All Blacks 2023
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@Bovidae said in All Blacks 2023:
@Nepia The wrong thread to discuss, but Zarn looks to have missed out to Gilbert in the AB XV squad as one of the fullbacks. Love has been selected on last year's form, and how he played for the AB XV.
Zarn was eye catching for the Maori. How he and Sotutu are rated 5th best (or worse) in the country in their positions is beyond me.
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@Bovidae said in All Blacks 2023:
@Nepia The wrong thread to discuss, but Zarn looks to have missed out to Gilbert in the AB XV squad as one of the fullbacks. Love has been selected on last year's form, and how he played for the AB XV.
Cheers. The thumbs up, like, or whatever we call it is for providing the info not for the content of the info itself.
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@Nepia said in All Blacks 2023:
I find it completely bonkers that the two best long kickers in NZ SS and ZS can't get a look in at the two levels they should be at. Our only big boot is the erratic JB who will be in the midfield.
I agree completely - obviously the plan is to keep the ball in hand and run it out of our own half with scintillating line-breaks and tries because, you know - history has taught us that style of play works out tops in the knock-out stages of the RWC.
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@Stargazer said in All Blacks 2023:
Copied from the "Feed the backs" instagram, because embed doesn't work anymore:
feedthebacks For the stats nerds out there 😏🇳🇿
Stats via @allblacks and @crusadersrugbyteam
For those interested, the lightest ever All Blacks weighed 58.9kg (there were 3 of them: Merv Corner, Harry Nicholls and Alan Reid)Including these comments:
I think they forgot Ben Afeaki in their list.
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Chiefs and Crusaders players picked in the squad will join the All Blacks camp next week, meanwhile, Chiefs outside back Shaun Stevenson had been named as injury cover for the Blues’ Mark Telea.
Foster said Telea had a strained knee and the team had been told he could be out for four weeks, but he would be reassessed in the coming weeks.
Foster said it was “not a major strain”.
Blues prop Nepo Laulala was not with the squad due to the birth of a child and the team had brought in Tevita Mafileo, Asafo Aumua and Stephen Perofeta to boost their numbers in the meantime.
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This is the article that quote is from:
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@Bones I wonder if Sotutu's numbers were bolstered by carving up the bottom half of Super Rugby as opposed to the other semi finalists (who the Blues went 0-5 against).
I don't think J Ryan rates him particularly highly.
There's been the odd spark for the ABs but overall I think Hoskins has disappointed at test level given the initial promise of his 2020 Super form.
It's a shame as he's a remarkably skilful player but I'm just not sure his game translates to test level.
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@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2023:
@Bones I wonder if Sotutu's numbers were bolstered by carving up the bottom half of Super Rugby as opposed to the other semi finalists (who the Blues went 0-5 against).
I don't think J Ryan rates him particularly highly.
There's been the odd spark for the ABs but overall I think Hoskins has disappointed at test level given the initial promise of his 2020 Super form.
It's a shame as he's a remarkably skilful player but I'm just not sure his game translates to test level.
A midfield of Ardie and him would probably be better than what we've had since 2015.
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Players need consistent game time to get test rugby. Only the very very good come in and look to the manor born
Sotutu is stuck behind an ever-present who never gets hurt or tired, and plays a position that rarely makes the bench. So opportunity has been few and far between.
He's got a great skill set, and has definitely shown work rate, and I am so disappointed he's not picked.
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@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2023:
Players need consistent game time to get test rugby. Only the very very good come in and look to the manor born
Sotutu is stuck behind an ever-present who never gets hurt or tired, and plays a position that rarely makes the bench. So opportunity has been few and far between.
He's got a great skill set, and has definitely shown work rate, and I am so disappointed he's not picked.
Because he is a back masquerading as a loose forward, he doesn't hit enough rucks, lacks physicality, is noticeably skinny (106kg) for someone of his height & position, doesn't dominate collisions, only upside is attacking threat, but is simply not dominant enough on both sides of the ball to excel against better sides (non-Australian opposition).
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Lol riiiiight
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@kiwi_expat said in All Blacks 2023:
@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2023:
Players need consistent game time to get test rugby. Only the very very good come in and look to the manor born
Sotutu is stuck behind an ever-present who never gets hurt or tired, and plays a position that rarely makes the bench. So opportunity has been few and far between.
He's got a great skill set, and has definitely shown work rate, and I am so disappointed he's not picked.
Because he is a back masquerading as a loose forward, he doesn't hit enough rucks, lacks physicality, is noticeably skinny (106kg) for someone of his height & position, doesn't dominate collisions, only upside is attacking threat, but is simply not dominant enough on both sides of the ball to excel against better sides (non-Australian opposition).
Is he seven foot tall ?
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Jason Ryan , when interviewed by Israel Dagg, identified Tamaiti Williams and Finau as having heavy shoulders and providing a point of difference.
Also basically said Sotutu did not front up in the semi-final.
Said Luke Jacobsen is a very hard worker and tough. Seen as an 8, not really a 6.
Josh Lord seen as having big potential.
What Ian Foster is looking out for during Super Rugby Pacific final
