AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?
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Pleasantly surprised by that squad. Seems like an improvement on Hansen's selections. There are only three selections that I question, they are Vaa'i who barely seems SR level to me, Weber who has an even worse pass than TJP and the third one is DMac. What must Bryn Hall do to get in? The rest are solid selections. Glad to see Paps, Akira and Sotutu get picked, well deserved boys.
@akan004 said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
Pleasantly surprised by that squad. Seems like an improvement on Hansen's selections. There are only three selections that I question, they are Vaa'i who barely seems SR level to me, Webber who has an even worse pass than TJP and the third one is DMac. What must Bryn Hall do to get in? The rest are solid selections. Glad to see Paps, Akira and Sotutu get picked, well deserved boys.
Erase the memories of the selectors who remember what he's like not playing for the Crusaders?
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@akan004 said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
Pleasantly surprised by that squad. Seems like an improvement on Hansen's selections. There are only three selections that I question, they are Vaa'i who barely seems SR level to me, Webber who has an even worse pass than TJP and the third one is DMac. What must Bryn Hall do to get in? The rest are solid selections. Glad to see Paps, Akira and Sotutu get picked, well deserved boys.
Erase the memories of the selectors who remember what he's like not playing for the Crusaders?
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@Yeetyaah said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@Crucial he was good last night but I don't think his season form warrants a selection.
He's a definite know what they can do selection so I don't think that's an issue - his direct competitor JB got picked on potential back in the day so it's not like players don't ever get picked off iffy form.
@Stargazer said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@Nepia If Hall's performance is dependent on the players around him as you seem to suggest, he should do well for the ABs. Glad Weber made the cut, though. Fakatava will get plenty of game time in M10, so win-win.
Weber is another who the coaches know so I guess they're happy to give him a shot - the Chiefs were dysfunctional this year as a unit so I think all of their selections can contain reputation and faith bases and that shouldn't be an issue. I don't mind if Hall is a rotating 3rd of 4th halfback (in another thread I noted it was weird Drummond was capped and he wasn't), I was more just responding to @akann's questioning of his omission.
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@Stargazer said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
Dmac is the luckiest man in that squad.
I’m sure this argument has been done already but I disagree with this.
As a utility against some teams he will add good value.
The North back line actually functioned better last night when he went to 10 surprisingly and he had key touches in most of the tries.
JB was the more test suited 15 last night but that didn’t mean that DMac was poor.
I m guessing that most of the critics are focused on that poor pass after a run to the side but IMO both Clarke and ALB failed to read the best option there as well. DMac had stretched the defence and created a gap past the advantage line. His pass was wayward but he would have also expected one of them to have seen the opportunity.@Crucial I agree with some of that. He runs at the line better than most with pace. I just makes those errors that leave you scratching your head. That pass to Clarke was a shocker compounded by Clarkes response. I like Barrets physical presence, he can kick and he is not bad injecting himself.
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@Crucial I agree with some of that. He runs at the line better than most with pace. I just makes those errors that leave you scratching your head. That pass to Clarke was a shocker compounded by Clarkes response. I like Barrets physical presence, he can kick and he is not bad injecting himself.
@broughie said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@Crucial I agree with some of that. He runs at the line better than most with pace. I just makes those errors that leave you scratching your head. That pass to Clarke was a shocker compounded by Clarkes response. I like Barrets physical presence, he can kick and he is not bad injecting himself.
That's the thing though, previous to this year JB was making scratch your head errors but the Canes (and some Cantab) Illumanti would circle the wagons tighter than the voortrekkers to defend him.
He's come right, so there's no reason to suggest that DMac wont either.
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@Stag said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
Papalii does not deserve to be there ahead of Christie, on form neither does “Captain Kane”
Was Christie as good as people think? He didn't make the top 10 of tackles won stats which both Cane and Papali'i did (despite both being injured for a time) and yet I thought that was his strongest area?
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@broughie said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@Crucial I agree with some of that. He runs at the line better than most with pace. I just makes those errors that leave you scratching your head. That pass to Clarke was a shocker compounded by Clarkes response. I like Barrets physical presence, he can kick and he is not bad injecting himself.
That's the thing though, previous to this year JB was making scratch your head errors but the Canes (and some Cantab) Illumanti would circle the wagons tighter than the voortrekkers to defend him.
He's come right, so there's no reason to suggest that DMac wont either.
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It'd be outstanding if someone with more time than I could post the names, stats, provinces and status of the U20 locks since 2016 or so. Those are the guys we should now be turning to.
@shark said in [AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?]
It'd be outstanding if someone with more time than I could post the names, stats, provinces and status of the U20 locks since 2016 or so. Those are the guys we should now be turning to.
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A fairly uninspiring squad all up but fairly solid overall. Don't reckon there are any glaring omissions or players who are particularly (besides that lock) lucky to be there. Maybe I'm still getting over the McCaw years where we often had 3-5 of the best players in the world in the squad.
Would anyone in this squad be hands down the best player in the world in their position? Maybe the halves Smith, BB & RM? Just Smith?? I reckon a form Rioane would be the best winger in the world but he's picked in the midfield. Retallic used to be but who knows how he will come back.
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@shark said in [AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?]
It'd be outstanding if someone with more time than I could post the names, stats, provinces and status of the U20 locks since 2016 or so. Those are the guys we should now be turning to.
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@shark said in [AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?]
It'd be outstanding if someone with more time than I could post the names, stats, provinces and status of the U20 locks since 2016 or so. Those are the guys we should now be turning to.
@bobily2 said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@shark said in [AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?]
It'd be outstanding if someone with more time than I could post the names, stats, provinces and status of the U20 locks since 2016 or so. Those are the guys we should now be turning to.
Blade Thompson has been chowing down on the haggis since this list was compiled
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Congratulations to the 7 new ABs. Exciting to see new talent coming through. Congratulations as well to the players who have worked hard to get back in the squad.
Lots of depth in most positions, but strikingly less so at Lock and at Half Back.
Glad Hodgman, Strange and Grace are fit and good to go.
I wasn't bowled over by either Aumua or Vaa'i in the North Vs South game, but they still make it on athleticism/potential.
Disappointed for Peter Umaga-Jensen but his time will come.
Still no clarity on who the ABs will play, where and when.
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@shark said in [AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?]
It'd be outstanding if someone with more time than I could post the names, stats, provinces and status of the U20 locks since 2016 or so. Those are the guys we should now be turning to.
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@Tim said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
Forwards coach John Pumtree says Ardie Savea is being looked at as a No 8 first and a No 7 second.
Said they wanted to identify big, bruising loose forwards who could get the ABs over the gainline with sheer "brutality".That's a bit worrying, the last time Plumtree talked about wanting a big dude he played Blackwell at lock for a season.
@Nepia said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@Tim said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
Said they wanted to identify big, bruising loose forwards who could get the ABs over the gainline with sheer "brutality".
Seems to point Akira being picked at 6 - or least until he is sent on the Uruguayan invitational tour as non-playing reserve to work on his fitness.
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A fairly uninspiring squad all up but fairly solid overall. Don't reckon there are any glaring omissions or players who are particularly (besides that lock) lucky to be there. Maybe I'm still getting over the McCaw years where we often had 3-5 of the best players in the world in the squad.
Would anyone in this squad be hands down the best player in the world in their position? Maybe the halves Smith, BB & RM? Just Smith?? I reckon a form Rioane would be the best winger in the world but he's picked in the midfield. Retallic used to be but who knows how he will come back.
@Toddy I sense your frustration, but history has shown that it’s cyclical when it comes having world class players. These players often have oodles of games under their belts and experience to burn.
We have a pretty young squad. Whether they are the best or in the top 3 in their position, the likes of Aaron Smith, B. Barrett, Sam Whitelock - they are our 3 most experienced.
There’s potential for others to evolve, much like many past AB greats that developed into world class players.
To me that makes it pretty exciting for what lies ahead. It could present a few squeaky bum moments, but that’s no different to when we had Carter, Nonu, McCaw, Franks, Read, where even with a litany of world class players we pulled some games out in the dying moments.
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@bobily2 Will Tucker stands out on that list as a recent U20 with the size to make an impact who should be managed carefully so he's an AB option soon. Sadly, going to the Highlanders may not be the solution.
@shark said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@bobily2 Will Tucker stands out on that list as a recent U20 with the size to make an impact who should be managed carefully so he's an AB option soon. Sadly, going to the Highlanders may not be the solution.
Hope he fills out. At 2.02m and 111kg, he is currently classified as string-bean.
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@shark said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@bobily2 Will Tucker stands out on that list as a recent U20 with the size to make an impact who should be managed carefully so he's an AB option soon. Sadly, going to the Highlanders may not be the solution.
Hope he fills out. At 2.02m and 111kg, he is currently classified as string-bean.
That was his weight when he was selected for the U20s. He might be a bit heavier now.
It is pretty normal for the u20s to gain a fair bit of weight in the 2 or so years after being selected, particularly at lock. As I understand it, Josh Dickson has gained around 30kg.
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@Tim agree to disagree. He's been average this year but he's always been a consistent performer. I'm hoping Fozzie and co aren't looking at Goodhue as a 12.
@Yeetyaah said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@Tim agree to disagree. He's been average this year but he's always been a consistent performer. I'm hoping Fozzie and co aren't looking at Goodhue as a 12.
Random thought based on nothing but the fact Goodhue's best position is 13 ... Could Ennor become a decent 12?
People with better idea of what makes a backline please discuss.
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NZ U20 locks of the past 5 years (includes lock/loosies)
Height/weight info taken from the player's most recent SR franchise profile or, in the absence of that, his most recent provincial profile
Player Year in NZ U20 current NPC province current SR franchise Height/weight Dunshea, Mitchell 2015 Canterbury Crusaders 1.97m/115kg Cridge, Geoff 2015 Hawke's Bay ex-Hurricanes 2.00m/114kg Goodhue, Josh 2015 Northland Blues 1.99m/115kg Blackwell, James 2015 Wellington Hurricanes 1.90m/107kg Strange, Quinten 2016 Ta$man Crusaders 1.99m/116kg Dalzell, Hamish 2016 Auckland ex-Crusaders 2.01m/118kg Walker-Leawere, Isaia 2016, 2017 Hawke's Bay Hurricanes 1.97m/122kg Hoeata, Fin 2016 Taranaki ex-Chiefs 1.96m/105kg* Pierce, Jacob 2017 North Harbour Blues 2.01m/106kg Caird, Sam 2017 Northland 2.02m/116kg* Slade, Samuel 2017 Counties M. 1.94m/111kg** McWhannell, Laghlan 2018 Waikato? Chiefs 1.98m/114kg Tucker, Will 2018 Otago Highlanders 2.02m/111kg** Grace, Cullen 2019 Canterbury Crusaders 1.93m/107kg Plumtree, Taine 2019 Wellington ? Vaa'i, Tupou 2019 Taranaki Chiefs 1.98m/118kg Ah Kuoi, Naitoa 2019*** Wellington Chiefs 1.96m/116kg *weight according to Wikipedia
**height/weight according to Rugbypass
***not selected for JWC, only Oceania U20 Championship
