Possible All Blacks 2020

[Tim]

Tight five seems to pick itself, unless they want to go in a new direction or include a fourth lock.

Loose forwards will be hardest to pick by far, with a couple of tough choices in the back three.

[Bones]

@junior said in Possible All Blacks 2020:

@Bones said in Possible All Blacks 2020:

@junior outside of Tuilagi and Sinckler they don't really seem all that bludgeony.

Mako, Billy, Lawes, Genge all very capable smashers. Underhill and Itoje to a lesser extent can also smash.

Ummm. Exactly zero of those guys did any "bludgeony" acts on Saturday.

[junior]

@Bones said in Possible All Blacks 2020:

@junior said in Possible All Blacks 2020:

@Bones said in Possible All Blacks 2020:

@junior outside of Tuilagi and Sinckler they don't really seem all that bludgeony.

Mako, Billy, Lawes, Genge all very capable smashers. Underhill and Itoje to a lesser extent can also smash.

Ummm. Exactly zero of those guys did any "bludgeony" acts on Saturday.

I don't really see what your point is, given (a) my point of reference was the last 18 months as a whole (to that, they didn't smash in the RWC final either) and (b) the English pack as a whole battered the Welsh pack on Saturday (which supports my original point).

[mofitzy_]

@Bones
My first thought was he was mixing up Scott and Kane Barrett.

[kiwiinmelb]

its interesting how we seem to have been left behind a bit in the area of physicality,

There was that photo of the boks before the WC with their shirts off ,not saying thats what we should be doing , but it was obvious their training regime is a bit different to ours

[booboo]

@kiwiinmelb said in Possible All Blacks 2020:

its interesting how we seem to have been left behind a bit in the area of physicality,

There was that photo of the boks before the WC with their shirts off ,not saying thats what we should be doing , but it was obvious their training regime is a bit different to ours

Better "fitness" staff?

[Chris B.]

A quick google shows that in 2016 the first post-RWC squad had 32 players.

https://www.allblacks.com/news/all-blacks-squad-named-for-2016-steinlager-series/

Who wants to have a crack at a squad of 32? I haven't watched enough games.

[Chris B.]

No-one having an early crack?

Well, I'll take the plunge. I'm going to say that with Foster and Fox still as selectors there won't be too many changes in the backs - with Plumtree keeping his selectorial powder dry to get a couple of his favourites into the forwards.

Maybe Hansen might have foisted a couple of his projects on the others - and maybe Fozzie's got a couple of projects of his own in mind.

And you've got to have a few Mako!

Props
Moody
Tu'inukuafe
Laulala
Lomax
Tuúngafasi

Hookers
Taylor
Coles
Coltman

Locks
Whitelock (C) - I think Sam is available for all the tests?
Barrett
Tuipolotu
Walker-Leawere

Loose forwards
Savea
Cane
Frizell
Fifita
Sotutu
Ioane

Halfbacks
Smith
Perenara
Weber

First Fives
Barrett
Mo'unga
Ioane* (But Cruden if there's any fitness worries with the other two)

Midfield
Lienert-Brown
Laumape
Goodhue
Ennor

Outside backs
Ioane
Reece
Jordan
McKenzie
Barrett

Bugger - I've picked 33 - they only picked two halfbacks in 2016.

[antipodean]

@Chris-B that's good, but on current form Telea has to be in the backs. All he has to work on is high balls. He offers heaps more than Bridge currently is.

[Bones]

@Chris-B Fifita

[Chris B.]

@Bones But, Plumtree is coaching the forwards!

[Bones]

@Chris-B Grace, Robinson, Marino, etc, etc!

[Chris B.]

@antipodean George doesn't make the team either. It's time for Will Jordan.

[Chris B.]

@Bones Those guys can play for the new AB team - but, if you really pushed me on those guys - Robinson.

[mooshld]

Jordie done nothing to impress me so far this year.

Cruden has looked in top form. I would love for him and Mounga to be fighting for the 10 with Beauden at 15.

[sparky]

@mooshld said in Possible All Blacks 2020:

Cruden has looked in top form.

Did you not see the Brumbies game? He doesn't tackle any more. His defensive is a long way below international standard.

[Machpants]

@mooshld said in Possible All Blacks 2020:

Jordie done nothing to impress me so far this year.

Cruden has looked in top form. I would love for him and Mounga to be fighting for the 10 with Beauden at 15.

Sorry. Jordie has been one of the Canes' best, he's been pretty damned good.

Cruden will be nowhere near the ABs, unless we have an injury crisis - it doesn't make sense

Fafita? Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

[Bovidae]

@sparky said in Possible All Blacks 2020:

@mooshld said in Possible All Blacks 2020:

Cruden has looked in top form.

Did you not see the Brumbies game? He doesn't tackle any more. His defensive is a long way below international standard.

Cruden made a number of important and try-saving tackles against the Crusaders. That said, it is better to look to the future so I don't see him being in the mix.

[booboo]

@Bones said in Possible All Blacks 2020:

@Chris-B Grace, Robinson, Marino, etc, etc!

Papalii, Jacobsen ...

[Crazy Horse]

I guess I may have to start watching him closely, but I don't yet see what people see in Papalii. He seems adequate in most of the roles of a loose forward, but master of none. He doesn't seem the smartest player going around either. Those that rate him highly, what exactly do you rate him highly for?