All Blacks XV - New second tier team

[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..

[Bovidae]

@antipodean My reading of it, is the use of All Blacks in the team name, like the Sevens team. This point has been raised in this thread.

[booboo]

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

Any takers to pick a 23?

I've been meaning to do a list in the Possible All Blacks thread which would line up all these players in some sort of degree of probability of selection ... But don't have the time I used to ...

[booboo]

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

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

What a fuct headline

[antipodean]

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

@antipodean My reading of it, is the use of All Blacks in the team name, like the Sevens team. This point has been raised in this thread.

Oh no, the precedent! Next they'll have the Maori All Blacks, or the All Black Sevens...

[Cyclops]

Will this be a registered second team and lock players in to NZ eligibility wise? I know the 7s pathway exists, but that's still significant if true.

Double edged sword though. The England, Ireland and Wales of the world will be missing out on the guys they're able to collect on residency and grandparent clauses, but it may also negatively impact on some of the Pacific Island players who may have played for one of those countries.

[Bones]

@Tim guessing you have Ioane in the ABs?

[Tim]

@Bones Akira Ioane is an optimistic pick from me at this point. Wouldn't be surprised if Josh Ioane is 3rd ten in the ABs.

[voodoo]

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

Be interesting to see if Jordie Barrett plays at 12.

Would he be the tallest 12 we have ever fielded?

[Kirwan]

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

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

@antipodean My reading of it, is the use of All Blacks in the team name, like the Sevens team. This point has been raised in this thread.

Oh no, the precedent! Next they'll have the Maori All Blacks, or the All Black Sevens...

The Junior All Blacks....

[pakman]

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

Locks

Whitelock, Tuipulotu, Barrett + 1 in the ABs.

Contenders:

Allardice
Cowley-Tuioti
IWL
Dunshea
Strange
Dickson

Maybe Strange to the ABs, leaving IWL, GCT, and Dunshea for the B team. Dickson for fourth lock?

For me a weak area. Compare England, who can choose from Kruis, Itoje, Lawes and Launchbury, not to mention Ewels, etc..

[Kruse]

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

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

Be interesting to see if Jordie Barrett plays at 12.

Would he be the tallest 12 we have ever fielded?

QUICK - to the "Tallest All Blacks XV" thread!
I can't remember who started that, so apologies in advance - but jeez, I'm embarrassed that it really does(/did) exist.

[Stargazer]

From the Planet Rugby website:

The newly formed All Blacks XV, Fiji, USA and Canada will participate in the inaugural Halloween Rugby Weekend, at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver this October.

The games will feature the All Blacks XV squaring off against the Flying Fijians on Halloween night, Saturday, October 30, and Canada hitting the pitch against their continental rivals the USA on Friday, October 30.

The event is the first leg of a three-city world tour by the All Blacks XV team and was announced prior to the final of the wildly successful Vancouver Sevens tournament also staged at BC Place.

All Blacks hooker Nathan Harris and Fiji fly-half Ben Volavola were in attendance at the Vancouver Sevens and are excited to compete in front of Vancouver fans this October.

More: https://www.planetrugby.com/all-blacks-xv-to-tour-northern-hemisphere/

[shark]

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

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.

With Mo'unga, Barrett and McKenzie in an AB squad, you don't need another 10.

[shark]

Anyway, I like this concept. Not so much the naming as it appears as much a marketing gimmick and attempt to pull the wool over casual fan's eyes, as it is a genuine reflection of a national team.

[shark]

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

Locks

Whitelock, Tuipulotu, Barrett + 1 in the ABs.

Contenders:

Allardice
Cowley-Tuioti
IWL
Dunshea
Strange
Dickson

Maybe Strange to the ABs, leaving IWL, GCT, and Dunshea for the B team. Dickson for fourth lock?

Jeez I heard Jason Pyne on RS this morning name a scratch 15 and he had James Blackwell as a lock. If any senior NZ rep team ever selects a 1.90m lock forward, I'll strap myself to a Nth Korean ICBM and ask them to point it at NZR HQ.

[Bones]

@shark is there quite a difference between Nth Korean ICBM's and others?

[shark]

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

@shark is there quite a difference between Nth Korean ICBM's and others?

I'm relying on it not working.

[Tim]

@shark Fair enough, although I am wondering if MacKenzie will concentrate on fullback after all the talk about it preseason.

[voodoo]

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

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

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.

With Mo'unga, Barrett and McKenzie in an AB squad, you don't need another 10.

🤮