All Blacks 2024
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@frugby said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Bovidae said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
If Brodie McAlister was fit, does Bell even make the Crusaders 23? He has certainly been fortunate due to injuries to other hookers.
McAllister is back fit from what I've heard, Bell preferred.
Just to throw my two cents in on Riccitelli, what is the point in picking a 29 year old journeyman to be your number three hooker? Granted, I've heard Taukei'aho has done his achilles, so it really depends how badly, so he could be out for the year.
Did Riccitelli play well for the Blues? Yes. Is Riccitelli a good player? Yes. Is he ever going to be a test hooker? No. He's another Parsons. If we get an injury, he can always be called into the squad, but I'm quite happy for them to develop a younger third hooker, especially when in theory at this moment he really only is a placeholder.
Was his lineout throwing perfect? Of course it wasn't, but the other hookers the Crusaders used were hardly any better... it only improved right at the end of the year when they changed their locks. For those floors, Bell clearly has a bigger frame, and has the potential to grow into being an All Black hooker.
His defence was quite a lot stronger... (Aumua & Taukei'aho added for context)
what is the definition of a dominant tackle? No go-forward in contact?
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Well, that's a shit squad with no clear direction. Admittedly it's still an AB squad and nearly 3/4 of them pick themselves, so it isn't like we're going to be beaten by all and sundry, but it is a pretty disappointing start.
Bell. If you want to include a young guy who is nowhere near good enough now but you think is going to be a star, then bring him in but don't name him in the squad, name Riccitelli. That is better for both parties, and better for all players in NZ who see selection being made on merit. It's just shit man management to do what they've done, and if a hooker goes down and Bell has to throw pressure lineouts in a close game then what?
Do the same 'development player' with Sititi, and pick Sotutu, who has done more than enough.
Hell, do the same with Tosi.
And, pick a fucken fourth lock. IWL and Darry have both played better than Vaai, and while I'd love to see it happen, I've yet to see big Pat step it up at international level. We are thin there, and selections making it thinner.
Perofeta hasn't done enough. Nitpicking Sotutu's excellent performance and glossing over major inadequacies from Perofeta, Bell etc is again just showing double standards which is poor management.
Beauden Barrett is old and not as good as Plummer. McKenzie is light years ahead, but if he gets injured we are shot, and he's 29: we need to be developing another 10, not padding out BB's retirement.
What has happened to the AB legacy of world's best 7s. Jacobsen is Cane lite, and a penalty magnet. Dalton is the same player, just a tackler. A very good one sure, but he's hardly going to provoke fear in any tier 1 opposition. It's like Robertson wants more Robertsons / Reuben Thornes in the team. Clean slate, could have moved Ardie back to 7 and fixed the loosie balance problems we've been seeing throughout the previous tenure.
Ah, that feels better. -
D Duluth forked this topic on
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@African-Monkey Hoskins would be in the squad if Rangi went in to bat for him. Rangi has not gone in to bat for Hoskins. Hoskins is not in the squad.
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@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
What idiot thought putting Kirsty Stanway front and centre of so much of Sky Rugby coverage is a good idea?
Her voice makes me want to cut my ears off and her knowledge is awful.
I wouldn't mind her so much, except she seems to be almost yelling all the time.
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@frugby said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@sparky said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@MajorRage Ardie overlooked for the captaincy, albeit for a very good candidate in Scott Barrett
Akira Ioane, nowhere to be seen, although he's signed to go to Japan.
Hoskins Sotutu not included, but given some encouraging comments by the Head Coach.
We might not like it, but questions will be asked if there's a pattern here?
The irony here. Sotutu misses out to Sititi. Ioane misses out to Finau.
The Barrett as captain has nothing to do with racism, and everything to do with being a trusted ally.
No, I think Akira has missed out to Blackadder given they already have Dalts and Jacobson for the number 7 position. And it looks like that was always destined to happen, Akira was going to play second fiddle to Blackadder whom appears to be rated God like by this group of coaches even if he never plays. He must absolutely train the house down in between injuries.
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@JayCee said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
what is the definition of a dominant tackle? No go-forward in contact?
It's subjective isn't it? That's why watching a game even with multiple camera angles and analysts editing footage is so important. Live you really get an appreciation of the impact because one tackle where you don't lose ground isn't as good as one where you smash them back a metre.
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@No-Quarter said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@frugby said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@sparky said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@MajorRage Ardie overlooked for the captaincy, albeit for a very good candidate in Scott Barrett
Akira Ioane, nowhere to be seen, although he's signed to go to Japan.
Hoskins Sotutu not included, but given some encouraging comments by the Head Coach.
We might not like it, but questions will be asked if there's a pattern here?
The irony here. Sotutu misses out to Sititi. Ioane misses out to Finau.
The Barrett as captain has nothing to do with racism, and everything to do with being a trusted ally.
No, I think Akira has missed out to Blackadder given they already have Dalts and Jacobson for the number 7 position. And it looks like that was always destined to happen, Akira was going to play second fiddle to Blackadder whom appears to be rated God like by this group of coaches even if he never plays. He must absolutely train the house down in between injuries.
To elaborate further, in my view we need:
Two hard hitting powerful 6s. Best two we have is Finau and Akira.
Two blokes that will run all day and tackle themselves into the ground. Three best we have are Dalts, Jacobson and possibly Blackadder if he can ever get fit for a period of time.
Two number 8s. Best we have are Sotutu and Ardie, with Sititi a project player at this stage.They've made room for Blackadder at Akira's expense, and they've promoted a project player over Sotutu.
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@Crazy-Horse said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Sotutu will go down in my estimation if he does throw his toys out of the cot and plays for England. Cheapens international rugby too.
I don't begrudge any of those guys that have gone north. From their personal perspective they get to play Tier 1 rugby for the country of their ancestors, and make a load of coin in the process. No downside to that at all. NZ will always be vulnerable to the pull of players to their home countries as we are a country of immigrants.
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@No-Quarter i dont think i would blame him either, not sure he could have done much more to earn a spot, when would he be eligible though?
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Fuck Razor!
Totally bias (sic) against the Mako.
Under Fozzie we had about 10 guys in the team and now we've got three.
But that's not what irks me.
When Dame Patsy announced the team, what did I hear?
Ethan Blackadded, Crusaders, Canterbury!!!
Tyrel Lomax, Hurricanes, Wellington!!!I wouldn't have minded so much if they'd ascribed the ginga to someone else, but they did at least get him right.
I was too apoplectic to note whether she tried to balance the ledger when she got to the new Southlander - I bet she didn't!
C*nts!
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@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Fuck Razor!
Totally bias (sic) against the Mako.
Under Fozzie we had about 10 guys in the team and now we've got three.
But that's not what irks me.
When Dame Patsy announced the team, what did I hear?
Ethan Blackadded, Crusaders, Canterbury!!!
Tyrel Lomax, Hurricanes, Wellington!!!I wouldn't have minded so much if they'd ascribed the ginga to someone else, but they did at least get him right.
I was too apoplectic to note whether she tried to balance the ledger when she got to the new Southlander - I bet she didn't!
C*nts!
Jordie Barrett (Blues) was the biggest shocker. Panicked for a sec, thought we had lost another Barrett to the bad guys.
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Some of the people on here have thrown the toys out of the cot. Razors a racist now.
Just cause your guy didn’t get picked.
Next you’re going to tell me Razor demanded the white collars back cause there wasn’t enough white in the jersey.
Give yourself an upper cut. -
@chchfanatic sorry, where did anyone say racist?
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@Canes4life I missed that one.
Fuck me - who wrote her speech and didn't anyone proof read it?
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@sparky said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Do Robertson, Ryan and co. have a race problem?
Selection after selection after selection, they have overlooked a brown-skinned player for the paler alternative. A really grim start to the supposed new era.
@sparky said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@MajorRage Ardie overlooked for the captaincy, albeit for a very good candidate in Scott Barrett
Akira Ioane, nowhere to be seen, although he's signed to go to Japan.
Hoskins Sotutu not included, but given some encouraging comments by the Head Coach.
We might not like it, but questions will be asked if there's a pattern here?
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@sparky has had some interesting takes since the SF loss haha
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@taniwharugby i stand corrected, very much the minority opinion i feel though
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@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Jordie Barrett (Blues) was the biggest shocker. Panicked for a sec, thought we had lost another Barrett to the
badgood guys.fixed that for ya
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@No-Quarter said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Crazy-Horse said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Sotutu will go down in my estimation if he does throw his toys out of the cot and plays for England. Cheapens international rugby too.
I don't begrudge any of those guys that have gone north. From their personal perspective they get to play Tier 1 rugby for the country of their ancestors, and make a load of coin in the process. No downside to that at all. NZ will always be vulnerable to the pull of players to their home countries as we are a country of immigrants.
I don't care if they chase the coin, but from an international rugby point of view it does not sit easy with me. It is ridiculous that someone can switch allegences so easily and quickly, but that's probably for another thread. And to borrow a sledge against Folau, I am sure it's been a life long dream of his to play for England.
