AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?
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Interesting to see the changes from last year's RWC squad.
Gone are:
Coltman, Moli, Taávao, Barrett, Retallick, Jacobson, Read, ToddCrotty, SBW, Ben Smith
The first six will all potentially come again, though I have doubts about Coltman and Ta'avao.
Lock an obvious challenge in the absence of Retallick and Barrett, and I suspect both the young Ta$man locks would have made it if PPP hadn't been injured. But, that issue will resolve itself in time.
A slight issue at 2nd five with Laumape injured and ALB not in his best form. I reckon there's a case to play Jordie at 2nd five and Beaudy at fullback.
Otherwise, something of a needed refresh - I wouldn't want to go to a RWC with a squad this green, but there's lots of upside as the young guys get some tests under their belts.
@Chris-B said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
Interesting to see the changes from last year's RWC squad.
Gone are:
Coltman, Moli, Taávao, Barrett, Retallick, Jacobson, Read, ToddCrotty, SBW, Ben Smith
The first six will all potentially come again, though I have doubts about Coltman and Ta'avao.
Moli and SB injured rather than just not selected too.
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I feel like Boshier was unlucky not to make the squad, he was one of the few shining lights in a shit arse Chiefs year, and always caused good trouble at the breakdown.
My worry of Cane as captain, is that he is one hell of an injury magnet (especially head knocks.) He seems to spend a ratio of 1 week on three weeks off nowadays (not debating toughness or heart AT ALL) also that he seems to have moved away a bit from a true seven. Shrug.
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@shark said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
Easy enough to gain bulk. Pretty fucken hard to gain height.
I’ll try some of these and let you know. 6 foot 4 here I come.
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I feel like Boshier was unlucky not to make the squad, he was one of the few shining lights in a shit arse Chiefs year, and always caused good trouble at the breakdown.
My worry of Cane as captain, is that he is one hell of an injury magnet (especially head knocks.) He seems to spend a ratio of 1 week on three weeks off nowadays (not debating toughness or heart AT ALL) also that he seems to have moved away a bit from a true seven. Shrug.
@Mokey said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
I feel like Boshier was unlucky not to make the squad, he was one of the few shining lights in a shit arse Chiefs year, and always caused good trouble at the breakdown.
My worry of Cane as captain, is that he is one hell of an injury magnet (especially head knocks.) He seems to spend a ratio of 1 week on three weeks off nowadays (not debating toughness or heart AT ALL) also that he seems to have moved away a bit from a true seven. Shrug.
I think Fozzie has taken a leaf out of Eddies book. No need for “true sevens” if you have guys with a licence to smash opposition off the ball.
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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@Stargazer Pierce at 106kg might be a mistake from the Blues. Harbour had him at 112kg last year, and he looked pretty solid, even next to Tuipulotu, when I saw him in Newmarket in July.
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@Stargazer Pierce at 106kg might be a mistake from the Blues. Harbour had him at 112kg last year, and he looked pretty solid, even next to Tuipulotu, when I saw him in Newmarket in July.
@Tim said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@Stargazer Pierce at 106kg might be a mistake from the Blues. Harbour had him at 112kg last year, and he looked pretty solid, even next to Tuipulotu, when I saw in Newmarket in July.
The Super Rugby teams very rarely update player profiles. The listed weight tends to be the weight the player joined the team at
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@Bones Agreed. Dunshea plays most of the mins in SR and made a good fist of things, yet somehow the overhyped Strange whose best contribution was throwing a tantrum when his team was losing and got his marching orders for, gets the gig instead.
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@Stargazer Pierce at 106kg might be a mistake from the Blues. Harbour had him at 112kg last year, and he looked pretty solid, even next to Tuipulotu, when I saw him in Newmarket in July.
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I think in a few years (not yet) Caleb Clarke will follow his old man into the 12 jersey, his balance and skillset seems a good fit to me
@kidcalder said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
I think in a few years (not yet) Caleb Clarke will follow his old man into the 12 jersey, his balance and skillset seems a good fit to me
Not sure about passing (Nonu precedent), but running style seems perfect.
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Can't really argue with forward selections.
Aumua needs to learn to throw.
Lomax and Hodgman form justifes third stringer selection.
Tyro locks reflect injuries. From full deck would have been Barrett and Parkinson for me.
Loosies reflect focus on go forward. Hunt/Boshier/Christie lost out from that decision.
In backs all the usual suspects.
Thought PUV might have done enough. I prefer ALB 12/Goodhue 13 to vice versa.
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@Bones said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
What is it that people see in Strange? I'm pretty unconvinced eh.
I had to google images just to know what he looks like.
Bro, does he even lift ?
@MN5 said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@Bones said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
What is it that people see in Strange? I'm pretty unconvinced eh.
I had to google images just to know what he looks like.
Bro, does he even lift ?
Mr Strange = The New Samonsite.
He has played 32 times for the Crusaders. Been part of their Super Squad since 2017 and has won four titles. Quietly moved above Luke Romano in the Crusader Lock pecking order. Does his job well. Tackles. Carries a bit. Calls lineout moves sometimes.
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@MN5 said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@Bones said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
What is it that people see in Strange? I'm pretty unconvinced eh.
I had to google images just to know what he looks like.
Bro, does he even lift ?
Mr Strange = The New Samonsite.
He has played 32 times for the Crusaders. Been part of their Super Squad since 2017 and has won four titles. Quietly moved above Luke Romano in the Crusader Lock pecking order. Does his job well. Tackles. Carries a bit. Calls lineout moves sometimes.
@sparky said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@MN5 said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@Bones said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
What is it that people see in Strange? I'm pretty unconvinced eh.
I had to google images just to know what he looks like.
Bro, does he even lift ?
Mr Strange = The New Samonsite.
He has played 32 times for the Crusaders. Been part of their Super Squad since 2017 and has won four titles. Quietly moved above Luke Romeo in the Crusader Lock pecking order. Does his job well. Tackles. Carries a bit. Calls lineout moved sometimes.
Future AB captain material right there....
