AB RWC Squad
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question will be who would replace frizzel if he was injured. do they give finau a run in dunedin and see if he can perform at this level or is barrett there next choice . i would think who is there next choice will influence the makeup of locks and loose forwards.
my guess they see barrett as backup 6 against the top teams so they could take finau as a lock/6 for against minnows or pick lord and use vaii as a 6 for minnows -
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PROPS:
E de Groot
T Williams
O Tu'ungafasi
T Lomax
N Laulala
F NewellHOOKERS
C Taylor
D Coles
S Taukei'ahoLOCKS
S Barrett
S Whitelock
B Retallick
T Vaa'iLOOSIES
S Frizell
S Cane
A Savea
D Papali'i
L Jacobson
E BlackadderHALF BACKS
A Smith
C Roigard
F Christie (should be Fakatava instead of either Christie or Roigard)FIRST FIVES
R Mo'unga
B Barrett
D McKenzieMIDFIELD
J Barrett
R Ioane
A Lienert-Brown
D HaviliOUTSIDES
C Clarke
M Telea
W Jordan
L Fainga'anuku -
@Chris Do they need 6 with Williams and Ofa covering both sides , My take is
Hookers 3 , Props 5, Locks 5, loosies 6
19 Forwards ,14 Backs
Beauden, Talea, Jordan,Clarke
Reiko, ALB, Jordie, Havilli
Mounga, McKenzie
Smith, Christie,Roigard
And Bolter in the Backs ? Our maybe as U said Xtra prop -
I wouldn't be surprised if 5 locks are selected, and SB is considered an option at 6. If Frizell is their man they need to decide who is the backup. Vaa'i packed down at 6 in the short time he was on the field vs SA. For that reason I hope Finau is involved in Dunedin.
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I think 6 props is certain and I don’t see terribly many squad positions still up for grabs unless there are injuries.
Props: De Groot, Lomax, Laulala, Tu’ungafasi. 2 of Williams, Newell and Moody, probably the first two.
Hookers: Taylor, Taukei’hao, Coles
Locks: S. Barrett, B.Retallick, S. Whitelock, T. Vaa’i
Back row: S. Frizell, S. Cane, D. Papali’i, A.Savea, L. Jacobson. Either E. Blackadder or S. Finau, most likely E. Blackadder.
Half Back: A. Smith, F. Christie, C. Roigard
First Five: R. Mo’unga, D. McKenzie
Midfield: J.Barrett, R.Ioane, ALB, D.Havili
Back Three: W. Jordan, M. Telea, B. Barrett, C.Clarke, L. Fainga’anuku or Narawa.
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Think most of the squad picks itself at this point, is just that extra prop, loosie, half and an outside back up for grabs.
For me, at 9 I'd take Smith, Roigard and Webber, but know Christie isnthier preferred.
Blackadder, Havili, Ennor and Fainganuku all go to the wire, reckon Frizell finding form might make them more comfortable not taking the injury prone Blackadder, the other 3, who knows...
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It’s going to be a strong squad and mostly picks itself.
Josh Lord will be incredibly unlucky if he misses out.
Is it worth taking Moody for experience even though he hasn’t played much during the last two seasons? No my mind no as we have lots of experience elsewhere in the squad.
When will Ethan Blackadder be fit to play? Finau is certain to be given a chance to impress in Dunedin.
I’d prefer Weber or Fakatava to Christie, but I think the selectors will go with Christie.
I’d take Stevenson as the last back three player to give more Full Back cover but I think Fainganuku will go if he has a decent game in Dunedin.
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@sparky said in AB RWC Squad predictions:
Is it worth taking Moody for experience even though he hasn’t played much during the last two seasons? No my mind no as we have lots of experience elsewhere in the squad.
I think so. For me, he is the backup loosehead and would make an excellent addition off the bench. He is an integral part of maul defense, one of the better scrummagers, and was getting back to some good form.
