All Blacks 2023
-
@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2023:
@booboo others in the mix would be Tuipulotu, Akira, Heem, Harmon, Ross etc
Other than Akira (oops) seems to me they're in the "etc".
Paddy for Lord? Maybe. Fair call. But I have not been whelmed by him.
Can't see Harmon getting up over Cane, DP and Ardie.
Ross? Yeah, which side dies he pack? Have suspicion Williams is LH? Which leaves us short on TH.
Heem. That's a decent call. Been playing well. Big body. Wouldn't object. But can't really see it. And who does he replace?
-
Israel Dagg predicts the All Blacks XV side to face Japan
Selections include players ascending into the fringe All Black conversation along with capped All Blacks unable to secure their position.
Aidan Ross
Brodie McAlister
Nepo Laulala
Quinten Strange
Tupou Vaa’i
Luke Jacobson (c)
Tom Christie/Du’Plessis Kirifi
Brayden Iose
Cortez Ratima/Noah Hotham
Stephen Perofeta
Caleb Clarke
Bryce Heem/Levi Aumua
Braydon Ennor
Emoni Narawa
Shaun Stevenson/Josh Moorby -
I'd say Aumua is behind Heem-might be a more exciting centre but Heem's useful utility is more important.
-
-
@Tim said in All Blacks 2023:
Israel Dagg predicts the All Blacks XV side to face Japan
Selections include players ascending into the fringe All Black conversation along with capped All Blacks unable to secure their position.
Aidan Ross
Brodie McAlister
Nepo Laulala
Quinten Strange
Tupou Vaa’i
Luke Jacobson (c)
Tom Christie/Du’Plessis Kirifi
Brayden Iose
Cortez Ratima/Noah Hotham
Stephen Perofeta
Caleb Clarke
Bryce Heem/Levi Aumua
Braydon Ennor
Emoni Narawa
Shaun Stevenson/Josh MoorbyYuck.
-
@Stargazer said in All Blacks 2023:
@DaGrubster ABs XV is a non-capturing team, so didn't have any impact on his eligibility for Fiji and Samoa.
Yep, but thinking @DaGrubster meant although it not a capturing team, he was picked because NZR viewed him as eligible for ABs etc.
-
@booboo I reckon Cully is dreaming that they'll only pick five props in a 36 man squad.
I reckon Heem has as good a chance as anyone of being picked as the fourth/fifth midfielder. We're a bit thin in the midfield with Havili injured, Goodhue an injury magnet, and a few questions on form around Jordie and (for me) ALB a bit, as well.
Big Levi might be handy as a roll the dice bench option if you're 5 points down with 5 minutes to play - but, I'm not sold that his game is quite rounded enough to be a fully fledged test option yet.
Despite that Big Leicester is leaving, I think he's one of the form players of the Super comp. Looks test-ready this year and I would pick him.
-
@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2023:
Despite that Big Leicester is leaving, I think he's one of the form players of the Super comp. Looks test-ready this year and I would pick him.
He was pretty much the form player last year, IIRC, but clearly something went wrong. If he wasn't leaving, then they'd maybe give him another chance, but now I'm not so sure.
-
-
LF has only signed an 18-month contract with Toulon. Who knows, it may just be a short break from SR, similar to the Japanese stints of some other players. He may come back better, with experience from another competition that could be useful. I find it really weird how some posters here find his departure a reason for not selecting him, especially now that he's playing better than ever before and is easily the best left winger in NZ (with added versatility in the midfield).
-
@Victor-Meldrew Maybe in the opinion of many - but, I told y'all this time last year that he wasn't test ready - making too many errors.
This year he's not making anything like the same number of errors. I'd pick him - don't know whether Fozzie will.
-
Remember Piutau still got selected for the ABs in 2015 and played multiple tests in 2015 - he just didn't make the RWC squad. I would have the same approach with Leicester and give him say 2 tests and then see how that stacks up with other contenders when naming RWC squad.
-
@KiwiMurph Yeah - pick the best 36 players for what you want to do. Then prune it down to the best 33. For now, I have him in my 36.
If we're going to be truly professional, we can't be holding grudges about what people have chosen for next year. Leicester is leaving the Crusaders, but he's been excellent for them.
Don't disagree about choosing the guy who is staying in otherwise 50-50 call, but those should be very few and far between in these days when players are running around with trackers strapped to their backs.
-
@Stargazer said in All Blacks 2023:
I find it really weird how some posters here find his departure a reason for not selecting him
I don't see how it's weird, especially when it appears to be something selectors also take into account.
Who knows though, maybe Foster has had a change in attitude and couldn't give two hoots about anything after this year.
-
So we spent a couple of years yelling at Fozzie to put JB into 12, and when he finally does, his Super form drops off to the point that we are quietly pushing for him to be replaced again?
I have watched sweet f-all super rugby this year, but I have that horrible feeling again with us going into a RWC with an unsettled lineup. Other than 9/10, and many don’t think 10 is a lock, the backs are all up in the air still. Does BB play, is RI at 13, is there a place for DH, is WJ deserving of a spot, can we fit LF in, what about ML? Yuck.
In the forwards maybe it’s more settled, tight 5 at least. Loose combo maybe less so but a SB/SC/AS seems fairly likely from where I sit
I hate this uncertainty!
-
@voodoo said in All Blacks 2023:
So we spent a couple of years yelling at Fozzie to put JB into 12, and when he finally does, his Super form drops off to the point that we are quietly pushing for him to be replaced again?
I think we have to back him for the opening tests.
Also, Cane will get physically dominated by the top teams, again, so I really hope Foster can see past him. Our ruck ball was so much better with Papalii starting.
