All Blacks 2023
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Should close calls go against players that are leaving? We have a coach who knows his tenure is over so maybe it applies less this year?
With Shannon, Weber (definitely) and LF (strongly rumoured) leaving should they make the squad if it's a close call?
Mo'unga certainly makes the squad but lets says its a close call with McKenzie to start. Should it count against Mo'unga?
I think close calls should go to the players committed to NZ rugby. That obviously doesn't apply to people like Whitelock etc because there's no question he's in the top xv
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Of course you should reward players committed to the future in NZ, especially if it's players like LF who are on the edge of the squad anyway. So for close calls it should always be tilted to the players staying, it's been like that since Hanson took over.
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Foster has said that 50/50 calls will go in favour of players staying. That "unofficial rule" will be dependent on the position in question and the other options. At the end of the day the leaving players are still under a NZR contract until the conclusion of the RWC.
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@Bovidae said in All Blacks 2023:
Foster has said that 50/50 calls will go in favour of players staying. That "unofficial rule" will be dependent on the position in question and the other options.
That's right, I'd forgotten he said that. Good
Your second sentence is another way of saying 'close call'. If other options aren't at a similar level then the selectors have to go with the guy leaving
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proper close call, a 50/50, of course should go in favour of those staying, its close then i dont know why you would select the one leaving
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@Duluth said in All Blacks 2023:
A guy like Weber tends to be on fringes of squads. Him leaving has to be added to the negative column
It must. In a discussion where the selection panel are a coin toss between two, the player who will be in NZ the following year has to get the nod.
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@Kiwiwomble said in All Blacks 2023:
proper close call, a 50/50, of course should go in favour of those staying, its close then i dont know why you would select the one leaving
Foster has already declared this is his thinking as well.
Of course, the proof will be in the pudding. -
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@Kirwan said in All Blacks 2023:
@Crucial All depends on the depth. It's a big plus for Dmac's chances, RM leaving at his "peak" is not a great look. Same feeling I had when Charles Piutau left.
I don't think there will be a call on RM in this regard. If DMac goes it will be as a utility extra to RM and BB. I just can't see Foster leaving either of those two behind unless they show really poor form in the Super Finals and RC tests.
Imagine the outcry in Cantab land if Foster ditched RM. -
@Kirwan BB and DMac have played well in those positions before DMac got injured. Agree it'd be good to try them again, that was the original "dual playmaker" idea which got them excited.
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@No-Quarter The original "dual playmaker" idea was with BB at 10 and Dmac at 15. That didn't go well at all.
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@Stargazer good thing this is the other way around
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@Kiwiwomble Not sure I'd still call any ABs line-up "good" with BB in the starting XV, unless it's against minnows.
