All Blacks 2023
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Did Fozzie say why Sotutu hasn’t featured in either of the squads? Puzzling omission.
Good to see selectors have rewarded form in terms of the new caps. Why Stevenson keeps getting omitted is beyond me.
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I can see why Stevenson misses out, it’s because he is competing with Jordan, DMac and Beauden for that fullback spot. And he’s behind Jordan and Telea for the right wing spot.
Doesn’t mean it’s right but IMO that would be their thinking.
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@ACT-Crusader I had hoped that they'd learned something from James Lowe's non-selection ...
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@NateHill74 said in All Blacks 2023:
@Stargazer That's what I dont get. I've always felt that the Maori side was almost the B side in NZ rugby. Instead now most those players just get selected into the NZ XV instead and let the Maori team rot. They should have just stuck to a maori side (the roots of nz rugby) instead of nz xv. If they want to see players in a higher position (especially non maori players) do a possibles v probables series, and super rugby is meant to be the stepping stone to the all blacks anyways, not a nz xv side. Ruins the Maori side's draw and game amounts each year.
The plan is for the Maori All Blacks to tour less traditional nations while the ABs XV hits already developed markets, potentially closer to home.
That will likely see both sides operate next year, one in July and one in November. Just a bit funny the last two years with the WC on the horizon and Covid scupering some development chances over the past few seasons.
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@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks 2023:
I can see why Stevenson misses out, it’s because he is competing with Jordan, DMac and Beauden for that fullback spot. And he’s behind Jordan and Telea for the right wing spot.
Doesn’t mean it’s right but IMO that would be their thinking.
I take your point but he shouldn't be competing with DMAC or Beauden in the first place. That has been the Allblacks issue for a few years now. Shoe horning all "the lads" into the team.
They should be fly halves and cover as full backs only. Im willing to give DMAC wiggle room in that regard but im not affording Beaudy the same courtesy.
The fullbacks should be Will Jordan and Stevenson. End of story. We have a big enough body of work now to know what's what.
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@Steve history tells us that fullback is not an easy position to crack in the ABs as a newbie. During the successful recent era even guys like Izzy and Bender had to serve apprenticeships either on the wing or as a substitute. And even with those two we saw a fair amount of interchanging. Then the Jordie experiments before settling.
I think they see Jordan as the future but perhaps they’re not ready to hand the keys over to him for the RWC. However with Jordie now the 2nd 5 especially so with Havili out, there is a clear choice on whether Jordan is their man.
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What I dont understand is how come Fletcher Newell is included when he has been out injured for most of the SRP campaign just how exactly is he supposed to get up to speed with fitness and form? While there are others who haven't even been considered due to injury.
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@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks 2023:
@Steve history tells us that fullback is not an easy position to crack in the ABs as a newbie. During the successful recent era even guys like Izzy and Bender had to serve apprenticeships either on the wing or as a substitute. And even with those two we saw a fair amount of interchanging. Then the Jordie experiments before settling.
I think they see Jordan as the future but perhaps they’re not ready to hand the keys over to him for the RWC. However with Jordie now the 2nd 5 especially so with Havili out, there is a clear choice on whether Jordan is their man.
I’m not so sure. In fact it is more than likely that all 3 of DMAC, Beaudy and Mo’unga will be in the 23.
Whatever about handing the keys to a newbie. Beauden Barrett hasn’t done enough to nail down the 15 shirt. He has done nothing in that jersey. NOTHING.
Think of the players who previously wore that shirt with distinction. Muliaina, Dagg, Cullen, Smith.
Beaudy isn’t putting in those sort of performances by a long stretch.
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@MiketheSnow said in All Blacks 2023:
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
Not applicable here as he kicked once
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@Steve 100% agreed. Shooter should be second on the depth chart at 15, end of story. We all want Jordan going 80 in every bledisloe and RWC game, sure. But if Will can’t play then it has to be Shooter. Jordie is now a 12 and the others are battling it out for 10. Keep it simple.
