All Blacks XV 2024
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@reprobate said in All Blacks XV 2024:
@Nepia said in All Blacks XV 2024:
@reprobate said in All Blacks XV 2024:
It helps keep the third choice guys happy and in the country which helps our depth and the quality of super rugby - we might have kept e.g. Bundee Aki.
Aki left when he was well down the depth chart. He's a poor example to use of a player we might have kept.
Just a general point really: if you keep more guys in the AB frame, they are less likely to leave. Kids who are barely even deserving of a super starting spot yet are not likely to leave, and are not really of benefit to the AB squad. It's better to keep those guys, because you never know when the guys ahead of them are going to have a bad injury, form fall off a cliff, or go overseas themselves.
I don't think he was that far down though - who was ahead of him: Nonu, Francis, Malakai at most - and the latter 2 not very convincing?Aki left because he wanted to, not because he wasn't apprenticing in the ABs, he was a second year Super player and he went solely for money. He didn't leave for international rugby because he could have immediately played for Samoa.
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@frugby How can it be profitable to travel all that way for a 2-game tour?
They are taking a 10 person management team and 30 players, like at least play more games and make it a worthwhile trip for everyone involved?
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@Nepia said in All Blacks XV 2024:
@reprobate said in All Blacks XV 2024:
@Nepia said in All Blacks XV 2024:
@reprobate said in All Blacks XV 2024:
It helps keep the third choice guys happy and in the country which helps our depth and the quality of super rugby - we might have kept e.g. Bundee Aki.
Aki left when he was well down the depth chart. He's a poor example to use of a player we might have kept.
Just a general point really: if you keep more guys in the AB frame, they are less likely to leave. Kids who are barely even deserving of a super starting spot yet are not likely to leave, and are not really of benefit to the AB squad. It's better to keep those guys, because you never know when the guys ahead of them are going to have a bad injury, form fall off a cliff, or go overseas themselves.
I don't think he was that far down though - who was ahead of him: Nonu, Francis, Malakai at most - and the latter 2 not very convincing?Aki left because he wanted to, not because he wasn't apprenticing in the ABs, he was a second year Super player and he went solely for money. He didn't leave for international rugby because he could have immediately played for Samoa.
he left for international, he was a project player, specifically signed with the intention of representing Ireland in the future. So money and internationally rugby
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@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks XV 2024:
@Nepia said in All Blacks XV 2024:
@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks XV 2024:
@Nepia said in All Blacks XV 2024:
@reprobate said in All Blacks XV 2024:
It helps keep the third choice guys happy and in the country which helps our depth and the quality of super rugby - we might have kept e.g. Bundee Aki.
Aki left when he was well down the depth chart. He's a poor example to use of a player we might have kept.
The issue with Aki was Hansen selecting Francis Saili over him in 2013.
That's appears to just be your personal preference, Aki didn't even start for the Chiefs in the finals games in 2013.
And Saili wasn't even starting for the Blues in 2013 when he got picked for the mid Super AB squad....
Which doesn't make it the issue with Aki. It's just two players who weren't ready for the ABs only the one you don't like was selected.
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@Machpants said in All Blacks XV 2024:
@Nepia said in All Blacks XV 2024:
@reprobate said in All Blacks XV 2024:
@Nepia said in All Blacks XV 2024:
@reprobate said in All Blacks XV 2024:
It helps keep the third choice guys happy and in the country which helps our depth and the quality of super rugby - we might have kept e.g. Bundee Aki.
Aki left when he was well down the depth chart. He's a poor example to use of a player we might have kept.
Just a general point really: if you keep more guys in the AB frame, they are less likely to leave. Kids who are barely even deserving of a super starting spot yet are not likely to leave, and are not really of benefit to the AB squad. It's better to keep those guys, because you never know when the guys ahead of them are going to have a bad injury, form fall off a cliff, or go overseas themselves.
I don't think he was that far down though - who was ahead of him: Nonu, Francis, Malakai at most - and the latter 2 not very convincing?Aki left because he wanted to, not because he wasn't apprenticing in the ABs, he was a second year Super player and he went solely for money. He didn't leave for international rugby because he could have immediately played for Samoa.
he left for international, he was a project player, specifically signed with the intention of representing Ireland in the future. So money and internationally rugby
Regardless, it wasn't not being brought into train with the ABs in 2013 that "made" him go. He's a bad example of the point being made.
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@frugby said in All Blacks XV 2024:
Suppose part of it comes down to being able to find competitive games. Portugal could have been fun, but that said reckon we'd still smoke em.
The fact that the Georgia game will be played in France (where a lot of their players play club rugby) suggests this is the situation. RugbyPass says that England A is playing Australia A on Nov 18 so maybe they could have played some A teams. Hard to organise at late notice though with the NH club situation.
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In the hypothetical world where Aki stayed in NZ, he doesn't crack the ABs until at least 2016, because he would have remained behind Smith, Nonu, SBW (who returned from league) and Fekitoa (who had just guided the Highlanders to the SR title).
In this hypothetical world, I reckon he possibly goes to the Blues because SBW was coming back, and Nonu had just left to the Hurricanes... or Tamanivalu didn't end up at the Chiefs (who bolted into the ABs).
All things considered, Aki possibly makes the ABs that year, considering ALB and Tamanivalu bolted in, but they were centres. I doubt he gets in ahead of Crotty or SBW, so in short, he probably still ends up leaving anyway.
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@Nepia said in All Blacks XV 2024:
@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks XV 2024:
@Nepia said in All Blacks XV 2024:
@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks XV 2024:
@Nepia said in All Blacks XV 2024:
@reprobate said in All Blacks XV 2024:
It helps keep the third choice guys happy and in the country which helps our depth and the quality of super rugby - we might have kept e.g. Bundee Aki.
Aki left when he was well down the depth chart. He's a poor example to use of a player we might have kept.
The issue with Aki was Hansen selecting Francis Saili over him in 2013.
That's appears to just be your personal preference, Aki didn't even start for the Chiefs in the finals games in 2013.
And Saili wasn't even starting for the Blues in 2013 when he got picked for the mid Super AB squad....
Which doesn't make it the issue with Aki. It's just two players who weren't ready for the ABs only the one you don't like was selected.
That's where we agree to disagree. I thought Aki had shown enough to be selected.
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Aki was nowhere near the All Blacks when he left. I don't think he would have ever made the team.
@African-Monkey Brodie McAlister was excellent fo the Crusaders in 2023, showed all the attributes needed to be an All Black (not to mention the physical size too). It's only since then that he's had injury issues.
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@Machpants said in All Blacks XV 2024:
@MN5 said in All Blacks XV 2024:
Aki would have matured late, all the physical gifts there already and the subtleties would have come later AKA Nonu.
I’d take him in an absolute heartbeat over Jordie.
Nice 20:20 hindsight
I woulda said the same in 2017
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@Mr-Fish said in All Blacks XV 2024:
If the All Blacks XV were being selected with an eye to the future, as opposed to just the current 'next best' squad, then I think we'd see something along the lines of:
Hookers (2): Brodie McAlister, Jack Taylor
Props (5): George Bower, Xavier Numia, Kauvaka Kauivelata, Marcel Renata, Saula Ma'u
Locks (3): Josh Lord, Fabian Holland, Zach Gallagher
Loose forwards (7): Oliver Haig, Malachi Wrampling, Cameron Suafoa, Peter Lakai, Sean Withy, Hoskins Sotutu, Simon Parker
Halfbacks (2): Noah Hotham, Folau Fakatava
First fives (1): Josh Jacomb
Centres (4): AJ Lam, Quinn Tupaea, Dallas McLeod, Gideon Wrampling
Wings (3): Kini Naholo, Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, Emoni Narawa
Fullbacks (2): Ruben Love, Zarn Sullivan, Chay FihakiA couple of slightly more experienced guys in there but largely forward-thinking.
But suspect there'll be some names like Cullen Grace in there.
I think that depends entirely on how far into the future you're looking.
In my eyes the form players of SR who:
- Didn't make the AB squad, and
- Are contracted for at least next year to NZR
should be the ones selected. Even if the AB XV is considered a development squad, it requires guys with experience to mentor the younger guys and offer an incentive in case injury/ form strikes those selected before them.
We can't just keep throwing young guys in the deep end hoping that exposure is beneficial.
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@Mr-Fish said in All Blacks XV 2024:
Aki was nowhere near the All Blacks when he left. I don't think he would have ever made the team.
@African-Monkey Brodie McAlister was excellent fo the Crusaders in 2023, showed all the attributes needed to be an All Black (not to mention the physical size too). It's only since then that he's had injury issues.
He seemed to gain 10kg in the Irish ‘system’.
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@African-Monkey said in All Blacks XV 2024:
Why does Brodie McAlister get rated so highly? He's never been a regular starter at SR level and is always injured. What is it, 40 games in 6 seasons and is 27?
For all the criticism Ricci Riccitelli gets, at least he's a regular at SR level and was arguably the best performing SR hooker this year (with Aumua).
I'm not Riccitelli's biggest fan over the years by any stretch, but he deserves to be ahead of McAlister that's for sure.
One of the most debated topics on here recently, if Riccitelli wore a red and black jersey, would that help his chances?
Corey Flynn springs to mind.
