All Blacks EOYT
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@Bovidae said in All Blacks EOYT:
Robertson mentioned that Hotham is better off playing for the AB XV than just being a squaddie, and that applies to Lakai too.
But if TJP continues to make the test 23 we know we're fucked.
Differs player to player I suppose. Probably a fair call with Hotham on the basis that Roigard probably plays the Japan test, and then probably plays the next 3 all going well. He has already spent time with the ABs, so actually playing would be good for him
Lakai has had a big year... is he going to get much out of playing Munster or Georgia? Would be better served with the ABs even if only holding tackle bags.
The way I'd have picked the squad, is a top 31(ish) who are effectively the squad for the middle three tests, and then five development players.
Fourth lock, seventh loose forward, fourth and fifth midfielder, and sixth outside back almost certainly won't play.
Question should be who do we see playing in these positions next year, and who may benefit.
To me at least, I think Holland is way more likely to be involved than Darry, so personally would have him with the ABs.
In the loose forwards, who do they see playing openside? If they think Lakai is likely to be involved, then have him there instead of Blackadder or Jacobson.
Havili is there in case of injuries only, we've already seen that. Get Higgins or someone touring with the ABs - he'd get more out of it.
Outside backs, one of, if not two of those six won't play unless there is an injury. One of Reece or Tele'a should be out for the next hotshot wing IMO.
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So nobody after 3 losses in RC played their way out of the Allblacks, and nobody in the NPC played their way in.
Great messaging there for all concerned both within the squad and NPC.
Roigard the only new name in after playing 20 minutes of rugby and being something of an incumbent anyway.
Stale.
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@Jet said in All Blacks EOYT:
So nobody after 3 losses in RC played their way out of the Allblacks, and nobody in the NPC played their way in.
Great messaging there for all concerned both within the squad and NPC.
Roigard the only new name in after playing 20 minutes of rugby and being something of an incumbent.
Stale.
Roigard's selection is not new - players hold their place when injured; he's now not injured.
So innovative.
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@gt12 said in All Blacks EOYT:
@Jet said in All Blacks EOYT:
So nobody after 3 losses in RC played their way out of the Allblacks, and nobody in the NPC played their way in.
Great messaging there for all concerned both within the squad and NPC.
Roigard the only new name in after playing 20 minutes of rugby and being something of an incumbent.
Stale.
Roigard's selection is not new - players hold their place when injured; he's now not injured.
So innovative.
Oh im a Roigard fan boy. Dupont is going have his posters on his wall.
But im just highlighting what a non event this squad is.
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I am probably clutching at straws in an effort to rationalise things, but is it all possible that some players have an AB squad clause in their contracts as an incentive to not bugger off overseas?
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@Crazy-Horse said in All Blacks EOYT:
I am probably clutching at straws in an effort to rationalise things, but is it all possible that some players have an AB squad clause in their contracts as an incentive to not bugger off overseas?
ive been wondering the same this year, also if players like RI or Savea have clauses about positions they will start
I think i might be more or less done with rugby for the year
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@Bovidae said in All Blacks EOYT:
Very predictable. More interest in the AB XV squad.
Yeah - I'm more looking forward to that one.
Will be interesting to see who they actually think are their next cabs off the rank.
Squad of 29 - so a full team of 23, plus two extra props, an extra hooker and an extra halfback - plus two more? An extra lock/loose forward and an extra utility back?
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Cant remember feeling less excited reading the naming of an Allblacks squad
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I think people are too far down the wormhole. Moaning for moaning sake.
I don't think anyone is really disputing the tight five (in terms of the squad) other than the third hooker and fourth lock (so in other words negligible difference)
There is some dispute about the loose forwards, but I think that is always going to be the case, because it is a position where there is loads of competition. Sotutu and Lakai by all accounts the two people would have in. Fair critique to say Lakai could have come instead of Cane, and Sotutu over Finau/Jacobson/Blackadder. Anyone asking for Ioane can bore off.
Halfbacks, Roigard is back fit. Perenara was a 50/50 selection, but I think people should reserve judgment until we actually see gameday squads named, because here it does make sense for Hotham to actually play some rugby. Perenara is there to hold the tackle bags I reckon... and if there is an injury, they can always get someone else in
Rest of the backline, in all honest it is moaning for moaning sake. The same people calling for Plummer are largely the same people who think DMac is doing a perfectly fine job, so you're moaning about who holds the tackle bags. I think there are some fair arguments about whether Tele'a/Reece should be there, but I'm not sure Narawa is really the answer either... would feel like shuffling the deck chairs, I'd rather them give Love a run.
Moaning about who holds the tackle bags, at a time where there is a development squad playing feels intentionally negative. I'd reserve judgement for after the tour is finished.
Fact is, Razor is still working out which players are best suited to his gameplan, and I don't think the tests we have had so far are really enough to give definitive answers. The players in line to be dropped from the squad are not those who have been actively involved (barring Tele'a, Cane and Perenara) so this feels like when the solution to the ABs losing to Ireland was dropping Sowakula.
The key is to get the best out of our best players, and in the last test we won by 20 points. This meltdown is mental...
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@Kirwan said in All Blacks EOYT:
Have to be impressed with these selectors making us miss Foster. Unless you are from a certain province of course.
Some truely terrible calls in that squad.
Cantabs are questioning the calls too. That's how bad things are.
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@sparky said in All Blacks EOYT:
@frugby said in All Blacks EOYT:
and in the last test we won by 20 points.
Against the 10th ranked team in the world. Forgive me for not ordering a ticker tape parade for Razor's mob.
I never said it was cause for celebration, but it is also isn't cause for major panic either. The ABs aren't far off finding their best starting XV. Bench is still a work in progress, but to totally rip things up would be bizarre.
I'd argue that the best solutions to the problems are probably already in the squad anyway... (Papalii at 7, Roigard at 9/21 etc.)
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@frugby said in All Blacks EOYT:
Moaning for moaning sake.
Tight 5 is largely uncontroversial. Happy days. If your reserve hooker winds up on teh bench through injury and has to throw in the lineout, I wouldn't have Bell, but them's the breaks.
Our loose forwrads look slow and uninspiring. I think we're going to get beaten here by most teams.
Halfbacks - well two pick themselves. Razor suddenly decided he really really likes TJP. Wild if you want to play a fast game, but hey.
Backline - anyone exciting there? Telea and Reece havne't looked good. Better pray CC and WJ stay fit to play on the wings. I am still unconvinced by WJ at fullback - defence, kickign and positioning all get questionmarks for me.
So yeah. I think you'd say this is a year where we haven't really done much more than evolve the squad, and play senior players on teh decline into the ground. We're on course for the equal most losses in a year, so it's not moaning for moaning sake - it is recognising that this is a profoundly disappointing AB selection.
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Can someone explain the TJP ahead of Hotham selection to me because it makes absolute no sense whatsoever?
Hotham has been playing better, is more athletic, doesn't have a recent history of getting on the wrong side of referees, is younger and crucially not about to bugger off to Japan and become unavailable for selection.
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@sparky said in All Blacks EOYT:
Can someone explain the TJP ahead of Hotham selection to me because it makes absolute no sense whatsoever?
Hotham has been playing better, is more athletic, doesn't have a recent history of getting on the wrong side of referees, is younger and crucially not about to bugger off to Japan and become unavailable for selection.
I think I read earlier it's because of the Cantab bias.
