All Blacks XV 2022

[Chris B.]

@FakatavaAllBlack I thought that earlier, but given the relative squad numbers, I think it will genuinely be the All Blacks and a 2nd XV (26) so to speak - with one way traffic - people being released to play for the 2nd XV.

[kiwi_expat]

How has Ratima been for Waikato? any chance he makes the squad?

[Chris B.]

@FakatavaAllBlack said in All Blacks XV:

@Chris-B said in All Blacks XV:

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

Replace Strange with Fabian Holland and we'll be off to the Races

A 19 year old who is yet to play Super?

Quin's staying in my team!

[Bovidae]

Hinton has Tuipulotu in his AB squad. He'd be a better chance for this team.

[Bovidae]

@kiwi_expat said in All Blacks XV:

How has Ratima been for Waikato? any chance he makes the squad?

He's mainly been used off the bench, and his form has been up and down. If both Weber and Perenara are selected for the AB XV there would only be room for one other halfback. Roigard might be favoured.

[cgrant]

@Bovidae
Or Hotham.

[booboo]

Roigard, Ratima, Hotham, Roe etc, maybe others, have all been mentioned at various times. Seems it depends on a particular tun of form and recency bias as to who is seen as the front runner(s).

[Chris B.]

@cgrant said in All Blacks XV:

@Bovidae
Or Hotham.

I'd be very surprised if they pick anyone who hasn't played Super rugby.

[Chris B.]

@Bovidae said in All Blacks XV:

Hinton has Tuipulotu in his AB squad. He'd be a better chance for this team.

And Ennor - which gets him to 36 compared to the 34 I picked above.

I guess their original squad had Lord and Jack Goodhue, so if they really take 36 those two make positional sense, but I don't see the point in them for a 4 match tour.

[Chris B.]

I wonder whether the squad of 36 has any room for an apprentice?

[gt12]

@Chris-B said in All Blacks XV:

I wonder whether the squad of 36 has any room for an apprentice?

Is there anyone that undeniably ‘will be an AB’ that is also too young/inexperienced for the ABXV?

[Chris B.]

@gt12 Maybe Hotham. Maybe Holland.

Edit: Maybe George Bell.

[taniwharugby]

@Chris-B wasnt it only 12 months ago Fakatava was being looked at as the apprentice and/or the next big thing? Granted he has had limited chances, but I'd say 9 isnt where they'll throw in an apprentice or have a bit of a gamble, if they do...2, now I can see that!

In saying that, when was the last player to go straight from NPC to ABs (although AB XV is a skight level down)

[gt12]

@Chris-B said in All Blacks XV:

@gt12 Maybe Hotham. Maybe Holland.

Edit: Maybe George Bell.

Guaranteed to be an AB? I think that the ABXV is good because we don't have to make these choices too young. IMO, Aumua wasn't helped by being an apprentice, and even Ardie would have likely been just as well developed if we had run out an AB Junior team.

[Chris B.]

@gt12 I guess no-one is ever guaranteed.

If they were looking at apprentices, these guys would be among the contenders I can think of - look like ABs in the making, but not ready to play for either team.

@taniwharugby Yep. I don't expect anyone who hasn't played Super to make either team, unless as a non-playing apprentice.

The only reason I raised the possibility is that I can't see the point of 36 players in the AB squad.

[ACT Crusader]

@gt12 said in All Blacks XV:

@Chris-B said in All Blacks XV:

I wonder whether the squad of 36 has any room for an apprentice?

Is there anyone that undeniably ‘will be an AB’ that is also too young/inexperienced for the ABXV?

George Bell will be an AB. Put your house on it.

Just in case, I like my hats with BBQ sauce….

[Bovidae]

What time tomorrow for the squad announcement? This will be more interesting than the ABs.

[Canes4life]

Foster has already said that this XV side will be a reserve squad for the WC instead of a development squad this close to the WC. Therefore guys like Perenara/Weber would be favoured over guys like Roigard/Hotham I would imagine.

[Nepia]

@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks XV:

@gt12 said in All Blacks XV:

@Chris-B said in All Blacks XV:

I wonder whether the squad of 36 has any room for an apprentice?

Is there anyone that undeniably ‘will be an AB’ that is also too young/inexperienced for the ABXV?

George Bell will be an AB. Put your house on it.

Just in case, I like my hats with BBQ sauce….

Guaranteed like how when people saw DC and went he’ll be an AB or when those blokes on the Fern watched the U20s and guaranteed Robbie Robinson was going to be a long term AB 10 instead of AC?

[ACT Crusader]

@Canes4life said in All Blacks XV:

Foster has already said that this XV side will be a reserve squad for the WC instead of a development squad this close to the WC. Therefore guys like Perenara/Weber would be favoured over guys like Roigard/Hotham I would imagine.

Given there are going to be new players, I think it will serve both purposes.

Halfback, 1st 5 and lock will be particularly interesting because you have Weber, TJP, DMac, Tuipoluto all in the mix.