All Blacks XV 2023
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The 30-strong All Blacks XV squad is as follows (age, Super Rugby club, province):
Forwards:
Props
Jermaine Ainsley (28, Highlanders, Otago)
Oli Jager (27, Crusaders, Canterbury)
Tevita Mafileo (25, Hurricanes, Bay of Plenty)
Xavier Numia (24, Hurricanes, Wellington)
Aidan Ross (27, Chiefs, Bay of Plenty)Hookers
Asafo Aumua (26, Hurricanes, Wellington)
Ricky Riccitelli (28, Blues, Taranaki)
Tyrone Thompson (23, Chiefs, Wellington)Locks
Naitoa Ah Kuoi (23, Chiefs, Bay of Plenty)
Quinten Strange (26, Crusaders, Ta$man)
Isaia Walker-Leawere (26, Hurricanes, Hawke’s Bay)Loose Forwards
Billy Harmon (28, Highlanders, Canterbury)
Akira Ioane (28, Blues, Auckland)
Du’Plessis Kirifi (26, Hurricanes, Wellington)
Christian Lio-Willie (24, Crusaders, Otago)
Pita Gus Sowakula (28, Chiefs, Taranaki)
Cameron Suafoa (27, Blues, North Harbour)Backs:
Halfbacks
Folau Fakatava (23, Highlanders, Hawke’s Bay)
Brad Weber (32, Chiefs, Hawke’s Bay)First-five-eighths
Brett Cameron (26, Hurricanes, Manawatū)
Stephen Perofeta (26, Blues, Taranaki)Midfielders
Jack Goodhue (27, Crusaders, Northland)
Alex Nankivell (26, Chiefs, Ta$man)
Billy Proctor (24, Hurricanes, Wellington)
Bailyn Sullivan (24, Hurricanes, Waikato)Outside Backs
Sam Gilbert (24, Highlanders, Otago)
AJ Lam (24, Blues, Auckland)
Ruben Love (22, Hurricanes, Wellington)
Etene Nanai-Seturo (23, Chiefs, Counties Manukau)
Jona Nareki (25, Highlanders, Otago)The All Blacks XV assemble on 29 June, travelling to Tokyo where they compete for the 2023 Lipovitan-D Challenge Cup kicking off Saturday 8 July, at Tokyo’s historic Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium in Tokyo before a second match on Saturday, July 15 at Egao Kenko Stadium in Kumamoto.
https://www.allblacks.com/news/all-blacks-xv-squad-named-for-japan-tour/
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Interesting that means Leon doesn't have much to do with the abs until half way through RC
@Machpants said in All Blacks XV:
Interesting that means Leon doesn't have much to do with the abs until half way through RC
Suspect he won't have much to do with the All Blacks until next year...
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How the fuck does Sowakula make that team? He’s going going gone but must be closer than Sotutu to going to the WC.
When Sotutu signs overseas, this will be why.
What a massive fuck you this non-selection is.
@gt12 said in All Blacks XV:
How the fuck does Sowakula make that team? He’s going going gone but must be closer than Sotutu to going to the WC.
When Sotutu signs overseas, this will be why.
What a massive fuck you this non-selection is.
I prefer Sotutu. I can see why they might not rate him for the ABs this year but he just has so many skills (like distribution) I still think he'd blossom under the right coaching.
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How the fuck does Sowakula make that team? He’s going going gone but must be closer than Sotutu to going to the WC.
When Sotutu signs overseas, this will be why.
What a massive fuck you this non-selection is.
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@gt12 Throughout most of the campaign he'd really shown he can tighten up his game and be effective too. Another puzzling selection when you can see he'd offer at least as much as Frizzel.
I'd actually have gone Frizzel or Robinson over Strange.
@Bones said in All Blacks XV:
I'd actually have gone Frizzel or Robinson over Strange.
Tom Robinson is a very entertaining player to watch and I love his energy, but maybe being a 6/lock with injury issues didn't help him nail down a clear USP for either.
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@Bones said in All Blacks XV:
I'd actually have gone Frizzel or Robinson over Strange.
Tom Robinson is a very entertaining player to watch and I love his energy, but maybe being a 6/lock with injury issues didn't help him nail down a clear USP for either.
@nostrildamus He was very good in the QF not so effective (much like the entire team) in the semi.
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@Machpants said in All Blacks XV:
Interesting that means Leon doesn't have much to do with the abs until half way through RC
Suspect he won't have much to do with the All Blacks until next year...
@Mr-Fish said in All Blacks XV:
@Machpants said in All Blacks XV:
Interesting that means Leon doesn't have much to do with the abs until half way through RC
Suspect he won't have much to do with the All Blacks until next year...
I don't think he should be involved at all going forward.........not for me.
His teams look headless.
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On the Aumuas....
Asafo has been a tornado for the Canes, and it irks me and must be annoying for him that he has to bide his time until Coles stands down/retires. But surely if he maintains his form he would take that third hooker spot.
Fo Levi, once he gets to the Crusaders and nails down a starting berth, hopefully he will come into the reckoning for Razor in 24. Ok, it doesn't help him this year, but he just needs to maintain focus. -
@Bones said in All Blacks XV:
I'd actually have gone Frizzel or Robinson over Strange.
Tom Robinson is a very entertaining player to watch and I love his energy, but maybe being a 6/lock with injury issues didn't help him nail down a clear USP for either.
@nostrildamus said in All Blacks XV:
@Bones said in All Blacks XV:
I'd actually have gone Frizzel or Robinson over Strange.
Tom Robinson is a very entertaining player to watch and I love his energy, but maybe being a 6/lock with injury issues didn't help him nail down a clear USP for either.
Both tend to play better at lock, oddly.
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No Josh Dickson. Is he off overseas?
@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks XV:
No Josh Dickson. Is he off overseas?
Has he played since his brother passed away?
Given that Dickson was in this squad last year, maybe he is taking an extended break from rugby.
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The 30-strong All Blacks XV squad is as follows (age, Super Rugby club, province):
Forwards:
Props
Jermaine Ainsley (28, Highlanders, Otago)
Oli Jager (27, Crusaders, Canterbury)
Tevita Mafileo (25, Hurricanes, Bay of Plenty)
Xavier Numia (24, Hurricanes, Wellington)
Aidan Ross (27, Chiefs, Bay of Plenty)Hookers
Asafo Aumua (26, Hurricanes, Wellington)
Ricky Riccitelli (28, Blues, Taranaki)
Tyrone Thompson (23, Chiefs, Wellington)Locks
Naitoa Ah Kuoi (23, Chiefs, Bay of Plenty)
Quinten Strange (26, Crusaders, Ta$man)
Isaia Walker-Leawere (26, Hurricanes, Hawke’s Bay)Loose Forwards
Billy Harmon (28, Highlanders, Canterbury)
Akira Ioane (28, Blues, Auckland)
Du’Plessis Kirifi (26, Hurricanes, Wellington)
Christian Lio-Willie (24, Crusaders, Otago)
Pita Gus Sowakula (28, Chiefs, Taranaki)
Cameron Suafoa (27, Blues, North Harbour)Backs:
Halfbacks
Folau Fakatava (23, Highlanders, Hawke’s Bay)
Brad Weber (32, Chiefs, Hawke’s Bay)First-five-eighths
Brett Cameron (26, Hurricanes, Manawatū)
Stephen Perofeta (26, Blues, Taranaki)Midfielders
Jack Goodhue (27, Crusaders, Northland)
Alex Nankivell (26, Chiefs, Ta$man)
Billy Proctor (24, Hurricanes, Wellington)
Bailyn Sullivan (24, Hurricanes, Waikato)Outside Backs
Sam Gilbert (24, Highlanders, Otago)
AJ Lam (24, Blues, Auckland)
Ruben Love (22, Hurricanes, Wellington)
Etene Nanai-Seturo (23, Chiefs, Counties Manukau)
Jona Nareki (25, Highlanders, Otago)The All Blacks XV assemble on 29 June, travelling to Tokyo where they compete for the 2023 Lipovitan-D Challenge Cup kicking off Saturday 8 July, at Tokyo’s historic Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium in Tokyo before a second match on Saturday, July 15 at Egao Kenko Stadium in Kumamoto.
https://www.allblacks.com/news/all-blacks-xv-squad-named-for-japan-tour/
@Stargazer said in All Blacks XV:
Hookers
Tyrone Thompson (23, Chiefs, Wellington)Have I been asleep and missed something, when did this happen?
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How the fuck does Sowakula make that team? He’s going going gone but must be closer than Sotutu to going to the WC.
When Sotutu signs overseas, this will be why.
What a massive fuck you this non-selection is.
@gt12 for me, Sotutu has probably the best skill set of our loosies, and works hard on defence, sure this year he hasnt been at the top of his game, but jeez, he has fallen far, while others who have plodded along have stayed in the frame.
Guess the only small window, is that this is TRC Squad, but you'd think it'd be hard for anyone outside the 36 and the ABXV to make it into the 32/33 for the RWC.
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Surprised that Dom Gardiner hasn't made the AB XV. Wasn't a fan of his initially but he impressed against Ireland A last year and was looking in good form in SR before he got injured.
@akan004 said in All Blacks XV:
Surprised that Dom Gardiner hasn't made the AB XV. Wasn't a fan of his initially but he impressed against Ireland A last year and was looking in good form in SR before he got injured.
Agree he was impressive last year and he made a good enough fist of things when he filled in at lock for the Saders this year, but I thought he let himself down a fair bit when he got a few games in a row at six. He seemed to fall out of favour (I don't think he was injured again) with Roberston selecting Lio-Willie and Havili Talitui instead (two hard working but limited players).
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@gt12 for me, Sotutu has probably the best skill set of our loosies, and works hard on defence, sure this year he hasnt been at the top of his game, but jeez, he has fallen far, while others who have plodded along have stayed in the frame.
Guess the only small window, is that this is TRC Squad, but you'd think it'd be hard for anyone outside the 36 and the ABXV to make it into the 32/33 for the RWC.
@taniwharugby said in All Blacks XV:
@gt12 for me, Sotutu has probably the best skill set of our loosies, and works hard on defence, sure this year he hasnt been at the top of his game, but jeez, he has fallen far, while others who have plodded along have stayed in the frame.
Guess the only small window, is that this is TRC Squad, but you'd think it'd be hard for anyone outside the 36 and the ABXV to make it into the 32/33 for the RWC.
I don’t think the AB rest period thing helped him stay in form.
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@akan004 said in All Blacks XV:
Surprised that Dom Gardiner hasn't made the AB XV. Wasn't a fan of his initially but he impressed against Ireland A last year and was looking in good form in SR before he got injured.
Agree he was impressive last year and he made a good enough fist of things when he filled in at lock for the Saders this year, but I thought he let himself down a fair bit when he got a few games in a row at six. He seemed to fall out of favour (I don't think he was injured again) with Roberston selecting Lio-Willie and Havili Talitui instead (two hard working but limited players).
@Crazy-Horse said in All Blacks XV:
@akan004 said in All Blacks XV:
Surprised that Dom Gardiner hasn't made the AB XV. Wasn't a fan of his initially but he impressed against Ireland A last year and was looking in good form in SR before he got injured.
Agree he was impressive last year and he made a good enough fist of things when he filled in at lock for the Saders this year, but I thought he let himself down a fair bit when he got a few games in a row at six. He seemed to fall out of favour (I don't think he was injured again) with Roberston selecting Lio-Willie and Havili Talitui instead (two hard working but limited players).
Nah he got injured and only made his return last weekend.