All Blacks XV - New second tier team

[Tim]

I'll skip loose forwards for now. Probably the toughest decisions there.

Halfbacks:

Assume that the three from the WC will stay in the ABs.

TTT and Hall obvious choices.

Nock
Drummond
Booth
Fakatava
Enari

I'd like to see more of Taumateine.

[Tim]

1st 5:

Big question over third AB ten.

Ioane, Black, and Smith are probably the most prominent this year. Perhaps two of those (Black and Smith) plus a player who covers 10 from another position like Havili, Stevenson, or Perofeta.

[Tim]

Roll on the midfield. Goodhue, ALB, and Laumape in the main squad. Perhaps Ennor too. Not a lot of 12s around.

Contenders:

TJ Faiane
Havili at 12?
Vince Aso
Tupaea

Some players like Nankivel, Walden, Thompson, Tele'a, and Manu haven't shown much or haven't had a chance yet.

[Tim]

Hooker

Only player guaranteed of a place is Taylor. Coles doesn't look like the same player, and it may be time to move on. He may also peak at the right time for the ABs. Unknown as of yet. Anyway, Taylor, Coles, and Taukei'aho for my AB picks.

Coltman and Aumua for two spots in the B team. Maybe Makalio for the third spot, but they may want someone younger.

[Tim]

Back three is hard to pick with so much talent about.

MacKenzie and Havili for AB fullbacks, with Ioane and Reece on the wing? Throw in a last chance for George Bridge, though I really hope not. I could also see them taking Jordie Barrett, though I really don't want to see him on the wing.

Contenders:

Telea
Stevenson
Wainui
Alaimalo
Goosen
Leicester Fainga'anuku
Will Jordan
Perofeta

There's also some players with the Sevens squad. Tough to pick.

[Tim]

Any takers to pick a 23?

[Kirwan]

Kind of would like to see the ABs play the AB XV

[taniwharugby]

@Kirwan they could call it like Probables vs Possibles or summink?

[Kirwan]

@taniwharugby said in All Blacks XV - New second tier team:

@Kirwan they could call it like Probables vs Possibles or summink?

Yes, I miss those. Which was my poorly expressed point.

[Tim]

Can't answer the loose forward without looking at the ABs too. Last year's players were probably the weakest selection in a long time. Only two will be certain picks this year: Cane and Savea, who both prefer openside.

Openside:

Papalii
Bosher
Kirifi
Christie

Blindside:

Papalii
Robinson
Bosher
Jacobson
Fifita
Grace
Frizell

Number Eight:

(Savea)
Ioane
Sotutu
Jacobson
Evans
Mikaele-Tu'u
Douglas

[Kirwan]

@Tim some bloody good players coming through there.

[Tim]

@Kirwan Yeah, traditional strength of NZ indeed.

[Tim]

Be interesting to see if Jordie Barrett plays at 12.

[Bovidae]

@Tim said in All Blacks XV - New second tier team:

Locks

Hopefully Parkinson is back to full fitness and performs.

[Tim]

Okay, time for a guess at a 23.

1 Ross
2 Coltman
3 Taavao
4 IWL
5 Dunshea
6 Jacobson
7 Kirifi
8 Sotutu
9 Hall
10 Black
11 Talea
12 Faiane
13 Aso
14 Stevenson/Bridge
15 Barrett/Havili/Jordan

16 Aumua
17 Hodgman
18 Lomax
19 GCT
20 Boshier
21 TTT
22 Smith
23 Tupaea

Of course, this will change depending non injuries and form in derby matches.

[Bovidae]

More info here:

I do like the suggestion of rewarding NPC form.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/120132623/nzr-chief-rugby-officer-nigel-cass-denies-all-blacks-xv-will-cheapen-the-jersey

[Tim]

@Bovidae Yeah, is good to see an incentive to play NPC.

[ARHS]

Will hopefully stop a lot of players organising Northern hemisphere gigs after or during npc

[antipodean]

@Bovidae I don't understand the author's contention that it will cheapen the All Black jersey - the second tier teams won't be capped All Blacks unless I've got this all horribly wrong?

[Tim]

The "Maori All Blacks" will still assemble (in July) and Cass said he hoped some of those players would play on both the mid-year Maori tour and at the end of the year with the All Blacks XV..