World Cup Squad Positions

Bones

@Bones said in World Cup Squad Positions:

I reckon Laumape could cover wing at a pinch too.

That's a fucken big pinch Bonesy

Because?

Crucial

@Jaguares4real said in World Cup Squad Positions:

@Jaguares4real

Here's my 31 man Kiwi RWC squad with 18 forwards and 13 backs

Props: Karl Tu'inukuafe, Ofa Tu'ungafasi, Joe Moody, Owen Franks, Angus Ta'avao, Tim Perry;

Hookers: ~~Liam Coltman~~, Codie Taylor, Dane Coles; Nathan Harris

Locks: Brodie Retallick, Scott Barrett, Sam Whitelock, ~~Jackson Hemepo~~ Pat T

Back-rowers: Sam Cane, Ardie Savea, , Shannon Frizell, Liam Squire, Kieran Read

Half-backs: Brad Weber, Aaron Smith, TJ Perenara

Fly-halves: Richie Mo'unga, Beauden Barrett

Midfielders: Anton Lienert-Brown, Ryan Crotty, Jack Goodhue, ~~Ngani Laumape~~ SBW

Outside backs: Rieko Ioane, George Bridge, Ben Smith, Jordie Barrett.

I understand that is what you would select but this is the more likely position..

Harris may not be popular with many but he has brownie points with the selecters and a proven record of being a strong scrummager especially in combination with Karl T and Angus T.
If they are going to take four locks they will opt for Pat T and have S Barrett as a potential lock/6
Someone in that midfield selection has to make way for SBW. I would ditch Crotty but I suspect he will stay due to experience and Ngani will be unlucky.

E African Troll

@Crucial said in World Cup Squad Positions:

idfield s

You're right in that it's the 31 I'd would take to Japan

But the 3 amendments you've made are likely to take place

Hansen is a pick and stick kind of coach

Crucial

@Jaguares4real said in World Cup Squad Positions:

@Crucial said in World Cup Squad Positions:

idfield s

You're right in that it's the 31 I'd would take to Japan

But the 3 amendments you've made are likely to take place

Hansen is a pick and stick kind of coach

Hansen and Co WILL make hard decisions if they feel they are necessary, but they also trust their ability to stick with proven selections and make them work in order to keep the bonus of experience.
RWCs have really borne out the edict that experience counts a lot to get through the knockout stages.

WillieTheWaiter

pretty decent article.. squad seems about right

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/opinion/113786024/rugby-world-cup-the-all-blacks-squad-is-coming-into-view

antipodean

@WillieTheWaiter yes, for the contentious decisions the arguments are pretty sound.

gt12

I think there are one too many fullbacks and one two few 10s, which Jordie is not. I think they need three, as if Barrett is injured early but could be ready later in the tournament, you want two 10s there for the games until that time. I imagine that Josh Ioane will get his chance in the 4N. I'm also less than convinced that they will finally pick Akira Ioane.

Frank

I'd like to NOT see Jordie Barrett in the squad.

MajorStokes

@WillieTheWaiter said in World Cup Squad Positions:

pretty decent article.. squad seems about right

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/opinion/113786024/rugby-world-cup-the-all-blacks-squad-is-coming-into-view

Related but unrelated question ... is Cully the best rugby writer in NZ at the moment? Certainly is for me. Not bad for an Irish fella living in Dunedin who writes for the Sydney Morning Herald!

antipodean

@gt12 said in World Cup Squad Positions:

I think there are one too many fullbacks and one two few 10s, which Jordie is not. I think they need three, as if Barrett is injured early but could be ready later in the tournament, you want two 10s there for the games until that time. I imagine that Josh Ioane will get his chance in the 4N. I'm also less than convinced that they will finally pick Akira Ioane.

There's certainly less noise this year.

nzzp

@antipodean said in World Cup Squad Positions:

@gt12 said in World Cup Squad Positions:

I think there are one too many fullbacks and one two few 10s, which Jordie is not. I think they need three, as if Barrett is injured early but could be ready later in the tournament, you want two 10s there for the games until that time. I imagine that Josh Ioane will get his chance in the 4N. I'm also less than convinced that they will finally pick Akira Ioane.

There's certainly less noise this year.

I'm a fan of Akira, but his form hasn't been great through the back end of the season. If they pick him, it's because they'll back themselves to get the best out of him. His upside is just massive -- if he can get the discipline and work ethic to go with it he'd be a world beater

antipodean

@nzzp said in World Cup Squad Positions:

@antipodean said in World Cup Squad Positions:

@gt12 said in World Cup Squad Positions:

I think there are one too many fullbacks and one two few 10s, which Jordie is not. I think they need three, as if Barrett is injured early but could be ready later in the tournament, you want two 10s there for the games until that time. I imagine that Josh Ioane will get his chance in the 4N. I'm also less than convinced that they will finally pick Akira Ioane.

There's certainly less noise this year.

I'm a fan of Akira, but his form hasn't been great through the back end of the season. If they pick him, it's because they'll back themselves to get the best out of him. His upside is just massive -- if he can get the discipline and work ethic to go with it he'd be a world beater

Perhaps a rest is what he needs, but the change in his game presumably to suit what the ABs wanted to see more of or having Coventry at the Blues has shortened the highlight reel somewhat.

ACT Crusader

For those that can’t access the article, below is Cully’s squad.

Possible 31-man All Blacks squad for the Rugby World Cup:

Hookers: Codie Taylor, Dane Coles, Nathan Harris
Props: Joe Moody, Karl Tu'inukuafe, Owen Franks, Nepo Laulala, Ofa Tuungafasi
Locks: Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Scott Barrett
Loose forwards: Kieran Read (c), Sam Cane, Ardie Savea, Liam Squire, Vaea Fifita, Akira Ioane
Halfbacks: Aaron Smith, TJ Perenara, Brad Weber
No 10s/15: Beauden Barrett, Richie Mo'unga, Jordie Barrett
Midfielders: Sonny Bill Williams, Ryan Crotty, Anton Lienert-Brown, Jack Goodhue
Outside backs: David Havili, Ben Smith, Rieko Ioane, George Bridge

Hooroo

@ACT-Crusader said in World Cup Squad Positions:

For those that can’t access the article, below is Cully’s squad.

Possible 31-man All Blacks squad for the Rugby World Cup:

Hookers: Codie Taylor, Dane Coles, Nathan Harris
Props: Joe Moody, Karl Tu'inukuafe, Owen Franks, Nepo Laulala, Ofa Tuungafasi
Locks: Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Scott Barrett
Loose forwards: Kieran Read (c), Sam Cane, Ardie Savea, Liam Squire, Vaea Fifita, Akira Ioane
Halfbacks: Aaron Smith, TJ Perenara, Brad Weber
No 10s/15: Beauden Barrett, Richie Mo'unga, Jordie Barrett
Midfielders: Sonny Bill Williams, Ryan Crotty, Anton Lienert-Brown, Jack Goodhue
Outside backs: David Havili, Ben Smith, Rieko Ioane, George Bridge

I've seen nothing to suggest that Akira Ioane will make the squad (Based on his play now and when he was previously unselected)

ACT Crusader

From Cully’s squad the only questions I have are:

Harris vs Coltman
Patty T vs Fifita vs Hemopo
Weber vs TTT
Inclusion of Ioane
Bridge vs Naholo

Stargazer

@ACT-Crusader said in World Cup Squad Positions:

From Cully’s squad the only questions I have are:

Harris vs Coltman
Patty T vs Fifita vs Hemopo
Weber vs TTT
Inclusion of Ioane
Bridge vs Naholo

I would change that into:

Harris vs Coltman
Patty T vs Fifita vs A Ioane
Weber vs TTT
Bridge vs Naholo

taniwharugby

@Stargazer said in World Cup Squad Positions:

@ACT-Crusader said in World Cup Squad Positions:

From Cully’s squad the only questions I have are:

Harris vs Coltman
Patty T vs Fifita vs Hemopo
Weber vs TTT
Inclusion of Ioane
Bridge vs Naholo

I would change that into:

~~Harris~~ vs Coltman
Patty T vs ~~Fifita vs A Ioane~~
Weber vs ~~TTT~~
Bridge vs ~~Naholo~~

thats how I see it...although TRC squad should sort a few things out anyway

ACT Crusader

@Hooroo said in World Cup Squad Positions:

@ACT-Crusader said in World Cup Squad Positions:

For those that can’t access the article, below is Cully’s squad.

Possible 31-man All Blacks squad for the Rugby World Cup:

Hookers: Codie Taylor, Dane Coles, Nathan Harris
Props: Joe Moody, Karl Tu'inukuafe, Owen Franks, Nepo Laulala, Ofa Tuungafasi
Locks: Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Scott Barrett
Loose forwards: Kieran Read (c), Sam Cane, Ardie Savea, Liam Squire, Vaea Fifita, Akira Ioane
Halfbacks: Aaron Smith, TJ Perenara, Brad Weber
No 10s/15: Beauden Barrett, Richie Mo'unga, Jordie Barrett
Midfielders: Sonny Bill Williams, Ryan Crotty, Anton Lienert-Brown, Jack Goodhue
Outside backs: David Havili, Ben Smith, Rieko Ioane, George Bridge

I've seen nothing to suggest that Akira Ioane will make the squad (Based on his play now and when he was previously unselected)

I actually didn’t see his name in there. Yeah I don’t think he will make it.

Also another one that is a question mark and that is Havili. Can’t see them taking both Jordie and Havili.

Stargazer

@ACT-Crusader said in World Cup Squad Positions:

@Hooroo said in World Cup Squad Positions:

@ACT-Crusader said in World Cup Squad Positions:

For those that can’t access the article, below is Cully’s squad.

Possible 31-man All Blacks squad for the Rugby World Cup:

Hookers: Codie Taylor, Dane Coles, Nathan Harris
Props: Joe Moody, Karl Tu'inukuafe, Owen Franks, Nepo Laulala, Ofa Tuungafasi
Locks: Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Scott Barrett
Loose forwards: Kieran Read (c), Sam Cane, Ardie Savea, Liam Squire, Vaea Fifita, Akira Ioane
Halfbacks: Aaron Smith, TJ Perenara, Brad Weber
No 10s/15: Beauden Barrett, Richie Mo'unga, Jordie Barrett
Midfielders: Sonny Bill Williams, Ryan Crotty, Anton Lienert-Brown, Jack Goodhue
Outside backs: David Havili, Ben Smith, Rieko Ioane, George Bridge

I've seen nothing to suggest that Akira Ioane will make the squad (Based on his play now and when he was previously unselected)

I actually didn’t see his name in there. Yeah I don’t think he will make it.

Also another one that is a question mark and that is Havili. Can’t see them taking both Jordie and Havili.

That depends on the role they want Jordie to play, but yes, based on form Havili should make the squad, but I suspect they'll go for Jordie.

antipodean

@taniwharugby said in World Cup Squad Positions:

@Stargazer said in World Cup Squad Positions:

@ACT-Crusader said in World Cup Squad Positions:

From Cully’s squad the only questions I have are:

Harris vs Coltman
Patty T vs Fifita vs Hemopo
Weber vs TTT
Inclusion of Ioane
Bridge vs Naholo

I would change that into:

~~Harris~~ vs Coltman
Patty T vs ~~Fifita vs A Ioane~~
Weber vs ~~TTT~~
Bridge vs ~~Naholo~~

thats how I see it...although TRC squad should sort a few things out anyway

On form you'd have to agree, but Harris is reportedly a better scrummager.

The Silver Fern

World Cup Squad Positions