All Blacks 2022
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From Liam Napier in the Herald:
The Herald understands Fakatava's convoluted eligibility scenario is again under consideration from World Rugby.
As it stands, Tongan-born Fakatava is ineligible for the All Blacks until December, despite living in New Zealand since the age of 16.
Qualification via residency does not start until a player turns 18 but Fakatava has since been the victim of World Rugby's residency change from three to five years, the unfortunate timing of his injury and further Covid complications.
Had Fakatava been fit last year, he would almost certainly have made his All Blacks debut.
Behind the scenes, New Zealand officials are seeking to rectify Fakatava's anomaly – possibly within the next month - in the hope common sense will prevail.
There are no guarantees Fakatava will get the green light before December but whenever he does become eligible, TJ Perenara is likely to be most vulnerable.
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@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
You are a gentleman and a scholar
@junior said in All Blacks 2022:
@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
You are a gentleman and a scholar
Everything but Marshall's commentary was awesome
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Squad of 36 isn't it? well I think the loose forward contingent should be Dalton, Akira, cane, sotutu, ardie, Todd's son & Mikaele-Tu'u..
@FakatavaFuture said in All Blacks 2022:
Squad of 36 isn't it? well I think the loose forward contingent should be Dalton, Akira, cane, sotutu, ardie, Todd's son & Mikaele-Tu'u..
How long do we have to wait for Matera to get eligibility
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Papali'i, Cane, Savea and Ioane are certainties. Sotutu, Blackadder, Robinson, Jacobson, MMT and Sowakula are going to compete for the remaining 2 (or 3 ?) spots.
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@cgrant Going by Foster's comments a few weeks back, Blackadder is probably a certainty, too.
@Stargazer said in All Blacks 2022:
@cgrant Going by Foster's comments a few weeks back, Blackadder is probably a certainty, too.
Yes my guess would be
Papali'i, Cane, Savea and Ioane,Blackadder, and Sotutu or Vai'i so they can squeeze in Whitelock,Retallick,Barrett and Lord.
Or they take 6 LF with Sotutu and 5 Locks. -
Just going on from the Crusaders match thread what are the most important skills for the AB's props. Is it scrummaging first and foremost, speed to rucks, gainline metres, tackles, lineout, passing etc.
For me at the moment Ofa T seems to possess everything one would want in a modern day prop. Hodgeman is also in that mould. I wonder about the fitness and mobility of the big boys like Karl T, Nepo, De Groot etc.
I forget who posted it but those stats on the Super Rugby Props were very interesting with just how many rucks they hit, tackles etc etc. Are those stats available for this season so far?
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@Stargazer said in All Blacks 2022:
@cgrant Going by Foster's comments a few weeks back, Blackadder is probably a certainty, too.
Yes my guess would be
Papali'i, Cane, Savea and Ioane,Blackadder, and Sotutu or Vai'i so they can squeeze in Whitelock,Retallick,Barrett and Lord.
Or they take 6 LF with Sotutu and 5 Locks.@Chris said in All Blacks 2022:
@Stargazer said in All Blacks 2022:
@cgrant Going by Foster's comments a few weeks back, Blackadder is probably a certainty, too.
Yes my guess would be
Papali'i, Cane, Savea and Ioane,Blackadder, and Sotutu or Vai'i so they can squeeze in Whitelock,Retallick,Barrett and Lord.
Or they take 6 LF with Sotutu and 5 Locks.Probably something like that. The only wildcard is if they want cover for the Ioane role.
Cane, Papali’i & Blackadder play a similar role. As do Ardie and Sotutu. Do they look at Sowakula, Tu’u or (yuck) Frizell to backup Ioane? Probably not as I think they might use Dalton at 6 a bit this year
My guess is for the four loosies in the top 23: Cane/Ardie/Ioane/Papali’i (one of the Blues players on the bench)
Squad cover from Blackadder, Sotutu & Vaa’i -
@Chris said in All Blacks 2022:
@Stargazer said in All Blacks 2022:
@cgrant Going by Foster's comments a few weeks back, Blackadder is probably a certainty, too.
Yes my guess would be
Papali'i, Cane, Savea and Ioane,Blackadder, and Sotutu or Vai'i so they can squeeze in Whitelock,Retallick,Barrett and Lord.
Or they take 6 LF with Sotutu and 5 Locks.Probably something like that. The only wildcard is if they want cover for the Ioane role.
Cane, Papali’i & Blackadder play a similar role. As do Ardie and Sotutu. Do they look at Sowakula, Tu’u or (yuck) Frizell to backup Ioane? Probably not as I think they might use Dalton at 6 a bit this year
My guess is for the four loosies in the top 23: Cane/Ardie/Ioane/Papali’i (one of the Blues players on the bench)
Squad cover from Blackadder, Sotutu & Vaa’i@Duluth said in All Blacks 2022:
@Chris said in All Blacks 2022:
@Stargazer said in All Blacks 2022:
@cgrant Going by Foster's comments a few weeks back, Blackadder is probably a certainty, too.
Yes my guess would be
Papali'i, Cane, Savea and Ioane,Blackadder, and Sotutu or Vai'i so they can squeeze in Whitelock,Retallick,Barrett and Lord.
Or they take 6 LF with Sotutu and 5 Locks.Probably something like that. The only wildcard is if they want cover for the Ioane role.
Cane, Papali’i & Blackadder play a similar role. As do Ardie and Sotutu. Do they look at Sowakula, Tu’u or (yuck) Frizell to backup Ioane? Probably not as I think they might use Dalton at 6 a bit this year
My guess is for the four loosies in the top 23: Cane/Ardie/Ioane/Papali’i (one of the Blues players on the bench)
Squad cover from Blackadder, Sotutu & Vaa’iYeah I think they will go that way too.
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Son of Tania Dearns, one half of the legendary Silver Ferns Wall of Death, hiding in plain sight up in Japan. We could do with a powerful lock, one for the future and eligible despite already playing for Japan
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Son of Tania Dearns, one half of the legendary Silver Ferns Wall of Death, hiding in plain sight up in Japan. We could do with a powerful lock, one for the future and eligible despite already playing for Japan
@canefan Yep, his dad is former Magpies trainer and strength & conditioning coach Grant Dearns. He'll be eligible after a 3-year stand-down, but wants to play the 2023 RWC for Japan, so won't be available until late 2026. A lot can happen in 4 years.
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@canefan Yep, his dad is former Magpies trainer and strength & conditioning coach Grant Dearns. He'll be eligible after a 3-year stand-down, but wants to play the 2023 RWC for Japan, so won't be available until late 2026. A lot can happen in 4 years.
@Stargazer said in All Blacks 2022:
@canefan Yep, his dad is former Magpies trainer and strength & conditioning coach Grant Dearns. He'll be eligible after a 3-year stand-down, but wants to play the 2023 RWC for Japan, so won't be available until late 2026. A lot can happen in 4 years.
What a shame. He needs to be back playing here ASAP
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We're saved!!! A tight 5 player from Japan might play for us in 4 years.
Fucking awesome.
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We're saved!!! A tight 5 player from Japan might play for us in 4 years.
Fucking awesome.
@mariner4life From NZ, actually, but yeah, he may be good in/for Japan, but whether he's good enough for NZ is an entirely different question.
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We're saved!!! A tight 5 player from Japan might play for us in 4 years.
Fucking awesome.
@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2022:
We're saved!!! A tight 5 player from Japan might play for us in 4 years.
Fucking awesome.
I’m sure he didn’t mean it to sound that way, but I thought it was pretty rich for a kid who gets into the Japan side by being tall, essentially saying ‘yeah, I could turn out for the ABs’.
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@TheMojoman said in All Blacks 2022:
@Crazy-Horse said in All Blacks 2022:
@Kirwan said in All Blacks 2022:
Ioane is now one of the top players in two positions at Test level, delivered - objectively - on the field.
If he has a top season at test level at centre this year then yeah, top player in two positions. Last year he was very good, but still looked like a winger doing a good job at centre. This year to me, at Super level, he is looking more and more like a centre. Hoping he can show it at Test level too.
At test level he'll need a decent 12 next to him - solid playmaking and kicking with the ability to bend the line and give Ioane some space to use his pace to try and get outside of his defender. A blend of Havili/Tupaea.
An example of why us old buggers from different eras of play really have no idea.
These days players align everywhere and anywhere. RI appears on the wing as much as centre and the 12 is often the 13 with fullback or wing between them and the 10.
We need to stop picturing players in traditional first phase spots.@Crucial said in All Blacks 2022:
@TheMojoman said in All Blacks 2022:
@Crazy-Horse said in All Blacks 2022:
@Kirwan said in All Blacks 2022:
Ioane is now one of the top players in two positions at Test level, delivered - objectively - on the field.
If he has a top season at test level at centre this year then yeah, top player in two positions. Last year he was very good, but still looked like a winger doing a good job at centre. This year to me, at Super level, he is looking more and more like a centre. Hoping he can show it at Test level too.
At test level he'll need a decent 12 next to him - solid playmaking and kicking with the ability to bend the line and give Ioane some space to use his pace to try and get outside of his defender. A blend of Havili/Tupaea.
An example of why us old buggers from different eras of play really have no idea.
These days players align everywhere and anywhere. RI appears on the wing as much as centre and the 12 is often the 13 with fullback or wing between them and the 10.
We need to stop picturing players in traditional first phase spots.We’ve been using one of our outside backs (mainly the fullback) as a second playmaker both at Super and AB level for quite a few years.
For example Sivivatu and Rangi back in the day now Jordie and Jordan.
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quick morning after match report.
Decent crowd. Was officially 20k, but those figures often feel a few thousand overstaed. Still solid though, and noisy.
Blues are consistently making good decisions in attack and defence. Not perfect by any means, but if you put 50 on one o fthe top Aussie sides and still have plenty to work on, that's a good result.
The Reds werne't bad at all. Strong set piece, tough, and asked some big questions on attack. Classic Brad Thorne - big hard runs, time after time. Tate is a bloody good 9 who knows how to play the ref. Aussies wlil be in the contest this year I feel.
Blues D was superb, and championship level. They keep stopping runners on the advantage line, good double tackles, and it takes something special to break them down. Team working hard for each other -- such a change from a few years ago. Plenty to work on, particularly with the lineout.
I won't say much about the ref, but by god it was a hard watch. Interpretation is one thing, but the most egregious moment was the Reds collapsing a maul that was a metre out from the tryline and going forward, and Fraser missed it. Honestly, had Penalty Try written all over it ... but to get whistled off the park and still put up the offense they did is impressive.
@Tim Robinson was noticeably light at lock. I don't think the scrum gets power with him there, was a really noticeable step up when Romano came on the field.
Clarke was mixed; equal parts sensational, breaking tackles at will, and then getting bumped off twice by Vunivalu. Still offers so much out there, but some work-ons.
RTS goes from strength to strength. Considering this is his first few rugby games, he's on a noticeable upward curve. Good defence, and you can see the quality of his stepping and attacking.
Telea is a bit like Clarke - some great things (ripping, getting over the ball in rucks), but also some rocks in your head moments.
Christie is an underrated component in this team. He took some poor options/executions at times, but his work on D is massive - flying around to shut down the opposition. It's a good feeling struggling to pick a MOTM from the team, but Heem takes the cake for me, coming off the bench to play centre, Christie for his D, and Akira for his work and physicality. Whole forward pack should get it thouhg their work is enabling the backs to look good out there.
So, 2 more comp points and we're minor champs. That's bloody impressive - particularly when you realise we had no preseason and most of the players had no NPC last year. Will we win it? Who knows - but we're certainly giving ourselves a damn good shot at it. It'll take something special to come to EP and beat us; can see Crusaders or a top performance from another Kiwi side doing it. But, frankly, we've won already. From where we were, to being a dominant force - winning the thing is important, but not as important as building the strucutre, talent pipeline and team culture that's being built. Papali'i needs to take some credit for that, stepping up and leading from the front.
Players I think they will pick in the AB squad
Hodgeman
Eklund
Ofa
NepoDalton
Hoskins
Akira
maybe: Robinson for Lock/6 coverChristie
Barrett
PerofetaRTS
Rieko
CalebHuge game next week. Lock up the top spot, and get hte luxury of resting some players going into the finals.
@nzzp I reckon Mark Telea will at least be in the conversation for a wing spot - especially if they decide that their fullbacks are 1 Jordie and 2 Jordan.
Reece looks a certainty - but, they could pick two more wings, with Clarke next in my mind, and then Big Leicester and Telea looking the best of the rest.
Though they could play Jordie at 2nd five. Convert Dave Havili back to fullback and pick Jordan, Havili, Reece, Telea, Big Leicester and Tavatavanawai.
Pity James Lowe will be playing for Ireland or we could pick him as well!
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@nzzp I reckon Mark Telea will at least be in the conversation for a wing spot - especially if they decide that their fullbacks are 1 Jordie and 2 Jordan.
Reece looks a certainty - but, they could pick two more wings, with Clarke next in my mind, and then Big Leicester and Telea looking the best of the rest.
Though they could play Jordie at 2nd five. Convert Dave Havili back to fullback and pick Jordan, Havili, Reece, Telea, Big Leicester and Tavatavanawai.
Pity James Lowe will be playing for Ireland or we could pick him as well!
@Chris-B said in Blues v Reds:
@nzzp I reckon Mark Telea will at least be in the conversation for a wing spot - especially if they decide that their fullbacks are 1 Jordie and 2 Jordan.
Reece looks a certainty - but, they could pick two more wings, with Clarke next in my mind, and then Big Leicester and Telea looking the best of the rest.
Though they could play Jordie at 2nd five. Convert Dave Havili back to fullback and pick Jordan, Havili, Reece, Telea, Big Leicester and Tavatavanawai.
Pity James Lowe will be playing for Ireland or we could pick him as well!
Telea is definitely playing better now that he's moved away from Ta$man.
He's primarily a right wing option and I think that is well covered by Jordan and Reece. He seems to have two really good games followed by a game with really amateur mistakes.
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@Chris-B said in Blues v Reds:
@nzzp I reckon Mark Telea will at least be in the conversation for a wing spot - especially if they decide that their fullbacks are 1 Jordie and 2 Jordan.
Reece looks a certainty - but, they could pick two more wings, with Clarke next in my mind, and then Big Leicester and Telea looking the best of the rest.
Though they could play Jordie at 2nd five. Convert Dave Havili back to fullback and pick Jordan, Havili, Reece, Telea, Big Leicester and Tavatavanawai.
Pity James Lowe will be playing for Ireland or we could pick him as well!
Telea is definitely playing better now that he's moved away from Ta$man.
He's primarily a right wing option and I think that is well covered by Jordan and Reece. He seems to have two really good games followed by a game with really amateur mistakes.
I think they'll likely start with 11 Reece, 14 Jordan, 15 Jordie.
Which could leave the cover options as 11 Clarke/Faingaanuku; 15 Jordan; 14. Reece/Telea. So I don't think he's disqualified if they pick 4 wings.
Beauden and Havili potentially offer fullback cover - but, Perofeta will surely be a part of the conversation if they want Jordan to stay on the right wing.
Wondering who else could be part of the conversation. Bridge - as in, "I presume we're all agreed that George is done". Shaun Stevenson? I wish someone could light a fire under Rayasi - he's got the size and speed to be an elite weapon, but just doesn't get involved enough.
