AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?
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@shark said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@sparky said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@shark said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@sparky Ioane only burst onto the scene 3-4 years ago. He must be in his mid-20s. Yet you speak of him like he's 30 years plus and/or coming back from a knee injury.
He is 23. Played Centre at School/Under 20. Started pro-Rugby on the Wing. Was oustanding in 2017. Had some calf/hamstring problems in 2018 and 2019. Now says he prefers 13. Looking good there.
Thanks for the player bio. How about explaining how or why he's no longer fast enough to play wing, in your opinion?
I'd guarantee he's quicker than Ben Smith was the last few years, quicker than CJ at his peak etc etc.
I have a suspicion that speed is not the reason at all.
No one will admit this type of flaw publicly but I suspect that if you analysed his natural play on the wing you can also work out how to shut him down easily. It could be a body position thing or a one way step or an initial movement.
Good defensive coaches pour over tapes to find these flaws and neutralise good players.
Those same attributes may not show up when playing without the sideline as a defender or when taking the ball on running lines.
Just a possibility -
@Crucial said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
Good defensive coaches pour over tapes to find these flaws and neutralise good players.
No.
@Bones said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@Crucial said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
Good defensive coaches pour over tapes to find these flaws and neutralise good players.
No.
That’s a pore error.
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@Crucial said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
Good defensive coaches pour over tapes to find these flaws and neutralise good players.
No.
@Bones they may pour something over them after they are done to stop them falling into the wrong hands?
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@sparky said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@taniwharugby I guess, but for previous tours for a very long time there have always been confirmed fixtures before the squad's named.
This is not like previous years. The biggest winner of the 2020 year is the word "unprecedented".
We are still able to have an All Blacks squad.
@Snowy said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@sparky said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@taniwharugby I guess, but for previous tours for a very long time there have always been confirmed fixtures before the squad's named.
This is not like previous years. The biggest winner of the 2020 year is the word "unprecedented".
We are still able to have an All Blacks squad.
I'd like to see them name a team on Thursday as well regardless of whether there is a game on.
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@Bones said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@Crucial said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
Good defensive coaches pour over tapes to find these flaws and neutralise good players.
No.
That’s a pore error.
@Billy-Tell said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@Bones said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@Crucial said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
Good defensive coaches pour over tapes to find these flaws and neutralise good players.
No.
That’s a pore error.
I was time poor
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@Bones said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@Crucial said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
Good defensive coaches pour over tapes to find these flaws and neutralise good players.
No.
That’s a pore error.
@Billy-Tell said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@Bones said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@Crucial said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
Good defensive coaches pour over tapes to find these flaws and neutralise good players.
No.
That’s a pore error.
Dog goes into an old western bar and says......
‘I’m looking for the man who shot my pore’
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@DMX said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@sparky said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
Sparky's 23 to take on Whoever:
Moody, Taylor, Laulala, Whitelock, Tuipulotu, Frizell, Cane (c), Sotutu, A. Smith, Mo'unga, C. Clarke, ALB, R. Ioane, Jordan, J. Barrett
Coles, Hodgman, Ofa T, Strange or Grace, A. Savea, TJP, B. Barrett, Goodhue
Nothing really screams Fozzie about this squad, I am still of the opinion he will be very conservative with first match
Moody, Taylor, Laulala, Whitelock, Tuipulotu, Frizell, Cane (c), Savea, A. Smith, Mo'unga, Bridge, ALB, Goodhue, Reece, B. Barrett
Coles, Hodgman, Ofa , Strange. Sotutu, TJP, J. Barrett, R. IaoneNew blood will be introduced via the bench or through injury as usual.
The locks will rotate on the pine and I can see Savea playing cover while the likes of Sotutu are given a start.
Lomax and Hodgman will get some bench roles too.
The starting changes should be ditching Bridge and Reece (who have been fizzers IMO) and establishing Clarke and Jordan.@Crucial said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@DMX said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@sparky said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
Sparky's 23 to take on Whoever:
Moody, Taylor, Laulala, Whitelock, Tuipulotu, Frizell, Cane (c), Sotutu, A. Smith, Mo'unga, C. Clarke, ALB, R. Ioane, Jordan, J. Barrett
Coles, Hodgman, Ofa T, Strange or Grace, A. Savea, TJP, B. Barrett, Goodhue
Nothing really screams Fozzie about this squad, I am still of the opinion he will be very conservative with first match
Moody, Taylor, Laulala, Whitelock, Tuipulotu, Frizell, Cane (c), Savea, A. Smith, Mo'unga, Bridge, ALB, Goodhue, Reece, B. Barrett
Coles, Hodgman, Ofa , Strange. Sotutu, TJP, J. Barrett, R. IaoneNew blood will be introduced via the bench or through injury as usual.
The locks will rotate on the pine and I can see Savea playing cover while the likes of Sotutu are given a start.
Lomax and Hodgman will get some bench roles too.
The starting changes should be ditching Bridge and Reece (who have been fizzers IMO) and establishing Clarke and Jordan.First, I hope this is the case, but based on Plum's comments yesterday I think they'll start conservatively with Ardie at 8 and then look to bring in Hoskins after that (maybe in test 2, 3 or 4 depending upon how Ardie goes). To my mind, a lot depends upon how Frizell / Akira go at 6. If they're not doing the business then we may be forced to play Ardie there, which leaves us no choice but to throw Hoskins in.
Second, couldn't agree more. Clarke and Jordan could not have been more dynamic the other day when compared to what we've had to our up with Reece and Carthorse Mark II.
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@MN5 said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@Gunner said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@nzzp @Crucial Bridge = Ralph v 2.0
I'll be pissed if they go with the safe boring option. Clarke should be the starter every day of the week ending in a y.
Well seeing as tests are often on a Satdee or a Sundee I can see them going with Bridge on occasions.
So he'll get the odd Bledisloe but nothing else.
My preferred back three are Barrett (the good one), Rieko and Clarke, with Goodhue and ALB in the midfield.
@Nepia said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@MN5 said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@Gunner said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@nzzp @Crucial Bridge = Ralph v 2.0
I'll be pissed if they go with the safe boring option. Clarke should be the starter every day of the week ending in a y.
Well seeing as tests are often on a Satdee or a Sundee I can see them going with Bridge on occasions.
So he'll get the odd Bledisloe but nothing else.
My preferred back three are Barrett (the good one), Rieko and Clarke, with Goodhue and ALB in the midfield.
How's that going to happen - Clarke and Rieko both play left wing?
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@Nepia said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@MN5 said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@Gunner said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@nzzp @Crucial Bridge = Ralph v 2.0
I'll be pissed if they go with the safe boring option. Clarke should be the starter every day of the week ending in a y.
Well seeing as tests are often on a Satdee or a Sundee I can see them going with Bridge on occasions.
So he'll get the odd Bledisloe but nothing else.
My preferred back three are Barrett (the good one), Rieko and Clarke, with Goodhue and ALB in the midfield.
How's that going to happen - Clarke and Rieko both play left wing?
@junior said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@Nepia said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@MN5 said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@Gunner said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@nzzp @Crucial Bridge = Ralph v 2.0
I'll be pissed if they go with the safe boring option. Clarke should be the starter every day of the week ending in a y.
Well seeing as tests are often on a Satdee or a Sundee I can see them going with Bridge on occasions.
So he'll get the odd Bledisloe but nothing else.
My preferred back three are Barrett (the good one), Rieko and Clarke, with Goodhue and ALB in the midfield.
How's that going to happen - Clarke and Rieko both play left wing?
I didn't know there was a rule that wings are only ever allowed to play one side.

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@Nepia said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@MN5 said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@Gunner said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@nzzp @Crucial Bridge = Ralph v 2.0
I'll be pissed if they go with the safe boring option. Clarke should be the starter every day of the week ending in a y.
Well seeing as tests are often on a Satdee or a Sundee I can see them going with Bridge on occasions.
So he'll get the odd Bledisloe but nothing else.
My preferred back three are Barrett (the good one), Rieko and Clarke, with Goodhue and ALB in the midfield.
How's that going to happen - Clarke and Rieko both play left wing?
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One thing that people seem to missing in the debate about whether Rieko should be a centre / wing or a wing / centre, is that the midfield mix currently chosen. There's not specialist 12 there, which suggests to me that ALB (at least) and Goodhue (probably) may be seen as primarily 12s for this current squad and Rieko and Ennor as primarily 13s.
What this means for the match day squad, I'm not sure, but the selectors may be leaning towards the ALB-Ioane or Goodhue-Ennor midfield combinations rather than the one that started last year's RWC semi (which they've seen and which I think we can all agree was a bit meh).
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@junior said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@Nepia said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@MN5 said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@Gunner said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@nzzp @Crucial Bridge = Ralph v 2.0
I'll be pissed if they go with the safe boring option. Clarke should be the starter every day of the week ending in a y.
Well seeing as tests are often on a Satdee or a Sundee I can see them going with Bridge on occasions.
So he'll get the odd Bledisloe but nothing else.
My preferred back three are Barrett (the good one), Rieko and Clarke, with Goodhue and ALB in the midfield.
How's that going to happen - Clarke and Rieko both play left wing?
I didn't know there was a rule that wings are only ever allowed to play one side.

@Nepia said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@junior said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@Nepia said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@MN5 said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@Gunner said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@nzzp @Crucial Bridge = Ralph v 2.0
I'll be pissed if they go with the safe boring option. Clarke should be the starter every day of the week ending in a y.
Well seeing as tests are often on a Satdee or a Sundee I can see them going with Bridge on occasions.
So he'll get the odd Bledisloe but nothing else.
My preferred back three are Barrett (the good one), Rieko and Clarke, with Goodhue and ALB in the midfield.
How's that going to happen - Clarke and Rieko both play left wing?
I didn't know there was a rule that wings are only ever allowed to play one side.

You must have missed the comments yesterday about picking specialists.
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Sooo....why the fuck can't Ennor play 12? He's not exactly busting down doors at 13 and Goodhue is suffering as a result...
@Bones said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
Sooo....why the fuck can't Ennor play 12? He's not exactly busting down doors at 13 and Goodhue is suffering as a result...
I don't know, TBH. Maybe he's always played 13 or wing and they feel a shift in one spot is too much at this relatively early stage of his career? To me, he doesn't look like a 12 but, then again, he doesn't look like a 13 (yet) either.
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Ardie at 8? Yuck
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Ardie at 8? Yuck
@mariner4life said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
Ardie at 8? Yuck
Yep. That's particularly concerning when we've got two big, quick and skilful guys who are specialists in that position in the squad.
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@mariner4life said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
Ardie at 8? Yuck
Yep. That's particularly concerning when we've got two big, quick and skilful guys who are specialists in that position in the squad.
@junior said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@mariner4life said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
Ardie at 8? Yuck
Yep. That's particularly concerning when we've got two big, quick and skilful guys who are specialists in that position in the squad.
He's a fucking 7.
Talk about ignoring lessons
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For what it's worth, my 23:
Moody Ofa T
Taylor Coles
Laulala Lomax
Whitelock
Tuipolutu Strange
Frizzel
Savea Cane
SotutuSmith Perenara
Mo'unga
ALB
Goodhue
Clarke R Ioane
Jordan J Barrett
B BarrettYeah I know there no chance Savea will usurp Fosters' named skipper, but it's the 23 I'd select.
@shark said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
For what it's worth, my 23:
Moody Ofa T
With the 6 props named I don't think you will see much of Ofa at LH again. Cron and Hansen seemed to want to move him there with varying results.
Late in the North-South game when Ofa returned to play LH with Ta'avao at TH and Scrafton at lock, the NI scrum was going backwards.
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One thing that people seem to missing in the debate about whether Rieko should be a centre / wing or a wing / centre, is that the midfield mix currently chosen. There's not specialist 12 there, which suggests to me that ALB (at least) and Goodhue (probably) may be seen as primarily 12s for this current squad and Rieko and Ennor as primarily 13s.
What this means for the match day squad, I'm not sure, but the selectors may be leaning towards the ALB-Ioane or Goodhue-Ennor midfield combinations rather than the one that started last year's RWC semi (which they've seen and which I think we can all agree was a bit meh).