2018 Rugby Championship
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Loosehead prop depth might get a big test:
Fox said the balance of the squad changed slightly because of TRC's travel element. Plus there are returning bodies to factor in, with skipper Kieran Read tracking well post-back surgery, and Nepo Laulala and Dane Coles both not far from returns. "Nepo and Colesy are not far away, and despite Sonny having injury problems he should be available in the Rugby Championship," said Fox. "Joe Moody too, even though he might miss one or two early. There will be some discussion around how we manage that.Might see us going into some tests with Karl Tuinukuafe and Ofa T as the looseheads.
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I'm pretty comfortable that five will go into four reasonably easily. That both Crotty and Williams are fit at the same time is possible, but not common.
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@unite said in 2018 Rugby Championship:
Looking like a lot of All Blacks either out of form, under cooked or played lots of minutes at Super level. The first and second Bledisloes are going to be pretty ropey I reckon.
We wouldn’t miss a beat if we went with something like....
- Moody
- Taylor
- Franks
- Retallick
- Whitelock
- Squire
- Todd
- Read
- A. Smith
- B. Barrett
- Ioane
- Crotty
- Lienart-Brown
- B. Smith
- J. Barrett
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@unite said in 2018 Rugby Championship:
Looking like a lot of All Blacks either out of form, under cooked or played lots of minutes at Super level. The first and second Bledisloes are going to be pretty ropey I reckon.
How about that falling sky?
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well, I couldn't disagree more wtih this guy.
Super rugby success is not corrleated with international success. Going deep into the playoffs just gets the Tahs another return trip to SA, which catches up later in the year.
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Was just looking at the All Blacks website and the most recent 17 All Blacks.
Liam Coltman
Vaea Fifita
Jordie Barrett
Ngani Laumape
David Havili
Tim Perry
Asafo Aumua
Matt Duffie
Jack Goodhue
Akira Ioane
Richie Mo'unga
Atu Moli
Mitch Drummond
Dillon Hunt
Karl Tu'inukuafe
Shannon Frizell
Jackson HemepoPlayers for most positions, but far from a fearsome team?
I've bolded those who I reckon might eventually become big AB players.
Could perhaps add Aumua, Moli, Frizell and Big Karl, who we haven't seen enough of.
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@tim said in 2018 Rugby Championship:
All Blacks selector Grant Fox calls for Damian McKenzie to make 'better choices'
They must have tremendous faith that he'll stop making poor decisions, because all evidence to the contrary exists.
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@act-crusader said in 2018 Rugby Championship:
@unite said in 2018 Rugby Championship:
Looking like a lot of All Blacks either out of form, under cooked or played lots of minutes at Super level. The first and second Bledisloes are going to be pretty ropey I reckon.
We wouldn’t miss a beat if we went with something like....
- Moody
- Taylor
- Franks
- Retallick
- Whitelock
- Squire
- Todd
- Read
- A. Smith
- B. Barrett
- Ioane
- Crotty
- Lienart-Brown
- B. Smith
- J. Barrett
Earlier there were reports Moody was likely to miss the first couple of RC games, I see he may play this weekend though? Todd is off to Japan is he not?
Not being funny, but when is the RC squad named, is it after the SR final or before?
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@unite said in 2018 Rugby Championship:
Earlier there were reports Moody was likely to miss the first couple of RC games, I see he may play this weekend though? Todd is off to Japan is he not?
Not being funny, but when is the RC squad named, is it after the SR final or before?
They've said that Todd is still available for the Bledisloe tests, if needed.
Last year, the squad was named on the Monday after the SR Final, so a few days before the Game of Three Halves. The players who were involved in the Final, didn't play in the Game of Three Halves.
This year, the SR Final is on 4 August and the Game of Three Halves on Friday, 10 August. If they plan it the same as last year, the team will be named on Monday, 6 August.
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@stargazer Far be it from me to question your dossiers
- but, this recent article from Knowler suggests Todd most likely isn't available - especially for the second Bled. -
From Fox Sports
Wallabies to hold trial game ahead of first Bledisloe Cup Test THE Wallabies will hold a “mate against mate” trial game in Sydney on August 3 as coach Michael Cheika tries a fresh approach in a bid to break a now 16 year Bledisloe Cup drought. Australia has a poor recent record in the opening Bledisloe Test in Sydney and Wallabies hopefuls will now get a valuable hitout and opportunity to push their selection case in the trial match at Leichardt Oval. Waratahs players will not be involved given they are still alive in the Super Rugby finals. The trial teams are yet to be announced but it shapes as a “probables v possibles” type game with Cheika coaching a Wallabies squad and Australian women’s sevens mentor John Manenti guiding a Super Rugby selection. The opening Bledisloe Test is at ANZ Stadium on August 18. The Rebels, Brumbies and Reds all missed the Super Rugby playoffs and the Wallabies have held a training camp in Sydney this week. “We were keen to have more Super Rugby teams playing for longer, obviously, and if we look at the last two years we just want to keep the intensity of footy up,” Cheika said. “Spending five weeks on the sideline before a Bledisloe Test match is not what we want ideally. “We want guys to play footy. “It’s not just about the contact, because you can get all that in training. “But just the little things. “The pressure in front of a crowd, the referee telling you what to do, the dressing room build up, all those things. “The mental side of footy.” The game brings Australia into line with the All Blacks and their annual pre Bledisloe “game of three halves” hitout. It will kick off at 6.45pm AEST with free entry although gold coin donations will be funnelled into grassroots rugby. Australian men’s sevens coach Tim Walsh and Rebels assistant Kevin Foote will help guide Manenti’s side. The match will also be streamed on rugby.com.au.
