AB RWC Squad
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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 ?
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@kiwiinmelb No, just added a few more weeks to his recovery time. Could be back in time (but big questions about match fitness, obviously).
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taking Blackadder would be up there with the all-time dumb moves. I don't even see where he fits in teh side, let alone not having played a minute of code in months.
Havili is the same. Why the fuck are they taking guys to a tournament that have been long-term broken?
And surely after the weekend Cristie gets punted in to the sun
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@Stargazer said in AB RWC Squad predictions:
@kiwiinmelb No, just added a few more weeks to his recovery time. Could be back in time (but big questions about match fitness, obviously).
Yeah I guess we got to be careful taking underdone forwards when we have match hardened options, but the selectors will know more than us on his condition
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@mariner4life if a player wasn’t in or around the AB side this weekend (playing, training or even a Foodbill) or playing NPC, then they surely aren’t going.
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@mariner4life said in AB RWC Squad predictions:
taking Blackadder would be up there with the all-time dumb moves. I don't even see where he fits in teh side, let alone not having played a minute of code in months.
Havili is the same. Why the fuck are they taking guys to a tournament that have been long-term broken?
And surely after the weekend Cristie gets punted in to the sun
I actually see him fully fit as a bench option with his utility value and energy, but not if he’s underdone
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@ACT-Crusader said in AB RWC Squad predictions:
@mariner4life if a player wasn’t in or around the AB side this weekend (playing, training or even a Foodbill) or playing NPC, then they surely aren’t going.
i would like to thikn so
i wonder if Retallick's status will force a late re-think?
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@kiwiinmelb said in AB RWC Squad predictions:
@mariner4life said in AB RWC Squad predictions:
taking Blackadder would be up there with the all-time dumb moves. I don't even see where he fits in teh side, let alone not having played a minute of code in months.
Havili is the same. Why the fuck are they taking guys to a tournament that have been long-term broken?
And surely after the weekend Cristie gets punted in to the sun
I actually see him fully fit as a bench option with his utility value and energy, but not if he’s underdone
over Dalton?
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@kiwiinmelb said in AB RWC Squad predictions:
@mariner4life said in AB RWC Squad predictions:
taking Blackadder would be up there with the all-time dumb moves. I don't even see where he fits in teh side, let alone not having played a minute of code in months.
Havili is the same. Why the fuck are they taking guys to a tournament that have been long-term broken?
And surely after the weekend Cristie gets punted in to the sun
I actually see him fully fit as a bench option with his utility value and energy, but not if he’s underdone
When was the last time he played? When was the last time he stood out apart from "energy"? I want players that have impacts.
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@mariner4life said in AB RWC Squad predictions:
And surely after the weekend Cristie gets punted in to the sun
I'm resigned to the fact he's going. There's no way short of injury that they'd suddenly select a bloke that's not been in the squad forever over him.
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@mariner4life said in AB RWC Squad predictions:
@kiwiinmelb said in AB RWC Squad predictions:
@mariner4life said in AB RWC Squad predictions:
taking Blackadder would be up there with the all-time dumb moves. I don't even see where he fits in teh side, let alone not having played a minute of code in months.
Havili is the same. Why the fuck are they taking guys to a tournament that have been long-term broken?
And surely after the weekend Cristie gets punted in to the sun
I actually see him fully fit as a bench option with his utility value and energy, but not if he’s underdone
over Dalton?
Not now , at his best he could challenge that maybe , but it’s important we go in with match hardened forwards, particularly with Brodie already in cotton wool , let’s hit the ground running .
The 6 weeks will go quickly -
@mariner4life said in AB RWC Squad predictions:
taking Blackadder would be up there with the all-time dumb moves. I don't even see where he fits in teh side, let alone not having played a minute of code in months.
Havili is the same. Why the fuck are they taking guys to a tournament that have been long-term broken?
And surely after the weekend Cristie gets punted in to the sun
Agree on Blackadder - but, I'll be amazed if they pick him.
Havili has only been out for a couple of months max and was playing well before he got injured. He can fit in three or four more games before the tournament starts - it's a non-issue. He's "figured prominently"(thanks Hinton) in AB teams for the past two years. I'll be amazed if he misses out.
I haven't re-watched the first 10 minutes of Saturday's game - but after that, Christie was one of our best. Passing was decisive and accurate. Mind you, he didn't have to make that many, because we barely strung together three phases before someone fucked up. He'll be sitting in Seat 1B next to Nuggie!
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@antipodean said in AB RWC Squad predictions:
@mariner4life said in AB RWC Squad predictions:
And surely after the weekend Cristie gets punted in to the sun
I'm resigned to the fact he's going. There's no way short of injury that they'd suddenly select a bloke that's not been in the squad forever over him.
If roigard is their preferred bench option.
I see more value in picking Weber to partner dmac in pool games .
But like you say do they wind that back ?
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@Chris-B said in AB RWC Squad predictions:
Havili has only been out for a couple of months max and was playing well before he got injured. He can fit in three or four more games before the tournament starts - it's a non-issue. He's "figured prominently"(thanks Hinton) in AB teams for the past two years. I'll be amazed if he misses out.
me too.
i guess, for me he is one of the last vestiges of the "old guard" ABs that just weren't as good as the team is now. If we are wedded to RM and BB, then a 3rd playmaker in the backline makes no sense.
But i guess Ennor's injury means we are forced to take him as there are literally no other AB experienced midfielders available.
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@mariner4life said in AB RWC Squad predictions:
@Chris-B said in AB RWC Squad predictions:
Havili has only been out for a couple of months max and was playing well before he got injured. He can fit in three or four more games before the tournament starts - it's a non-issue. He's "figured prominently"(thanks Hinton) in AB teams for the past two years. I'll be amazed if he misses out.
me too.
i guess, for me he is one of the last vestiges of the "old guard" ABs that just weren't as good as the team is now. If we are wedded to RM and BB, then a 3rd playmaker in the backline makes no sense.
But i guess Ennor's injury means we are forced to take him as there are literally no other AB experienced midfielders available.
This.
He might have been on the edge of the squad, but he is now pretty firmly locked in as I see it.
It might strengthen the case for LF over Clarke as well, so he can have a run at 13 in a pool game.
