
Exclusive: All Blacks star ruled out after surgery
The injury will seriously challenge the All Blacks' depth during the upcoming test window.
Possible All Blacks squad
Props: Nepo Laulala, Karl Tu'inukuafe, Tyrel Lomax, George Bower, Angus Ta'avao, Alex Hodgman/Aidan Ross/Ethan de Groot.
Hookers: Dane Coles, Codie Taylor, Asafo Aumua.
Locks: Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Scott Barrett, Patrick Tuipulotu, Tupou Vaa'i.
Loose forwards: Ardie Savea, Dalton Papalii, Hoskins Sotutu, Luke Jacobson, Shannon Frizell, Akira Ioane, Ethan Blackadder/Cullen Grace.
Halfbacks: Aaron Smith, Brad Weber, Mitchell Drummond/Finlay Christie.
First five-eighths: Richie Mo'unga, Beauden Barrett.
Midfield: Rieko Ioane, David Havili, Braydon Ennor, Anton Lienert-Brown/Peter Umaga-Jensen.
Outside backs: Jordie Barrett, Will Jordan, Sevu Reece, Damian McKenzie, George Bridge/Leicester Fainga'anuku. -
