All Blacks 2024
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@Mr-Fish said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@African-Monkey said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@sparky I understand that the AB coaches don't like Akira as well as a lot of non Blues fans, but he's very important to how this Blues side plays. We're a worse side without him out there, as we've see when he hasn't played. Cotter has gotten the best out of him playing in close quarters, where as previous coaches used him exclusively in the wider channels, to the point where he didn't look comfortable in his role in the ABs side once Ryan and Schmidt took over in 2022. If he got picked now to play the role they want him to play, he'd be far more comfortable in playing it.
Segner hasn't played much of late. He's a good player who does the core roles in every loose forward position very well, but isn't as strong in contact as the other Blues players yet, and I think he'd struggle at the next level currently. Lakai is better as someone who can play in all 3 positions in the loose.
I wouldn't be surprised if Ioane makes the All Blacks ahead of Sotutu, to be perfectly honest.
If the selectors plump for Savea, Papali'i, Finau, Lakai and Blackadder then I think all the positions are fairly well covered so there's no desperate need to go for any specific specialists, in which case either Sotutu or Ioane fits the bill, and I think Ioane is better suited to Test rugby.
To some degree it depends on what TWM are looking for. If they want specialist 7s and 8s, then Paps, Lakai, RD and Hoskins ought to be selected. Finau will be the hitman 6, which would leave Blackadder, Akira and Jacobson fighting for last place. The former has disadvantage of only having two games on which to be judged.
Tough area to pick from
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@Bones said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Dan54 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Dan54 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Canes4life why Ratima over Funaki?
But yeah interesting that Hotham has all of a sudden become a favourite for some after running the ball well in a couple of games (and looking awful earlier), yet others have been performing all season and now aren't as good...
What team does Hotham play for again?
Though to be fair mate, Hotham has been on NZR's radar as an up and comer for a few years now. Have heard him name checked etc by Steve Lancaster a year or 2 back when discussing players they have got on radar.
You can talk about this imaginary radar all you like, but I don't think it really means anything.
Well it just means they see them as players with a future at a high level. Doesn't mean they will get there, just they will be mentored etc.
I think they usually fairly good at picking players they see with a big future.
Not suggesting Hotham will go near ABs this year or anything. Mind you I still say I be very surprised if Christie isn't in AB squad as a 9.Good to hear they don't deem any other players have a future.
Go radar you good thing.
I know you being sarcastic (or hope so for your sake), but if anyone doesnt think players are on radar at every level of game they haven't been involved in the game very long. It's why some players get picked for academies etc, and others aren't . Doesn't ignore any other player in anyway.
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@pakman said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Mr-Fish said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@African-Monkey said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@sparky I understand that the AB coaches don't like Akira as well as a lot of non Blues fans, but he's very important to how this Blues side plays. We're a worse side without him out there, as we've see when he hasn't played. Cotter has gotten the best out of him playing in close quarters, where as previous coaches used him exclusively in the wider channels, to the point where he didn't look comfortable in his role in the ABs side once Ryan and Schmidt took over in 2022. If he got picked now to play the role they want him to play, he'd be far more comfortable in playing it.
Segner hasn't played much of late. He's a good player who does the core roles in every loose forward position very well, but isn't as strong in contact as the other Blues players yet, and I think he'd struggle at the next level currently. Lakai is better as someone who can play in all 3 positions in the loose.
I wouldn't be surprised if Ioane makes the All Blacks ahead of Sotutu, to be perfectly honest.
If the selectors plump for Savea, Papali'i, Finau, Lakai and Blackadder then I think all the positions are fairly well covered so there's no desperate need to go for any specific specialists, in which case either Sotutu or Ioane fits the bill, and I think Ioane is better suited to Test rugby.
To some degree it depends on what TWM are looking for. If they want specialist 7s and 8s, then Paps, Lakai, RD and Hoskins ought to be selected. Finau will be the hitman 6, which would leave Blackadder, Akira and Jacobson fighting for last place. The former has disadvantage of only having two games on which to be judged.
Tough area to pick from
Who the heck is RD?
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@Gunner said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@pakman said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Mr-Fish said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@African-Monkey said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@sparky I understand that the AB coaches don't like Akira as well as a lot of non Blues fans, but he's very important to how this Blues side plays. We're a worse side without him out there, as we've see when he hasn't played. Cotter has gotten the best out of him playing in close quarters, where as previous coaches used him exclusively in the wider channels, to the point where he didn't look comfortable in his role in the ABs side once Ryan and Schmidt took over in 2022. If he got picked now to play the role they want him to play, he'd be far more comfortable in playing it.
Segner hasn't played much of late. He's a good player who does the core roles in every loose forward position very well, but isn't as strong in contact as the other Blues players yet, and I think he'd struggle at the next level currently. Lakai is better as someone who can play in all 3 positions in the loose.
I wouldn't be surprised if Ioane makes the All Blacks ahead of Sotutu, to be perfectly honest.
If the selectors plump for Savea, Papali'i, Finau, Lakai and Blackadder then I think all the positions are fairly well covered so there's no desperate need to go for any specific specialists, in which case either Sotutu or Ioane fits the bill, and I think Ioane is better suited to Test rugby.
To some degree it depends on what TWM are looking for. If they want specialist 7s and 8s, then Paps, Lakai, RD and Hoskins ought to be selected. Finau will be the hitman 6, which would leave Blackadder, Akira and Jacobson fighting for last place. The former has disadvantage of only having two games on which to be judged.
Tough area to pick from
Who the heck is RD?
R2D2's little brother.
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@Dan54 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Not suggesting Hotham will go near ABs this year or anything. Mind you I still say I be very surprised if Christie isn't in AB squad as a 9.
I'll also be a bit surprised if Christie doesn't make it into this first selection. If I were Razor and Co. I'd be picking pretty much as much continuity as I could from last year and then slowly ease out the guys I'm less enamoured with (and slowly ease in my newbies). They're going to have at least half a dozen spots for rookies, as it is.**
In the forwards, especially, I'm inclined to think Ryan would have pretty much had everyone he wanted last year. In the backs there's probably a bit more scope for the new selectors to be thinking, "why the hell did they pick him"?
Have they ever said exactly who is on the AB selection panel? I presume Razor and Ryan (forwards coach) - which would then logically suggest Holland (backs coach)?
On Hotham, I think anyone who's starting at halfback for their Super team isn't going to be too far away from the ABs this year. They're going to pick three halfbacks, but then if someone gets an injury....
**I'm a pretty reactionary selector - Razor might be a lot more adventurous!
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@Bovidae said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Machpants said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Darry? No way
Strange it is then.
Mark Hinton has Quinten in the inside lane.
When pickings are slim Strange things happen!
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@gt12 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
It would be very fucking hard if Blackadder is selected as a 6 above guys doing the job there right now.
Its just not close to his best position - bench loosie, ok, but starting 6, blurc.
If they take 6 loosies, it should be pretty easy.
it would be a very Fozzie thing to do, get the 15 highest rated people on the pitch at the same time even if out of position
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@Kiwiwomble said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@gt12 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
It would be very fucking hard if Blackadder is selected as a 6 above guys doing the job there right now.
Its just not close to his best position - bench loosie, ok, but starting 6, blurc.
If they take 6 loosies, it should be pretty easy.
it would be a very Fozzie thing to do, get the 15 highest rated people on the pitch at the same time even if out of position
it's very unfair to make that a Fozzie thing. That's an AB thing.
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@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Kiwiwomble said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@gt12 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
It would be very fucking hard if Blackadder is selected as a 6 above guys doing the job there right now.
Its just not close to his best position - bench loosie, ok, but starting 6, blurc.
If they take 6 loosies, it should be pretty easy.
it would be a very Fozzie thing to do, get the 15 highest rated people on the pitch at the same time even if out of position
it's very unfair to make that a Fozzie thing. That's an AB thing.
maybe although i feel in the past it was due to having a genuine lack of depth in a position
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now you are creating sticks to beat him with. He's gone, the bad man can't hurt you know, Surf Jesus is here to make sure we never lose again
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@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Bovidae said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Machpants said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Darry? No way
Strange it is then.
Mark Hinton has Quinten in the inside lane.
When pickings are slim Strange things happen!
I don't think Hinton has a great track record of inside oil - he's just taking a guess.
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@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Bovidae said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Machpants said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Darry? No way
Strange it is then.
Mark Hinton has Quinten in the inside lane.
When pickings are slim Strange things happen!
I don't think Hinton has a great track record of inside oil - he's just stirring.
I imagine he's watching us having fun with it on here and decided to try and troll the rest of the country.
I will fucking laugh if Strange gets picked though. Deadshit central.
Drummies chances appear to have passed by though - it will have to be Hotham in the 9 shirt
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@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
now you are creating sticks to beat him with. He's gone, the bad man can't hurt you know, Surf Jesus is here to make sure we never lose again
it was more a critique of the practice of playing people out of position when there are options actually playing in that position, just using the most recent coach's experiments with that idea.....and the subsequent poor results....as an example
The Waikato Times
