AB RWC Squad
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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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@gt12 if he gets at least the two minnow games then I’d have him off the bench for the QF.
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@ACT-Crusader said in AB RWC Squad predictions:
We will have the option to play Frizell at lock against the minnow teams.
Finau has played lock on a few occasions too.
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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.
Can someone tell why Vaa'i is ahead of Lord?
More mobile, higher workrate, better lineout ability????
Because I know he fuck all go-forward.I haven't seen enough of Lord to know.
He seems bigger with more mongrel. -
@Bovidae said in AB RWC Squad predictions:
The Breakdown crew have only chosen 5 props (no Laulala) and added Lord to the locking group. No Clarke amongst their outside backs either (Fainga'anuku and Narawa included). We'll see how close they are.
Available to watch on YouTube in the UK.
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@Frank 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.
Can someone tell why Vaa'i is ahead of Lord?
More mobile, higher workrate, better lineout ability????
Because I know he fuck all go-forward.I haven't seen enough of Lord to know.
He seems bigger with more mongrel.Experience.
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@Frank 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.
Can someone tell why Vaa'i is ahead of Lord?
More mobile, higher workrate, better lineout ability????
Because I know he fuck all go-forward.I haven't seen enough of Lord to know.
He seems bigger with more mongrel.Lord looks fucken tall but still pretty skinny possibly ?
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@MN5 said in AB RWC Squad predictions:
@Frank 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.
Can someone tell why Vaa'i is ahead of Lord?
More mobile, higher workrate, better lineout ability????
Because I know he fuck all go-forward.I haven't seen enough of Lord to know.
He seems bigger with more mongrel.Lord looks fucken tall but still pretty skinny possibly ?
Retallick said in an interview while they were in Argentina that Lord was the heaviest of all the locks in the squad.
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@Frank said in AB RWC Squad predictions:
@MN5 said in AB RWC Squad predictions:
@Frank 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.
Can someone tell why Vaa'i is ahead of Lord?
More mobile, higher workrate, better lineout ability????
Because I know he fuck all go-forward.I haven't seen enough of Lord to know.
He seems bigger with more mongrel.Lord looks fucken tall but still pretty skinny possibly ?
Retallick said in an interview while they were in Argentina that Lord was the heaviest of all the locks in the squad.
I thought he said Lord was the tallest and probably the heaviest?
update, found:“He’s a great player and he’s a big man – he’s the tallest one out of all of us. He’s probably the heaviest as well,” Retallick told reporters.Brodie Retallick backs ‘great’ All Blacks youngster to shine
Experienced All Black Brodie Retallick runs the rule over young team-mate Josh Lord, who was selected in New Zealand’s Rugby Championship squad.
Taller than Retallick, really?
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@sparky said in AB RWC Squad predictions:
@Bovidae said in AB RWC Squad predictions:
The Breakdown crew have only chosen 5 props (no Laulala) and added Lord to the locking group. No Clarke amongst their outside backs either (Fainga'anuku and Narawa included). We'll see how close they are.
Available to watch on YouTube in the UK.
JKs glasses remind me of the mole in Austin powers. You can’t focus on anything else.
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@Frank said in AB RWC Squad predictions:
@MN5 said in AB RWC Squad predictions:
@Frank 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.
Can someone tell why Vaa'i is ahead of Lord?
More mobile, higher workrate, better lineout ability????
Because I know he fuck all go-forward.I haven't seen enough of Lord to know.
He seems bigger with more mongrel.Lord looks fucken tall but still pretty skinny possibly ?
Retallick said in an interview while they were in Argentina that Lord was the heaviest of all the locks in the squad.
Retallick was just doing a WWE style promo, No way is Lord the heaviest.
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@pakman said in AB RWC Squad predictions:
Each to their own, but we saw yesterday how weakness at TH can be a match loser
I can't figure out if this is for or against Nepo. For all the bluster about him being great at scrums - are his win/penalty stats actually any better than anyone else?
I could buy it if he simply never got penalised and actually caused opposition to get penalised or lose scrums, but it's not really the case...is it?
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Squad suggested by The Breakdown trio (Jeff Wilson, Mils Muliana, Sir John Kirwan).
Props: De Groot, Newell, Tu’ungafasi, Williams, Lomax
Hookers: Taylor, Coles, Taukei’aho
Locks: Retallick, Whitelock, Scott Barrett, Vaii, Lord.
Backrow: Savea, Papalii, Jacobson, Cane, Frizell, Finau
Half backs: Smith, Christie, Roigard
First Fives: Mounga, McKenzie
Midfield: Jordie Barrett, ALB, Havili, Reiko Ioane
Back Three: Beauden Barrett, Narawa, Telea, Jordan, Leicester Fanga’anuku.
They seemed to suggest Ethan Blackadder and Braydon Ennor are too injured to be selected. But they didn’t mention Joe Moody.
Not that far off IMHO. I think you need to take a Sixth Prop and cut one of the Locks. I think Weber offers more than Christie. Caleb Clarke might sneak into the Back Three as I am a little uneasy about bringing in 2 wingers with very little test experience.
Apart from that I’d be very happy with what they selected.
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@Bones said in AB RWC Squad predictions:
@pakman said in AB RWC Squad predictions:
Each to their own, but we saw yesterday how weakness at TH can be a match loser
I can't figure out if this is for or against Nepo. For all the bluster about him being great at scrums - are his win/penalty stats actually any better than anyone else?
I could buy it if he simply never got penalised and actually caused opposition to get penalised or lose scrums, but it's not really the case...is it?
If you read what the AB LHs say Nepo is highest rated TH.
The standard of reffing even at test level is pretty poor. Nepo forced penalties at end of Bok test, which is a pretty good marker. Oh, and Ryan rates him. -
@MN5 said in AB RWC Squad predictions:
Retallick was just doing a WWE style promo, No way is Lord the heaviest.
Wiki has him at 119kg with BBBR at 124kg
All Blacks.com has them at 104kg and 123kg respectively.
(Slow day)
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@pakman said in AB RWC Squad predictions:
you read what the AB LHs say Nepo is highest rated TH
That's quite the snub to Lomax then! Where were they saying that?
It's great that AB LHs rate him, but I would just like to see this rating translate to something on the field - and I'd like to see that a lot more often than 20 minutes or so at the end of an occasional test where we're already on top.
I'm genuinely interested in being able to see just what him supposedly being a great scrummager translates to on the field, as like with Franks at the end of his career I don't feel like the difference over others is noticeable.
And we can blame refs all we want, but they're probably the most important ones to have to notice! If they don't think he's very good, that's more important than what I think.
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@sparky As earlier, I can't see them taking only five props given you need four in every match day team. Leaves you little option to carry the top guys if they sustain short term injuries, since you can't afford someone else to go down in the warm-ups.
Marc Hinton has the same team as me, except he's bracketed Narawa and Leicester - a fair call but not a bold call.
Brodie's injury might require a re-think depending on how long he's out for.
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I see some naming Blackadder
I thought he was cooked ?
