All Blacks XV 2022

[cgrant]

@pakman
I fear Tamaiti Williams will be used as a tight head where he looks uncomfortable. He is a far better LHP IMO. Ross and Brewis have never played on the tight head, as far as I know.

[Frye]

Asafo Aumua, Damian McKenzie, Mark Telea, Patrick Tuipulotu and Brad Weber have been called in from the All Blacks XV to join the All Blacks as a result of forced personnel changes. These players may re-join the All Blacks XV squad in Ireland, any updates to the squad will be worked through following All Blacks v Japan match this weekend.

Definitely gonna need these guys back.

And a couple of All Blacks as well probably looking at the propping stocks. With four tightheads I'm pretty sure they can spare one.

[chimoaus]

Have we simply run out of locks in NZ? What happens if one goes down early?

[Bovidae]

@chimoaus said in All Blacks XV:

Have we simply run out of locks in NZ? What happens if one goes down early?

Tuipulotu should move back to this team after the weekend. Relying on Gardiner to be a lock isn't wise.

[NTA]

@Machpants said in All Blacks XV:

So is this a eligibility capture team?

No, that's the ABs. :winking_face_with_tongue:

[Crazy Horse]

@Bovidae said in All Blacks XV:

@chimoaus said in All Blacks XV:

Have we simply run out of locks in NZ? What happens if one goes down early?

Tuipulotu should move back to this team after the weekend. Relying on Gardiner to be a lock isn't wise.

Agree. He is a but like Grace in that he is ok as a stop gap but he is not a long term lock. Canterbury seemed a bit underpowered when he played lock.

[Nepia]

@NTA said in All Blacks XV:

@Machpants said in All Blacks XV:

So is this a eligibility capture team?

No, that's the ABs. :winking_face_with_tongue:

You must be disappointed we managed to steal a Fijian from your wing farm.

[mariner4life]

@Nepia said in All Blacks XV:

your wing farm

the melbourne storm?

[Stargazer]

Also posted in another thread:

The All Blacks coach said Cane had suffered a fractured cheekbone in the match at National Stadium, while veteran hooker Coles has succumbed to a calf injury which had seen him a late scratching from Saturday’s test.

Canterbury and Highlanders loose forward Billy Harmon, and Wellington, Hurricanes, and six-test hooker Asafo Aumua – both of whom were part of the All Blacks XV squad – have been called up for the remaining tests against Wales, Scotland and England.

Foster also confirmed lock Patrick Tuipulotu and playmaker Damian McKenzie would rejoin the ABs XV squad, while winger Mark Telea – a late call-up after Leicester Fainga’anuku went home for family reasons – would stay on with the All Blacks as Will Jordan will stay on in New Zealand to get over his inner ear issue.

So the AB XVs lose Harmon and Aumua, meaning that the AB XV are left with two hookers (McAlister and Thompson). Either Aumua will still be available to them in case of injury (if he doesn't get game time for the ABs), or they'll call up another hooker. You'd think that Eklund or Marshall will be the frontrunners.

More interesting is the loose forward position. Of the loosies in this squad, Harmon was the only one who regularly plays at 7 (at least in Super Rugby). Will they call up a specialist 7? Tom Christie is probably the most likely selection if they want a specialist 7. Not sure who else.

Interestingly, that article doesn't say whether Weber will stay with the ABs or will rejoin the ABXV squad. I hope they keep him with the ABs, because the alternative would be TJP.

[Bovidae]

Kirifi should be the player to replace Harmon. Outplayed Christie in the NPC final and finished the season strongly. But Christie plays for Canterbury...

Tuipulotu might end up being back with the ABs once the AB XV tour is finished.

[Crucial]

@Bovidae said in All Blacks XV:

Kirifi should be the player to replace Harmon. Outplayed Christie in the NPC final and finished the season strongly. But Christie plays for Canterbury...

Tuipulotu might end up being back with the ABs once the AB XV tour is finished.

Will be quite the snub if Kirifi isnt called in IMO.

So if RTS and Ennor are joining that that mean they push aside the midfield already there?

[Stargazer]

@Bovidae Yeah, true, totally forgot about him.

[Stargazer]

@Crucial Not necessarily. There are only three outside backs in the squad.

[Bovidae]

@Crucial If I was Ireland A I'd be keen to face a RTS-Ennor midfield.

[Canes4life]

@Crucial said in All Blacks XV:

@Bovidae said in All Blacks XV:

Kirifi should be the player to replace Harmon. Outplayed Christie in the NPC final and finished the season strongly. But Christie plays for Canterbury...

Tuipulotu might end up being back with the ABs once the AB XV tour is finished.

Will be quite the snub if Kirifi isnt called in IMO.

So if RTS and Ennor are joining that that mean they push aside the midfield already there?

100% has to be Kirifi but with Ryan in there as a selector it will end up being Christie.

[Canes4life]

@Stargazer said in All Blacks XV:

Also posted in another thread:

The All Blacks coach said Cane had suffered a fractured cheekbone in the match at National Stadium, while veteran hooker Coles has succumbed to a calf injury which had seen him a late scratching from Saturday’s test.

Canterbury and Highlanders loose forward Billy Harmon, and Wellington, Hurricanes, and six-test hooker Asafo Aumua – both of whom were part of the All Blacks XV squad – have been called up for the remaining tests against Wales, Scotland and England.

Foster also confirmed lock Patrick Tuipulotu and playmaker Damian McKenzie would rejoin the ABs XV squad, while winger Mark Telea – a late call-up after Leicester Fainga’anuku went home for family reasons – would stay on with the All Blacks as Will Jordan will stay on in New Zealand to get over his inner ear issue.

So the AB XVs lose Harmon and Aumua, meaning that the AB XV are left with two hookers (McAlister and Thompson). Either Aumua will still be available to them in case of injury (if he doesn't get game time for the ABs), or they'll call up another hooker. You'd think that Eklund or Marshall will be the frontrunners.

More interesting is the loose forward position. Of the loosies in this squad, Harmon was the only one who regularly plays at 7 (at least in Super Rugby). Will they call up a specialist 7? Tom Christie is probably the most likely selection if they want a specialist 7. Not sure who else.

Interestingly, that article doesn't say whether Weber will stay with the ABs or will rejoin the ABXV squad. I hope they keep him with the ABs, because the alternative would be TJP.

Lol Perenara easily outplayed Weber in the NPC. Weber is overated. Roigard should be the one starting for the All Black’s XV. He’s the future and right now he’s playing the best footy out of him Weber and Perenara.

[Crazy Horse]

@Crucial said in All Blacks XV:

@Bovidae said in All Blacks XV:

Kirifi should be the player to replace Harmon. Outplayed Christie in the NPC final and finished the season strongly. But Christie plays for Canterbury...

Tuipulotu might end up being back with the ABs once the AB XV tour is finished.

Will be quite the snub if Kirifi isnt called in IMO.

So if RTS and Ennor are joining that that mean they push aside the midfield already there?

The same Kirifi who is derided on here as being a useless dumb thug?

[Crucial]

@Crazy-Horse said in All Blacks XV:

@Crucial said in All Blacks XV:

@Bovidae said in All Blacks XV:

Kirifi should be the player to replace Harmon. Outplayed Christie in the NPC final and finished the season strongly. But Christie plays for Canterbury...

Tuipulotu might end up being back with the ABs once the AB XV tour is finished.

Will be quite the snub if Kirifi isnt called in IMO.

So if RTS and Ennor are joining that that mean they push aside the midfield already there?

The same Kirifi who is derided on here as being a useless dumb thug?

I can’t recall reading any of that. Don’t think it is the general accepted view at all.
I think he is limited as far as the top end of the game goes but otherwise is a busy effective player that has matured quite a bit in the last year and a bit.

[Dan54]

@Canes4life said in All Blacks XV:

@Crucial said in All Blacks XV:

@Bovidae said in All Blacks XV:

Kirifi should be the player to replace Harmon. Outplayed Christie in the NPC final and finished the season strongly. But Christie plays for Canterbury...

Tuipulotu might end up being back with the ABs once the AB XV tour is finished.

Will be quite the snub if Kirifi isnt called in IMO.

So if RTS and Ennor are joining that that mean they push aside the midfield already there?

100% has to be Kirifi but with Ryan in there as a selector it will end up being Christie.

Don't think it will be Kirifi, I think he may just be considered to small for test rugby?

[Canes4life]

@Dan54 said in All Blacks XV:

@Canes4life said in All Blacks XV:

@Crucial said in All Blacks XV:

@Bovidae said in All Blacks XV:

Kirifi should be the player to replace Harmon. Outplayed Christie in the NPC final and finished the season strongly. But Christie plays for Canterbury...

Tuipulotu might end up being back with the ABs once the AB XV tour is finished.

Will be quite the snub if Kirifi isnt called in IMO.

So if RTS and Ennor are joining that that mean they push aside the midfield already there?

100% has to be Kirifi but with Ryan in there as a selector it will end up being Christie.

Don't think it will be Kirifi, I think he may just be considered to small for test rugby?

Harmon and Christie aren’t big either.