All Blacks 2023
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@Steve said in All Blacks 2023:
@Mattasaurus said in All Blacks 2023:
Key positional concerns for me at this stage of the season in a world cup year.
6, 8, 10, 12, 13
Ardie aside we just don't have the world class players here - certainly no established combination and can't see Foster not playing Cane at 7... so Ardie is our 8 and comfortably our best loosie... 6 I'd have Blackadder over both Frizzel and Ioane currently - but in my opinion our stock of 6s have a bad habit of going missing when we need them most (I'd include Sotutu here too)
9s are ok as long as Smith stays injury free .. (Roigrad and Fakatava best back ups on form for me) but far too much expectation on them with the problems outside them.
Biggest concern is 10 - on current form there is no 10 that seems to consistently manage a game properly - all of them have an obsession of kicking too much attacking ball away - you just do not see the likes of Ireland, France or even the Boks take such low percentage options. Basically we need one of the established 10s to suddenly rediscover their best form which appears to be way behind them. Dmac best of bunch currently
12, 13 no established combo and what we do have is a couple of players that are at best, rocks and diamonds but are too often found wanting on defence and lack the ability to regularly put their outsides or supporting players in space.
Wings and Fullbacks just living off scraps currently
Tactics in general seem to be poor and its very much the equivalent of 20/20 cricket - EG we go for the speculator option way too often rather than building pressure by maintaining possession and field position - a real lack of leadership from our 10s, captains and coaching groups.
Only positives I see currently is that we will be coming in under the radar and no players are peaking early.
Blackadder at 6 is the right call. For work rate alone.
He would be a risk given his injury rate. It's hard to imagine him getting through a world cup.
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@Crazy-Horse If that was a valid argument for non-selection, the same would apply to other players, most notably the captain.
I'm not buying it. Select the best and keep some players at close distance in Europe for when injury strikes.
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@Stargazer said in All Blacks 2023:
@Crazy-Horse If that was a valid argument for non-selection, the same would apply to other players, most notably the captain.
I'm not buying it. Select the best and keep some players at close distance in Europe for when injury strikes.
Yeah if the selectors think he's good enough then fine, select him. They just need to be accept he is not likely to see out the campaign and plan accordingly. I would be surprised if he's fit for selection in the first place unfortunately.
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@george33 said in All Blacks 2023:
@Steve sorry Blackadder won't b at cup unless injuries sway the balance of the squad
who will they take at 6 then?
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@nostrildamus they want size 3 guys mentioned at this stage
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@george33 said in All Blacks 2023:
@nostrildamus they want size 3 guys mentioned at this stage
Size 3 guys? Even my wife is bigger than that! I guess you mean they want 3 bigger/taller 6s?
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@nostrildamus yes true
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@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2023:
I would say with Ryan as forwards coach and Blackadder already having played under Foster that he is well in the mix
Id say his name is already in the squad. He seems to have a great attitude. I always know he is playing in the game unlike Akira and Shannon.
He has Allblack written all over him. He just IS an Allblack.
I remember Will Greenwood waxing lyrical about him on UK TV two years ago. Apparently behind the scenes he is rated seriously highly.
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@Steve said in All Blacks 2023:
@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2023:
I would say with Ryan as forwards coach and Blackadder already having played under Foster that he is well in the mix
Id say his name is already in the squad. He seems to have a great attitude. I always know he is playing in the game unlike Akira and Shannon.
He has Allblack written all over him. He just IS an Allblack.
I remember Will Greenwood waxing lyrical about him on UK TV two years ago. Apparently behind the scenes he is rated seriously highly.
The thing is, if Ardie is playing (and he will be) I am sure Foster and co want a taller 6 or 7. Even with DP at 7, I'm fairly sure they'll want a taller lineout option at 6. That probably means SB I guess. Maybe SF.
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How things have changed in less than a year, as far as TH props are concerned.
In June 2022, Laulala, Ta'avao and Ofa T were viewed as the best options for the All Blacks, with Newell a possible bolter.
Now, the in form THP is undoubtedly Lomax, followed by Ainsley and Williams.
Who will be the three THPs for the RWC ? -
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If Laulala is selected then Ofa is more likely to go as a LH who covers TH.
LH - de Groot, Moody, Tuʻungafasi
TH - Lomax, Laulala, NewellI also think that Ainsley has been really good this season, and has been scrummaging well. Some good matchups in the Highlanders-Hurricanes front row this Sat.
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@Steve said in All Blacks 2023:
@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2023:
I would say with Ryan as forwards coach and Blackadder already having played under Foster that he is well in the mix
Id say his name is already in the squad. He seems to have a great attitude. I always know he is playing in the game unlike Akira and Shannon.
He has Allblack written all over him. He just IS an Allblack.
I remember Will Greenwood waxing lyrical about him on UK TV two years ago. Apparently behind the scenes he is rated seriously highly.
Akira and Shannon are too last time I checked.
