AB RWC Squad
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Also think Schmidt is making a difference. As I lived in Ireland during a lot of the Schmidt era, I watched virtually all of Ireland's games. His sides were always well-drilled. Yes he came up short in his 2 RWC attempts, but in the first he had really bad luck with injuries (he lost many of his best players in the final pool game vs France) and in 2019, Ireland did their choke vs a well-performed NZ side.
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If Caleb Clark was playing like prime Jonah Lomu you’d make the concession for him.
But he isn’t playing any better than the others currently .
Never played better than the others in his previous body of work either.
Only plays one position.
I don’t see the point of his selection at all.
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@Steve said in AB RWC Squad:
If Caleb Clark was playing like prime Jonah Lomu you’d make the concession for him.
But he isn’t playing any better than the others currently .
Never played better than the others in his previous body of work either.
Only plays one position.
I don’t see the point of his selection at all.
Unless it’s for pure beef against the Irish and French. Fight fire with fire.
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@Machpants said in AB RWC Squad:
Whereas now we have 3 locks and 5 loosies, fucking Muppet
Don't we have 4 - Sam, BBBR (assuming he gets over his injury) , Scooter & Vai'i?
RWC, the ideal place for excitements. Did a lot of that in the run up to the quarters in 07
Fair point, they have spent much of the last 12 months sorting out the top 15 & 23 and haven't had much chance to tweak things around the edges.
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@Billy-Tell said in AB RWC Squad:
Fair play to Jacobsen. He was really on the outer under foster but had fought his way back in. I think he is a better option than the likes of akira and sotutu. Does the basics well and reliably even if he is less flash.
I agree with the above comment. A year ago we were no chance now we are a definite chance. Hardest match outside the final will be the ¼ final. Yes the opening match will be tough but it’s only to decide who wins the pool. And with the lopsided draw it probably decides if we play Ireland or SA. But would love Scotland to knock Ireland (or SA) out.
Yeah I'm a big fan. Has the attributes to make an impact. The kind of player we need IMHO.
I'd tend to agree that Clark could have been left out but he's no Zac Guildford selection.
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@Steve said in AB RWC Squad:
@Steve said in AB RWC Squad:
If Caleb Clark was playing like prime Jonah Lomu you’d make the concession for him.
But he isn’t playing any better than the others currently .
Never played better than the others in his previous body of work either.
Only plays one position.
I don’t see the point of his selection at all.
Unless it’s for pure beef against the Irish and French. Fight fire with fire.
Penaud, Lowe and Hansen don't exactly strike me as big boppers. Can't think of the other french wing.
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@Bones said in AB RWC Squad:
@Steve said in AB RWC Squad:
@Steve said in AB RWC Squad:
If Caleb Clark was playing like prime Jonah Lomu you’d make the concession for him.
But he isn’t playing any better than the others currently .
Never played better than the others in his previous body of work either.
Only plays one position.
I don’t see the point of his selection at all.
Unless it’s for pure beef against the Irish and French. Fight fire with fire.
Penaud, Lowe and Hansen don't exactly strike me as big boppers. Can't think of the other french wing.
I mean for coming in off a strike move like Julian used to off Carter. Yards up the guts.
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@sparky said in AB RWC Squad:
@ACT-Crusader Or Hoskins Sotutu.
I think there has been a fall from grace there and the fact that there had been a sighting of Ioane around the squad plus the precautionary requests flying around, I reckon he’s first cab off the rank.
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Something has happened with Hoskins Sotutu that clearly ‘people in the know’ know. But I haven’t got a scooby about.
Anyway, great to see him playing NPC and I wish him well. What a talent!
I think in terms of pure ability (obviously being an All Black is about much more than that), he and Akira are the main ‘casualties’ not to make the cut for this NZ RWC squad.
Hopefully he can do a Ma’a Nonu and be back better than ever before for future World Cups.
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@Steve said in AB RWC Squad:
@Steve said in AB RWC Squad:
If Caleb Clark was playing like prime Jonah Lomu you’d make the concession for him.
But he isn’t playing any better than the others currently .
Never played better than the others in his previous body of work either.
Only plays one position.
I don’t see the point of his selection at all.
Unless it’s for pure beef against the Irish and French. Fight fire with fire.
Only watched the game the once live but thought in the first bledisloe when he came on he was doing a lot of in close work , looking for ball close to the ruck, pick and driving with the forwards etc
I’m guessing it’s still between him and leister to get that role
Still feels like one too many though , even allowing for Jordan potentially needing to play some fb
Have havilli and leister played together in midfield?
Thinking of pool games. -
What stands out is we had 9 locks/LF when the squad was 30 but we still have 9 when the squad is 33. Seems like an oversight not to pick one more.
I’m curious if there are stats for injuries by position and if forwards get injured more than backs or is it an even split?
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@Billy-Tell said in AB RWC Squad:
Fair play to Jacobsen. He was really on the outer under foster but had fought his way back in.
I am happy for Luke and DMac after missing the 2019 RWC for different reasons.
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@kiwiinmelb said in AB RWC Squad:
@Steve said in AB RWC Squad:
@Steve said in AB RWC Squad:
If Caleb Clark was playing like prime Jonah Lomu you’d make the concession for him.
But he isn’t playing any better than the others currently .
Never played better than the others in his previous body of work either.
Only plays one position.
I don’t see the point of his selection at all.
Only watched the game the once live but thought in the first bledisloe when he came on he was doing a lot of in close work , looking for ball close to the ruck, pick and driving with the forwards etc
I’m guessing it’s still between him and leister to get that role
Still feels like one too many though , even allowing for Jordan potentially needing to play some fb
Have havilli and leister played together in midfield?
Thinking of pool games.Clarke looked good amongst their forwards, he and Leicester don't look overpowered at all, I just think Clarke isn't the full package just yet, hope I'm proven wrong as he seems a good guy and eager to learn.
Given ongoing injuries to our older locks plus Cane and Jacobson though I wish they had one more hardened forward in there. -
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Havili and a wing? Edit: not sure though as Ennor is a 13/wing so probably Leicester would be left out not DH as like for like.
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@frugby said in AB RWC Squad:
In a world where Blackadder and Ennor were fit, do we think they would have gone to the World Cup? And if so, who would have missed out?
Probably both
Jacobson is the guy that can cover all three loosie positions. He would be the obvious one for Blackadder to replace as they do the same role
Ennor the centre/wing (according to AB selectors) would probably be in for the wing/centre LF
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In the press conference Foster said that they don't see LF as a starting centre but someone who can come off the bench to play there. That might mean DMac/LF as an alternative in the 22 and 23 jerseys in some games, particularly if Jordan starts at fullback.
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@kiwiinmelb said in AB RWC Squad:
Have havilli and leister played together in midfield?
Remember how the Chiefs beat the Crusaders 21 -24 in Christchurch in 2022? Two weeks later, Razor had a trick up his sleeve when the Crusaders made the return visit to Hamilton: a midfield of Havili and Fainga'anuku. LF looked like a angry battering ram who kept pounding the Chiefs defence over and over again. That combo was very effective in that game, won by the Crusaders, but I can't remember Razor using it again.
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I remember an interview with Ryan a while back and he spoke glowingly about Blackadder , that’s what led me to believe he’s right in the frame if he gets himself fit .
On the fringe utility types, I think it’s easy to dismiss their importance to the squad , i remember the maligned toeava starting in a different position in each game in pool play in 11 . Important one being when the fullbacks mils and dagg both had niggles .
