All Blacks 2023
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@Duluth said in All Blacks 2023:
It's great that a player wants to commit to NZR long term. I don't understand the negativity.
One of the things NZR did well was the AB XV idea where younger and more experienced players got together and players and coaches learned a lot about each other. Players like BB could be invaluable in that environment
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Lol.can we stop saying "because Foster"
Heavily tenured high profile players very very rarely get dropped from modern international teams in world cup years
International teams are not rep teams.
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@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2023:
Lol.can we stop saying "because Foster"
Heavily tenured high profile players very very rarely get dropped from modern international teams in world cup years
International teams are not rep teams.
Tell that to Ben Smith, he shouldn't have been dropped, Beaudy should.
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@Machpants said in All Blacks 2023:
@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2023:
Lol.can we stop saying "because Foster"
Heavily tenured high profile players very very rarely get dropped from modern international teams in world cup years
International teams are not rep teams.
Tell that to Ben Smith, he shouldn't have been dropped, Beaudy should.
And Cane. Dropping him for the semi in 2019 and then giving him the captaincy a year later was fucking batshit mental and stank of a coaching ticket at odds with itself. How can you drop a lad for the semi and then the assistant gives him the arm band the following year. Clown car on fire.
Cane should have started that semi. He had a strong shoulder and would have stopped Vunipola et al making hay. Scooter could have came in for the second half if needs be.
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@Machpants said in All Blacks 2023:
From last game, and rest of season, beaudy should be nowhere near black. But he'll be starting fullback cos foster
Beaudy is one of my favourite players of all time. A cheat code. A “footballer”.
But him in the team is ruining the balance, omitting more deserving players and undermining the shirt. He shouldn’t be there.
I hope he proves me wrong but I don’t see it.
I don’t see the point of him any more .
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So once again the ABs will be named after the semi finals which will take away from the Super final.
It's almost certain that there will be 1 NZ team in the final (if not 2) so I don't buy that the ABs naming can't be delayed until after the final as ABs won't have access to all the players until that week anyway.
Just have a training squad for the week before if you want to get a head start.
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@KiwiMurph there will at least three NZ teams NOT in the final. ABs will have access to them.
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@KiwiMurph agree naming before the final is just ruining the buildup of at least one team. With so many close calls this year, and in a World Cup year, there are going to be some very disappointed players.
But fuck Super Rugby, right?
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A squad of 36 after first round of playoffs. Mostly who I think they'll pick, but a couple of calls based on who I want in (e.g. No Frizell). Havili, Tuipulotu, Grace, and some props unavailable. Dyer and Finau other possibilities. Proctor looked pretty bad tonight.
de Groot
Tu'ungufasi
Ross (Mafileo as bolter?)
Lomax
Williams
Laulala
Taukei’aho
Taylor
Coles (massive injury risk)
Whitelock
Retallick
S Barrett
Vaa'i
Papalii
Cane
Savea
Sotutu
A Ioane
Jacobson
Blackadder
Smith
Weber
Christie (Roigard pushing hard)
Mo'unga
B Barrett
DMac
J Barrett
R Ioane
ALB
B Heem
Goodhue/Ennor/Pohipi/Aumua
Telea
Jordan
Clarke
Narawa
Stevenson -
My predicted squad isn't dissimilar (though I suppose everyone will likely nail close to 30 of the spots)...
Hookers (3) - Taukei'aho, Coles, Taylor
Props (6) - De Groot, Lomax, Moody, Williams* (injury replacement for Newell), Laulala, Tu'ungafasi
Locks (5) - Barrett, Whitelock, Retallick, Vaa'i, Lord
Loose forwards (7) - Cane, Savea, Frizell, Ioane, Jacobson, Blackadder, Papalii
Halfbacks (3) - Smith, Roigard*, Weber/Christie (whoever has the better game next week, basically)
First fives (3) - Barrett, Mo'unga, McKenzie
Centres (4) - Barrett, Lienert-Brown, Ioane, Heem* (injury replacement for Havili)
Outside backs (4) - Clarke, Telea, Jordan, Fainga'anuku, Stevenson*With a prop, a lock and a loose forward dropping out of the final squad for the World Cup.
The All Blacks XV will be an interesting one. Probably a top 23 of something like...
1 Ross
2 Aumua
3 Jager
4 Dickson
5 Gallagher
6 Finau
7 Harmon
8 Sotutu
9 Christie/Weber
10 Perofeta
11 Nanai-Seturo
12 Heem
13 Aumua
14 Narawa
15 Sullivan16 McAlister
17 Numia
18 Dyer
19 Suafoa
20 Lio-Willie
21 Fakatava
22 Cameron
23 Poihipi
