All Blacks 2024

[Bovidae]

@ruggabee said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:

I've been calling for McMillan to start Daniel Rona at 11 over Nanai-Seturo since last year

ENS is an important player for the Chiefs and his left boot is used often for exit plays. We hadn't seen Rona used as a winger until this season so how he would go was an unknown.

[KiwiMurph]

Sounds like there is some hope Finau's injury may not be as bad as feared

From Clayton McMillian

“It sounds like it’s going to be OK but probably we will err on the side of caution and rule him out for this week.

“He took a pretty hard bang there and it looked pretty nasty. But [we think] it’s just a good old fashioned bang, not a dislocation, so I’m hoping that’s the case and it’s nothing long-term.”

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/350267419/samipeni-hitman-finau-injured-chiefs-wallop-force-super-rugby-pacific-match

[Frank]

I think Funaki's excellent play might mean he gets the 3rd AB halfback spot along with Perenara and Ratima.

[No Quarter]

The most concerning thing for me about Robertson wanting Havili at 10 is that he still seems to think Havili is a test quality player. He isn't, he never has been, and he has been ruthlessly exploited by the top teams time and again. There may be a steep learning curve for Robertson as he finds out his Super stars actually can't cut it a level up.

[KiwiMurph]

@Frank said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:

I think Funaki's excellent play might mean he gets the 3rd AB halfback spot along with Perenara and Ratima.

I can't see Razor picking two rookie 9s in his first test squad

Christie or Fakatava will be in the squad.

[Bovidae]

Fakatava is really an international rookie too. Less than 40 mins of test rugby so far. TJP, Christie and another I think.

[nzzp]

@No-Quarter said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:

He isn't, he never has been

Havili is, until he met the more physical sides. He was slick, but lacked the physicality.

For comparison, see Akira - MOTM in a few games, but struggled with SA

[Victor Meldrew]

@Bovidae said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:

Fakatava is really an international rookie too. Less than 40 mins of test rugby so far. TJP, Christie and another I think.

Toss up between Funaki and Ratima for me. Fakatava not back to his best yet.

[Victor Meldrew]

@No-Quarter said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:

There may be a steep learning curve for Robertson as he finds out his Super stars actually can't cut it a level up.

Which is why I think he'll be very conservative in his first few Tests. Good to see the AB coaching set-up and SR coaches working together though.

[gt12]

@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:

@Frank said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:

I think Funaki's excellent play might mean he gets the 3rd AB halfback spot along with Perenara and Ratima.

I can't see Razor picking two rookie 9s in his first test squad

Christie or Fakatava will be in the squad.

I'm taking odds on Drummond.

[antipodean]

@gt12 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:

@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:

@Frank said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:

I think Funaki's excellent play might mean he gets the 3rd AB halfback spot along with Perenara and Ratima.

I can't see Razor picking two rookie 9s in his first test squad

Christie or Fakatava will be in the squad.

I'm taking odds on Drummond.

[Victor Meldrew]

@gt12 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:

@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:

@Frank said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:

I think Funaki's excellent play might mean he gets the 3rd AB halfback spot along with Perenara and Ratima.

I can't see Razor picking two rookie 9s in his first test squad

Christie or Fakatava will be in the squad.

I'm taking odds on Drummond.

Could make sense. Robertson knows Drummond's capabilities better than anyone....

[MN5]

@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:

@gt12 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:

@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:

@Frank said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:

I think Funaki's excellent play might mean he gets the 3rd AB halfback spot along with Perenara and Ratima.

I can't see Razor picking two rookie 9s in his first test squad

Christie or Fakatava will be in the squad.

I'm taking odds on Drummond.

Could make sense. Robertson knows Drummond's capabilities better than anyone....

….and thats hopefully why he doesn’t pick him.

[Canes4life]

@Victor-Meldrew the only way Drummond will be an AB this year is if the 8 or so halfbacks in front of him get injured.

There is going to be a huge uproar if Razor picks an AB squad full of guys with limited 'capabilities'.

[African Monkey]

@Canes4life The reaction would be fun to watch though.

[Victor Meldrew]

@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:

@Victor-Meldrew
the only way Drummond will be an AB this year is if the 8 or so halfbacks in front of him get injured.

Well, I was being ironic.....

There is going to be a huge uproar if Razor picks an AB squad full of guys with limited 'capabilities'.

.....Imagine a Drummond/Havili axis.....

[mariner4life]

I want us to take a few fucking risks for once. At the selection table and on the field too

[Victor Meldrew]

@mariner4life

Feet under the table first few Tests, then absolutely.

[Bones]

@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:

I want us to take a few fucking risks for once. At the selection table and on the field too

Yeah, if guys like Proctor, Ratima, Finau, any other lock than Vaai are ignored for "known quantities" that will be shithouse.

[gt12]

@African-Monkey said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:

@Canes4life The reaction would be fun to watch though.

It’s fun now.