AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?

[Bones]

@ravens88 said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:

Second First Five

Waaaaait a miiinute....

He was excellent for the canes throughout the noughties.

[sparky]

@ravens88 Nonsense, until he fell out with Hammett, Nonu was a consistently excellent player for the Canes. Our problems in the 2000s were in the Forwards and at First Five.

[DMX]

@Bones said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:

@ravens88 said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:

Second First Five

Waaaaait a miiinute....

He was excellent for the canes throughout the noughties.

Agree but he was special in that he seemed to peak for the ABs with his final year being perhaps his finest.

[DMX]

@cgrant said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:

Who is the form 2nd 5/8 ? I would be tempted to say Nankivell or TJ Faiane but none of them is AB material IMO. So I guess the midfield combo should be ALB - Goodhue or ALB - Ioane.

I think Fozzie is looking to win right now, anyone expecting a form XV will be disappointed IMHO. I’m guessing ALB and Goodhue will be top of the list for first 2 or 3 tests.

[Machpants]

@DMX said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:

@cgrant said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:

Who is the form 2nd 5/8 ? I would be tempted to say Nankivell or TJ Faiane but none of them is AB material IMO. So I guess the midfield combo should be ALB - Goodhue or ALB - Ioane.

I think Fozzie is looking to win right now, anyone expecting a form XV will be disappointed IMHO. I’m guessing ALB and Goodhue will be top of the list for first 2 or 3 tests.

He's got a 2 year contract with a lot to prove, winning this year (if there are any games) will mean nothing, too. Hell want a nailed down team for hopefully a proper/more extensive session next year

[nzzp]

@ravens88 said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:

@Victor-Meldrew

Nonu far too often mailed it in playing Super Rugby - his spot was largely guaranteed at Second First Five for majority of his career

He was a tiger for the ABs and a pussycat for Landers, Canes

> To be fair he fronted up for the Blues

the second time round.

The first time it seems he refused to play outside Gareth, then pulled the pin on a handshake and shot off to the Clan. Wonderful All Black, but not the finest human being at times.

[DMX]

@Machpants said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:

@DMX said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:

@cgrant said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:

Who is the form 2nd 5/8 ? I would be tempted to say Nankivell or TJ Faiane but none of them is AB material IMO. So I guess the midfield combo should be ALB - Goodhue or ALB - Ioane.

I think Fozzie is looking to win right now, anyone expecting a form XV will be disappointed IMHO. I’m guessing ALB and Goodhue will be top of the list for first 2 or 3 tests.

He's got a 2 year contract with a lot to prove, winning this year (if there are any games) will mean nothing, too. Hell want a nailed down team for hopefully a proper/more extensive session next year

Agree to disagree, the fact it’s a 2year contract will make it all the more imperative to get it done now. He not screwing around with a new midfield or totally new back 3 for the Bledisloe, it would put him on the backfoot for rest of his contract, and its not like the incumbents are that old, I am guessing he is going to go the super conservative route.

[mariner4life]

J Barrett has improved massively on last year, and absolutely should be in the frame. Does he have the wheels to play wing?

Clark and 2 Barrets back 3
Reiko at centre, with laumape
Mounga at 10

Rock star backline.

[antipodean]

@DMX said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:

@Machpants said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:

@DMX said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:

@cgrant said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:

Who is the form 2nd 5/8 ? I would be tempted to say Nankivell or TJ Faiane but none of them is AB material IMO. So I guess the midfield combo should be ALB - Goodhue or ALB - Ioane.

I think Fozzie is looking to win right now, anyone expecting a form XV will be disappointed IMHO. I’m guessing ALB and Goodhue will be top of the list for first 2 or 3 tests.

He's got a 2 year contract with a lot to prove, winning this year (if there are any games) will mean nothing, too. Hell want a nailed down team for hopefully a proper/more extensive session next year

Agree to disagree, the fact it’s a 2year contract will make it all the more imperative to get it done now. He not screwing around with a new midfield or totally new back 3 for the Bledisloe, it would put him on the backfoot for rest of his contract, and its not like the incumbents are that old, I am guessing he is going to go the super conservative route.

I disagree - pick on form and trust your coaching. I see no value in picking people clearly out of form and hoping that they'll magically come good at a higher level.

This is a great opportunity to stamp your mark as head coach/ selector.

[Crucial]

I’m thinking that this thread is getting rather redundant and we will only be seeing an AB training camp at most.
Bloody Aussies and their diseases.

[MN5]

@Crucial said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:

I’m thinking that this thread is getting rather redundant and we will only be seeing an AB training camp at most.
Bloody Aussies and their diseases.

Indeed. There's some bloody good articles written in the Wisden cricket page I follow on FB about the tour to Australia by India in December which I bet won't even happen.

[Tim]

Shouldn't there be some juicy rumours by now?

[antipodean]

@MN5 said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:

@Crucial said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:

I’m thinking that this thread is getting rather redundant and we will only be seeing an AB training camp at most.
Bloody Aussies and their diseases.

Indeed. There's some bloody good articles written in the Wisden cricket page I follow on FB about the tour to Australia by India in December which I bet won't even happen.

I can't see how it would unless the Indians are placed in quarantine and there's two tests; Adelaide Oval and the WACA. Maybe Bellerive Oval.

[mariner4life]

@antipodean said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:

@MN5 said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:

@Crucial said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:

I’m thinking that this thread is getting rather redundant and we will only be seeing an AB training camp at most.
Bloody Aussies and their diseases.

Indeed. There's some bloody good articles written in the Wisden cricket page I follow on FB about the tour to Australia by India in December which I bet won't even happen.

I can't see how it would unless the Indians are placed in quarantine and there's two tests; Adelaide Oval and the WACA. Maybe Bellerive Oval.

even that would require WA opening their borders. I was hoping to go to the New Years test, but that's looking pretty freakin unlikely

[Yeetyaah]

Probably been talked about already but I hope dmac doesn't make the squad, usually I'd defend him but he doesn't deserve a spot.

[mariner4life]

i really want an AB squad announcement now, because i reckon the shitfights on here would be epic

[Yeetyaah]

Any thoughts on third halfback? Weber doesn't deserve to even be in the conversation.

[Tim]

@Yeetyaah Hall or Nock.

[taniwharugby]

@Tim have to be Hall, been playing consistently at this level much longer than Nock.

[Stargazer]

@Yeetyaah Bryn Hall, but he may not even get an opportunity in North v South, considering he'll have Smith and TJP as the likely starter and reserve ahead of him.