2020 All Blacks Squad
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Warren Gatland to return to Waikato as player.
26 years after the playing the last of his 140 games for Waikato, Wales Coach Warren Gatland (55) is eyeing a return to the Mooloo men but not in the role that many expected. "I want to play" said Gatland, "I'm sick to death of watching guys play Hooker for NZ Pro Rugby sides who can't throw straight, can't hook straight and have shit hands. I was watching Ricky Riccitelli and James Parsons play at the weekend and I thought I can do better than that and soon I'll get my chance. I have signed a contract to play for Waikato and NZRU from April 1st 2020"
Asked if he was too old and out of shape for the rigour of professional Rugby, Gatland replied "Nonsense, Brad Thorn was 72 years old when he stopped playing, compared to him I'm a spring chicken. I might be 34 years older than Asafo Aumua, but I'm pleased to announce that I outperformed him in recent fitness tests and unlike him I am able to pass a KFC without ordering five Family Buckets for myself."
As to the extent of ambitions, Warren Gatland is clear: "I want to play Hooker for the All Blacks in 2020. The starter this time. Sitting on the bench and watching Fitzy play all those games got kinda boring in the end. I kept hoping the dirty blighter would get sent off so I could get a Test run-on, but it never happened."
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A flow up article about the status of current ABs:
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=12218144
@gt12 From the article.
Angus Ta'avo and Atu Moli are also signed for next year. The front row is well covered.
Hookers Dane Coles - 2021 Codie Taylor - 2021 Props Joe Moody - 2022 Ofa Tu'ungafasi - 2021 Karl Tu'inukuafe - 2021 Nepo Laulala - 2020 Locks Scott Barrett - 2020 Patrick Tuipulotu - 2020 Sam Whitelock - 2020 (if he takes up a one year extension option) Loose forwards Dalton Papalii - 2022 Sam Cane - 2021 Ardie Savea - 2021 Vaea Fifita - 2020 Halfbacks TJ Perenara - 2021 Aaron Smith - 2021 Midfield backs Ngani Laumape - 2021 Anton Lienert-Brown - 2020 Wings Rieko Ioane - 2022 Utilities Damian McKenzie - 2021 -
Assuming the article above is correct, a few names jump out, such as keeping Brodie, and probably Barrett:
Hookers = Good shape
Dane Coles - 2021
Codie Taylor - 2021Props = Good shape
Joe Moody - 2022
Ofa Tu'ungafasi - 2021
Karl Tu'inukuafe - 2021
Nepo Laulala - 2020Locks = worrying without BBBR
Scott Barrett - 2020
Patrick Tuipulotu - 2020
Sam Whitelock - 2020 (if he takes up a one year extension option)Loose forwards = Pretty good as we have Ioane also signed I believe
Dalton Papalii - 2022
Sam Cane - 2021
Ardie Savea - 2021
Vaea Fifita - 2020Halfbacks = Excellent shape
TJ Perenara - 2021
Aaron Smith - 2021First fives = umm, zero? Dmac is rightly a utility. Need a signing here soon - either Mo'unga or Barrett
Midfield backs = OK, but must sign Goodhue
Ngani Laumape - 2021
Anton Lienert-Brown - 2020Wings = this will be fine if we sign Bridge (with others coming)
Rieko Ioane - 2022FB = none, but Dmac is signed and Jordan is coming with Jordie Barrett no doubt to be re-signed
Utilities = pretty good, given Dmac can cover 10/15
Damian McKenzie - 2021 -
Assuming the article above is correct, a few names jump out, such as keeping Brodie, and probably Barrett:
Hookers = Good shape
Dane Coles - 2021
Codie Taylor - 2021Props = Good shape
Joe Moody - 2022
Ofa Tu'ungafasi - 2021
Karl Tu'inukuafe - 2021
Nepo Laulala - 2020Locks = worrying without BBBR
Scott Barrett - 2020
Patrick Tuipulotu - 2020
Sam Whitelock - 2020 (if he takes up a one year extension option)Loose forwards = Pretty good as we have Ioane also signed I believe
Dalton Papalii - 2022
Sam Cane - 2021
Ardie Savea - 2021
Vaea Fifita - 2020Halfbacks = Excellent shape
TJ Perenara - 2021
Aaron Smith - 2021First fives = umm, zero? Dmac is rightly a utility. Need a signing here soon - either Mo'unga or Barrett
Midfield backs = OK, but must sign Goodhue
Ngani Laumape - 2021
Anton Lienert-Brown - 2020Wings = this will be fine if we sign Bridge (with others coming)
Rieko Ioane - 2022FB = none, but Dmac is signed and Jordan is coming with Jordie Barrett no doubt to be re-signed
Utilities = pretty good, given Dmac can cover 10/15
Damian McKenzie - 2021 -
Haere ra list (I added Naholo then removed him)
Kieran Read (signed with Toyota Verblitz, Japan)
Owen Franks (signed with Northampton)
Ben Smith (signed with Pau, turned down one year NZR option extension)
Liam Squire (signed with Red Hurricanes, Japan)
Jordan Taufua (signed with Leicester)
Jackson Hemopo (signed with DynaBoars, Japan, for 2020)
Luke Whitelock (signed with Pau)
Nehe Milner-Skudder (signed with Toulon) -
Haere ra list (I added Naholo then removed him)
Kieran Read (signed with Toyota Verblitz, Japan)
Owen Franks (signed with Northampton)
Ben Smith (signed with Pau, turned down one year NZR option extension)
Liam Squire (signed with Red Hurricanes, Japan)
Jordan Taufua (signed with Leicester)
Jackson Hemopo (signed with DynaBoars, Japan, for 2020)
Luke Whitelock (signed with Pau)
Nehe Milner-Skudder (signed with Toulon) -
@Stargazer said in 2020 All Blacks Squad:
@gt12 Naholo? Nothing confirmed about him leaving. Only a few rumours.
Cheers, edited accordingly.
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My question - who of these gets the money?
Hell yes
Brodie Retallick
Beauden Barrett / Richie Mo'unga
Jack GoodhueYes
Shannon Frizell
Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi
Jordie Barrett
Nathan HarrisThanks for the memories
Ryan Crotty (could also be a question mark)
Sonny Bill Williams
Kane Hames
Israel DaggQuestion marks
Matt Todd (he's still very good, even though we are well served at 7)
Liam Coltman (there aren't that many good hookers around)
Waisake Naholo (Rumored to be off anyway) -
My question - who of these gets the money?
Hell yes
Brodie Retallick
Beauden Barrett / Richie Mo'unga
Jack GoodhueYes
Shannon Frizell
Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi
Jordie Barrett
Nathan HarrisThanks for the memories
Ryan Crotty (could also be a question mark)
Sonny Bill Williams
Kane Hames
Israel DaggQuestion marks
Matt Todd (he's still very good, even though we are well served at 7)
Liam Coltman (there aren't that many good hookers around)
Waisake Naholo (Rumored to be off anyway)@gt12 Or to phrase it differently:
Likely to take Japanese sabbaticals if they re-sign with NZR:
Retallick
B Barrett
S Whitelock
possibly: Todd (if he doesn't go overseas entirely)Won't go anywhere:
Mo'unga
Goodhue
Frizell
Tahuriorang
J BarrettDoes anyone really care?
Harris
ColtmanOther test-capped players (I may have missed some):
Perry (off contract)
Lomax (2020)
Evans (2020)
Hunt (?)
Bridge (2022)
Havili (2021))
Drummond (2020
Cameron (??)Non-test capped players
Aumua (2021)
Moli (2020, wait and see whether he can reach the required level again after his long-term injury)
A Ioane (2021)
Duffie (off-contract)Subjective, but on current form/fitness, it's hard to see Moli, Duffie, Drummond and Cameron make the squad any time soon, but that can obviously change.
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All Blacks whose deals run out in 2019:
2019
Brodie Retallick: Likely to re-sign, sabbatical in Japan
Jack Goodhue: Almost certain to re-sign
Beauden Barrett: Likely to re-sign, sabbatical in Japan.
Ryan Crotty: Strongly linked with move to Bath or Japan.
Jordie Barrett: Almost certain to re-sign
Richie Mo'unga: Likely to re-sign
Sonny Bill Williams: Almost certain to leave. Bath, Saracens and Bristol interested.
Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi: Likely to re-sign
Liam Coltman: ?????????
Nathan Harris: Wasps are interested.
Kane Hames: ?????????
Shannon Frizell: ???????
Waisake Naholo: Almost certainly off to London Irish, interest from Wasps.
Matt Todd: Probably off to Japan
Luke Romano: Interest from Sale and Bristol.
Sam Whitelock (Has one year extension): Probably off to France. -
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It will be interesting to see who will get the nod as the starting THP after the RWC, with long serving Owen Franks off to Northampton.
Ofa-T and Laulala are the obvious choices but I think Tyrell Lomax could be the man. He has made a lot of progress this year and looks like a young Carl Hayman. His physicality cannot be questioned and he is not subject to brain explosions as Ofa-T is.
And there is Atu Moli. How will he recover from his injuries is the big question. -
It will be interesting to see who will get the nod as the starting THP after the RWC, with long serving Owen Franks off to Northampton.
Ofa-T and Laulala are the obvious choices but I think Tyrell Lomax could be the man. He has made a lot of progress this year and looks like a young Carl Hayman. His physicality cannot be questioned and he is not subject to brain explosions as Ofa-T is.
And there is Atu Moli. How will he recover from his injuries is the big question.@cgrant said in 2020 All Blacks Squad:
It will be interesting to see who will get the nod as the starting THP after the RWC, with long serving Owen Franks off to Northampton.
Ofa-T and Laulala are the obvious choices but I think Tyrell Lomax could be the man. He has made a lot of progress this year and looks like a young Carl Hayman. His physicality cannot be questioned and he is not subject to brain explosions as Ofa-T is.
And there is Atu Moli. How will he recover from his injuries is the big question.I don't think he's up to it in the beard growing department
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@gt12 From the article.
Angus Ta'avo and Atu Moli are also signed for next year. The front row is well covered.
Hookers Dane Coles - 2021 Codie Taylor - 2021 Props Joe Moody - 2022 Ofa Tu'ungafasi - 2021 Karl Tu'inukuafe - 2021 Nepo Laulala - 2020 Locks Scott Barrett - 2020 Patrick Tuipulotu - 2020 Sam Whitelock - 2020 (if he takes up a one year extension option) Loose forwards Dalton Papalii - 2022 Sam Cane - 2021 Ardie Savea - 2021 Vaea Fifita - 2020 Halfbacks TJ Perenara - 2021 Aaron Smith - 2021 Midfield backs Ngani Laumape - 2021 Anton Lienert-Brown - 2020 Wings Rieko Ioane - 2022 Utilities Damian McKenzie - 2021@Tim said in 2020 All Blacks Squad:
@gt12 From the article.
Angus Ta'avo and Atu Moli are also signed for next year. The front row is well covered.
Hookers Dane Coles - 2021 Codie Taylor - 2021 Props Joe Moody - 2022 Ofa Tu'ungafasi - 2021 Karl Tu'inukuafe - 2021 Nepo Laulala - 2020 Locks Scott Barrett - 2020 Patrick Tuipulotu - 2020 Sam Whitelock - 2020 (if he takes up a one year extension option) Loose forwards Dalton Papalii - 2022 Sam Cane - 2021 Ardie Savea - 2021 Vaea Fifita - 2020 Halfbacks TJ Perenara - 2021 Aaron Smith - 2021 Midfield backs Ngani Laumape - 2021 Anton Lienert-Brown - 2020 Wings Rieko Ioane - 2022 Utilities Damian McKenzie - 2021This gives me warm fuzzies
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@cgrant said in 2020 All Blacks Squad:
It will be interesting to see who will get the nod as the starting THP after the RWC, with long serving Owen Franks off to Northampton.
Ofa-T and Laulala are the obvious choices but I think Tyrell Lomax could be the man. He has made a lot of progress this year and looks like a young Carl Hayman. His physicality cannot be questioned and he is not subject to brain explosions as Ofa-T is.
And there is Atu Moli. How will he recover from his injuries is the big question.I don't think he's up to it in the beard growing department
@MN5 said in 2020 All Blacks Squad:
@cgrant said in 2020 All Blacks Squad:
It will be interesting to see who will get the nod as the starting THP after the RWC, with long serving Owen Franks off to Northampton.
Ofa-T and Laulala are the obvious choices but I think Tyrell Lomax could be the man. He has made a lot of progress this year and looks like a young Carl Hayman. His physicality cannot be questioned and he is not subject to brain explosions as Ofa-T is.
And there is Atu Moli. How will he recover from his injuries is the big question.I don't think he's up to it in the beard growing department
And does he have the height to weight to play number 8?
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They are shaping to give the 2012 class of debutants a lot of money going into their 9-12 AB seasons. I'm not sure some of these are wise investments if funds are low; particularly Coles, Smith and if Beauden is asking top dollar in the country.
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They are shaping to give the 2012 class of debutants a lot of money going into their 9-12 AB seasons. I'm not sure some of these are wise investments if funds are low; particularly Coles, Smith and if Beauden is asking top dollar in the country.
I'm fascinated by how they try to work out the value of the contracts they offer to these players. BBBR must be more valuable than Whitelock, but how about Barrett versus Mounga? Personally, I be putting a bit of money in front of Goodhue right now too.
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@gt12 From the article.
Angus Ta'avo and Atu Moli are also signed for next year. The front row is well covered.
Hookers Dane Coles - 2021 Codie Taylor - 2021 Props Joe Moody - 2022 Ofa Tu'ungafasi - 2021 Karl Tu'inukuafe - 2021 Nepo Laulala - 2020 Locks Scott Barrett - 2020 Patrick Tuipulotu - 2020 Sam Whitelock - 2020 (if he takes up a one year extension option) Loose forwards Dalton Papalii - 2022 Sam Cane - 2021 Ardie Savea - 2021 Vaea Fifita - 2020 Halfbacks TJ Perenara - 2021 Aaron Smith - 2021 Midfield backs Ngani Laumape - 2021 Anton Lienert-Brown - 2020 Wings Rieko Ioane - 2022 Utilities Damian McKenzie - 2021@Tim said in 2020 All Blacks Squad:
@gt12 From the article.
Angus Ta'avo and Atu Moli are also signed for next year. The front row is well covered.
Hookers Dane Coles - 2021 Codie Taylor - 2021 Props Joe Moody - 2022 Ofa Tu'ungafasi - 2021 Karl Tu'inukuafe - 2021 Nepo Laulala - 2020 Locks Scott Barrett - 2020 Patrick Tuipulotu - 2020 Sam Whitelock - 2020 (if he takes up a one year extension option) Loose forwards Dalton Papalii - 2022 Sam Cane - 2021 Ardie Savea - 2021 Vaea Fifita - 2020 Halfbacks TJ Perenara - 2021 Aaron Smith - 2021 Midfield backs Ngani Laumape - 2021 Anton Lienert-Brown - 2020 Wings Rieko Ioane - 2022 Utilities Damian McKenzie - 2021I 100% agree with Angus, but Atu Moli has done absolutely nothing to warrant selection. Lomax is not the inform THP, Laulala is looking good.
