All Blacks 2024
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Hansen clearly had problems with Akira but Foster saw something and there was def. a big improvement in attitude and his dickhead-ness pretty much disappeared, but IIRC he never really kicked on in the big games.
He's had plenty of chances and at some stage the coaches need to move on. That said, he's still only 28.
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One of those guys with all the gifts - imo. He's so strong in contact but doesn't use his power in a direct enough way. Always takes little jinks before contact and doesn't like laying people out on defence like Finau does. Like a sevens player or back trapped in a bigger body. I vaguely remember one of the Canterbury posters saying Razor didn't want him the Canterbury squad.
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@Frank said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
One of those guys with all the gifts - imo. He's so strong in contact but doesn't use his power in a direct enough way. Always takes little jinks before contact and doesn't like laying people out on defence like Finau does. Like a sevens player or back trapped in a bigger body. I vaguely remember one of the Canterbury posters saying Razor didn't want him the Canterbury squad.
Those small steps are the key to why he often makes good post contact yards in tight space.
But sometimes what is needed is the direct hard carry, and he seems less inclined to take that on.
This is what I'm talking about:
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Fourth midfielder is really hard to pick this season. Looks like Ioane, Barrett, and Proctor will be shoe-ins, but there's not much after them. Does ALB limp in, or do they take a punt on an inexperienced 12? A lot of the younger players (Pohipi, Evans, Tupaea) have defensive issues, while Havili and McLeod are really out of form. Tele'a was playing well before his suspension.
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DMac at 10 is the most certain you could get. Finau at 6 is another unless you are blind. Reece or Telea? Or does one switch to the other wing? Or are they competing for the same position?
Blackadder in 45 minutes showed why he has the reputation but history says he will be broken in another 1.5 games. -
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Think they'll go for ALB for his versatility.
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@Victor-Meldrew That would be a very uninspiring selection. Guy is slow and just very average now. Also very often injured.
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@Tim
1 De Groot to start, Numia off the bench
2 Still wide open
3 Lomax
4 Scott Barrett
5 Still wide open
6 Finau probably
7 Papalii
8 Savea, but I hope Iose gets some game time.
9 Open between Fakatava, TJP and Christie.
10 DMac
11 Caleb Clarke has impressed me a lot this season
12 Jordie Barrett
13 Reiko Ioane
14 Mark Telea
15 Hopefully Ruben Love. -
@sparky de Groot has had about one good involvement per game this year. Looks unfit, and would be behind Tu'ungufasi (the Fern loves to bag him, but he is playing well and is a very good loosehead, who is frequently good off the bench for the ABs) and Numia. Obviously he can scrum, but if Williams comes back strongly then I think he could be in trouble. Depends on whether they want to go all out at the scrum, and whether they think he is the best player there.
Finau is smashing backs, but his involvement is inconsistent.
McKenzie has been very up and down this year. Maybe he is carrying an injury? His kicking game has been poor, and when he doesn't have fast ball he is struggling. Had a shocker last year against Australia, but that was his first game in a while.
Love is a classy player, covers a lot of ground in the backfield, and positioning is very good.
Roigard was a big loss.
A lot of positions up for grabs.
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@Tim said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Roigard was a big loss
9 is arguably the most open position. Ironically, Roigard's injury has opened up opportunities and the competition for the slot and the likes of Fakatava, TJP and Ratima seem to have upped their game.
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There are genuinely terrible players who get talked up for the All Blacks every year without fail. "TJ" is the worst offender. TOM FUCKING CHRISTIE! Quentin Strange! Worst lock in professional rugby Pari Pari Parkinson is always there, and is the softest lock since Mark Cooksley. Callum Grace is the worst defender in NZ. Often these terrible commentators fall back on "he is the best lineout 8 in the country, he calls the lineouts." Revel in his excellence:
Sotutu is by far the best lineout loose forward in the country.
Now lets put George Bell and Brodie McAllister in the NZ XV, then pretend that George Bower is anything but a club player. Don't forget to talk up some horribly shit Highlanders players. Sam Gilbert used to get mentioned. Too bad he cannot move sideways and has no skills.
Flush that shit and never speak of it again.
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Aumua has made a big claim on the hooker spot this year and today took another step
Forward for it.What’s the deal with Taylor this year. Is he to be considered for the All Blacks?
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@DaGrubster Apparently he will be back in time for the playoffs. Maybe he can get some club games in?
