All Blacks squad - The Rugby Championship
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Given Super coach Foster is a lock for Rugby Championship/Bledisloe Cup what does the squad look like? I think it’s 36 player squad?
Do the likes of Tuipulotu and McKenzie get a look in or do they need to play NPC first? Especially Patty given he’s already featured in the 2nd Irish test.
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Want to see some shake up at prop.
Any of Hodgman, de Groot, Newell, maybe even William's would be good. Open to suggestions on other THs.
Thinking additional lock given lack of Lord and Retallick. Paddy is next cab off the rank but doesn't fill me with confidence. MSR looks to have the body for it, but questionable off field rep.
Loosies. Grace for PGS. This wasn't a heinously horrible selection when first made. PGS looked the goods for the most part of the season, whereas Grace was anonymous, and coming off the back if his second season blues last year had him back in the standby group. But form reversed in the playoffs and MAB matches. So I pick Grace.
Jacobsen and Red Robbo still my unlucky loosies. Others stay as selected.
2s, same.
9s, same.
Actually backs as per original selection. Can't see any doors opening there. The UJs, Sullivans and a GB have claims, but not sure who drops out of the original squad to make way.
Skipper: stick with Cane, but would not surprise if an interim coach, if there is one, picks a different game day skip.
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@booboo said in All Blacks squad - The Rugby Championship:
Want to see some shake up at prop.
Any of Hodgman, de Groot, Newell, maybe even William's would be good. Open to suggestions on other THs.
Thinking additional lock given lack of Lord and Retallick. Paddy is next cab off the rank but doesn't fill me with confidence. MSR looks to have the body for it, but questionable off field rep.
Loosies. Grace for PGS. This wasn't a heinously horrible selection when first made. PGS looked the goods for the most part of the season, whereas Grace was anonymous, and coming off the back if his second season blues last year had him back in the standby group. But form reversed in the playoffs and MAB matches. So I pick Grace.
Jacobsen and Red Robbo still my unlucky loosies. Others stay as selected.
2s, same.
9s, same.
Actually backs as per original selection. Can't see any doors opening there. The UJs, Sullivans and a GB have claims, but not sure who drops out of the original squad to make way.
Skipper: stick with Cane, but would not surprise if an interim coach, if there is one, picks a different game day skip.
Pretty much agree.
Hodgman, Ross, Bower, Newell, Ofa, Ta'avao which means we can essentially run out Crusaders or Chiefs props as needed as use Ofa as a back-up.
MSR for Retallick, despite the yucky past.
Grace for PGS and probably you're right that Cane is gone if we change coaches.
I'm not sure that Fakatava has done enough to retain his spot.
They need to make a bit call on Dmac. His spark could solve some problems off then bench or perhaps use him instead of Jordie at FB. He has better chemistry with Barrett than either Jordie or Mo'unga so if Barrett must stay, they should bring him in.
If they decide to go with Mo'unga, I'd likely make wholesale changes to the make-up of the midfield and wingers.
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I’d have Dickson over MSR.
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@gt12 said in All Blacks squad - The Rugby Championship:
I'm not sure that Fakatava has done enough to retain his spot.
I was happy with him, especially given the circumstances. Thought he was better than Christie.
Ah Kuoi could be another lock on the fringes. Maybe a bit small?
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@ACT-Crusader Absolutely. MSR is very, very average, and is a criminal, so may not be able to travel. I'd have Goodhue, Strange, and others ahead of him. Very overrated player.
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@booboo said in All Blacks squad - The Rugby Championship:
Ah Kuoi
Basically Brad Thorn size, 1 cm taller, same weight.
Ah Kuoi listed at 196cm/116kg.
https://www.chiefs.co.nz/player/naitoa-ah-kuoi
Scott Barrett 197cm 118kg.
Numerically not much in it.
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Depends on who the coach is, whether there'll be changes.
Maybe bring in Newell, as Ta'avao still has some tests to sit out due to his suspension. Newell seems the best newbie to bring into the squad. De Groot for big Karl.
Lock: Dickson, not MSR, to cover for Retallick. Sorry, no Pat T.
Grace for PGS.
Weber for Christie.
Don't think we need further changes to the backs. -
@Stargazer said in All Blacks squad - The Rugby Championship:
Depends on who the coach is, whether there'll be changes.
Maybe bring in Newell, as Ta'avao still has some tests to sit out due to his suspension. Newell seems the best newbie to bring into the squad. De Groot for big Karl.
Lock: Dickson, not MSR, to cover for Retallick. Sorry, no Pat T.
Grace for PGS.
Weber for Christie.
Don't think we need further changes to the backs.Looks good to me, (but not sure what to do with/fix #10), and I would have picked De Groot ahead of Big Karl anyway.
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Agree with shakeup at prop. Noted scrummagers Laulala & Karl T got to go given their performances - no use being noted scrummagers when you do stuff all outside of that. That attempted offload by Laulala was the stupidest thing I’ve ever seen Persevere with Ofa as he’s a good scrummager and better around the park than Laulala. I’d love to see Hodgman come in at LH, reminds me of a Ta’avao but I think they’ll go with DeGroot as next cab off rank. I know he’s gotten a lot of heat from the Tahs game but Lomax should get another short.
Locks given Retallick is hurt, Patty is a straight swap and potentially move Barrett to 6 permanently? Not sure who’s next in line at lock, maybe one of the Māori AB locks?
Loosies you’d have to include Grace probably at the expense of PGS which is harsh but desperate times call for desperate measures. Where does that leave Sotutu though?
In terms of the backs I don’t think changes from outside the squad are needed but they need to settle on a 12 to build a decent combo with Rieko. Tupaea needs time and RTS needs even more time. Havili is a wonderful Super player who seems to lack an outstanding skill at test level. That leaves Goodhue..why not? Clarke needs game time.
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Given Retallick’s injury plus the desire to use Barrett at 6 means Patty’s experience will be required. There might be an opening for another lock if they want to persevere with Barrett at 6 which given the Boks and Argies is probably a good idea.
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@MN5 said in All Blacks squad - The Rugby Championship:
What’s happened to Pari Pari Parkinson ?
Still rehabbing I think.
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Another reason to hope for a coach change: Tuipulotu is a very big guy who is good for the Blues at physical stuff up the middle, but in the ABs he has been used as a replacement for the usual locks who are expected to play a more mobile game - he is not good at that.
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@Stargazer Weber looked sharp for the Maori's so a recall could be on the cards, tough on Finlay in some respects but Weber off the bench over in South Africa might be the way to go.
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@TheMojoman said in All Blacks squad - The Rugby Championship:
Agree with shakeup at prop. Noted scrummagers Laulala & Karl T got to go given their performances - no use being noted scrummagers when you do stuff all outside of that. That attempted offload by Laulala was the stupidest thing I’ve ever seen Persevere with Ofa as he’s a good scrummager and better around the park than Laulala. I’d love to see Hodgman come in at LH, reminds me of a Ta’avao but I think they’ll go with DeGroot as next cab off rank. I know he’s gotten a lot of heat from the Tahs game but Lomax should get another short.
Locks given Retallick is hurt, Patty is a straight swap and potentially move Barrett to 6 permanently? Not sure who’s next in line at lock, maybe one of the Māori AB locks?
Loosies you’d have to include Grace probably at the expense of PGS which is harsh but desperate times call for desperate measures. Where does that leave Sotutu though?
In terms of the backs I don’t think changes from outside the squad are needed but they need to settle on a 12 to build a decent combo with Rieko. Tupaea needs time and RTS needs even more time. Havili is a wonderful Super player who seems to lack an outstanding skill at test level. That leaves Goodhue..why not? Clarke needs game time.
I think Sotutu is AB material.
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@FakatavaAllBlack said in All Blacks squad - The Rugby Championship:
@Stargazer Weber looked sharp for the Maori's so a recall could be on the cards, tough on Finlay in some respects but Weber off the bench over in South Africa might be the way to go.
I agree.
nb how did you think Fakatava went in the game? (If you posted I missed it). His performance seems a bit argued over on here. -
@Tim said in All Blacks squad - The Rugby Championship:
@ACT-Crusader Absolutely. MSR is very, very average, and is a criminal, so may not be able to travel. I'd have Goodhue, Strange, and others ahead of him. Very overrated player.
MSR has good size and does bring a physicality, but I saw a fair amount of walking and hands on hips during that second MABs game.
Whereas Dickson played with physicality, high energy and some accuracy, and looks an 80 minute player.
