All Blacks XV 2022

[Bovidae]

@Daffy-Jaffy said in All Blacks XV:

Team announced on October 9th according to James Parsons.

I read that this squad would be announced a day or so after the AB squad, similar to the Māori squad naming earlier in the year. The focus will be on the AB squad on Oct 9, so it makes sense to do this on separate days.

[Daffy Jaffy]

@Bovidae maybe Parsons had the AB squad date in his head.

[Bovidae]

@Tim Good to see that the quality of RugbyPass articles hasn't improved. Who is this Kirwin fella?

[ACT Crusader]

@Bovidae said in All Blacks XV:

@Tim Good to see that the quality of RugbyPass articles hasn't improved. Who is this Kirwin fella?

Have you met his brother Dulith?

[Chris B.]

So, 36 for the AB squad and 26 for the ABs XV with some crossover seems the intel. But,...
I struggle to see the need for 36 ABs, so I'm going for 34 and 28 - you can promote a couple as you see fit.

Otherwise - I reckon the ABs will be pretty predictable.

de Groot, Bower, Tu'ungafasi
Sami T., Taylor, Coles
Lomax, Laulala, Newell
Retallick, Whitelock, SBarrett, Vaaí
Frizell, AIoane, Cane, Papali'i, Savea, Sotutu
Smith, Christie, Fakatava
Mo'unga, BBarrett,
Havili, RTS, ALB, RIoane
Clarke, Fainga'anuku, Jordan, Reece, JBarrett, Perofeta

So, an additional 28 man squad, that might have to be a bit front row heavy, given there's a few outside backs sure to be available from the ABs. Injuries might preclude a couple.

Ross, Williams, Hodgman
Aumua, McAlister, Thompson
Taávao, Jager, Franks (maybe/maybe not for Owen)
Dickson, Tuipolotou, Strange,
Sowakula, Harmon, Jacobson, Mikaele-Tu'u
Weber, Perenara, Roigard
McKenzie, Gatland
Nankivell, Ennor, Aumua
Telea, Lam, Love, ZSullivan

[Bones]

@Chris-B is there no one at least on a parr with Perenara? And surely there's better than Love?

[taniwharugby]

@Bones yeah you'd hope they'd look at someone younger over TJ, Weber is the senior player to mentor them, and Moorby over Love for me.

Not sure Ta'avao will be right, looked a nasty knock last night

[Bones]

@taniwharugby said in All Blacks XV:

@Bones yeah you'd hope they'd look at someone younger over TJ, Weber is the senior player to mentor them, and Moorby over Love for me.

Not sure Ta'avao will be right, looked a nasty knock last night

Yeah my thoughts on halfback too. I haven't seen a great amount of npc but what I've seen of Perenara and Love they're not exactly setting the world on fire.

[taniwharugby]

@Bones TJ was very good today, but he should be at NPC.

[Chris B.]

@Bones TJ is a slightly milder version of me picking Owen Franks. I don't think we're going to be picking our 6th halfback or tighthead over TJ or Owen for RWC so keep them involved.

I like Love, man - he's a little bit extraneous (and my 28th pick), because a specialist wing might be more useful, but WTF!

Could be miles out - hard to know who the selectors have in their sights - but, it's a very important selection to see who they think is the next tier.

[Bones]

@Chris-B said in All Blacks XV:

TJ is a slightly milder version of me picking Owen Franks

That's why Weber is there... but he actually looks like he could step up

[cgrant]

Stevenson should be in the AB XV, IMO.

[taniwharugby]

@cgrant rumours he might be off to league...so that'll put a fork in him if he is

[Bones]

@cgrant said in All Blacks XV:

Stevenson should be in the AB XV, IMO.

I'd be his biggest critic over the years, but barring outside circumstances he definitely should be.

[gt12]

@taniwharugby said in All Blacks XV:

@cgrant rumours he might be off to league...so that'll put a fork in him if he is

Is his contract up for renewal? That’s what this smells like to me. It could just be this ‘rumor’ is his representatives saying if he’s not selected in the AB15 they are open to offers?

[Bovidae]

@gt12 Stevenson is contracted until 2023. He deserves to be selected.

[Bones]

@gt12 said in All Blacks XV:

@taniwharugby said in All Blacks XV:

@cgrant rumours he might be off to league...so that'll put a fork in him if he is

Is his contract up for renewal? That’s what this smells like to me. It could just be this ‘rumor’ is his representatives saying if he’s not selected in the AB15 they are open to offers?

It would seem a pretty weak attempt. It's not like he's a marquis player who would have teams banging down the door.

[bayimports]

@Bovidae said in All Blacks XV:

@gt12 Stevenson is contracted until 2023. He deserves to be selected.

If Nogusta says Dolphins then that is generally very good sauce.
On form though he has been a stand out throughout the year and I agree

Probably also depends on what happens to Perofeta/DMac unless they play him on a wing

[Bovidae]

@bayimports The Dolphins aren't having much luck signing players at the moment.

My point is that Stevenson would need to get an early release.

Perofeta should be selected for the AB XV so he can play 2 games at 1st 5, rather than a single test for the ABs (vs Japan). Stevenson could be at fullback.

[Bovidae]

@Chris-B Articles I have read say 35 for the ABs and only 26 for the AB XV.