All Blacks 2023
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@Bovidae said in All Blacks 2023:
The selection of the props and loose forwards will tell us if Foster/Ryan/Schmidt are conservative or bold. I'm expecting the former.
They will probably go with those they think will go best at the RWC. The time to be bold has passed. Core team to be pretty much the same as last year with a few new names like Roigard & Stevenson to see how they go at Test level.
Interested in who they leave out - Ofa, Caleb Clarke, poss. BB?
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@Steve said in All Blacks 2023:
Surely his omission would be for either political or "character" reasons.
If rumours are correct on how he managed the step-up last year, they will be wary of a repeat, I guess.
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Concerned about loosies... Savea and Cane and then who? so many have had multiple opportunities and not really taken them. Frizzel, Akira, Sotutu, should all be sweating bullets ( unfair to include Blackadder with those 3 but he has had so little rugby it may actually count for him) -- Paps and Jacobson I think have done enough - really don't think we lose anything by taking a , Finau, or Lio-willi and see how they go.
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@Mattasaurus Sotutu has never disappointed at AB level, people have short memories eh! Hence the weird recent love for Lio-Willie. People would be calling for Havili-Talitui if Razor had selected him instead.
I don't see what Lio-Willie brings that Cane, Savea, Papalii, Blackadder don't. 4 opensides that can play elsewhere is enough.
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Liam Napier's Sunday predictions:
Shaun Stevenson: Will he make the squad - Highly likely
Cameron Roigard: Will he make the squad - Likely
Tamaiti Williams: Will he make the squad - Highly likely
Levi Aumua: Will he make the squad - Unlikely
Samipeni Finau: Will he make the squad - Unlikely
Emoni Narawa: Will he make the squad - PossiblePossible All Blacks squad
Props: Ethan de Groot, Tyrel Lomax, Tamaiti Williams, Ofa Tuungafasi, Fletcher Newell, Nepo LaulalaHookers: Samisoni Taukei’aho, Codie Taylor, Dane Coles
Locks: Sam Whitelock, Scott Barrett, Brodie Retallick, Tupou Vaa’i, Josh Lord
Loose forwards: Sam Cane, Dalton Papali’i, Shannon Frizell, Akira Ioane, Ardie Savea, Hoskins Sotutu, Luke Jacobson
Halfbacks: Aaron Smith, Brad Weber, Cam Roigard
First-five: Richie Mo’unga, Beauden Barrett, Damian McKenzie
Midfield: Rieko Ioane, Jordie Barrett, Anton Lienert-Brown, Braydon Ennor
Outside backs: Will Jordan, Caleb Clarke, Mark Telea, Shaun Stevenson, Leicester Fainga’anuku
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@Bones said in All Blacks 2023:
@Mattasaurus Sotutu has never disappointed at AB level, people have short memories eh! Hence the weird recent love for Lio-Willie. People would be calling for Havili-Talitui if Razor had selected him instead.
I don't see what Lio-Willie brings that Cane, Savea, Papalii, Blackadder don't. 4 opensides that can play elsewhere is enough.
Yeah it wasn't long ago a few posters were saying the Highlanders ended up with the better loosies after Lio-Willie switched to the Saders. He is doing the job asked of him at the Saders. Doesn't mean he should be an AB.
