Possible All Blacks 2020

[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?

[Canes4life]

No way on Fifita. The guy has way too many brain explosions.

I'd rather have someone like Gareth Evans or Boshier.

Edit: or Robinson - too soon for someone like Grace.

[Kirwan]

@Crazy-Horse said in Possible All Blacks 2020:

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?

High work rate, huge defence (accurate, hardly misses tackles), hits a lot of rucks, tall and a good lineout target. Covers all three looseforward positions.

Is seen as a future captain, so not sure I agree with the smart comment. Does push the line a bit too much at seven, but will get better at picking his moments. Lots of sevens get penalised a lot.

He's like Robinson, no regard for his body and never stops working.

[Chris B.]

@booboo said in Possible All Blacks 2020:

@Bones said in Possible All Blacks 2020:

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

Papalili, Jacobsen ...

I decided not to consider Jacobsen because there seems a reasonable chance he'll be on the sidelines for a while.

[Crazy Horse]

@Kirwan said in Possible All Blacks 2020:

@Crazy-Horse said in Possible All Blacks 2020:

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?

High work rate, huge defence (accurate, hardly misses tackles), hits a lot of rucks, tall and a good lineout target. Covers all three looseforward positions.

Is seen as a future captain, so not sure I agree with the smart comment. Does push the line a bit too much at seven, but will get better at picking his moments. Lots of sevens get penalised a lot.

He's like Robinson, no regard for his body and never stops working.

Wow, it's seems like I haven't watched him at all. Guess I will have to focus on him when I watch the Blues over the next few weeks.

[Kirwan]

@Crazy-Horse It's really noticable when he's not playing for us, he cleans up a lot. Gibson's suberb 20mins aside last week, Dalton is getting through a lot more work.

[Duluth]

@Kirwan

He gave away a lot of penalties last year, particularly at 7

This year he’s only conceded 3 in 5 games

[Canes4life]

@Machpants agreed, Jordie has been good for the Canes and his kicking at 90 odd % will please the All Blacks. He voiced is displeasure at the fact he needed to rest against the Sunwolves which may have stunted his early-season form, hopefully he can get some of that back this Friday as we will need it big time.