All Blacks 2024
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@No-Quarter said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
There's quite a few better options than him there at the moment
That the issue. There aren't. His brother is well and truly past his best and is still considered an option. And the very limited Brett Cameron is still rated an option too.
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@Bovidae said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Winger said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Didn't he start (or play) one test at first
Against the powerhouse Namibia. TJP also played at 1st 5 in the same game.
But the AB coaches must have seen his potential at first. Otherwise ...
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Here are my predictions for Robertson's first All Blacks squad...
Hooker - Codie Taylor, Samisoni Taukei'aho, Asafo Aumua
I can't see any changes here. I don't think any of the young guys coming through are likely to be ready for Test rugby in the next year or two so I think Robertson will refrain from bringing in anyone new.Prop - Ethan de Groot, Xaver Numia, Tamaiti Williams, Fletcher Newell, Tyrel Lomax, Ofa Tu'ungafasi
The propping group is quite young and should be incredibly well resourced for the next Rugby World Cup. Numia has been performing well each week and I think that will be recognised.Locks - Scott Barrett, Tupou Vaa'i, Patrick Tuipulotu, Jamie Hannah
This is where I can see Robertson going for his first bolter. The likes of IWL and Laughlan McWhannell have been putting in some good shifts but I think with a few years to prep, Robertson will be looking to the World Cup and go for a young second-rower, even if he isn't necessarily ready for international rugby just yet. If Josh Lord is fit then I expect him to get selected ahead of Hannah.Loose forwards - Sam Cane, Ardie Savea, Peter Lakai, Samipeni Finau, Dalton Papali'i, Hoskins Sotutu
The only chance that Sam Cane isn't selected is if he's not fully recovered from his back injury. While his red card in the WC final was costly, they probably wouldn't have made it past the quarter-final against Ireland without him. Savea and Papali'i are incumbents in good form and Sotutu has probably earned a recall. I think Lakai grabs the last spot ahead of Brayden Iose and Luke Jacobson. He's still fairly raw but it's hard to imagine anyone better at bringing him up to standard than Robertson.Halfbacks - TJ Perenara, Finlay Christie, Cortez Ratima
Folau Fakatava has been pretty poor this season and needs more minutes under his belt to prove he can get back to the form he displayed pre-injury. Perenara and Christie are experienced and Ratima is the next cab off the ranks in my books.First five - Damian McKenzie, Beauden Barrett, Josh Jacomb
I can see Robertson going for another bolter here. I'm not certain it will be Jacomb but he's probably ahead of Ajay Faleafaga. Similar to lock, I don't think the selectors will opt for a mid-20s toiler.Midfield - Jordie Barrett, RIeko Ioane, Anton Lienert-Brown, Billy Proctor
Picks itself.Outside backs - Caleb Clarke, Mark Tele'a, Ruben Love, Sevu Reece, Shaun Stevenson
Similar to the midfield. These guys are all in form and, other than Love, have all been in the set-up before.Next cabs off the rank: George Bell, Saula Ma'u, Reuben O'Neill, Laghlan McWhannell, Luke Jacobson, Taufa Funaki, Stephen Perofeta, Rameka Poihipi, Emoni Narawa.
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Pretty good selection and great analysis.
Halfback: I don't see him going for TJP and Christie. Prefer TJP, Funaki and Fakatava or Ratima. If he does and goes full-on experience and opts for Ginger & TJP, I'd go for Funaki over Ratima. (Def. want the latter given a chance though)
Loose forwards: Not sure Cane is going to be in the squad even if fit. I'm a big fan but think Scooter will get the captain role as Robertson may want to make a break from last year and I'm not sure a Cane selection fits with that. There's enough experience at 6/7/8
First-Five: Being talked up a bit, but Plummer is in with a shot. Can also cover 12 when the AB Midfield Curse strikes again. Don't want BB anywhere near 10.
Outside backs: Not sure about SS - depends where Robertson sees BB. Hopefully at 15 if selected.
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@Bones I never used to think much of him but I feel like he has been very good this year. Numia has also been the inform LH so yeah, one of the 2 is gonna be unlucky as I feel that we're pretty well served up front.
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@African-Monkey said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Bones I never used to think much of him but I feel like he has been very good this year. Numia has also been the inform LH so yeah, one of the 2 is gonna be unlucky as I feel that we're pretty well served up front.
Bower appears to have a very high work rate this year and hits hard on both sides of the ball. Reckon he's one of the best post tackle.
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@Bones said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
I'll be mildly surprised if Bower misses out.
Me too.
The selection of the props will also depend on where they want to play Ofa (if selected). He is playing LH but would have to be a TH in the group @Mr-Fish chose. I don't see Williams as anything other than a LH at this stage.
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Recent ABs coaching groups have always said they put a lot of emphasis on performance at the business end of the comp. That's going to (probably) adversely affect landers and saders players if true. But maybe Razor will prefer players that can go a full season with a low number of dips in form?
All very interesting as we really don't know his thinking or plans. This is the sort of thing NZR+ should be doing, Razor talking plans and players. Not hiding it all until the 'big reveal' -
@Machpants said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Recent ABs coaching groups have always said they put a lot of emphasis on performance at the business end of the comp. That's going to (probably) adversely affect landers and saders players if true. But maybe Razor will prefer players that can go a full season with a low number of dips in form?
All very interesting as we really don't know his thinking or plans. This is the sort of thing NZR+ should be doing, Razor talking plans and players. Not hiding it all until the 'big reveal'I'd expect Razor is talking either to the Super coaches or the players themselves
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@canefan said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Machpants said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Recent ABs coaching groups have always said they put a lot of emphasis on performance at the business end of the comp. That's going to (probably) adversely affect landers and saders players if true. But maybe Razor will prefer players that can go a full season with a low number of dips in form?
All very interesting as we really don't know his thinking or plans. This is the sort of thing NZR+ should be doing, Razor talking plans and players. Not hiding it all until the 'big reveal'I'd expect Razor is talking either to the Super coaches or the players themselves
As he should be, anything AB coach says in public can be taken wrong and have expectations etc completely out of context etc.
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@canefan said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Machpants said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Recent ABs coaching groups have always said they put a lot of emphasis on performance at the business end of the comp. That's going to (probably) adversely affect landers and saders players if true. But maybe Razor will prefer players that can go a full season with a low number of dips in form?
All very interesting as we really don't know his thinking or plans. This is the sort of thing NZR+ should be doing, Razor talking plans and players. Not hiding it all until the 'big reveal'I'd expect Razor is talking either to the Super coaches or the players themselves
Yeah I am more talking fan engagement, so much secrecy in ABs process. Open it up, it's an entertainment business now
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AB XV perhaps but he's done nothing to deserve an AB squad call up.
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@antipodean said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
AB XV perhaps but he's done nothing to deserve an AB squad call up.
He's been a little untidy at lineout and kickoffs. His strengths have been throwing his body around in general play plus he has a surprisingly good short passing game
I think he needs to
go on a cycleeat well and train hard -
@antipodean said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
AB XV perhaps but he's done nothing to deserve an AB squad call up.
except play for Canterbury
seriously though, from the little I have seen he looks a future talent. Josh Lord as well - important for our locks to step up after the loss of BBBR and TLSW (The Legend Sam Whitelock; figured he needed a 4 letter acronym like others)
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@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
In addition to the above, the 7 loosies that I think will be selected for the All Blacks XV are:
- Brayden Iose (Hurricanes)
- Billy Harmon (Highlanders)
- Devan Flanders (Hurricanes)
- Brad Shields (Hurricanes)
- Luke Jacobsen (Chiefs)
- Cullen Grace (Crusaders)
- Du Plessis Kirifi (Hurricanes)
This shows we have great depth in NZ atm.
The 33-year-old former English international? In our development team? He is a good player, but someone a bit more future focused seems a better option. Not denying he is a top player, it is just his black shirt window may be over.
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