All Blacks vs Wales
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After this weekend i would pick the following from the fringe guys.<br><br>
A Savea in<br>
Scott Barrett in<br>
Luatua in <br>
Elliot Dixon in<br>
Moala in<br>
Dagg in<br>
Ngatai in (if his head is right)<br>
Sopoaga in<br>
Pat t in<br>
Webber in (assuming tkb is out and they want 3x 9s)<br><br>
Romano out<br>
Todd not in<br>
Taufua not in<br>
D mac not in(waiting until eoyt for a chance)<br>
Luke whitelock not in <br>
Bird not in<br><br>
Front row i wouldnt have a clue. Maybe Ash Dixon as 3rd hooker and Reg Goodes plus someone to fill in until Laulala gets back. <br><br>
Not sure if Steve Hanson has been getting my texts though. -
<p>Yeah i would pick Dagg over DMac , </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Just think if B Smith or Naholo went down now , id prefer Dagg starting a test match at this stage of their careers , </p>
<p> </p>
<p>If Dmac is going to be good enough , his time will come IMO </p> -
<p><sup>Sparky's Squad</sup></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><sup><span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:calibri;">Props: Wyatt Crockett, Charlie Fauminia, Owen Franks, Reggie Goodes<em>,</em> Joe Moody</span></span></sup></p>
<p><sup><span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:calibri;">Hookers: Dane Coles, Ash Dixon, Codie Taylor</span></span></sup></p>
<p><sup><span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:calibri;">Locks: Scott Barrett, Brodie Retallick, Patrick Tuipolotu, Sam Whitelock,</span></span></sup></p>
<p><sup><span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:calibri;">Loose Forwards: Sam Cane, Elliott Dixon, Jerome Kaino, Steven Lautua, Kieron Read, Ardie Savea</span></span></sup></p>
<p><sup><span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:calibri;">Half Backs: TJ Perenera, Aaron Smith, Brad Weber</span></span></sup></p>
<p><sup><span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:calibri;">First Five: Beauden Barrett, Aaron Cruden, Lima Sopoaga, </span></span></sup></p>
<p><sup><span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:calibri;">Midfield: Ryan Crotty, Malakai Fekitoa, George Moala, Charlie Ngati,</span></span></sup></p>
<p><sup><span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:calibri;">Back Three:, Israel Dagg, , Cory Jane, Waisake Naholo, Julian Savea, Ben Smith</span></span></sup></p> -
Gatland giving a big hint on his Wales team tactics by picking by selecting Dan Lydiate as openside & captain for tomorrow's test vs England. So much for attempting to grow & evolve the Welsh gameplan.
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="pooler fan" data-cid="583565" data-time="1464442373">
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<p>Gatland giving a big hint on his Wales team tactics by picking by selecting Dan Lydiate as openside & captain for tomorrow's test vs England. So much for attempting to grow & evolve the Welsh gameplan.</p>
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<p>That game is on Sky NZ Rugby channel 1:50am Monday. Interested to see how the young Kiwi loosie Harrison goes for England. Jones has big wraps on him.</p>
<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.rugby365.com/countries/england/73245-england-banking-on-street-fighter-against-wales'>http://www.rugby365.com/countries/england/73245-england-banking-on-street-fighter-against-wales</a></p> -
He'll probably have a field day at the breakdown without a genuine openside playing for Wales.<br>
He's looked impressive for Northampton. -
<p>According to Liam Napier at Stuff this is going to be the AB's squad to play Wales:</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/80495144/all-blacks-to-balance-form-and-experience-for-squad-to-face-wales-in-june'>http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/80495144/all-blacks-to-balance-form-and-experience-for-squad-to-face-wales-in-june</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Charlie Faumuina, Owen Franks, Wyatt Crockett, Joe Moody, Ofa Tu'ungafasi, Dane Coles, Codie Taylor, Nathan Harris, Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Patrick Tuipulotu, Luke Romano, Sam Cane, Ardie Savea, Kieran Read, Elliot Dixon, Jerome Kaino, Aaron Smith, TJ Perenara, Brad Weber/Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Aaron Cruden, Beauden Barrett, Lima Sopoaga, Charlie Ngatai, Ryan Crotty, Malakai Fekitoa, George Moala, Israel Dagg, Ben Smith, Damian McKenzie, Julian Savea, Waisake Naholo </p>
<p><strong> - Sunday Star Times</strong></p> -
<p>5 loose forwards only allowing them to avoid the McKenzie vs Dagg choice.</p>
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<p>My only reservation with that squad would be Tu'ungafasi...but the selection panel have credit ++ in the bank.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="sparky" data-cid="583574" data-time="1464459828">
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<p>According to Liam Napier at Stuff this is going to be the AB's squad to play Wales:</p>
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<p>Is he saying that? It seems to be just his crack at it. I know in the past he has been able to nail some EOYT and TRC squads - but the June one has rarely been broken ahead of time.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Nepia" data-cid="583553" data-time="1464434743">
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<p>Seriously, how did Luke of the Whitelocks get to the fringe from one good game in ... I'm thinking of the years, maybe a Cantab fan can tell me when he had a good game at NPC sometime?</p>
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<p>He's been good this season. It's more than one good game but not good enough for the All Blacks.</p>
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<p>I actually really like Sparky's squad.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="rotated" data-cid="583583" data-time="1464462872">
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<p>Is he saying that? It seems to be just his crack at it. I know in the past he has been able to nail some EOYT and TRC squads - but the June one has rarely been broken ahead of time.</p>
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<p>Speaking of which. What time is the announcement?</p> -
<p>If that Herald squad is correct (it also matches another leak of new names I saw), then Luatua is pretty hard done by.</p>
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<p>He looks to be really knuckling down and purposely putting away the flashy stuff. He is playing Test style rugby at Super level rather than looking for the highlights reel.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Crucial" data-cid="583589" data-time="1464466401">
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<p>Speaking of which. What time is the announcement?</p>
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<p>10 am I think.</p>
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<p>Who is the fucker who gives these leaks to the media? AB squad announcement should be as tightly guarded secret as the Reserve Bank OCR.</p>
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<p>Napier's squad looks "right" to me - if he's saying this is it then it doubtless is.</p> -
Forwards<br>Hookers<br>Dane Coles (Wellington, 36 Tests)<br>Codie Taylor (Canterbury, four Tests)<br>Nathan Harris (Bay of Plenty, two Tests)<br>Props<br>Wyatt Crockett (Canterbury, 45 Tests)<br>Charlie Faumuina (Auckland, 33 Tests)<br>Owen Franks (Canterbury, 78 Tests)<br>Joe Moody (Canterbury, 11 Tests)<br>Ofa Tu'ungafasi (Auckland, new cap)<br>Locks<br>Brodie Retallick (Hawke's Bay, 47 Tests)<br>Luke Romano (Canterbury, 22 Tests)<br>Patrick Tuipulotu (Auckland, seven Tests)<br>Samuel Whitelock (Canterbury, 73 Tests)<br>Loose Forwards<br>Sam Cane (Bay of Plenty, 31 Tests)<br>Elliot Dixon (Southland, new cap)<br>Jerome Kaino (Auckland, 67 Tests)<br>Kieran Read, captain (Canterbury, 84 Tests)<br>Ardie Savea (Wellington, new cap)<br>Liam Squire ( Ta$man, new cap)<br><br>Backs<br><br>Halfbacks<br>Tawera Kerr-Barlow (Waikato, 20 Tests)<br>Aaron Smith (Manawatu, 47 Tests)<br><br>First five-eighths<br>Beauden Barrett (Taranaki, 36 Tests)<br>Aaron Cruden (Manawatu, 37 Tests)<br>Lima Sopoaga (Southland, one Test)<br><br>Midfielders<br>Ryan Crotty (Canterbury, 15 Tests)<br>Malakai Fekitoa (Auckland, 13 Tests)<br>Charlie Ngatai (Taranaki, one Test)<br>Seta Tamanivalu (Taranaki, new cap)<br><br>Outside backs<br>Israel Dagg (Hawke's Bay, 49 Tests)<br>Damian McKenzie (Waikato, new cap)<br>Waisake Naholo (Taranaki, three Tests)<br>Julian Savea (Wellington, 41 Tests)<br>Ben Smith (Otago, 48 Tests)
