All Blacks 2022
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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.
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@taniwharugby said in All Blacks 2022:
@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.
If TWM are looking for a 5.5 then IMO Vaa’i is the man.
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@pakman said in All Blacks 2022:
@taniwharugby said in All Blacks 2022:
@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.
If TWM are looking for a 5.5 then IMO Vaa’i is the man.
One thing I like about Vaa’i is that he paces himself well. Lord ran himself into the ground the other night but was little more effective than Vaa’i, then as he went off TV stepped up another gear for a burst. You often see him go big as the opposition reserves come on.
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@Duluth said in All Blacks 2022:
Yeah he’s unlikely to start at lock or 6 unless there’s injuries
I would like to see the Blues try a Dalton/Akira/Robinson combo. Maybe against the Brumbies
You’d want Sotutu’s current work rate against the Brumbies, surely?
Maybe your combo as a reshuffle into the game? -
@Crucial said in All Blacks 2022:
@pakman said in All Blacks 2022:
@taniwharugby said in All Blacks 2022:
@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.
If TWM are looking for a 5.5 then IMO Vaa’i is the man.
One thing I like about Vaa’i is that he paces himself well. Lord ran himself into the ground the other night but was little more effective than Vaa’i, then as he went off TV stepped up another gear for a burst. You often see him go big as the opposition reserves come on.
The hit on Paisami on Saturday would do any 6 proud.
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@pakman said in All Blacks 2022:
@Crucial said in All Blacks 2022:
@pakman said in All Blacks 2022:
@taniwharugby said in All Blacks 2022:
@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.
If TWM are looking for a 5.5 then IMO Vaa’i is the man.
One thing I like about Vaa’i is that he paces himself well. Lord ran himself into the ground the other night but was little more effective than Vaa’i, then as he went off TV stepped up another gear for a burst. You often see him go big as the opposition reserves come on.
The hit on Paisami on Saturday would do any 6 proud.
Only a second or so after another tackle as well. Bang, bang!
Kaino like. (ducks for cover)
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@Crucial said in All Blacks 2022:
@Duluth said in All Blacks 2022:
Yeah he’s unlikely to start at lock or 6 unless there’s injuries
I would like to see the Blues try a Dalton/Akira/Robinson combo. Maybe against the Brumbies
You’d want Sotutu’s current work rate against the Brumbies, surely?
Maybe your combo as a reshuffle into the game?Having Robinson and Akira together would help the lineout, basically three locks and Akira is used alot in the lineout.
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@Kirwan said in All Blacks 2022:
@Crucial said in All Blacks 2022:
@Duluth said in All Blacks 2022:
Yeah he’s unlikely to start at lock or 6 unless there’s injuries
I would like to see the Blues try a Dalton/Akira/Robinson combo. Maybe against the Brumbies
You’d want Sotutu’s current work rate against the Brumbies, surely?
Maybe your combo as a reshuffle into the game?Having Robinson and Akira together would help the lineout, basically three locks and Akira is used alot in the lineout.
Robinson is only a lock by Hurricanes standards.
