2019 Rugby Championship

[Canes4life]

@98blueandgold Yeah I agree, like Sonny Bill Williams - Kieran Read was amazing in his prime but he hasn't been anywhere near that for the last year or so. I just feel having that Cane - Savea combination gives us a point of difference that no other team in the world can match.

[98blueandgold]

@Canes4life yeah against teams last year our forwards just did not have enough impact against excellent defence. We need ball runners and turnover specialists. Even Hansen has mentioned how props have fallen behind NH counterparts. That is not changing anytime soon but this makes us dangerous.

[Canes4life]

I think having both Coles & Taylor in the same 23 this year will allow us to play with more width as they both like to roam wide and cause havoc. Having Ardie and Cane as our prime loose forward combination will even further that notion where we can run our opposition off the park, especially in the late stages of games. Mobility is key.

[Stargazer]

Just in case you missed it:

The first All Blacks squad of 2019 will be named next Tuesday on the Breakdown (Sky Sport 1, 8.30pm).

[Siam]

When's the team named?

Anyone...?

[taniwharugby]

@Siam tomorrow at 5am

[Siam]

@taniwharugby I shall set the alarm

[Unite]

@taniwharugby said in 2019 Rugby Championship:

@Siam tomorrow at 5am

Thursday already, the week is flying

Edit: It does bloody roll around pretty quickly, it doesn’t seem that long ago we were getting dusted by Ireland and then fishing up the EOYT with Italy.

[booboo]

@taniwharugby said in 2019 Rugby Championship:

@Siam tomorrow at 5am

Why not Thursday?

[ACT Crusader]

@Stargazer said in 2019 Rugby Championship:

Just in case you missed it:

The first All Blacks squad of 2019 will be named next Tuesday on the Breakdown (Sky Sport 1, 8.30pm).

Tuesday? This is setting a worrying new precedent. RWC preparations in turmoil.

[Tim]

So which locks will be going to Argentina, Retallick, Tuipulotu, and who else?

[KiwiMurph]

@Tim Hemopo

[ACT Crusader]

@KiwiMurph said in 2019 Rugby Championship:

@Tim Hemopo

Do you reckon Tom Franklin could be a smokey?

[Tim]

@ACT-Crusader I hope not. Been shit in every game against international opposition I've seen him in. Way off it.

[gt12]

@KiwiMurph said in 2019 Rugby Championship:

@Tim Hemopo

Agreed. If not, then it's Fifita or a real bolter.

I have to say that the young Canes lock IWL looks pretty good - played very well today, but surely not his time yet, if it ever comes.

[Tim]

@gt12 Would rank IWL massively ahead of a nobody like Franklin.

[taniwharugby]

So lets say this is our likely starting 15...

Moody
Taylor
FRanks
BBBR
Whitelock
Squire?
Cane/Ardie
Read
Smith/TJP
BB
Reiko
Crotty
Goodhue
Naholo
BFA

Lots of gaps there with them not picking from the Crusaders.

[E African Troll]

@taniwharugby said in 2019 Rugby Championship:

So lets say this is our likely starting 15...

Moody
Taylor
FRanks
BBBR
Whitelock
Squire?
Cane/Ardie
Read
Smith/TJP
BB
Reiko
Crotty
Goodhue
Naholo
BFA

Lots of gaps there with them not picking from the Crusaders.

The pack is much weaker when you have add average players like Pat T at lock, Ofa T as TH prop and Squire

Hemepo will start as will ALB + Harris & a bunch of Hurricanes players

[Machpants]

Our last 23 vs Italy gives some ideas

1. Ofa Tuungafasi (25)

2. Dane Coles (59)

3. Nepo Laulala (16)

4. Patrick Tuipulotu (20)

5. Scott Barrett (28)

6. Vaea Fifita (8)

7. Ardie Savea (34)

8. Kieran Read – captain (117)

9. TJ Perenara (54)

10. Beauden Barrett (72)

11. Waisake Naholo (25)

12. Ngani Laumape (9)

13. Anton Lienert-Brown (32)

14. Jordie Barrett (8)

15. Damian McKenzie (22)

16. Nathan Harris (19)

17. Karl Tu’inukuafe (12)

18. Angus Ta’avao (1)

19. Brodie Retallick (74)

20. Dalton Papalii (1)

21. Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi (2)

22. Richie Mo’unga (8)

23. Rieko Ioane (23)

So

1. Ofa Tuungafasi
2. Dane Coles
3. Angus Ta’avao
4. Patrick Tuipulotu (or in 5)
5. Brodie Retallick
6. Liam Squire or Fafita
7. Sam Cane or Ardie
8. Ardie Savea or (yuck) Whitlock
9. Aaron Smith or TJ
10. Beauden Barrett
11. Rieko Ioane
12. SBW or Ngani Laumape
13. Anton Lienert-Brown
14. Jordie Barrett or Naholo
15. BFA

?

[ACT Crusader]

@Machpants said in 2019 Rugby Championship:

12. SBW

The Fern might self-destruct if Sonny starts the first test...