All Blacks EOYT

george33

@Chris-B Peter Lakai, most likely.

Bones

Razor specifically saying they'll take 6

I thought he said up to 6?

LatsToTheMax

@Chris-B said in All Blacks EOYT:

They haven't picked the exact teams I would have, but I haven't really struggled to see their logic - with maybe a couple of exceptions. But, I'm prepared to put that down to me not being a pro coach!

Remember when Foster picked ScoBa at 6 vs England in the QF in 19 and benched Sam? And then didn't attack the english lineout? Yeah, I remember that 3D chess, or coaches just playing hunches and going wrong.

Edit: Hansen and semi. As you were.

Also dropped Bender from the side.

Chris B.

@Bones Probably did - but, maybe he thinks he might have a prop that could play both sides.

A bit of speculation on a slow day.

KiwiInLondon

@Bones three of the six are Otago players so minimal impact on the NPC finals

Bones

@KiwiInLondon said in All Blacks EOYT:

@Bones three of the six are Otago players so minimal impact on the NPC finals

Is that what that line of reasoning was about?

KiwiInLondon

@Bones ah yeh it was replying the original comments you’re replying too. Several mentions of who was going out of the ABs XV lot and how it would impact the NPC finals. So, an answer to both questions

kiwiinmelb

The more I look at this fixture the more nervous I get , the level of opposition is one thing, but the consecutive nature of playing every week against a different opponent bringing different challenges is the part that has me most concerned

SouthernMann

Updates to the squad with Lakai and Lord coming in for injured players. Seven players from the AB XV squad to travel with them initially. Holland, Haig, Bower, Lio-Willie, Slater, Lam and Plummer. Interesting Lio-Willie picked ahead of Hoskins Sotutu. https://www.allblacks.com/news/update-to-all-blacks-squad-for-japan-and-northern-tour

Crazy Horse

FFS Lio - Willie over Sotutu. Probably not too surprising because Lio - Willie is closer to the hybrid loosie they seem to prefer. It's getting like the Black Caps and their pop gun 'all rounders'.

Dan54

Colour me surprised, Blackadder is injured? Poor bastard cannot catch a break on injury front!!

canefan

@Crazy-Horse said in All Blacks EOYT:

FFS Lio - Willie over Sotutu. Probably not too surprising because Lio - Willie is closer to the hybrid loosie they seem to prefer. It's getting like the Black Caps and their pop gun 'all rounders'.

Clearly Razor doesn't subscribe to the win the collision up front idea. I seem to recall Wayne Smith's AB teams as being similar, very good ball playing, but lacking the physicality to go down the middle (I could be wrong)

antipodean

With nearly every opportunity Razor disappoints. Lio-Willie over Sotutu ffs, which franchise does he play for?

Machpants

Crazy crap, Lio-Willie, so England still on for Sotutu

KiwiMurph

With 3 loosies unavailable and only 2 loosies called up to replace them - Lio Willie does provide more cover than Sotutu - but this does fly in the face of the idea that Sotutu was next cab off the rank.

Donsteppa

@Crazy-Horse said in All Blacks EOYT:

FFS Lio - Willie over Sotutu. Probably not too surprising because Lio - Willie is closer to the hybrid loosie they seem to prefer. It's getting like the Black Caps and their pop gun 'all rounders'.

Surf Features channelling his best Henry Ford: "You can have any player you like, as long as it's Mitchell Santner"

Bovidae

Based on the extra AB XV players, it looks like Taylor and SB/Vaa'i will be amongst the players going directly to England. But none of the halfbacks.

gt12

Ha ha ha, no Sotutu?
Favorite son Lio Willie and some kid.
Fucking trolls.

Canes4life

Lol, what did Sotutu do to Razor? Lio-Willie wasn't even close to matching the form of Sotutu during Super.

foobaNZ

Yea that's pretty comical. Why did they even bother picking Hoskins in the AB XV? Seems like they have 0 desire to give him higher honours.

The Silver Fern

All Blacks EOYT