All Blacks 2022
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@crucial said in All Blacks 2022:
Don't we have a Fozzie thread somewhere?
Can we get this one back to discussing the 2022 ABs?After all the players are the ones that form the backbone here. Who do we think will no longer make the cut? Who will be held on to while someone is is given experience? Who will def be there?
The AB website lists 42! players as current squad (because of the messy end of the year). 26 forwards and 16 backs.
Here's the forwards as a starter.
Props
At Risk
Lomax
Ta'avao
de Groot
Bower
Moody
Tu'inukuafe
Laulala
TuungafasiI don't see any of these players as being must haves. This area of selection is(and should be) wide open. There are a few guys playing very well at the moment that could be the future.
I doubt that Fozzie sees it this way, though.
We're not going to find enough new guys to push all these eight out.
At the end of the last Super season I thought there was a Chiefs prop - probably Ross, but I can't actually remember - who was a bit unlucky not to make the team. I think de Groot probably got his place.. Otherwise, the cupboard looks pretty bare.
Tamaiti Williams is an exciting prospect - long term - but, not many others catching my eye.
You'd hope Fozzie has identified 3-4 of our current guys who he's definitely carrying forward - but, also a couple who he's definitely cutting to make space.
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@arhs I think Moody, Tuúngafasi and Laulala probably all still are - barring catastrophic loss of form.
Lomax and de Groot are still young guys with potential to grow.
I'd be looking most closely at the other three - Ta'avao, Bower and Big Karl. None of them really screaming "Test match prop" to me.
Of course, we don't need eight at any one time - and if you keep the five I've listed above, that doesn't leave much room.
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lets not forget Ainsely is available now (i think) and playing well
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@antipodean said in All Blacks 2022:
@crucial Bit early to call, but i don't see ho Tupaea's woeful defence can keep him in the discussion and Havili isn't exactly setting the world on fire to assuage concerns about his Test form.
Of all positions, the midfield is the most contentious an open. Only ALB is guaranteed, RIoane by virtue of being a guaranteed winger if not centre.
I see it that way too Not convinced about Tupaea, his defence is weak and he doesn't look to his outsides or insides enough so dies with the ball.
Havilli started well but I am not convinced he is the answer either. -
There have been unusually large AB squads over the last 2 years because of the covid circumstances. If a 35-man squad is selected again then 8 props become 6 and some tough selection decisions will have to be made in almost all of the other positions. Of course, you need to retain some experience but current performance/form and not reputation should count.
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I think on props for 2022 these four will be certainties: Moody, Laulala, Tu'ungufasi, Lomax. Hard to see any one else at tight head. Are there any candidates? Ta'avao would have to have a great season in the scrum.
On the loose head side, de Groot, Hodgman, Bower, Tu'inukuafe, Ross, and Norris are probably the contenders. I'd like to see Hodgman and Norris selected, and it would be good to cut Moody now. If Moody starts (can't see him as a bench option) at the world cup then we are in trouble.
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@tim said in All Blacks 2022:
I think on props for 2022 these four will be certainties: Moody, Laulala, Tu'ungufasi, Lomax. Hard to see any one else at tight head. Are there any candidates? Ta'avao would have to have a great season in the scrum.
On the loose head side, de Groot, Hodgman, Bower, Tu'inukuafe, Ross, and Norris are probably the contenders. I'd like to see Hodgman and Norris selected, and it would be good to cut Moody now. If Moody starts (can't see him as a bench option) at the world cup then we are in trouble.
Same could be said for Laulala for the same reason as Moody.
Maybe we should blood Norris at LH and William as a TH.
Stick with De Groot and Hodgeman I don't mind that as LH plus Norris.Select Williams as a TH and retain Tu'ungufasi, Lomax.
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@stargazer said in All Blacks 2022:
Rakete-Stones.
Rakete-Stones he would be another good investment at LH
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@bovidae Where Tu'ungufasi plays for the Blues has no bearing on his AB selection. He's been in the AB squad for six years.
Don't see any new players coming through at tight head, so they won't drop Laulala, even if it would be better to replace him now. Seems we have more options at loose head. In the past, AB coaches have seemed to expect less around the field from tight heads than loose heads, which may be a poor policy too.
Is Williams going to start games for the Crusaders?
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@tim said in All Blacks 2022:
@bovidae Where Tu'ungufasi plays for the Blues has no bearing on his AB selection. He's been in the AB squad for six years.
Don't see any new players coming through at tight head, so they won't drop Laulala, even if it would be better to replace him now. Seems we have more options at loose head. In the past, AB coaches have seemed to expect less around the field from tight heads than loose heads, which may be a poor policy too.
Is Williams going to start games for the Crusaders?
Yep he has started but got covid so missed the last game against MP
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@tim said in All Blacks 2022:
@bovidae Where Tu'ungufasi plays for the Blues has no bearing on his AB selection.
But it does have a bearing on the makeup of the 6 AB props if Ofa is considered a LH or TH for the ABs. Frankly, he isn't good enough to just swap between the two positions depending on the team he plays for.
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