All Blacks 2023
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@friedrugby said in All Blacks 2023:
After Lio-Willie was so good on Friday, it might just have tipped things in his favour.
The way I see it, they'll pick seven loose forwards, three of whom are Ardie, Cane and Dalton. They could be absolutely anyone, and I wouldn't be surprised if anyone does/doesn't make it because it is that open - largely because the incumbents have either been injury-ravaged are just a bit shit for both the All Blacks and in Super Rugby this season.
Think the rest of the forwards more or less pick themselves with the only potential new cap Tamaiti Williams.
Third halfback will be Russian Roulette, I give each of Christie, Roigard and Fakatava a 33.33% chance of being selected.
Then I think they'll pick 10 across the back contingent. Battling for two places in my mind are Fainga'anuku, Narawa, Ennor & Procter... can't see them picking L Aumua, but he was there in their thinking last year.
Think I've washed my hands of Finlay Christie as an AB at this stage.
Not for me.
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I don't get the talk about Lio-Willie getting the nod. Surely it's too early for him and more importantly, surely he is too small.
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@Crazy-Horse Usual super rugby hype. This place especially is bizarre when it comes to selections.
Imagine if we had a selection panel on here? We'd have about 20 changes every test.
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@Steve I'm not too worried about a bit of a lack of flair in Jack or ALB - we've got no shortage of guys who can bust a game open around them. I like having a rock in the midfield - an ace defender with nice hands and plenty of brains will be helpful.
Pretty sure Jordie and Rieko will be the starting midfielders, Havili to come back - and we'll only take four to the Cup.
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@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2023:
@Steve I'm not too worried about a bit of a lack of flair in Jack or ALB - we've got no shortage of guys who can bust a game open around them. I like having a rock in the midfield - an ace defender with nice hands and plenty of brains will be helpful.
Pretty sure Jordie and Rieko will be the starting midfielders, Havili to come back - and we'll only take four to the Cup.
Agree. To borrow a basketball term we need a role player. Someone whois happy to do his core role and allow others around him to shine. ALB and Goodhue do this.
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@Crazy-Horse said in All Blacks 2023:
@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2023:
@Steve I'm not too worried about a bit of a lack of flair in Jack or ALB - we've got no shortage of guys who can bust a game open around them. I like having a rock in the midfield - an ace defender with nice hands and plenty of brains will be helpful.
Pretty sure Jordie and Rieko will be the starting midfielders, Havili to come back - and we'll only take four to the Cup.
Agree. To borrow a basketball term we need a role player. Someone whois happy to do his core role and allow others around him to shine. ALB and Goodhue do this.
Finally, Reuben Thorne makes sense.
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@pakman good post
Feel I'm nitpicking but I think Weber makes it in front of Christie and Roigard, and then its a matter of incumbent or in form rookie...
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@Crazy-Horse said in All Blacks 2023:
@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2023:
@Steve I'm not too worried about a bit of a lack of flair in Jack or ALB - we've got no shortage of guys who can bust a game open around them. I like having a rock in the midfield - an ace defender with nice hands and plenty of brains will be helpful.
Pretty sure Jordie and Rieko will be the starting midfielders, Havili to come back - and we'll only take four to the Cup.
Agree. To borrow a basketball term we need a role player. Someone whois happy to do his core role and allow others around him to shine. ALB and Goodhue do this.
Or in music terms a Phil/Cliff/Malcolm type who does their job so Angus and Bon ( later on Brian ) can shine.
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Is it Thursday yet? When is the team named?
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@Bones said in All Blacks 2023:
@george33 said in All Blacks 2023:
@booboo Christie in
Might head to paddy power and put money on Christie not making it.
If I made a bet like that both Christie's would probably make it.
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@ACT-Crusader 7:30 pm NZT.
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@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2023:
@Bovidae On the props - they could go two ways - either they decide Moody and Newell are both likely to be ready by RWC, so no need to develop more - or decide that they know what one or two of their experienced guys bring
Laulala is the prop that if selected shows they are still too conservative. If he makes the test 23 it will be at Newell's expense.
I put Frizell in the same category for loose forwards. Time to move on.
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@Bovidae said in All Blacks 2023:
@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2023:
@Bovidae On the props - they could go two ways - either they decide Moody and Newell are both likely to be ready by RWC, so no need to develop more - or decide that they know what one or two of their experienced guys bring
Laulala is the prop that if selected shows they are still too conservative. If he makes the test 23 it will be at Newell's expense.
I put Frizell in the same category for loose forwards. Time to move on.
There's a few of the old guard might be watching nervously. Nepo would be just about number one on that list.
Fozzie surprised me last year with a few new names in his first team, so I'm wondering if he will again. I'm pretty much thinking Marc Hinton is on the money - except he's only picked 35 names. Add a loose forward - and he may have another wrong.
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I think that they should look to split the squad to maximise the opportunities for players to either perform, or be cut. Where possible, send one squad to Arg and then have another preparing for SA in Auckland. There can't be any crossover with the AB XV due to the dates of their games in Japan.
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@booboo said in All Blacks 2023:
@pakman good post
Feel I'm nitpicking but I think Weber makes it in front of Christie and Roigard, and then its a matter of incumbent or in form rookie...
Roigard kicking game is outstanding. Far and away better than Smith. His running and passing is VG. He should be in the AB squad. In my view as the number 2 based on SR form. I'd like to see him start in one of the pre RWC games to see how he handles it
