All Blacks 2024
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McWhannel BTW...
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Frankly, all you have to do to pass the booboo test is do something really good, and then do it again. Both the above have caught my eye more than once.
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Victor Meldrewreplied to booboo on 5 Apr 2024, 09:43 last edited by Victor Meldrew 5 Apr 2024, 09:43
@booboo said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Funaki. Nice options. Will keep an eye on him.
Hard to judge fully behind a dominant pack, but I thought the same - fast pass too.
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@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@booboo said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Funaki. Nice options. Will keep an eye on him.
Hard to judge fully behind a dominant pack, but I thought the same - fast pass too.
I'm easily impressed Vic
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@booboo said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@booboo said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Funaki. Nice options. Will keep an eye on him.
Hard to judge fully behind a dominant pack, but I thought the same - fast pass too.
I'm easily impressed Vic
Makes you wonder if Christie being an incumbent AB prevents the selectors having a good, long look at him in SR
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@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@booboo said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Funaki. Nice options. Will keep an eye on him.
Hard to judge fully behind a dominant pack, but I thought the same - fast pass too.
One aspect which I was impressed with was the way h didn't fuck around at the breakdown - got in there and went after the ball and did his best to make sure it was safe if it was under threat. But yeah, aggressive, quick, good options.
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Victor Meldrewreplied to Bones on 5 Apr 2024, 10:29 last edited by Victor Meldrew 5 Apr 2024, 10:30
@Bones said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@booboo said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Funaki. Nice options. Will keep an eye on him.
Hard to judge fully behind a dominant pack, but I thought the same - fast pass too.
One aspect which I was impressed with was the way h didn't fuck around at the breakdown - got in there and went after the ball and did his best to make sure it was safe if it was under threat. But yeah, aggressive, quick, good options.
I'm not a Christie-basher and think he's an OK option closing out a game, but at times you can almost hear the cogs turning in his head at the base of the ruck.
Caleb Clarke impressed tonight as well. Some nice off-loads and actually ran fast and hard when he had the ball.
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@Victor-Meldrew was that Clarke with the run that set up Funaki? Wish I'd seen shitloads more of that guy. Fingers crossed he keeps it up.
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Yeah. Haven't watched him too closely, but he does seem to be running harder and faster this year while still trying to keep the ball alive.
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@pakman said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Chris said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Mr-Fish said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Fakatava has done nothing this year to justify his name being in the selection frame. For every good thing he does, he makes two or three bad decisions or passes. I'm not saying he won't get there with time, we all saw how good he was a few years back, but he's currently a shadow of that player and what he really needs now is consistent minutes on the park, not spending all his time on the training field.
I think we'll likely see Christie, Perenara and Ratima selected for the July Tests, with Roigard potentially returning to the mix for the EOYT. Fakatava should spend a full season playing for the Highlanders and Hawke's Bay.
Throughout the squad there shouldn't be too many changes...
Gone are Dane Coles, Nepo Laulala, Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Shannon Frizell, Aaron Smith, Cam Roigard, Richie Mo'unga, Leicester Fainga'anuku and Will Jordan (injury).
Given the above turnover, it's unlikely that someone experienced like Ofa Tu'ungafasi (and still young, in propping terms) will miss out. Ardie Savea, Sam Cane and Beauden Barrett will all likely still be selected too.
Coles - Aumua
Laulala - Ma'u, Numia, Dyer
Whitelock/Retallick - Lord and Tuipulotu, Strange, Walker-Leawere, McWhannell
Frizell - Ioane or Sotutu, Grace
Smith/Roigard - Perenara and Ratima
Mo'unga - Love or Perofeta
Fainga'anuku - Narawa, Proctor
Jordan - StevensonBower to replace Laulala rated highly by Ryan, even though he is a LH
he can cover TH so can Willliams.Please not Tamaiti at TH.
Neither Bower.
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Possible bolters :
Numia, Tosi, McWhannell, Proctor, Love.
I have been impressed by Tanielu Telea so far but I have serious doubts about a possible call. -
Bolters or just new caps? Feel like Numia, Proctor and Love have been steadily heading in that direction over the last couple of years, I don't think their selections would be a big shock.
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Possible New Caps based on the first half of the season: Numia, Walker-Leawere, McWhannell, Lakai, Iose, Proctor, Nanai-Seturo, Love, Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens.
Peter Lakai and Brayden Iose might be a bit little to play Test Rugby in the Backrow but they've been outstanding so far this season.
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@sparky said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Peter Lakai and Brayden Iose might be a bit little to play Test Rugby in the Backrow but they've been outstanding so far this season.
They aren't locks or front row forwards
Lakai 21 1.86 110kg
Iose 25 1.88 105kg
Savea 1.88/1.90 105kg
McCaw 1.87 107kg
Cane 32 1.89 108kg
Kirifi 27 1.81 102kg (maybe too small)Lakai in particular is easily big enough for a test 7. For me that's where his future lies. I expect him to be an AB this year if his current form continues.
Iose is playing great rugby but might be considered too small for an ideal 8. But he is about the same size as Savea. And can also play 7. But I doubt if he will make it this year. Unless there are injuries.
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Victor Meldrewreplied to cgrant on 6 Apr 2024, 18:35 last edited by Victor Meldrew 6 Apr 2024, 18:38
Bit early, but I'm keeping my eye on Lakai, Funaki and, after today, Wallace Sititi from the Chiefs. Agree on Proctor & Love. Finau is a lock-in for me.
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@Winger said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@sparky said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Peter Lakai and Brayden Iose might be a bit little to play Test Rugby in the Backrow but they've been outstanding so far this season.
They aren't locks or front row forwards
Lakai 21 1.86 110kg
Iose 25 1.88 105kg
Savea 1.88/1.90 105kg
McCaw 1.87 107kg
Cane 32 1.89 108kg
Kirifi 27 1.81 102kg (maybe too small)Lakai in particular is easily big enough for a test 7. For me that's where his future lies. I expect him to be an AB this year if his current form continues.
Iose is playing great rugby but might be considered too small for an ideal 8. But he is about the same size as Savea. And can also play 7. But I doubt if he will make it this year. Unless there are injuries.
Savea is so versatile he can adjust his height to suit playing openside ( 1.88 ) or number 8 ( 1.9 )
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It's amazing compared to 12 months ago the new talent that has arrived vying for a place in the ABs.
This year is guaranteed excitement. We could even have a loose trio of Savea, Finau and Sititi.The downer is knowing that NZR have given away 7.5% of the business or whatever it is and I have trouble making peace with that. It's incredible that NZR could be so short sighted. 2019-2023 was a complete and utter disaster for NZ rugby. WC excluded.
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Is T-cubed an option at 9 again?
What did he do wrong?
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Tahuriorangi's speed of passing is still noticeably slower than it used to be. When he made the ABs in 2018 he looked to be the new Aaron Smith.
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@booboo said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Is T-cubed an option at 9 again?
What did he do wrong?
On the strength of one game where the opposition provided a training run?
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@Bones said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@booboo said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Is T-cubed an option at 9 again?
What did he do wrong?
On the strength of one game where the opposition provided a training run?
Not sure if booboo meant because of the one game, but I wondered about the Funaki thing that I have read on forums, same thing unfortunately it hard to tell after playing such weak opposition.
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@sparky said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Possible New Caps based on the first half of the season: Numia, Walker-Leawere, McWhannell, Lakai, Iose, Proctor, Nanai-Seturo, Love, Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens.
Peter Lakai and Brayden Iose might be a bit little to play Test Rugby in the Backrow but they've been outstanding so far this season.
Iose weighs more than Sotutu and Jacobson.
and so does Lakai.
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@Bones I rate both finaki and TTT more than Christie to be honest. They got more X factor and passing is no worse that’s for sure
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@Bones said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@booboo said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Is T-cubed an option at 9 again?
What did he do wrong?
On the strength of one game where the opposition provided a training run?
I'm trying to work out what he did wrong 2-3 years ago.
I get Brad Weber overtook him, and I wouldn't have minded him in France in November I front of Christie ...
But I didn't get why T3 fell out of favour.
@Bovidae 's explanation is as good as I've seen.
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@Dan54 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@booboo said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Is T-cubed an option at 9 again?
What did he do wrong?
On the strength of one game where the opposition provided a training run?
Not sure if booboo meant because of the one game, but I wondered about the Funaki thing that I have read on forums, same thing unfortunately it hard to tell after playing such weak opposition.
Here.
I've counted Funaki in based on one game, this is absolutely true :), but I can't work out why T-cube forced his way out.
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@Bones said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@booboo dunno if he did anything more wrong than, say, Brett Cameron.
Harsh.
Can't see where he played himself out.
Any conspiracy theories?
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@Winger said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Iose is playing great rugby but might be considered too small for an ideal 8. But he is about the same size as Savea. And can also play 7. But I doubt if he will make it this year. Unless there are injuries.
I like what I've seen of him. I think he could grow into an Ardie type - he doesn't look too small on TV. The only problem for him is NZ is blessed with loose forwards; there's serious competition.
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@booboo said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@booboo said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Is T-cubed an option at 9 again?
What did he do wrong?
On the strength of one game where the opposition provided a training run?
I'm trying to work out what he did wrong 2-3 years ago.
I get Brad Weber overtook him, and I wouldn't have minded him in France in November I front of Christie ...
But I didn't get why T3 fell out of favour.
Bryn Hall was probably the most hard done by between 2018-2022, he actually offered a point of difference compared to the others being a much bigger halfback. Also the Crusaders looked like a different team after his departure (Blues 2022 final) ever since Crusaders have sorely missed his influence.
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@booboo said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@booboo dunno if he did anything more wrong than, say, Brett Cameron.
Harsh.
Can't see where he played himself out.
Any conspiracy theories?
From what I remember he only got game time with the Chiefs when Weber was injured. Made the ABs based on that, then never really started ahead of Weber back at the Chiefs the next year.
So maybe not being as good as other halfbacks was his issue? Leading to less game time, which lead to a drop in performance.
Either that or Hansen and Fozzie didn't want to be caught calling him 'Trip' instead of his full name again.
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Victor Meldrewreplied to delicatessen on 7 Apr 2024, 17:38 last edited by Victor Meldrew 7 Apr 2024, 17:39
Only two games to base it on, but I've been impressed by the second string 9's in the last few games. Hopefully Robertson can have a word with Vern Cotter and Clayton McMillan to sound things out.
Unlike, wingers, we don't seem to have an abundance of recognised talent at half-back.
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@Bones said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Dan54 Funaki has played more than one game. Has TTT played well in other games?
Yep mate, but never come up in discussion for ABs before as I recall. TTT was obviously an AB but has not exactly set the world on fire the last year or two has he(eithet at Chiefs or Crusaders)? That's what I meant, we probably need to see more top level rugby from them to suggest they near AB material. I certainly be happy if they do show it against good teams.
Whoops just came and added this, I can't talk about being quick of trigger, I was on here and telling people I reckoned I had seen a new AB halfback after seeing Roigard for about 20 minutes in a presesaon game last year!!
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@delicatessen said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
From what I remember he only got game time with the Chiefs when Weber was injured. Made the ABs based on that, then never really started ahead of Weber back at the Chiefs the next year.
Yeah, TTT didn't play much, and when he was given token minutes at the end of games probably tried too hard and wasn't that impressive. Remember that Christie was also a backup to Weber at one stage.
I think that there were some personal issues which affected his game after he made the ABs. Moving back to BOP more recently helped but often he didn't start for them in the NPC either.
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TTT was great for the Chiefs during the 2020 season before Covid hit (was much better than Weber IMO), then he got limited opportunities in Aotearoa.
Don't know if he's not a good trainer or whatever but he's one of those guys that, as mentioned, has only really been given small chances and has probably tried to overplay his hand.
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I feel like it was mentioned on here years ago that he turned up unfit and a bit out of shape around the year after his ABs debut and that his attitude needed adjusting.
Maybe it was one of the BOP posters who said it?
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He looked well off the pace for BOP. Slowness to the breakdown had him making mistakes quite often. But he now looks much much closer to his earlier best form.
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Christy Doran: Confirmed fanny
"Shannon Frizell was one of the great movers in New Zealand rugby last year, as he won the race to wear the No.6 jersey at last year’s World Cup.
But with Frizell in Japan this season, it’s unclear who Scott Robertson will turn to in 2024.
Capped loose-forward Samipeni Finau hits like a tonne of bricks.
In the post-Jerome Kaino era, there’s not been an All Blacks flanker who quite hits like Finau.
It’s one aspect Robertson will have taken notice of.
Whether Super Rugby officials are cottoning on to his propensity to target opposition playmakers remains to be seen. But they should.
After whacking Noah Lolesio and Tom Lyangh late, Finau followed it up by smoking William Havili after the playmaker had released the ball.
The incident came in the 38th minute.
Referee Ben O’Keeffe, who also thought the shot on Lynagh was legal, said at the time “it’s fine”.
Moments later, Havili asked O’Keeffe about the incident and wasn’t happy.
“I didn’t think it was late. I watched it,” O’Keeffe said. “My TMO just checked and confirmed (it was OK).”
That’s Finau’s third strike.
It’s more than fractionally late, it’s a targeted measure from the blindside flanker to go after the opposition playmaker just as they release the ball"
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