AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?

[Machpants]

Interesting stuff

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/300077182/all-blacks-conditioner-nic-gill-reveals-the-fittest-players-in-the-country

[sparky]

@Machpants Interesting, but I would like also to know which players have the most explosive power over 5m to 15m. With so much stop/start and lower amount of time in a game with the ball in play, international Rugby is getting like NFL. Fitness will always be important but is not as important if the game has so many breaks.

[pakman]

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

@mariner4life said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:

If I'm picking a team to bash up the Wallabies (ignoring injuries)

Moody
Taylor
Laulala
Whitelock
Patty T
Akira
Cane
Sotutu
Smith
Mounga
Clark
Goodhue
Reiko
Jordan
BB

Karl T
Ofa T
Eklund
SBarrett
Robinson
Papali'i
Hall
ALB

Ofa T is the best THP IMO and should start. And no Ardie Savea in the 23 ?

It's only Oz, so scrummaging not huge priority.

[Crazy Horse]

If we see Beauden at 15 and Mo'unga at 10 again I hope the dynamics change more in Mo'unga's favour. By that I mean let the backline be his to run. Last year I felt Beauden was the chief even though he was at 15 and I reckon that unsettled Mo'unga.

[taniwharugby]

@Crazy-Horse fair observation, and I think the game plan was probably weighted more toward BB than Mounga steering the ship. Sure you can see alot from 15, but at 10 you are right there and need to be the one making decisions not worrying that your senior player has made the call and you can see it aint on or can see something else.

[cgrant]

@pakman
So, if scrummaging is not the highest priority, why did you choose Laulala ahead of Ofa T ?

[pakman]

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

@pakman
So, if scrummaging is not the highest priority, why did you choose Laulala ahead of Ofa T ?

Not sure I actually posted a team. But if Boks front I'd want Nepo to start. I like the thought of Ofa and Karl T coming on after 55.

Against Oz, relaxed with Ofa (who's been huge in loose) starting and perhaps Lomax on bench.

[antipodean]

Watching Ofa this year I think I'd prefer he started. He hasn't looked troubled in his scrummaging and I like the thought of him destroying people in tackles from the first minute.

[mariner4life]

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

Watching Ofa this year I think I'd prefer he started. He hasn't looked troubled in his scrummaging and I like the thought of him destroying people in tackles from the first minute.

I'm on board with this except who comes off the bench? Laulala doesn't offer much in the loose.

[Tim]

@mariner4life Lomax.

[pakman]

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

Watching Ofa this year I think I'd prefer he started. He hasn't looked troubled in his scrummaging and I like the thought of him destroying people in tackles from the first minute.

In fact I think Armstrong went pretty well against him.

[cgrant]

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

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

@pakman
So, if scrummaging is not the highest priority, why did you choose Laulala ahead of Ofa T ?

Not sure I actually posted a team. But if Boks front I'd want Nepo to start. I like the thought of Ofa and Karl T coming on after 55.

Against Oz, relaxed with Ofa (who's been huge in loose) starting and perhaps Lomax on bench.

You're right. It was MarinerforLife who did.

[pakman]

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

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

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

@pakman
So, if scrummaging is not the highest priority, why did you choose Laulala ahead of Ofa T ?

Not sure I actually posted a team. But if Boks front I'd want Nepo to start. I like the thought of Ofa and Karl T coming on after 55.

Against Oz, relaxed with Ofa (who's been huge in loose) starting and perhaps Lomax on bench.

You're right. It was MarinerforLife who did.

Nonetheless, a fair point!

[sparky]

My guess at the 35 man squad

Moody, Tu'inukuafe, Laulala, Tu'ungafasi, Lomax, Ta'avao

Taylor, Coles, Coltman

Whitelock, Tuipulotu, Dunshea, Scrafton

Frizell, A Ioane, Cane, Papali'i, Savea, Sotutu

Smith, Perenera, Weber

B Barrett, Mo'unga, J Ioane,

ALB, Goodhue, R Ioane, Umaga-Jensen

Clarke, Bridge, Jordan, Reece, J Barrett, D.Mac

[pakman]

@sparky Will they take six props or seven loosies?

Likewise, three 10s or five midfielders? DMac, if in, covers 10.

[pakman]

Locks main area of uncertainty. Herald team: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=12362487

[sparky]

@pakman I could easily see another Prop or Christie making it, instead of one of D Mac or Josh Ioane.

Strange if fit will be the 4th lock.

[Yeetyaah]

Parkinson's injury came at the worst time eh. Fella was a shoe in for the 3rd lock spot I reckon. That's the area of interest for me this morning. Well that and loosies.

[KiwiMurph]

Also worth noting Grant Fox mentioned that if the opening Bledisloes are in Aus then the ABs are going to need more than 35 to be in the squad that travels over as it won't be possible to fly players over if there are injuries.

So i'd expect extra players named either today or later.

[shark]

Scrafton making an AB squad would be embarrassing. The guy doesn't dominate provincial rugby, let alone higher levels. Dunshea is only marginally better: at least he stands out at NPC level. And yet I have to recognise that in the absence of Retallick, Barrett, Parkinson, Strange and Dickson, we're a little bereft in this position.

At hooker I hope Aumua makes it ahead of Coltman, who I used to like but his line out throwing scares the shit outta me.

Midfield will be interesting. ALB, Ioane and Goodhue are givens, and there really aren't any other 12 options so it's clearly one of Ennor or Peter Umaga-Jensen, but that's a tight call. I'd stick with Ennor for the time being. I think he's the more likely long-term AB.