All Blacks 2022
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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.
Ian Foster explains reasoning behind the All Blacks halfback and front row selections
Both Perenara and Weber were heavily involved in last year's All Black side, starting multiple games each as Aaron Smith stayed behind in New Zealand when the team travelled to Australia for The Rugby Championship.
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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.”
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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.
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@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.
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@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
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@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.
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@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?
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@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.
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@bobily2 said in All Blacks 2022:
Also, they want de Groot to work on his fitness and speed getting off the ground after contact.
He’s been asked to model his game on Karl T, is that it?
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@Tim well a backline of Smith-BB-Clarke-RTS-RI-Jordan-JB has its appeal...reckon that is at least a back division that could operate with less forward domination
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@gt12 said in All Blacks 2022:
@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.
No - in general he was quite reluctant to talk about why players missed out, but he was specifically asked about de Groot. He said they've been impressed by Bower, Karl is the best scrummager and they need his experience given Bower and Ross are light in that area, and that Ross has kicked it up a notch and shown a lot of consistency in the scrum.
They like PGS because of his contact work, and they think they can improve that further by helping him work on his footwork (and something else - I can't remember) as well.
