AB RWC Squad
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@KiwiMurph said in AB RWC Squad predictions:
In his post match press conference Foster indicated there were 2 or 3 RWC spots that were being tested yesterday. Finau and Newell would make sense as 2 of those. Perhaps wing as another one?
I'd say wings definitely. Seems pretty likely that at least one of Narawa, Leicester or Stevenson will be going - and at least one (probably 2 IMO) won't be.
Narawa had put a solid marker down in his debut, so I reckon the other two needed to beat it.
Probably Tamaiti Williams. Possibly Ennor, but really they've got enough data already on him.
You'd imagine they know a shitload about their props relative scrummaging capacities that we never see, so some of the test will be how these guys react to live pressure.
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@KiwiMurph said in AB RWC Squad predictions:
Feel very sorry for Ennor, who’s had very bad luck with knee injuries.
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@pakman said in AB RWC Squad predictions:
The French starting XV will have Scooter and Sam at lock, with Vaa'i on bench. After that the next touch match will be quarters, by which time BBBR will be back. Lord is a luxury.
One I'd likely take, to be honest.
If Whitelock was injured in the lead up to the French test, I'd like a better lineout operator there.
We could start Lord and Barrett and see the 2024 pairing now.
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@gt12 said in AB RWC Squad predictions:
@pakman said in AB RWC Squad predictions:
The French starting XV will have Scooter and Sam at lock, with Vaa'i on bench. After that the next touch match will be quarters, by which time BBBR will be back. Lord is a luxury.
One I'd likely take, to be honest.
If Whitelock was injured in the lead up to the French test, I'd like a better lineout operator there.
We could start Lord and Barrett and see the 2024 pairing now.
If Lomax were injured I'd want to see Nepo in 23 for France, rather than Ofa at TH.
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@pakman said in AB RWC Squad predictions:
@gt12 said in AB RWC Squad predictions:
@pakman said in AB RWC Squad predictions:
The French starting XV will have Scooter and Sam at lock, with Vaa'i on bench. After that the next touch match will be quarters, by which time BBBR will be back. Lord is a luxury.
One I'd likely take, to be honest.
If Whitelock was injured in the lead up to the French test, I'd like a better lineout operator there.
We could start Lord and Barrett and see the 2024 pairing now.
If Lomax were injured I'd want to see Nepo in 23 for France, rather than Ofa at TH.
I think Ofa is a much much better TH than LH, so if we needed to start Fletch and bring Ofa off the bench, I think I'd prefer that.
Also, far more line outs in a game than scrums, they are far too underrated.
The other option is just to drop BBBR. I know he's been one of our best ever at lock, but carrying him injured for a second WC, for him to potentially come back and underperform doesn't sound that good to me.
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@gt12 said in AB RWC Squad predictions:
@pakman said in AB RWC Squad predictions:
@gt12 said in AB RWC Squad predictions:
@pakman said in AB RWC Squad predictions:
The French starting XV will have Scooter and Sam at lock, with Vaa'i on bench. After that the next touch match will be quarters, by which time BBBR will be back. Lord is a luxury.
One I'd likely take, to be honest.
If Whitelock was injured in the lead up to the French test, I'd like a better lineout operator there.
We could start Lord and Barrett and see the 2024 pairing now.
If Lomax were injured I'd want to see Nepo in 23 for France, rather than Ofa at TH.
I think Ofa is a much much better TH than LH, so if we needed to start Fletch and bring Ofa off the bench, I think I'd prefer that.
Also, far more line outs in a game than scrums, they are far too underrated.
The other option is just to drop BBBR. I know he's been one of our best ever at lock, but carrying him injured for a second WC, for him to potentially come back and underperform doesn't sound that good to me.
Each to their own, but we saw yesterday how weakness at TH can be a match loser.
That said, probably only a significant issue against Boks, Frogs, and possibly Oirish.
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We will have the option to play Frizell at lock against the minnow teams.
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