Bledisloe I (All Blacks team room bugged)
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<p>I definitely think Riccitelli is one for the future. Not sure whether Hika is fit to play, considering he was watching Counties play from the stands last night.</p>
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<p>Dixon has been playing the house down this year and is way better than Parsons, but to be honest, I don't want to lose him or Riccitelli from the Magpies squad! Selfish, I know ...</p> -
<p>Really tough for Harris -- poor sod! Hope it doesn't require op, but more likely than not does if a rupture.</p>
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<p>Thought Ash Dixon very good in Supers, although it must be said that GPT really made an impression when he came on in semi's against Lions. </p>
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<p>How things seem to have changed. A couple of years ago we had Coles and a couple of geriatrics. Now each of the NZ franchises has at least one hooker who is perfectly serviceable at Super level.</p> -
<br><br><blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="sparky" data-cid="606719" data-time="1471587112"><p>David Pocock is the most over-hyped Rugby player in a generation. <br><br>
All Blacks by 11-15.</p></blockquote>
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I dunno.. I reckon that title goes to Sergio Parisse (sp?).<br><br>
Pocock is a great player. If he wasn't, then the ABs wouldn't have made plans to negate him.. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mimic" data-cid="606759" data-time="1471594322"><p><br><br>
I dunno.. I reckon that title goes to Sergio Parisse (sp?).<br><br>
Pocock is a great player. If he wasn't, then the ABs wouldn't have made plans to negate him..</p></blockquote>
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Yeah much as it pains me to give any sort of plaudits to Bonocock I can't disagree with that or the comment about Parisse. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bones" data-cid="606787" data-time="1471597118"><p>Parisse is world class. We'd have no worries at 8 if Read got injured if Parisse was a kiwi. As it is, no one knows who our 2nd 8 is....</p></blockquote><br>You would think Luatua , but he isnt in the squad , so perhaps not ?
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="barbarian" data-cid="606718" data-time="1471586505">
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<p>Nathan Harris has done his ACL.</p>
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<p>Taylor comes into the XV, and weirdly Dane Coles comes onto the bench.</p>
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<p>Ah shit, that is a bugger. A shambles of a day at work capped off by this!</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="KiwiMurph" data-cid="606726" data-time="1471588208"><p>
I wonder who the next hooker in line is? Parsons? Hika? Ash Dixon? Wouldn't mind seeing Riccitelli to be honest.</p></blockquote>I'd take them in the exact reverse order that you've named them. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bones" data-cid="606787" data-time="1471597118"><p>
Parisse is world class. We'd have no worries at 8 if Read got injured if Parisse was a kiwi. As it is, no one knows who our 2nd 8 is....</p></blockquote>Clearly Squire at this moment in time, as he's in the squad. -
<p>Ash Dixon had a very good S18 but he might be a bit too light for the international scene.</p>
<p>Concerning Riccitelli, it's a bit too early for him but the boy seems to have what is mentally required for the big occasions. The way he stepped into Coles shoes in the final leads to think that he will be a serious contender very soon.</p> -
<p>Interesting Coles has been named on the bench. He must have been rested as its "only the Aussies"..... :)</p>
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<p>Thanks Winger. Only two more to go :)</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="cgrant" data-cid="606820" data-time="1471600468">
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<p>Ash Dixon had a very good S18 but he might be a bit too light for the international scene.</p>
<p>Concerning Riccitelli, it's a bit too early for him but the boy seems to have what is mentally required for the big occasions. The way he stepped into Coles shoes in the final leads to think that he will be a serious contender very soon.</p>
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<p>He should have been called up. But these selectors seem to have a thing about not selecting Canes players. Boyd needs to start speaking out loudly about this. Coaches are human including AB coaches and if this shit starts to happen the super rugby coach needs to start speaking out</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="ACT Crusader" data-cid="606825" data-time="1471601878">
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<p>Thanks Winger. Only two more to go :)</p>
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<p>It is poor though don't you think. Henry was brilliant is this regard. Selected fairly without any provincial bias at all as far as I could see. Its how it should be. But these numbers made it just a little obvious</p> -
This provincial bias crusade you have going getting very old Winger.<br><br>
I think Shag knows a thing or two about selecting and coaching a side, he has won over 90% of his games in charge has he not?<br><br>
The All Blacks are almost like a franchise these days, I'd say the majority of the players in the team have been identified well before they get the call up. <br><br>
And like it or not, they have a pecking order which doesn't change overnight, or even over a super rugby season in most cases. It's bloody hard to make the team, but once you're in, you'll be given time to prove yourself, and if you're given the boot, its even harder to get back in. -
<p>Its also a case super rugby does not equal test rugby, Isia Toeava was outstanding at a super level, genuinely one of THE players of his era. He was largely shithouse in tests. Nonu was usually pretty fucking shit in a super shirt. If you were picking your 12 based on super rugby Toeava would have been at 12 over Nonu for 4 years...</p>