All Blacks 2023
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@Mr-Fish Not bad.
I don't think Lio-Willie will make it and I'll be a little bit surprised (but not amazed) if Jacobson does.
I reckon they might do something like name Lord as injury cover for Whitelock, which would allow an extra loose forward - Akira, Blackadder and Sotutu.
Goodhue for Heem.
@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2023:
@Mr-Fish Not bad.
I don't think Lio-Willie will make it and I'll be a little bit surprised (but not amazed) if Jacobson does.
I reckon they might do something like name Lord as injury cover for Whitelock, which would allow an extra loose forward - Akira, Blackadder and Sotutu.
Goodhue for Heem.
I seen Goodhue chasing a kick ahead in the semi final and it was like watching a bloke run in porridge.
The Goodhue/ALB combo from 2019 still gives me nightmares. So vanilla.
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If Fainga'anuku doesn't make it, and someone like Clarke does, who is a total liability, then I have no hope.
@Darren said in All Blacks 2023:
If Fainga'anuku doesn't make it, and someone like Clarke does, who is a total liability, then I have no hope.
If big Leicester doesn't make it he can join the list of top super rugby try scorers over looked in the same season. Ben Lam and Ngani Laumape come to mind.
Surely his omission would be for either political or "character" reasons.
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@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2023:
@Bovidae On the props - they could go two ways - either they decide Moody and Newell are both likely to be ready by RWC, so no need to develop more - or decide that they know what one or two of their experienced guys bring, so they'll give someone else a go who might bring more.
Regardless, I think Big Tamaiti will get picked - he's been outstanding and they're short on looseheads.
I think most likely, de Groot, Ross, Williams, Lomax, Ofa, Nepo - but, they might pick someone else instead of the latter two - and they might decide Williams is playing tighthead for the ABs.
On the loose forwards, I'm mainly wondering if they like Blackadder enough to take him without match play.
Won't surprise me if there are a couple of extras picked to "train with" or "injury cover" - Whitelock and Blackadder open that door for a start.
Blackadder will be there or there abouts all year. He has Allblack written all over him.
Has a super attitude and that's what the selectors love. The boy is perpetual motion and gives everything every game.
@Steve said in All Blacks 2023:
@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2023:
@Bovidae On the props - they could go two ways - either they decide Moody and Newell are both likely to be ready by RWC, so no need to develop more - or decide that they know what one or two of their experienced guys bring, so they'll give someone else a go who might bring more.
Regardless, I think Big Tamaiti will get picked - he's been outstanding and they're short on looseheads.
I think most likely, de Groot, Ross, Williams, Lomax, Ofa, Nepo - but, they might pick someone else instead of the latter two - and they might decide Williams is playing tighthead for the ABs.
On the loose forwards, I'm mainly wondering if they like Blackadder enough to take him without match play.
Won't surprise me if there are a couple of extras picked to "train with" or "injury cover" - Whitelock and Blackadder open that door for a start.
Blackadder will be there or there abouts all year. He has Allblack written all over him.
Has a super attitude and that's what the selectors love. The boy is perpetual motion and gives everything every game.
Yeah - my only question-mark is whether they want him to get some matchplay given how many loose forward options they have.
If it wasn't a RWC year, I reckon Samipeni Finau might have been in the frame, as well. Not impossible that he is.
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@Steve said in All Blacks 2023:
@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2023:
@Bovidae On the props - they could go two ways - either they decide Moody and Newell are both likely to be ready by RWC, so no need to develop more - or decide that they know what one or two of their experienced guys bring, so they'll give someone else a go who might bring more.
Regardless, I think Big Tamaiti will get picked - he's been outstanding and they're short on looseheads.
I think most likely, de Groot, Ross, Williams, Lomax, Ofa, Nepo - but, they might pick someone else instead of the latter two - and they might decide Williams is playing tighthead for the ABs.
On the loose forwards, I'm mainly wondering if they like Blackadder enough to take him without match play.
Won't surprise me if there are a couple of extras picked to "train with" or "injury cover" - Whitelock and Blackadder open that door for a start.
Blackadder will be there or there abouts all year. He has Allblack written all over him.
Has a super attitude and that's what the selectors love. The boy is perpetual motion and gives everything every game.
Yeah - my only question-mark is whether they want him to get some matchplay given how many loose forward options they have.
If it wasn't a RWC year, I reckon Samipeni Finau might have been in the frame, as well. Not impossible that he is.
@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2023:
@Steve said in All Blacks 2023:
@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2023:
@Bovidae On the props - they could go two ways - either they decide Moody and Newell are both likely to be ready by RWC, so no need to develop more - or decide that they know what one or two of their experienced guys bring, so they'll give someone else a go who might bring more.
Regardless, I think Big Tamaiti will get picked - he's been outstanding and they're short on looseheads.
I think most likely, de Groot, Ross, Williams, Lomax, Ofa, Nepo - but, they might pick someone else instead of the latter two - and they might decide Williams is playing tighthead for the ABs.
On the loose forwards, I'm mainly wondering if they like Blackadder enough to take him without match play.
Won't surprise me if there are a couple of extras picked to "train with" or "injury cover" - Whitelock and Blackadder open that door for a start.
Blackadder will be there or there abouts all year. He has Allblack written all over him.
Has a super attitude and that's what the selectors love. The boy is perpetual motion and gives everything every game.
Yeah - my only question-mark is whether they want him to get some matchplay given how many loose forward options they have.
If it wasn't a RWC year, I reckon Samipeni Finau might have been in the frame, as well. Not impossible that he is.
Finau gives me serious Kaino and Collins optics when I watch him.....and I aint talking about skin tone.
The boy has a shoulder and he aint afraid to throw it about.
No scrag tackles in his repertoire. You're getting emptied.
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After Lio-Willie was so good on Friday, it might just have tipped things in his favour.
The way I see it, they'll pick seven loose forwards, three of whom are Ardie, Cane and Dalton. They could be absolutely anyone, and I wouldn't be surprised if anyone does/doesn't make it because it is that open - largely because the incumbents have either been injury-ravaged are just a bit shit for both the All Blacks and in Super Rugby this season.
Think the rest of the forwards more or less pick themselves with the only potential new cap Tamaiti Williams.
Third halfback will be Russian Roulette, I give each of Christie, Roigard and Fakatava a 33.33% chance of being selected.
Then I think they'll pick 10 across the back contingent. Battling for two places in my mind are Fainga'anuku, Narawa, Ennor & Procter... can't see them picking L Aumua, but he was there in their thinking last year.
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@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2023:
@Mr-Fish Not bad.
I don't think Lio-Willie will make it and I'll be a little bit surprised (but not amazed) if Jacobson does.
I reckon they might do something like name Lord as injury cover for Whitelock, which would allow an extra loose forward - Akira, Blackadder and Sotutu.
Goodhue for Heem.
I seen Goodhue chasing a kick ahead in the semi final and it was like watching a bloke run in porridge.
The Goodhue/ALB combo from 2019 still gives me nightmares. So vanilla.
@Steve said in All Blacks 2023:
@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2023:
@Mr-Fish Not bad.
I don't think Lio-Willie will make it and I'll be a little bit surprised (but not amazed) if Jacobson does.
I reckon they might do something like name Lord as injury cover for Whitelock, which would allow an extra loose forward - Akira, Blackadder and Sotutu.
Goodhue for Heem.
I seen Goodhue chasing a kick ahead in the semi final and it was like watching a bloke run in porridge.
The Goodhue/ALB combo from 2019 still gives me nightmares. So vanilla.
Be nice if he had a bit more pace - but, he's got a midfielder's brain.
ESPN tackles stats from Friday.
Jack made 25 missed 2.
Bryce made 7 missed 4.
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@Steve said in All Blacks 2023:
@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2023:
@Mr-Fish Not bad.
I don't think Lio-Willie will make it and I'll be a little bit surprised (but not amazed) if Jacobson does.
I reckon they might do something like name Lord as injury cover for Whitelock, which would allow an extra loose forward - Akira, Blackadder and Sotutu.
Goodhue for Heem.
I seen Goodhue chasing a kick ahead in the semi final and it was like watching a bloke run in porridge.
The Goodhue/ALB combo from 2019 still gives me nightmares. So vanilla.
Be nice if he had a bit more pace - but, he's got a midfielder's brain.
ESPN tackles stats from Friday.
Jack made 25 missed 2.
Bryce made 7 missed 4.
@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2023:
@Steve said in All Blacks 2023:
@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2023:
@Mr-Fish Not bad.
I don't think Lio-Willie will make it and I'll be a little bit surprised (but not amazed) if Jacobson does.
I reckon they might do something like name Lord as injury cover for Whitelock, which would allow an extra loose forward - Akira, Blackadder and Sotutu.
Goodhue for Heem.
I seen Goodhue chasing a kick ahead in the semi final and it was like watching a bloke run in porridge.
The Goodhue/ALB combo from 2019 still gives me nightmares. So vanilla.
Be nice if he had a bit more pace - but, he's got a midfielder's brain.
ESPN tackles stats from Friday.
Jack made 25 missed 2.
Bryce made 7 missed 4.
Fair point.
I feel like with him and ALB they won't lose us the World Cup, but they won't win it for us either......
And this one will take some winning.
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After Lio-Willie was so good on Friday, it might just have tipped things in his favour.
The way I see it, they'll pick seven loose forwards, three of whom are Ardie, Cane and Dalton. They could be absolutely anyone, and I wouldn't be surprised if anyone does/doesn't make it because it is that open - largely because the incumbents have either been injury-ravaged are just a bit shit for both the All Blacks and in Super Rugby this season.
Think the rest of the forwards more or less pick themselves with the only potential new cap Tamaiti Williams.
Third halfback will be Russian Roulette, I give each of Christie, Roigard and Fakatava a 33.33% chance of being selected.
Then I think they'll pick 10 across the back contingent. Battling for two places in my mind are Fainga'anuku, Narawa, Ennor & Procter... can't see them picking L Aumua, but he was there in their thinking last year.
@friedrugby said in All Blacks 2023:
After Lio-Willie was so good on Friday, it might just have tipped things in his favour.
The way I see it, they'll pick seven loose forwards, three of whom are Ardie, Cane and Dalton. They could be absolutely anyone, and I wouldn't be surprised if anyone does/doesn't make it because it is that open - largely because the incumbents have either been injury-ravaged are just a bit shit for both the All Blacks and in Super Rugby this season.
Think the rest of the forwards more or less pick themselves with the only potential new cap Tamaiti Williams.
Third halfback will be Russian Roulette, I give each of Christie, Roigard and Fakatava a 33.33% chance of being selected.
Then I think they'll pick 10 across the back contingent. Battling for two places in my mind are Fainga'anuku, Narawa, Ennor & Procter... can't see them picking L Aumua, but he was there in their thinking last year.
Think I've washed my hands of Finlay Christie as an AB at this stage.
Not for me.
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@friedrugby said in All Blacks 2023:
After Lio-Willie was so good on Friday, it might just have tipped things in his favour.
The way I see it, they'll pick seven loose forwards, three of whom are Ardie, Cane and Dalton. They could be absolutely anyone, and I wouldn't be surprised if anyone does/doesn't make it because it is that open - largely because the incumbents have either been injury-ravaged are just a bit shit for both the All Blacks and in Super Rugby this season.
Think the rest of the forwards more or less pick themselves with the only potential new cap Tamaiti Williams.
Third halfback will be Russian Roulette, I give each of Christie, Roigard and Fakatava a 33.33% chance of being selected.
Then I think they'll pick 10 across the back contingent. Battling for two places in my mind are Fainga'anuku, Narawa, Ennor & Procter... can't see them picking L Aumua, but he was there in their thinking last year.
Think I've washed my hands of Finlay Christie as an AB at this stage.
Not for me.
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I don't get the talk about Lio-Willie getting the nod. Surely it's too early for him and more importantly, surely he is too small.
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I don't get the talk about Lio-Willie getting the nod. Surely it's too early for him and more importantly, surely he is too small.
@Crazy-Horse Usual super rugby hype. This place especially is bizarre when it comes to selections.
Imagine if we had a selection panel on here? We'd have about 20 changes every test.
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@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2023:
@Steve said in All Blacks 2023:
@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2023:
@Mr-Fish Not bad.
I don't think Lio-Willie will make it and I'll be a little bit surprised (but not amazed) if Jacobson does.
I reckon they might do something like name Lord as injury cover for Whitelock, which would allow an extra loose forward - Akira, Blackadder and Sotutu.
Goodhue for Heem.
I seen Goodhue chasing a kick ahead in the semi final and it was like watching a bloke run in porridge.
The Goodhue/ALB combo from 2019 still gives me nightmares. So vanilla.
Be nice if he had a bit more pace - but, he's got a midfielder's brain.
ESPN tackles stats from Friday.
Jack made 25 missed 2.
Bryce made 7 missed 4.
Fair point.
I feel like with him and ALB they won't lose us the World Cup, but they won't win it for us either......
And this one will take some winning.
@Steve I'm not too worried about a bit of a lack of flair in Jack or ALB - we've got no shortage of guys who can bust a game open around them. I like having a rock in the midfield - an ace defender with nice hands and plenty of brains will be helpful.
Pretty sure Jordie and Rieko will be the starting midfielders, Havili to come back - and we'll only take four to the Cup.
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@Steve I'm not too worried about a bit of a lack of flair in Jack or ALB - we've got no shortage of guys who can bust a game open around them. I like having a rock in the midfield - an ace defender with nice hands and plenty of brains will be helpful.
Pretty sure Jordie and Rieko will be the starting midfielders, Havili to come back - and we'll only take four to the Cup.
@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2023:
@Steve I'm not too worried about a bit of a lack of flair in Jack or ALB - we've got no shortage of guys who can bust a game open around them. I like having a rock in the midfield - an ace defender with nice hands and plenty of brains will be helpful.
Pretty sure Jordie and Rieko will be the starting midfielders, Havili to come back - and we'll only take four to the Cup.
Agree. To borrow a basketball term we need a role player. Someone whois happy to do his core role and allow others around him to shine. ALB and Goodhue do this.
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@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2023:
@Steve I'm not too worried about a bit of a lack of flair in Jack or ALB - we've got no shortage of guys who can bust a game open around them. I like having a rock in the midfield - an ace defender with nice hands and plenty of brains will be helpful.
Pretty sure Jordie and Rieko will be the starting midfielders, Havili to come back - and we'll only take four to the Cup.
Agree. To borrow a basketball term we need a role player. Someone whois happy to do his core role and allow others around him to shine. ALB and Goodhue do this.
@Crazy-Horse said in All Blacks 2023:
@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2023:
@Steve I'm not too worried about a bit of a lack of flair in Jack or ALB - we've got no shortage of guys who can bust a game open around them. I like having a rock in the midfield - an ace defender with nice hands and plenty of brains will be helpful.
Pretty sure Jordie and Rieko will be the starting midfielders, Havili to come back - and we'll only take four to the Cup.
Agree. To borrow a basketball term we need a role player. Someone whois happy to do his core role and allow others around him to shine. ALB and Goodhue do this.
Finally, Reuben Thorne makes sense.
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Starting point ought to be 35 named for 2022 Northern Tour.
Comments in each position. My selections in bold, including a bolter.
Hookers
Dane Coles (35, Hurricanes / Wellington, 84)
Samisoni Taukei’aho (25, Chiefs / Waikato, 17)
Codie Taylor (31, Crusaders / Canterbury, 72)
Unchanged.
Props
George Bower (30, Crusaders / Otago, 19)
Ethan de Groot (24, Highlanders / Southland, 10)
Nepo Laulala (31, Blues / Counties Manukau, 42)
Tyrel Lomax (26, Hurricanes / Ta$man, 20)
Fletcher Newell (22, Crusaders / Canterbury, 4)
Ofa Tu’ungafasi (30, Blues / Northland, 48)
Moody, Newell & Bower injured. I’d like to see a TH and a LH/utility. Williams as the latter seems likely, although Ross has been very good in play offs. For TH could Ainsley, Jager or even Ma’u or Dyer be worth a shot?
Locks
Scott Barrett (28, Crusaders / Taranaki, 55)
Brodie Retallick (31, Chiefs / Hawke’s Bay, 98)
Tupou Vaa’i (22, Chiefs / Taranaki, 15)
Samuel Whitelock (33, Crusaders / Canterbury, 140)
Unchanged.
Loose Forwards
Sam Cane – Captain (30, Chiefs / Bay of Plenty, 85)
Shannon Frizell (28, Highlanders / Ta$man, 21)
Akira Ioane (27, Blues / Auckland, 19)
Dalton Papali’i (24, Blues / Counties Manukau, 18)
Ardie Savea (28, Hurricanes / Wellington, 67)
Hoskins Sotutu (24, Blues / Counties Manukau, 12)
No one out. Huge competition. Not sure Jacobson, Finau or Blackadder have done enough to force their way in ahead of Sotutu or Akira.
Backs:
Halfbacks
Finlay Christie (27, Blues / Ta$man, 12)
Folau Fakatava (22, Highlanders / Hawke’s Bay, 2)
Aaron Smith (33, Highlanders / Manawatu, 111)
Fakatava playing without ACLs! I’d instead be inclined to give Roigard a shot.
First five-eighths
Beauden Barrett (31, Blues / Taranaki, 109)
Richie Mo’unga (28, Crusaders / Canterbury, 41)
Stephen Perofeta (25, Blues / Taranaki, 1)
DMac can’t be left out and BB looks a lock, so even though I really like Perofeta, expect him to miss out.
Midfielders
Braydon Ennor (25, Crusaders / Canterbury, 5)
David Havili (27, Crusaders / Ta$man, 21)
Rieko Ioane (25, Blues / Auckland, 56)
Anton Lienert-Brown (27, Chiefs / Waikato, 56)
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (29, Blues / Auckland, 2)
RTS is off the pace and Havili out. I’d be inclined to try Aumua in place of the former and Goodhue for the latter. Or one of these and select Jordie as a midfielder. Heem and Proctor outside shots.
Outside backs
Jordie Barrett (25, Hurricanes / Taranaki, 45)
Caleb Clarke (23, Blues / Auckland, 11)
Leicester Fainga’anuku (22, Crusaders / Ta$man, 2)
Will Jordan (24, Crusaders / Ta$man, 21)
Sevu Reece (25, Crusaders / Ta$man, 21)
Shaun Stevenson is a cert for no. 36. Telea in for Reece. On form case for bringing in Narawa for Clarke. -
@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2023:
@Steve I'm not too worried about a bit of a lack of flair in Jack or ALB - we've got no shortage of guys who can bust a game open around them. I like having a rock in the midfield - an ace defender with nice hands and plenty of brains will be helpful.
Pretty sure Jordie and Rieko will be the starting midfielders, Havili to come back - and we'll only take four to the Cup.
Agree. To borrow a basketball term we need a role player. Someone whois happy to do his core role and allow others around him to shine. ALB and Goodhue do this.
@Crazy-Horse said in All Blacks 2023:
@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2023:
@Steve I'm not too worried about a bit of a lack of flair in Jack or ALB - we've got no shortage of guys who can bust a game open around them. I like having a rock in the midfield - an ace defender with nice hands and plenty of brains will be helpful.
Pretty sure Jordie and Rieko will be the starting midfielders, Havili to come back - and we'll only take four to the Cup.
Agree. To borrow a basketball term we need a role player. Someone whois happy to do his core role and allow others around him to shine. ALB and Goodhue do this.
Or in music terms a Phil/Cliff/Malcolm type who does their job so Angus and Bon ( later on Brian ) can shine.
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@pakman good post
Feel I'm nitpicking but I think Weber makes it in front of Christie and Roigard, and then its a matter of incumbent or in form rookie...
