Lauaki is a big prospect but I don't see him leapfrog Tosi very soon as the latter has been outstanding so far.
cgrant
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OK, thanks.
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@Canes4life
And who is Coles ? Dane Coles ? -
Wallace : the Manawatu 19 yo prop ?
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Mathys is not in the list. Wallace is among the reserves, I guess his injury was too recent so he wasn't considered for the squad.
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Will McLeod throw a pass to Aumua this time ? I remember that first game against the Chiefs in Hamilton when the latter did not touch the ball because McLeod systematiccaly kept it for dubious drives back into the forwards.
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Possible bolters :
Numia, Tosi, McWhannell, Proctor, Love.
I have been impressed by Tanielu Telea so far but I have serious doubts about a possible call. -
@pakman said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Chris said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Mr-Fish said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Fakatava has done nothing this year to justify his name being in the selection frame. For every good thing he does, he makes two or three bad decisions or passes. I'm not saying he won't get there with time, we all saw how good he was a few years back, but he's currently a shadow of that player and what he really needs now is consistent minutes on the park, not spending all his time on the training field.
I think we'll likely see Christie, Perenara and Ratima selected for the July Tests, with Roigard potentially returning to the mix for the EOYT. Fakatava should spend a full season playing for the Highlanders and Shield Snorters.
Throughout the squad there shouldn't be too many changes...
Gone are Dane Coles, Nepo Laulala, Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Shannon Frizell, Aaron Smith, Cam Roigard, Richie Mo'unga, Leicester Fainga'anuku and Will Jordan (injury).
Given the above turnover, it's unlikely that someone experienced like Ofa Tu'ungafasi (and still young, in propping terms) will miss out. Ardie Savea, Sam Cane and Beauden Barrett will all likely still be selected too.
Coles - Aumua
Laulala - Ma'u, Numia, Dyer
Whitelock/Retallick - Lord and Tuipulotu, Strange, Walker-Leawere, McWhannell
Frizell - Ioane or Sotutu, Grace
Smith/Roigard - Perenara and Ratima
Mo'unga - Love or Perofeta
Fainga'anuku - Narawa, Proctor
Jordan - StevensonBower to replace Laulala rated highly by Ryan, even though he is a LH
he can cover TH so can Willliams.Please not Tamaiti at TH.
Neither Bower.
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@Dan54
Tosi is the one who has stepped up very significantly this year. Last year, he could not scrum. Now, he is a beast at scrum time. And he is very effective in the loose, making the hard yards and he also has good hands. He is the second best THP in NZ, IMO. I would be delighted to see him get a call for the ABs. -
@Winger said in Highlanders v Hurricanes:
Outstanding performance by the Canes. They made the Highlanders look 2nd rate. Except for their 2 HBs and the slightly hot headed but promising FB
For the Canes the forward pack was outstanding. Unusual for the Canes in the past. Lomax is really stepping up this year but Tosi is super impressive too. But all the other tight 5 and replacements were impressive
Lakai continues to impress as does Iose
I was hoping the Landers would do much better this year. But they just look a level below the other NZ teams again. And the injuries don't help
Lomax is not stepping up this year. He was already world class in 2023.
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@Damo
Ratima is doing a great job for the Chiefs. -
Crusaders decline won't last long. Their U20s are full of future stars.
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Chay Fihaki is another who had a sound game today.
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@ruggabee said in Crusaders v Chiefs:
@Mattasaurus said in Crusaders v Chiefs:
Was hoping for a better performance from Tupea
I never quite understood the level of hype surrounding him compared to other guys, last season the Chiefs looked midfield looked better with Poihipi or/and Rona paired with ALB.
Tupaea is really one dimensional. He runs hard but when he has the pill, you know he will keep it. Rona or Poihipi bring more IMO.
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Bell's throwing is a big work on.
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Game over.
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Roe having a shocker.
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Jacomb good with ball in hand. His restarts are poor and need to be worked.
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Kwagga Smith is a smallish 7 as well.
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This Crusaders team is barely NPC level, probably the weakest ever of their glorious history.
Fijian Drua vs Hurricanes
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2024 New Zealand U20s
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All Blacks 2024 - looking forward
All Blacks 2024 - looking forward
Highlanders v Hurricanes
Highlanders v Hurricanes
All Blacks 2024 - looking forward
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Crusaders v Chiefs
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Crusaders v Chiefs
All Blacks 2024 - looking forward
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