Possible All Blacks 2020
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@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.
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@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.
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@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!
@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.
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@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.
@Chris-B said in Possible All Blacks 2020:
@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.
Based on? He has a minor hammy issue.
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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
TuúngafasiHookers
Taylor
Coles
ColtmanLocks
Whitelock (C) - I think Sam is available for all the tests?
Barrett
Tuipolotu
Walker-LeawereLoose forwards
Savea
Cane
Frizell
Fifita
Sotutu
IoaneHalfbacks
Smith
Perenara
WeberFirst Fives
Barrett
Mo'unga
Ioane* (But Cruden if there's any fitness worries with the other two)Midfield
Lienert-Brown
Laumape
Goodhue
EnnorOutside backs
Ioane
Reece
Jordan
McKenzie
BarrettBugger - I've picked 33 - they only picked two halfbacks in 2016.
@Chris-B Aumua at Hooker instead of Coltman for me. Aumua has been solid this year in his core work and definitely offers more than Coltman on attack. The fact we need to blood young talent in that position also puts him at an advantage.
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Am still of the opinion that it's way too early in the SR season.
Anyway, if he plays as well after his return from the injury ward as he did in the first rounds, I expect David Havili to be in the squad. The form back until his surgery. Maybe at the expense of Jordie.
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@Chris-B said in Possible All Blacks 2020:
@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.
Based on? He has a minor hammy issue.
@Crucial said in Possible All Blacks 2020:
@Chris-B said in Possible All Blacks 2020:
@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.
Based on? He has a minor hammy issue.
Is that all! I thought he'd had a return of concussion symptoms?
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@Crucial said in Possible All Blacks 2020:
@Chris-B said in Possible All Blacks 2020:
@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.
Based on? He has a minor hammy issue.
Is that all! I thought he'd had a return of concussion symptoms?
@Chris-B said in Possible All Blacks 2020:
@Crucial said in Possible All Blacks 2020:
@Chris-B said in Possible All Blacks 2020:
@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.
Based on? He has a minor hammy issue.
Is that all! I thought he'd had a return of concussion symptoms?
Fake news
Edit: there was a description of 'neural issues' and people jumped to a conclusion. Something to do with a nerve in/near the hammy. He can run fine but it flares up when pushing in scrums/rucks apparently.
A couple of Panadol and a lie down and he'll be fine. -
@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.
@Bovidae said in Possible All Blacks 2020:
@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.
Why? The guy is only 30 and, although he is off to Japan shortly, there is no reason why he can't be a genuine squad option for the next World Cup if his form is good enough. He's actually been a very decent AB first-five and could still do a job at a major tournament if required to do so - certainly more of a natural 10 than BB and with a far better temperament and game management than RM. I think the selectors would be mad to write him off as an option now that he's available again.
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@Bovidae said in Possible All Blacks 2020:
@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.
Why? The guy is only 30 and, although he is off to Japan shortly, there is no reason why he can't be a genuine squad option for the next World Cup if his form is good enough. He's actually been a very decent AB first-five and could still do a job at a major tournament if required to do so - certainly more of a natural 10 than BB and with a far better temperament and game management than RM. I think the selectors would be mad to write him off as an option now that he's available again.
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@Chris-B Aumua at Hooker instead of Coltman for me. Aumua has been solid this year in his core work and definitely offers more than Coltman on attack. The fact we need to blood young talent in that position also puts him at an advantage.
@Canes4life Taukei'aho over Aumua.
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According to Nigel Yelden, Dalton Papalii's rest game was not due to his brief time in the ABs last year, but his possible inclusion in an AB squad this year. Doesn't mean they selected a squad.
@Tim said in Possible All Blacks 2020:
According to Nigel Yelden, Dalton Papalii's rest game was not due to his brief time in the ABs last year, but his possible inclusion in an AB squad this year. Doesn't mean they selected a squad.
This. everyone moaning about the rest weeks seems to be forgetting that they are there to make sure tat potential All Blacks (e.g., Ennor who didn't even go to the WC) are at their best when they are needed in black later in this year.
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According to Nigel Yelden, Dalton Papalii's rest game was not due to his brief time in the ABs last year, but his possible inclusion in an AB squad this year. Doesn't mean they selected a squad.
@Tim said in Possible All Blacks 2020:
According to Nigel Yelden, Dalton Papalii's rest game was not due to his brief time in the ABs last year, but his possible inclusion in an AB squad this year. Doesn't mean they selected a squad.
Yeah last years games have nothing to do with the rest periods in SR, itis all about managing this years (possible) games, from a list of the coach's best guess possible team at the begginning of this year. Last year rest will mean f all if you play continually this year and are burnt out by the time th NH tour comes around.
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It’s a weird way of managing workload though.
Take someone like DMac. He trained through summer and had to reach match fitness. Has an early game off followed by a couple of weeks break around the bye playing golf. Sounds ok until you realise that if the Chiefs go long into the tournament and he gets selected for the ABs he could now play and train constantly for the next 9 months.
A couple of weeks at the end of Feb seem a lost cause -
It’s a weird way of managing workload though.
Take someone like DMac. He trained through summer and had to reach match fitness. Has an early game off followed by a couple of weeks break around the bye playing golf. Sounds ok until you realise that if the Chiefs go long into the tournament and he gets selected for the ABs he could now play and train constantly for the next 9 months.
A couple of weeks at the end of Feb seem a lost cause@Crucial Yeah. Coaches are going to want to get the rests out the way ASAP to maximize their squad flexibility if injuries bite later in the season.
But, it's a pretty blunt instrument.
You'd think it wouldn't be that hard for the AB coaches to work with the Super coaches to map out season programmes for each individual player, with a bit of flexibility for most if they're really needed by their Super team. With "needed" clearly defined.
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It’s a weird way of managing workload though.
Take someone like DMac. He trained through summer and had to reach match fitness. Has an early game off followed by a couple of weeks break around the bye playing golf. Sounds ok until you realise that if the Chiefs go long into the tournament and he gets selected for the ABs he could now play and train constantly for the next 9 months.
A couple of weeks at the end of Feb seem a lost cause@Crucial There is still the rule that ABs can't play more than 6 games in succession (during the regular season). Byes and rest weeks reset the count, but it depends entirely on when a franchise has their byes, whether this will affect a player. A very quick look at the schedule tells me that this rule does affect the Highlanders and Crusaders at the end of the season, but not the Chiefs and Hurricanes, and it affects the Blues (but not in the last two rounds).
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@Crucial There is still the rule that ABs can't play more than 6 games in succession (during the regular season). Byes and rest weeks reset the count, but it depends entirely on when a franchise has their byes, whether this will affect a player. A very quick look at the schedule tells me that this rule does affect the Highlanders and Crusaders at the end of the season, but not the Chiefs and Hurricanes, and it affects the Blues (but not in the last two rounds).
@Stargazer said in Possible All Blacks 2020:
@Crucial There is still the rule that ABs can't play more than 6 games in succession (during the regular season). Byes and rest weeks reset the count, but it depends entirely on when a franchise has their byes, whether this will affect a player. A very quick look at the schedule tells me that this rule does affect the Highlanders and Crusaders at the end of the season, but not the Chiefs and Hurricanes, and it affects the Blues (but not in the last two rounds).
Chiefs have a break in round 12. Cane and ALB likely to have to sit a game out before then. I assume that as you can't plan for finals they are exempt? Would be pretty shit to have to stand down players from finals because you have played them to get there.
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@Stargazer said in Possible All Blacks 2020:
@Crucial There is still the rule that ABs can't play more than 6 games in succession (during the regular season). Byes and rest weeks reset the count, but it depends entirely on when a franchise has their byes, whether this will affect a player. A very quick look at the schedule tells me that this rule does affect the Highlanders and Crusaders at the end of the season, but not the Chiefs and Hurricanes, and it affects the Blues (but not in the last two rounds).
Chiefs have a break in round 12. Cane and ALB likely to have to sit a game out before then. I assume that as you can't plan for finals they are exempt? Would be pretty shit to have to stand down players from finals because you have played them to get there.
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@Stargazer said in Possible All Blacks 2020:
... (during the regular season) ...
Don't expect people to actually read what you type. This is the Fern. I had a point to make
Anyway, that kind of goes back to my OP. Depending on the draw a player could easily have to do 9 games at the crunch end followed by AB camp, more games and a travel schedule around the world.
Not much of a way around that without a clear gap between Super and internationals for a refresh but I can't see how a break in Feb really helps much.
