All Blacks 2022

[nzzp]

Biggest weaknesses are props, and possibly second five.

Only if you ignore the form of our locks at international level. I'd love to be wrong, but they are shadows of their former world class selves

[MN5]

@junior said in All Blacks 2022:

@Bovidae said in All Blacks 2022:

I can't believe they didn't include Hosea Gear flattening Keith Earls in that compilation

Here it is. You’re welcome

[number9]

@Mackerzzzz biggest weakness is the Coaching Staff. No one knows what the hell they are doing.

[Canes4life]

@Frank did he? I just find it strange that the Canes are all of a sudden giving Jordie big minutes at 12 when he’s rock solid at 15. Surely that’s messaging from the AB coaches.

[Crucial]

@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2022:

@Frank did he? I just find it strange that the Canes are all of a sudden giving Jordie big minutes at 12 when he’s rock solid at 15. Surely that’s messaging from the AB coaches.

He’s not getting big minutes at the Canes still is he? They tried a few things and will probably still move the cattle around.
Foster was specifically asked about Jordie at twelve and he answer was that he was one of the ABs best last year playing at fullback so he’s not sure why he would go looking to move him.

[KiwiMurph]

Yeah given Fozzie's very lukewarm comments towards Jordie at 12 I don't think the AB coaches were behind the shift. Canes have been shifting their midfield around all season haven't they trying to find a spark? Almost a different combination every game?

[Kiwiwomble]

@MN5 said in All Blacks 2022:

@junior said in All Blacks 2022:

@Bovidae said in All Blacks 2022:

I can't believe they didn't include Hosea Gear flattening Keith Earls in that compilation

Here it is. You’re welcome

how good was that, just seeing them get on the outside of their man, fight for space to run support and actual free the wing

[chimoaus]

@MN5 How good was Conrad in setting that up though.

[Tim]

@MN5 How good were those passes.

[MN5]

How good was Hosea Gear when he was in the mood to be good ?

[Tim]

Also, you forget that Conrad Smith had good acceleration for taking an outside break.

[KiwiMurph]

https://www.sen.com.au/news/2022/05/10/second-nz-side-set-to-shadow-all-blacks-for-foreseeable-future/

New Zealand Rugby are in the midst of creating an NZ A or a second NZ side to shadow the All Blacks from 2022 onwards.

With a huge breadth of players vying for a spot in the national squad, administrators believe that a secondary side will enable enhanced experience and playing time at the highest level for those who miss out on All Blacks selection.

Former All Black Jeff Wilson broke the news on SENZ.

Wilson is a huge supporter of the concept, believing that the addition of a secondary top-level team will change the mindset of selectors, and will inevitably aid the All Blacks in their preparation for the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

“I would say this, NZ Rugby … they’re looking at a New Zealand A, or a second NZ side playing a number of games this year,” Wilson said on SENZ’s Super South.

“I think that group is going to be critical, because there’s going to be a lot of guys who have worn the All Black jersey in the last 18 months who may miss out, and they’re going to get really important rugby.

“There’s going to be another tier, which is going to be really well coached and have a number of games I believe this year.

[Stargazer]

@KiwiMurph If that happens, it will be interesting to see whether NZR are going to designate this team as it's official national 2nd XV under World Rugby's Regulations (which means players will be captured by playing for this team).

Also, who's going to coach this team. Will one of the assistant coaches coach this team, or will they hand the gig to someone outside the current coaching set-up. Could be a good job for Robertson, preparing him for a smooth end-of-2023 takeover.

Edit: if they don't designate this team as its official 2nd XV, they can field Fakatava!

[Grooter]

@Stargazer Razor would do well as coach I reckon, although it would be some tough selections for him does he play Ennor at 13 or go with B Sullivan how about number 8 would Razor go with what he knows in Grace or get Mikaele-Tu'u to partner Harmon & Jacobson

[Stargazer]

@FakatavaFuture Robertson never plays favourites (he's made some tough decisions in the past), so he'll go for the best available.

[bobily2]

@FakatavaFuture said in All Blacks 2022:

@Stargazer Razor would do well as coach I reckon, although it would be some tough selections for him does he play Ennor at 13 or go with B Sullivan how about number 8 would Razor go with what he knows in Grace or get Mikaele-Tu'u to partner Harmon & Jacobson

I'm guessing this team might play at the same time as the Maori All Black team, and Sullivan would be unavailable.

[Stargazer]

@bobily2 I may be wrong but I think it's far more likely that this All Blacks XV will play games before/during the End-of-year Tour, not in July. For example, the last weekend before the international test window starts and then maybe a mid-week game. They have done this in the past. In any case, after the NPC has finished.

[Bovidae]

If there is going to be a NZ A (or more accurately a NZ B team) they need to be playing the equivalent teams from Aust, SA and Arg rather than the PI teams, or Japan. Games between NZ and Aust would be easy to organise but the extra SA and Arg teams would still be at the mercy of NH clubs.

[Stargazer]

@Bovidae Teams like Georgia, Romania, Spain or England A during the test window wouldn't be bad, but I think the first three would be prefer to play the All Blacks, not All Blacks XV.

[Bovidae]

I am thinking that you make a weekend of it, and the A teams play each other on the Friday night or Saturday afternoon before the RC games.