All Blacks 2021

[taniwharugby]

@yeetyaah there is a post about NGani being the 2nd highest scoring 12 at super behind Nonu on FB, plenty of folk there comparing him and how he is developing his game like Nonu...it does make you wonder if some people do just watch highlights

[sparky]

@booboo said in All Blacks 2021:

Liam Napier reporting ALB has surgery on elbow. Can't read article to see how long he's gone.

https://twitter.com/liamnapiernz/status/1405981645996322819?s=19

#booboo'ed by @Tim

Glad ALB is getting a rest. Magnificent player. We'll need him when we play the Boks.

[sparky]

@tim said in All Blacks 2021:

NZ Herald squad prediction:

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/rugby-all-blacks-injury-woes-continue-as-another-star-undergoes-surgery/VNJXEZDQMP3UNDQRSD3NU2FT6I/

Possible All Blacks squad
Props: Nepo Laulala, Karl Tu'inukuafe, Tyrel Lomax, George Bower, Angus Ta'avao, Alex Hodgman/Aidan Ross/Ethan de Groot.
Hookers: Dane Coles, Codie Taylor, Asafo Aumua.
Locks: Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Scott Barrett, Patrick Tuipulotu, Tupou Vaa'i.
Loose forwards: Ardie Savea, Dalton Papalii, Hoskins Sotutu, Luke Jacobson, Shannon Frizell, Akira Ioane, Ethan Blackadder/Cullen Grace.
Halfbacks: Aaron Smith, Brad Weber, Mitchell Drummond/Finlay Christie.
First five-eighths: Richie Mo'unga, Beauden Barrett.
Midfield: Rieko Ioane, David Havili, Braydon Ennor, Anton Lienert-Brown/Peter Umaga-Jensen.
Outside backs: Jordie Barrett, Will Jordan, Sevu Reece, Damian McKenzie, George Bridge/Leicester Fainga'anuku.

Lomax? Christie? Ennor? Bridge?

Some workmanlike players there.

[sparky]

@old-samurai-jack said in All Blacks 2021:

What does this distinct lack of All Black selection discussion/debate mean? The announcement is on Monday but.........even the newspapers aren't interested.

AB should win easily all three of these tests against the Tonga and Fiji reserves. Least excited I've ever been about the opening tests of the AB's year.

[taniwharugby]

@tim said in All Blacks 2021:

Brad Weber, Mitchell Drummond/Finlay Christie.

:face_screaming_in_fear:

[ACT Crusader]

@sparky said in All Blacks 2021:

@booboo said in All Blacks 2021:

Liam Napier reporting ALB has surgery on elbow. Can't read article to see how long he's gone.

https://twitter.com/liamnapiernz/status/1405981645996322819?s=19

#booboo'ed by @Tim

Glad ALB is getting a rest. Magnificent player. We'll need him when we play the Boks.

Oh no, not the Boks. It won’t matter who we have playing, because the Boks (and English) are super human, massive, run over freight trains for breakfast.

[cgrant]

I am not sold on Bower. He did struggle at scrum time vs the Rebels, which does not augur well. He is not a bad prop but is not of international calibre IMO.
Tonga and Fiji do not represent big threats for the ABs so it could be a good opportunity to test young and promising props such as Aidan Ross and/or Ethan de Groot, who both have the physique to compete at the highest level.

[booboo]

@act-crusader said in All Blacks 2021:

@sparky said in All Blacks 2021:

@booboo said in All Blacks 2021:

Liam Napier reporting ALB has surgery on elbow. Can't read article to see how long he's gone.

https://twitter.com/liamnapiernz/status/1405981645996322819?s=19

#booboo'ed by @Tim

Glad ALB is getting a rest. Magnificent player. We'll need him when we play the Boks.

Oh no, not the Boks. It won’t matter who we have playing, because the Boks (and English) are super human, massive, run over freight trains for breakfast.

Thought you were @bones for a second there ...

[Tim]

@cgrant Bower should be nowhere near an AB team. Average super rugby player. Rubbish at test level.

[Tim]

@cgrant De Groot is also way off test level. Would get pinged for pulling back immediately.

[Chris]

@tim said in All Blacks 2021:

@cgrant Bower should be nowhere near an AB team. Average super rugby player. Rubbish at test level.

Bower will be in the squad Monday night.

[sparky]

AB team then for First test. I'd rest Aaron Smith.

1. Karl T
2. Taylor
3. Laulala
4. Whitelock (c)
5. Retallick
6. A. Ioane
7. A. Savea
8. H. Sotutu
9. B. Weber
10. R. Mo'unga
11. Leicester Fainga'anuku
12. Havili
13. R. Ioane
14. W. Jordan
15. J. Barrett
16. Aumua
17. Hodgman
18. ????? Newell, maybe Angus T
19. S. Barrett
20. Papalii
21. Drummond
22. B. Barrett
23. P Umaga-Jensen

[Tim]

@chris Fair enough, but I can't see anything he does well enough to be there.

[Machpants]

@tim said in All Blacks 2021:

@cgrant Bower should be nowhere near an AB team. Average super rugby player. Rubbish at test level.

Which test match are you basing that off?

[Tim]

@machpants He doesn't stand out at all at NPC or Super Rugby. Obviously going to be a non-entity at test level, if he gets on the field.

[Chris]

@tim said in All Blacks 2021:

@chris Fair enough, but I can't see anything he does well enough to be there.

Unconvinced myself but I they will pick him.

[Tim]

@chris Best of luck to him then. Does he cover tighthead particularly well or something? Hodgman was good tonight.

[Chris]

@tim said in All Blacks 2021:

@chris Best of luck to him then. Does he cover tighthead particularly well or something? Hodgman was good tonight.

Better TH than LH I think.
Bower and Williams will have to cover TH for the Crusaders to back up Jager and Newell if needed next season,if the rumours are true about not picking a 7th prop to replace Michael A as they had this season.

[Tim]

@chris said in All Blacks 2021:

Better TH than LH I think.

Thanks, Chris. The Ofa T out, there is certainly a gap there to be filled.

[Chris]

@tim said in All Blacks 2021:

@chris said in All Blacks 2021:

Better TH than LH I think.

Thanks, Chris. The Ofa T out, there is certainly a gap there to be filled.

That helps Bower and Lonax
congrats on the win tonight enjoy.