All Blacks 2022
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@pakman said in All Blacks 2022:
@Crucial said in All Blacks 2022:
Havili will be in he squad. Remember that this will be a more traditional squad number (as opposed to the bloated squads of last year) and he brings utility and experience.
Last year was the room to experiment and without DMac for this series we will need some flexibility in the backswith a need to bolster forwards.Can’t remember if it’s 32 or 33 in the squad but in the backs we may only see
“36 [players] for the first squad, that’s sort of a standard Steinlager Series-sized squad, but that can change,” Foster told The Breakdown.
Not much room for newbies in this series
Squad newbies maybe but not in the 23 and I would rather see forward options brought in formally with backs on cover.
Unless we win the first two tests there’s not much ability to blood players this time.
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@Crucial said in All Blacks 2022:
@pakman said in All Blacks 2022:
@Crucial said in All Blacks 2022:
Havili will be in he squad. Remember that this will be a more traditional squad number (as opposed to the bloated squads of last year) and he brings utility and experience.
Last year was the room to experiment and without DMac for this series we will need some flexibility in the backswith a need to bolster forwards.Can’t remember if it’s 32 or 33 in the squad but in the backs we may only see
“36 [players] for the first squad, that’s sort of a standard Steinlager Series-sized squad, but that can change,” Foster told The Breakdown.
Not much room for newbies in this series
Squad newbies maybe but not in the 23 and I would rather see forward options brought in formally with backs on cover.
Unless we win the first two tests there’s not much ability to blood players this time.
Tend to agree re 23. Seems unlikely a new loosie will get a look in. But Ireland have physical and ball handling locks/props, so good to let Lord/Vaa'i and De Groot/Ross to get some exposure (easier after 2-0).
In backs, I think we need to try newbie in 23 at 12, but unlikely in first test or at 0-1.
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I can only see a max of 3 newbies in the initial squad with one or 2 props needed and one three quarter assuming Goodhue and Clarke return. But the races for those spots are far from over with the big matches in next few weeks counting for a lot. Newell seems a lock in to me and Ross should join him. But plenty of contenders there. LF needs to up his workrate to earn it perhaps but any one of TUJ RTS Nankivell or B Sullivan could force their way in. Elsewhere Perofeta Eklund and Big Red might be next up as injury cover.
I will be watching the props closely for their impact in the big clashes. -
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@nzzp said in All Blacks 2022:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2022:
@cgrant said in All Blacks 2022:
2nd Five : Havili's loss of form and confidence could cost him his place in the squad. I'd like Foster to try something new with TUJ and/or RTS, along with Tupaea.
Centre : Rieko and Sullivan are the best performers. I would be glad to see the latter as a bolter in the next squad. Let's see how Goodhue come back during the next week.Jeez, we've been really cursed with injuries since Ma'a & Conrad departed.
Still so gutted for Charlie Ngatai He was looking outstanding before getting hammered.
Selection hasn't helped, not identifying what you want in midfield and playing people there. Injuries are a major contributor, but I'd argue the selectors have to shoulder more of the blame. Kinda like 6.
What, he didn’t save NZ rugby after all?
RTS has a few work ons in terms of not coming out of the line and communication on defence. But in terms of effort and involvement, I like what is happening. Could be a good impact player to start out with.
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@ARHS said in All Blacks 2022:
I can only see a max of 3 newbies in the initial squad with one or 2 props needed and one three quarter assuming Goodhue and Clarke return. But the races for those spots are far from over with the big matches in next few weeks counting for a lot. Newell seems a lock in to me and Ross should join him. But plenty of contenders there. LF needs to up his workrate to earn it perhaps but any one of TUJ RTS Nankivell or B Sullivan could force their way in. Elsewhere Perofeta Eklund and Big Red might be next up as injury cover.
I will be watching the props closely for their impact in the big clashes.By Big Red do you mean this year’s waste of space in the Blues.?
He has been low quality in an area that is lacking standouts. -
@Crucial said in All Blacks 2022:
By Big Red do you mean this year’s waste of space in the Blues.?
He has been low quality in an area that is lacking standouts.He's been playing with an injury for most of the year. He was one of the best players on the field in the 25-0 game against the Chiefs
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@Duluth said in All Blacks 2022:
@Crucial said in All Blacks 2022:
By Big Red do you mean this year’s waste of space in the Blues.?
He has been low quality in an area that is lacking standouts.He's been playing with an injury for most of the year. He was one of the best players on the field in the 25-0 game against the Chiefs
Then he needs to recover from injury not be selected in the ABs worn out even further.
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@Duluth said in All Blacks 2022:
He has recovered. Did you see that Chiefs game? What did you think of his performance against the Chiefs loosies?
It was very good.
Much better than he played against the Drua in his last outingEven in your Blues fans MOTM points for the season he has 1 point and sits last on the table.
He’s another Blackadder. Can turn out a good one then look ineffective.
Good player but not what the ABs need. -
@Crucial said in All Blacks 2022:
It was very good.
Much better than he played against the Drua in his last outing
Even in your Blues fans MOTM points for the season he has 1 point and sits last on the table.Yes. He had a tricky injury early in the year.
He was in and out of the side, bracketed in some games and was a late scratching in another. I thought during that time the Blues should've been playing Plumtree.
They game him a couple of games off to recover. Since then he dominated against the Chiefs, had a strong game against Crusaders and a quiet game against the Drua.
I doubt he'll make the AB squad. However he certainly hasn't been a 'waste of space' and he wasn't 'low quality' vs the Chiefs or Crusaders
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@ARHS said in All Blacks 2022:
I think that both Robinson and Sowakula have not been consistent enough lately - but are the ones most capable of sticking their hands up for a squad berth. Just no space with 8 incumbents playing well enough in loosies.
I think Sowakula and Frizell are better chances than Robinson. They may want someone who can play a similar role as Akira as a backup in the squad
Robinson is a different sort of player. For him to make it, he needs some quality matches at lock and blindside IMO. He's unlikely to get time at lock now
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@Duluth he's certainly been quiet compared to previous seasons, still gets through some work though, just not at the level he had been, but is getting back to it now.
Yeah I dont think he will make it this year either, and the way selections go, it is pretty tough breaking into the ABs, especially in a congested loosie spot.
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@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2022:
Question - has Fakatava's eligibility for the ABs this year been sorted out?
Last year, when he got injured it seemed like new rules were going to exclude him until 2023.
Google doesn't immediately throw up something saying he's clear to be selected.
If they haven't sorted it out, he will be eligible in December, this year. So too late for the Northern Tour. They could still include him as an apprentice, and if they organise games for the All Blacks XV (which hasn't been nominated as NZ's 2nd XV), he can play in those games.
