All Blacks 2023
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Love the squad named. I admit to being blinsided by MacLeod , but pleased as punch, also real pleased about Finau!
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@Tim said in All Blacks 2023:
"We see Dallas primarily as a midfielder. Probably 12. Chance to have a look at him there. He brings versatility. Played on the wing. Fast and strong. Courageous under the ball. Chance, in a bigger squad, to bring him in and give him a chance."
Quite late in the day to be developing a midfielder. Hasn’t proven to be an easy position. High injury rate though.
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I would much prefer a Weber Dmac combo then Finlay and BB. It's strange that some players get picked on experience and others don't. Goodhue is one of the reason the Crusaders are firing and makes Ennor look good. I would much rather his experience over Dallas.
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Just cant see how Nepo and Ofa make it. Again.
Also how does F Christie get in ahead of Fakatava. -
@chimoaus said in All Blacks 2023:
I would much prefer a Weber Dmac combo then Finlay and BB. It's strange that some players get picked on experience and others don't. Goodhue is one of the reason the Crusaders are firing and makes Ennor look good. I would much rather his experience over Dallas.
Maybe he's in the AB XV to ease him back into rep rugby.
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Dallas Macleod is listed at over 100 kg, pretty descent sized midfielder if he goes well he will definitely be in Razor's squad next year.
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@MajorRage said in All Blacks 2023:
@sparky foster clear players got scratched after the semis. One of those perhaps?
Or Heem?
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Stevenson can count himself very unlucky after the season he's had
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@SBW1 said in All Blacks 2023:
Dallas Macleod is listed at over 100 kg, pretty descent sized midfielder if he goes well he will definitely be in Razor's squad next year.
He has played well this year. But not a lot in midfield in pressure games.
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@canefan said in All Blacks 2023:
Stevenson can count himself very unlucky after the season he's had
And Clarke can count himself very lucky after the seasons he's had.
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Frizell ,Christie and CC .... I just don't see what they have done to get picked.
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Victor Meldrewreplied to kiwi_expat on 18 Jun 2023, 08:11 last edited by Victor Meldrew 18 Jun 2023, 08:11
One or two good moments and his D was v. good, but apart from that, pretty average and didn't look all that match fit. Def. not out of the frame and good move from Foster to give him and people like Fakatava match time in the AB XV.
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@Stargazer said in All Blacks 2023:
@canefan said in All Blacks 2023:
Stevenson can count himself very unlucky after the season he's had
And Clarke can count himself very lucky after the seasons he's had.
His low work rate and habit of slipping over when changing direction should have counted against him.
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@kev said in All Blacks 2023:
@Stargazer said in All Blacks 2023:
@canefan said in All Blacks 2023:
Stevenson can count himself very unlucky after the season he's had
And Clarke can count himself very lucky after the seasons he's had.
His low work rate and habit of slipping over when changing direction should have counted against him.
He's fixed the slipping over thing but the defence and workrate issues mean he's very lucky.
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A liitle shocked SS did’nt make the intial team as opposed to injury cover
Not surprised both Akira and Sotutu did’nt make the cut
Surprised at both Finau and Mcleod making the cut but based on form fair enough
Only issue i have is Finlay Christie ,hardly an influence at super level and he has’nt set the world on fire in a black jersey and not to mention his service from the base with is mediocre
Can understand the annoyance around Nepo but he can scrum but he will need to be way better in other facets
Only good thing is , this is not the Rugby World Cup Squad -
Lol, something to piss off everyone. Several hilarious selections.
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@Stargazer said in All Blacks 2023:
@kev IIRC he shifted to the midfield in several games after subs in the 2nd half.
He is a good player and on form a good option for squad. But it’s a big challenge defending in the midfield so more time would be better. Still have some concerns about Reiko ( who is an athletic freak, and good tackler, see Friday performance ) with all the time he has had there in the last 2 years.
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I suspect the injury to Telea might have allowed the selectors to have the best of both worlds.
Unsurprisingly, Stevenson needs to continue with the improvements that he has made in defence.
... Chiefs coach Clayton McMillan has been a vocal advocate of higher honours for Stevenson. Instead, the 27-year-old will provide injury cover for Mark Telea, who picked up a knock in the Blues' exit from Super Rugby.
Asked what more Stevenson needed to do to be named as a fulltime squad member, though, coach Foster outlined the exact area he wants to see the Chiefs fullback improve in, with time running out for uncapped players to earn selection.
"He'll find that out when he comes in," Foster told Sky Sport. "We've got pretty specific job requirements on both sides of the ball.
"On the attack side, he's proven to be outstanding. He should be very proud of his year.
"We've seen a massive improvement in the defensive structural stuff, the tackle and the contact work. But we still want to see a bit more in that space.
"The fact he's going to come in, and be with us maybe for those first two tests, is a great opportunity to get a good read of that."
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Interesting they appear to rate Christie ahead of Weber at half-back. Would have thought the Weber-DMac combination was a no-brainer. Also surprised at Goodhue being dropped back to the XV squad. His combination with Ennor has been special. Lastly, why leave Stevenson out? He seems to me a perfect fit for test rugby - an X-factor player who makes few mistakes.
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The more I look at this squad the more average it looks. I think our top 23 will compete with the very best but if we get injuries we are definitely in trouble.
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@canefan said in All Blacks 2023:
Stevenson can count himself very unlucky after the season he's had
Has a chance to make another statement on Saturday
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@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2023:
The more I look at this squad the more average it looks. I think our top 23 will compete with the very best but if we get injuries we are definitely in trouble.
Halfback and second five are issues. Wonder if JB or ALB starts? JB has been poor for me and the combo of him and Reiko makes me nervous.
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Ryan's comments about what he wants from a 6 weren't a surprise. I can only hope that his props also show some physicality.
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@Mattasaurus Been Foster's men.
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What a cop out from Foster about Stevenson not making it because of his defence. He's defended well all year, 500 times better than Telea.
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@Kirwan said in All Blacks 2023:
Several hilarious selections.
It called "being bold".
Looking at both the AB & AB VX squads feeding into the RWC selection, and taking into account players coming back from injury, it makes more sense.
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@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2023:
Interesting! I see Zarn is the best kicker for the Blues! 100%! (It's quality not quantity as the bishop said to the actress)...
Not always
A 50% kicker who’s played 20 games that season is more valuable to the team than a 100% kicker who played four times
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@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2023:
What a cop out from Foster about Stevenson not making it because of his defence.
Jordan isn't a great defender at fullback, so it will be interesting to see if he gets a go in that position.
I expect that BB gets another lifeline in the no.15 jersey so Jordan plays on the right wing.
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@Donsteppa They had the same critisim of James Lowes regarding defence but like Stephenson possesses a massive kicking game but i reckon Stephenson is better in the air and has more gas
International rugby is about defusing high kicks , and a little bit of game management with a big boot added in plus some offloading X factor and pace goes a long way. -
St Peter's Cambridge just tripled their AB reps tonight.
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Victor Meldrewreplied to Canes4life on 18 Jun 2023, 08:43 last edited by Victor Meldrew 18 Jun 2023, 09:21
TBF, he said SS has come a long way and wants him near the squad. Pretty clear they rate him highly and want to work with him on the issues they see.
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@Stargazer it says Tyrone Thompson as assigned to Wellington? Is that just a typo or is he coming back here?
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Brad Weber unlucky.
Finlay Christie lucky.
Gotta say - I was thinking Dallas McCleod might make it.
Probably a better 12 than Jordie -lol -
Cool your jets
There’s a LOT of rugby to be played before facing France
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Amazing to think that our 2019 u20s team which was our worst ever team at that level has produced 8 ABs.
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@Canes4life No, it's a mistake. He was stoked with his move to the Magpies after last season. Not just because he was back home, but also because he got lots of game time. No way he'll return to Wellington, sitting on the bench because Aumua gets the starts.
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