All Blacks 2022
-
Good to see the back of TJP Bridge and Frizzel
Good to see the inclusion of RTS
Loose mix is stupid. 2 opensides, 3 #8s and one blindside.
Havili is a wasted selection as the entire pattern relies on RI staying fit. There is no like for like replacement.
I have a funny feeling LF has been promoted above his ceiling.Pretty ordinary set of props, but that's what we got. Need to Craig Bellamy that shit and give them very specific tasks.
Predictable locks but if they play like last year we're fucked.
Squad was entirely predictable really, the real fun will be when the first test team is selected.
-
Happy for Folau! nothing else to really add
-
Some omissions (people mentioned in despatches):
Hodgman, de Groot, Aumua, Lomax, Newell, Patty T., Jacobson, Robinson, MMT, Grace, TJP, Weber, Ennor, Sullivan, Bridge, Telea.
-
@Crucial said in All Blacks 2022:
@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2022:
Is this the most average looking All Blacks team for a while? I feel like there are so many ??, not a good thing 1 year out from a World Cup.
Hang on. This is only a couple of selections away from what we all expected or would have selected. Jumping on the negative pretty quickly aren't you?
Piss of with your logic Crucial. Now is the time to be ANGRY.
FOSTER'S FAT.
not 100% what I'd have picked, but there you go.
Would have Groot over The Lorax, Ginge (and Jacobsen but no room for both) ahead of PGS, Sullivan ahead of LF, and looked closely at an alternative to Ta'avao (Newell).
But otherwise looks OK.
Not the least whelming team in ages as has been suggested.
-
@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2022:
Loose mix is stupid. 2 opensides, 3 #8s and one blindside.
PGS would be a 6
At times the in 2021 the Chiefs used a similar loose forward pattern to the Blues & ABs. PGW started 5 times at 6 last year
It's like if MMT made the side he would've been a 6 not an 8
It seems we have clear roles between the positions now. Personally I would've gone for MMT but it seems we have two of each role:
Cane & Papali'i
Savea & Sotutu
Ioane & PGS -
@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2022:
I have a funny feeling LF has been promoted above his ceiling.
I think there’s room for improvement - footwork and timing being two areas - but he runs hard and straight, knows how to offload in traffic and given he’s only 22, time is well and truly on his side.
-
@FakatavaAllBlack said in All Blacks 2022:
Happy for Folau! nothing else to really add
You do realise he needs to get a haircut? That stupid shit is OK at ITM and Super for comedy value but he has to wear the black jersey now
-
Sullivan is one of my favourite players, but personally I feel he can go missing for large parts of a game. He's dangerous in space, but I don't think he'll see too much against Ireland (particularly in our backline). I'd prefer to see Nankivell or TUJ, at this point.
-
-
The weakest front row and loose forward selections I have seen in an All Blacks squad for a long time.
-
@Stag said in All Blacks 2022:
The weakest front row and loose forward selections I have seen in an All Blacks squad for a long time.
Have you watched any Blues games this season? Paps, Sotutu and Ioane have almost the perfect mix and synergy and I would be over the moon to have them in the AB's.
-
@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2022:
Some omissions (people mentioned in despatches):
Hodgman, de Groot, Aumua, Lomax, Newell, Patty T., Jacobson, Robinson, MMT, Grace, TJP, Weber, Ennor, Sullivan, Bridge, Telea.
We in pretty good spot when those omissions are made and not really too much argument I think
-
Any news on Smith's groin injury?
-
-
@Crucial said in All Blacks 2022:
@FakatavaAllBlack said in All Blacks 2022:
Happy for Folau! nothing else to really add
You do realise he needs to get a haircut? That stupid shit is OK at ITM and Super for comedy value but he has to wear the black jersey now
He's hardly the only one with a mullet. The blond noodles have long gone.
-
@Stargazer said in All Blacks 2022:
@Crucial said in All Blacks 2022:
@FakatavaAllBlack said in All Blacks 2022:
Happy for Folau! nothing else to really add
You do realise he needs to get a haircut? That stupid shit is OK at ITM and Super for comedy value but he has to wear the black jersey now
He's hardly the only one with a mullet. The blond noodles have long gone.
I know which of these looks better
-
@Tim have to assume they expect him back in time, otherwise they'd have gone for TJ or Webber for thier, erm, experience...
-
When does Tu’inukuafe's NZR contract finish? He might only be around for the Irish series before having to go to Montpellier.
-
@Bovidae According to Planet Rugby, he'll join Montpellier on or after 1 October. Haven't seen his signing confirmed in an official press release from Montpellier. Other news articles say "after completing the Rugby Championship".
-
-
-
@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2022:
@Kirwan never tire of seeing AB reaction videos.
So good. Love seeing how happy everyone is for them both.
-
adding cloud over the halfback group is the fitness of test centurion Aaron Smith, who is battling a groin injury ahead of the first Irish test at Eden Park on July 2.
“We hope so,” Foster said of Smith’s first test availability before revealing that star fullback Jordie Barrett is also in doubt due to a knee injury.
-
Adding cloud over the halfback group is the fitness of test centurion Aaron Smith, who is battling a groin injury ahead of the first Irish test at Eden Park on July 2.
“We hope so,” Foster said of Smith’s first test availability before revealing that star fullback Jordie Barrett is also in doubt due to a knee injury.
“We’re not sure at the moment, his groin is still a bit niggly. The two guys at the moment, him and Jordie, are both a bit 50-50 but we won’t know for sure until we get our hands on them.”
-
-
LOL. No one on here got remotely close to picking that squad.
How on earth Karl T makes the cut I don’t know. But fair play to foster for dropping out of form players.
-
@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2022:
@Kirwan never tire of seeing AB reaction videos.
Can't help but feel for Hodgeman and Robinson during that.
-
Papalii expected to be available for the first test.
-
@Tim said in All Blacks 2022:
Papalii expected to be available for the first test.
Great to hear, I heard Foster mention JB had a niggle, hopefully not serious.
-
@chimoaus think it was Robinson who got a copy of the security footage from the pub they watched the announcement in last year for his fellow Ginga.
-
@Billy-Tell said in All Blacks 2022:
LOL. No one on here got remotely close to picking that squad.
33/36 not remotely close?
The two surprises were at loosehead and PGS instead of Jacobson. I had an extra prop instead of Havili but that was wishful thinking@Crucial said in All Blacks 2022:
What I think will be close to the selection.
Props: Ofa Tuungafasi, Nepo Laulala, Ethan de Groot, Aiden Ross, George Bower, Alex Hodgman/ Angus Ta'avao
Hookers: Codie Taylor, Samisoni Taukei'aho, Dane Coles
Locks: Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Scott Barrett, Tupou Vaa'i, Josh Lord
Loose forwards: Sam Cane (c), Ardie Savea, Dalton Papalii, Akira Ioane, Luke Jacobson, Hoskins Sotutu, (MMT/Finau/Grace/Frizzell)
Halfbacks: Aaron Smith, Finlay Christie, Folau Fakatava (Weber and TJ to NZ Maori)
First-fives: Beauden Barrett, Richie Mo'unga, Stephen Perofeta
Midfield: Jack Goodhue, Rieko Ioane, Quinn Tupaea, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
Outside backs: Will Jordan, Sevu Reece, Caleb Clarke, Jordie Barrett, Leicester Fainga'anuku
I'd say that others had very similar as well
-
For those who don't want to watch the video, Foster mentioned they are interested in Papali'i and Vaai at 6.
Also, they want de Groot to work on his fitness and speed getting off the ground after contact.
-
Was Sowakula selected to stop him playing for Fiji?
-
@bobily2 said in All Blacks 2022:
For those who don't want to watch the video, Foster mentioned they are interested in Papali'i and Vaai at 6.
Also, they want de Groot to work on his fitness and speed getting off the ground after contact.
Did he talk about Hodgman? I just can't get past them choosing Karl over Hodgman. That makes little sense to me.
The PGS selection is not what I would do, but I can see that as a 6 he would be similar to Akira on the edges and around the ruck.
-
Biggest doubts for me:
Tight five outside of Samisoni Taukei'aho.
Accommodating Savea in the loose forwards against big teams.
2nd Five and backup centre.
Ability of 10s to control a game.
-
@Tim said in All Blacks 2022:
Biggest doubts for me:
Tight five outside of Samisoni Taukei'aho.
Accommodating Savea in the loose forwards against big teams.
2nd Five and backup centre.
Ability of 10s to control a game.
Sooooo 2021 issues then?
-
@gt12 is mentioned in the article, well why they picked KT, all down to experience
-
@Tim said in All Blacks 2022:
Was Sowakula selected to stop him playing for Fiji?
I dont know but his selection could be a big clue to some loose forward re-thinking. Not so much that he will start but around versatility of others. Without Blackadder I thought Jacobson would be a cert as a like for like covering all spots.
They could now be looking at DP on the bench with Akira shifting to 8. Vai'i as lock/6 or even using Savea as impact rather than starting. -
Yes!
A few players who really struggle without quick ball, and few forwards, or power carrying backs, who can generate it.
Post 2578 of 4714