All Blacks 2022
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If the Māori do end up playing the Irish in a midweek game then Eklund is odds on to be one of the hookers (on form). His lack of size might be a disadvantage at international level but that would be the ideal game to see how he goes against better opposition.
Coles is the big question mark. On form and fit, he adds a lot to any team he plays for but age could be catching up with him. At the moment you can't even rely on him to play 15-20 mins like Mealamu did in 2015.
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If the Māori do end up playing the Irish in a midweek game then Eklund is odds on to be one of the hookers (on form). His lack of size might be a disadvantage at international level but that would be the ideal game to see how he goes against better opposition.
Coles is the big question mark. On form and fit, he adds a lot to any team he plays for but age could be catching up with him. At the moment you can't even rely on him to play 15-20 mins like Mealamu did in 2015.
@Bovidae said in All Blacks 2022:
Coles is the big question mark. On form and fit, he adds a lot to any team he plays for but age could be catching up with him. At the moment you can't even rely on him to play 15-20 mins like Mealamu did in 2015.
If I was selecting it would be Coles or Taylor, not both of them. Coles is considerably better when fit.. Taylor is available for selection more often. It's a hard call.
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I wonder how many games Coles has played compared to how many he could have played in the last 3 years ,probably not a lot would be my guess.
Always a risk to take injury prone players in a 32 man squad to a WC.
He played more often than I thought:
2019: AB's: Hooker [5], Sub [4] - 9 tests
2019: Hu: Hooker [7], Sub [3] - 10 games - 4 tries (20 pts)2020: AB's: Hooker [4], Sub [1] - 5 tests - 2 tries (10 pts)
2020: Hu: Hooker [7], Sub [2] - 9 games - 4 tries (20 pts)2021: AB's: Hooker [3], Sub [3] - 6 tests - 7 tries (35 pts)
2021: Hu: Hooker [8], Sub [1] - 9 games - 5 tries (25 pts)
2021: Well: Hooker - 1 game -
He played more often than I thought:
2019: AB's: Hooker [5], Sub [4] - 9 tests
2019: Hu: Hooker [7], Sub [3] - 10 games - 4 tries (20 pts)2020: AB's: Hooker [4], Sub [1] - 5 tests - 2 tries (10 pts)
2020: Hu: Hooker [7], Sub [2] - 9 games - 4 tries (20 pts)2021: AB's: Hooker [3], Sub [3] - 6 tests - 7 tries (35 pts)
2021: Hu: Hooker [8], Sub [1] - 9 games - 5 tries (25 pts)
2021: Well: Hooker - 1 game@Duluth said in All Blacks 2022:
He played more often than I thought:
2019: AB's: Hooker [5], Sub [4] - 9 tests
2019: Hu: Hooker [7], Sub [3] - 10 games - 4 tries (20 pts)2020: AB's: Hooker [4], Sub [1] - 5 tests - 2 tries (10 pts)
2020: Hu: Hooker [7], Sub [2] - 9 games - 4 tries (20 pts)2021: AB's: Hooker [3], Sub [3] - 6 tests - 7 tries (35 pts)
2021: Hu: Hooker [8], Sub [1] - 9 games - 5 tries (25 pts)
2021: Well: Hooker - 1 gameYep more than I thought,It seems like he is missing for large chunks of SR and it is becoming more regular with age.
For all of us that have played sport know Calf injuries are harder to mend the older you get,And are more regular occurrences ,that seems to be Coles main injuries the last couple of years. -
@Duluth said in All Blacks 2022:
He played more often than I thought:
2019: AB's: Hooker [5], Sub [4] - 9 tests
2019: Hu: Hooker [7], Sub [3] - 10 games - 4 tries (20 pts)2020: AB's: Hooker [4], Sub [1] - 5 tests - 2 tries (10 pts)
2020: Hu: Hooker [7], Sub [2] - 9 games - 4 tries (20 pts)2021: AB's: Hooker [3], Sub [3] - 6 tests - 7 tries (35 pts)
2021: Hu: Hooker [8], Sub [1] - 9 games - 5 tries (25 pts)
2021: Well: Hooker - 1 gameYep more than I thought,It seems like he is missing for large chunks of SR and it is becoming more regular with age.
For all of us that have played sport know Calf injuries are harder to mend the older you get,And are more regular occurrences ,that seems to be Coles main injuries the last couple of years. -
@Duluth said in All Blacks 2022:
Which 3 hookers would you pick this year?
ST,Taylor and probably Coles believe it or not,Eklund on form is the only other hooker I see on the radar as Amua has gone backwards.
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@Tim said in All Blacks 2022:
Some interesting stats in that.
Seems like Samisoni is clearly best with ball in hand, but he's down on workrate - rucks and tackles. Might point to him perhaps needing to be used for shorter stints than some of the others..
Be interesting to know quite what's gone on with Taylor. He was one of the players of Super rugby in 2021, but his international form obviously fell away. I think he's picked up a bit again this year, but maybe he needs to be better managed across the season. He shouldn't be cooked at 31.
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@Tim said in All Blacks 2022:
Some interesting stats in that.
Seems like Samisoni is clearly best with ball in hand, but he's down on workrate - rucks and tackles. Might point to him perhaps needing to be used for shorter stints than some of the others..
Be interesting to know quite what's gone on with Taylor. He was one of the players of Super rugby in 2021, but his international form obviously fell away. I think he's picked up a bit again this year, but maybe he needs to be better managed across the season. He shouldn't be cooked at 31.
@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2022:
Seems like Samisoni is clearly best with ball in hand, but he's down on workrate - rucks and tackles. Might point to him perhaps needing to be used for shorter stints than some of the others.
if he's my dominant ball runner and also a key set piece guy, i don't also need him to hit all the rucks and make all the tackles. There are role players for that.
Of course, if i am an opposition coach i want him making as many tackles and attending as many rucks as possible.
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ST, Coles & Eklund
I'm pessimistic about Taylor and Coles ability to contribute at the RWC. So I wouldn't want to carry both of them right now
When Coles falls over Taylor can be called up
@Duluth said in All Blacks 2022:
ST, Coles & Eklund
I'm pessimistic about Taylor and Coles ability to contribute at the RWC. So I wouldn't want to carry both of them right now
When Coles falls over Taylor can be called up
For me If Eklund is picked then on age I would pick Taylor 32 at WC time Coles will be almost 37 in December 2023 come WC time.
Coles hasn't played this year as yet, the older he gets the more his form will hit the wall dramatically somewhere, just due to age and his body not holding up.. -
@Duluth said in All Blacks 2022:
ST, Coles & Eklund
I'm pessimistic about Taylor and Coles ability to contribute at the RWC. So I wouldn't want to carry both of them right now
When Coles falls over Taylor can be called up
For me If Eklund is picked then on age I would pick Taylor 32 at WC time Coles will be almost 37 in December 2023 come WC time.
Coles hasn't played this year as yet, the older he gets the more his form will hit the wall dramatically somewhere, just due to age and his body not holding up..@Chris said in All Blacks 2022:
For me If Eklund is picked then on age I would pick Taylor 32 at WC time Coles will be almost 37 in December 2023 come WC time.
It's not about age, it's about current ability
Taylor is on a decline and has been for some time. No idea why, but I wouldn’t assume he’s going to turn things around. Coles plays better but has injury concerns.
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@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2022:
Seems like Samisoni is clearly best with ball in hand, but he's down on workrate - rucks and tackles. Might point to him perhaps needing to be used for shorter stints than some of the others.
if he's my dominant ball runner and also a key set piece guy, i don't also need him to hit all the rucks and make all the tackles. There are role players for that.
Of course, if i am an opposition coach i want him making as many tackles and attending as many rucks as possible.
@mariner4life I'll keep an eye out for a couple of Reuben Thorne's - to bring the work rate - in your teams!
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@Chris said in All Blacks 2022:
For me If Eklund is picked then on age I would pick Taylor 32 at WC time Coles will be almost 37 in December 2023 come WC time.
It's not about age, it's about current ability
Taylor is on a decline and has been for some time. No idea why, but I wouldn’t assume he’s going to turn things around. Coles plays better but has injury concerns.
@Duluth said in All Blacks 2022:
@Chris said in All Blacks 2022:
For me If Eklund is picked then on age I would pick Taylor 32 at WC time Coles will be almost 37 in December 2023 come WC time.
It's not about age, it's about current ability
Taylor is on a decline and has been for some time. Coles plays better but has injury concerns.
Taylor had a massive 2021 SR ,Played well against the Blues last game his form maybe going up now,for me I don't think he is in decline just a below par patch there at the end of 2021 which all players have.
Coles hasn't even played in 2022 his form might end up worse than Taylor's. -
@Duluth said in All Blacks 2022:
@Chris said in All Blacks 2022:
For me If Eklund is picked then on age I would pick Taylor 32 at WC time Coles will be almost 37 in December 2023 come WC time.
It's not about age, it's about current ability
Taylor is on a decline and has been for some time. Coles plays better but has injury concerns.
Taylor had a massive 2021 SR ,Played well against the Blues last game his form maybe going up now,for me I don't think he is in decline just a below par patch there at the end of 2021 which all players have.
Coles hasn't even played in 2022 his form might end up worse than Taylor's. -
@Chris The problem is Taylor's test level form has been up and down for a few seasons now - simply put his Super Rugby form just hasn't translated across.
@KiwiMurph has this been due to the workload at Super?
Am sure they must have data around tested pre-during-post Super and then in and around AB camps for fitness and so on so would hopefully point to fatigue if it is a factor for these guys.
I do however agree Coles probably now sits behind ST (1) and CT (2) in the pecking order.
As good as Eklund has been, I'm not sure he will leapfrog Coles and Aumua for the 3rd role.
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@Chris The problem is Taylor's test level form has been up and down for a few seasons now - simply put his Super Rugby form just hasn't translated across.
@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2022:
@Chris The problem is Taylor's test level form has been up and down for a few seasons now - simply put his Super Rugby form just hasn't translated across.
I think @taniwharugby hit the nail on the head with his post.
His workload at Super Rugby has been nearly 100% involvement.
Over worked through SR may have caused a drop off at Test level. -
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