All Blacks 2023
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@Kirwan One try doesn't make him. He had a fair extended crack two years ago, then went missing on the Northern Tour. The issue with Akira isn't he doesn't do the hard yards, he is a classic bully boy. Like it or loathe it, Shannon Frizell was the All Blacks best blindside last year. Has been crap in Super Rugby is the main issue.
With Ardie and Cane, we basically just need a tough bastard who will take a million carries right up the guts, and make a million tackles. We don't need someone happy to roam in the wide channels, ala Tom Robinson, or even dear I say it, that seems to be Finau's role for the Chiefs. Would be a bolter to beat all bolters, but after a bit of a slow start to the year, Christian Lio-Willie has carried impressively up the centre, and has made plenty of tackles. Made the NZ XV squad... all I'm saying is keep an eye on it.
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@friedrugby years out of date take. His work rate the past few years has been good, certainly better than Frizzell who is a non entity at Test level.
Akira has had several games at Test level where he’s done well, like the clip above (assume you didn’t read the stats). SF has had zero.
And this year, after a long injury break, has made an immediate impact for the Blues.
Lots of tackles, notable improvements in cleaning out rucks, and is running hard to to the ball. One recent example had him bouncing off a hooker, another set up a great try for Clarke. Plenty of other examples.
All the good stuff people have been asking for he’s now doing.
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The question marks for me:
- 3rd hooker
- 4th lock
- 6th & 7th loosie
- 2nd & 3rd halfback
- Will ALB be our backup centre
- Wing mix
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@ACT-Crusader pretty well how I see it too. Though I pretty convinced that ALB will be back up centre, I still wonder about all others. I know generally who I would like, but even at halfback, I a member of Roigard fan club, but at back of my mind is what players (mainly halves and 8s) are ging to find playing under the international laws again.
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@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks 2023:
The question marks for me:
- 3rd hooker
50/50 Coles/Aumua
- 4th lock
Not a problem if SB is taken as a lock
- 6th & 7th loosie
Injury dependent
- 2nd & 3rd halfback
One that plays as close as possible to Smith and one that presents a different picture
- Will ALB be our backup centre
Yes
- Wing mix
May depend on the role of BB
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@Crucial said in All Blacks 2023:
@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks 2023:
The question marks for me:
- 4th lock
Not a problem if SB is taken as a lock
isn't that still a huge question mark? i felt id seen more people than not listing him as 6
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@Kirwan said in All Blacks 2023:
Lots of tackles, notable improvements in cleaning out rucks, and is running hard to to the ball. One recent example had him bouncing off a hooker, another set up a great try for Clarke. Plenty of other examples.
All the good stuff people have been asking for he’s now doing.
I think his only real weakness at hte moment is his ongoing propensity to run upright. He had success at lower levels doing it, but it's a terrible habit for higher honours.
That said, he's had storming games in black; MOTM on more than one occasion, but you wouldn't know it with the blinders some folk wear.
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@booboo said in All Blacks 2023:
@Kirwan said in All Blacks 2023:
SF has had zero
Joburg last year was good.
I feel dirty.
and yet he still made a couple of enormous errors. basic errors too
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@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2023:
and yet he still made a couple of enormous errors. basic errors too
Certainly not the only one, and the overall point was, for him, he was good! (In one game!)
I'm also not a SF fan but if he played like that, physically dominant, for more than one game I wouldn't mind so much, because he doesn't really offer that much else (I can't remember him adding that much at lineout consistently for the ABs but maybe someone has stats there). -
i feel a solid lineout option was one of the few things he has provided for the AB's, when i was more of a SF fan thats one area i think i didn;t get thrown back at me
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Here is the thing. Scott Barrett will be on the blindside, and that tells you all you need to know about how both Frizell and A Ioane have performed at test level. I personally think Frizell has been superior, because when he has his good games, he does the hard yards. Akira Ioane never has and never will. Does it against the Aussies, goes missing versus the Boks.
In my opinion, they will take four locks (Including Barrett) and six loose forwards to the World Cup. They may pinch an extra lock if they decide to only take 5 props.
Three of the six loose forwards will be Cane, Savea & Papalii. I think despite his great form, that probably rules out Harmon, because it would be a bizarre balance. Injuries surely rule out Grace for this squad at least, which leaves you with Jacobson, Frizell, A Ioane, Sotutu, Blackadder and the bolters (If we cast the net wide it is probably Renton, Lio-Willie, Flanders, Finau, PGS & Suafoa) gunning for three spots. Judging off the amount of
influence Fozzy takes from the media, and the selections of Jase Ryan in the past, I personally think Jacobson, Blackadder and Lio-Willie could well be the three. Not saying this is what I do, but wouldn't shock me.
