All Blacks 2021
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Knowler's squad:
Possible All Blacks squad:
Hookers: Dane Coles, Codie Taylor, Asafo Aumua.
Props: Nepo Laulala, Tyrel Lomax, Angus Ta’avao, George Bower, Karl Tu’inukuafe, Alex Hodgman.
Locks: Brodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Scott Barrett, Patrick Tuipulotu, Tupou Vaa’i.
Loose forwards: Ardie Savea, Hoskins Sotutu, Dalton Papalii, Ethan Blackadder, Luke Jacobson, Akira Ioane, Shannon Frizell.
Halfbacks: Aaron Smith, Brad Weber, Finlay Christie.
First five-eighths: Richie Mo’unga, Beauden Barrett.
Midfielders: Rieko Ioane, David Havili, Braydon Ennor, Anton Lienert-Brown.
Outside backs: Jordie Barrett, Damian McKenzie, Will Jordan, Sevu Reece, George Bridge, Leicester Fainga’anuku.
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@tim I think Ennor might be good enough to make the ABs, but he's mostly been injured the last two years so I can't be sure.
I've seen very little from George Bridge or Finlay Christie to suggest they should be in this squad. Journeymen both. I've reservations about Bower around the park and big concerns about Lomax at scrum time.
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@sparky said in All Blacks 2021:
@tim I think Ennor might be good enough to make the ABs, but he's mostly been injured the last two years so I can't be sure.
I've seen very little from George Bridge or Finlay Christie to suggest they should be in this squad. Journeymen both. I've reservations about Bower around the park and big concerns about Lomax at scrum time.
Those are probably the names that stick out for me in that list as well.
If we have spots where the decision is between someone merely adequate or one with potential to be very good in a couple of years time I would go with the latter eg Zarn Sullivan over Bridge.
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@ploughboy said in All Blacks 2021:
atu moli could be a smokey if he is fit
Good player. Strong too. Is he fit? What side of the scrum is he these days?
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TVNZ Sport is basically picking the same squad as Knowler (PUJ in for ALB, 35 so no Bridge). Taukei'aho over Aumua is the only real difference.
Props: Nepo Laulala, Karl Tu'inukuafe, Tyrel Lomax, George Bower, Angus Ta’avao, Alex Hodgman
Hookers: Codie Taylor, Dane Coles, Samisoni Taukei'aho
Locks: Sam Whitelock (captain), Brodie Retallick, Scott Barrett, Patrick Tuipulotu, Tupo Vaa'i
Loose forwards: Ardie Savea, Hoskins Sotutu, Dalton Papalii, Ethan Blackadder, Shannon Frizell, Akira Ioane, Luke Jacobson
Halfbacks: Aaron Smith, Brad Weber, Finlay Christie
First-fives: Richie Mo'unga, Beauden Barrett
Midfielders: Rieko Ioane, David Havili, Braydon Ennor, Peter Umaga-Jensen
Outside backs: Jordie Barrett, Sevu Reece, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Damian McKenzie, Will Jordan
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@tim they also have Samisoni Taukei'aho over Aumua
I thought TJ playing on weekend made him eligible?
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@taniwharugby said in All Blacks 2021:
I thought TJ playing on weekend made him eligible?
He needs to play for Wellington, so must be only first class rugby.
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@taniwharugby Aumua has been a beast this season with limited minutes (mainly because of injury). I reckon he's easily top 3 in those Hooking stocks. I'd argue from what I've seen from him this year he probably offers more than Coles now.
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@bovidae said in All Blacks 2021:
Obviously the AB ginga quota is set at one if Christie gets selected and Robinson or Grace don't.
Sheesh, that's by far the wrong ginga, plus it upsets the all Maori halfback rule. Wharau Whakatawa getting injured has messed things up.
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@tim said in All Blacks 2021:
@nepia said in All Blacks 2021:
So Ennor would be making it on form from 2 years ago?
That's gotta be the luckiest selection for some time. As a centre he doesn't even standout in NPC games.
When did he last play NPC? Also 2 years ago?
Edited to add that he last played NPC in 2019 (5 games only).
