Name Your AB Team

[Frank]

@Kirwan said in Name Your AB Team:

I think MT has been nursing an injury, as the last month he's been less effective.

Noticed that too.
The only time I have noticed him is when he tries to (mostly rather ineffectively) make meters from playing halfback at the ruck.

If it weren't for his previous experience, he would not have been picked based on this year's form.

[canefan]

I think Pat T squashed any questions about his toughness this week. Stamped his AB credentials with authority

[KiwiMurph]

I will be very interested in Razor's comments about the squad - hopefully he hints at players on the radar that will get a look in later in the year.

The one that I would have the most issues with is Havili. If you pick him as a 10 there are better options if you pick him as a 12 there are better options if you pick him as a 15 there are better options if you pick him as a utility there are better options.

[Frank]

@KiwiMurph said in Name Your AB Team:

I will be very interested in Razor's comments about the squad - hopefully he hints at players on the radar that will get a look in later in the year.

The one that I would have the most issues with is Havili. If you pick him as a 10 there are better options if you pick him as a 12 there are better options if you pick him as a 15 there are better options if you pick him as a utility there are better options.

Havili can play all three.
Perhaps they want him on the bench to free up space for other places.
I don't like it either.
Hopefully he is just an experienced placeholder for the 1st two tests and they cast their net wider once the Rugby Championship gets started.

[canefan]

@KiwiMurph said in Name Your AB Team:

I will be very interested in Razor's comments about the squad - hopefully he hints at players on the radar that will get a look in later in the year.

The one that I would have the most issues with is Havili. If you pick him as a 10 there are better options if you pick him as a 12 there are better options if you pick him as a 15 there are better options if you pick him as a utility there are better options.

I don't anyone can mount a credible justification for him. Other than "I'm a fanboi so he's in"

[Canes4life]

@Frank said in Name Your AB Team:

@KiwiMurph said in Name Your AB Team:

I will be very interested in Razor's comments about the squad - hopefully he hints at players on the radar that will get a look in later in the year.

The one that I would have the most issues with is Havili. If you pick him as a 10 there are better options if you pick him as a 12 there are better options if you pick him as a 15 there are better options if you pick him as a utility there are better options.

Havili can play all three.
Perhaps they want him on the bench to free up space for other places.
I don't like it either.
Hopefully he is just an experienced placeholder for the 1st two tests and they cast their net wider once the Rugby Championship gets started.

How big is the RC squad?

[Kirwan]

@KiwiMurph said in Name Your AB Team:

I will be very interested in Razor's comments about the squad - hopefully he hints at players on the radar that will get a look in later in the year.

The one that I would have the most issues with is Havili. If you pick him as a 10 there are better options if you pick him as a 12 there are better options if you pick him as a 15 there are better options if you pick him as a utility there are better options.

Same if they pick Bell or Strange, better options in better form, and better young prospects in form. You need to earn the AB jersey by playing well, not just be selected on potential (or the franchise you belong to).

[KiwiMurph]

@Canes4life said in Name Your AB Team:

@Frank said in Name Your AB Team:

@KiwiMurph said in Name Your AB Team:

I will be very interested in Razor's comments about the squad - hopefully he hints at players on the radar that will get a look in later in the year.

The one that I would have the most issues with is Havili. If you pick him as a 10 there are better options if you pick him as a 12 there are better options if you pick him as a 15 there are better options if you pick him as a utility there are better options.

Havili can play all three.
Perhaps they want him on the bench to free up space for other places.
I don't like it either.
Hopefully he is just an experienced placeholder for the 1st two tests and they cast their net wider once the Rugby Championship gets started.

How big is the RC squad?

36 I've heard

[Canes4life]

@Kirwan said in Name Your AB Team:

@KiwiMurph said in Name Your AB Team:

I will be very interested in Razor's comments about the squad - hopefully he hints at players on the radar that will get a look in later in the year.

The one that I would have the most issues with is Havili. If you pick him as a 10 there are better options if you pick him as a 12 there are better options if you pick him as a 15 there are better options if you pick him as a utility there are better options.

Same if they pick Bell or Strange, better options in better form, and better young prospects in form. You need to earn the AB jersey by playing well, not just be selected on potential (or the franchise you belong to).

Lol has Strange ever shown form?

[Frank]

I would be quite happy with Newell and Williams being picked.
Both are young and have high potential.
Newell is a very powerful scrummager and Williams is devastating close to the line.
Hard luck on Numia.

[Kirwan]

@Canes4life said in Name Your AB Team:

@Kirwan said in Name Your AB Team:

@KiwiMurph said in Name Your AB Team:

I will be very interested in Razor's comments about the squad - hopefully he hints at players on the radar that will get a look in later in the year.

The one that I would have the most issues with is Havili. If you pick him as a 10 there are better options if you pick him as a 12 there are better options if you pick him as a 15 there are better options if you pick him as a utility there are better options.

Same if they pick Bell or Strange, better options in better form, and better young prospects in form. You need to earn the AB jersey by playing well, not just be selected on potential (or the franchise you belong to).

Lol has Strange ever shown form?

He's pretty great at throwing away games by not knowing the laws.

[canefan]

@Frank said in Name Your AB Team:

I would be quite happy with Newell and Williams being picked.
Both are young and have high potential.
Newell is a very powerful scrummager and Williams is devastating close to the line.
Hard luck on Numia.

Numia is hurt, and he's young. Has time on his side. But his upside looks huge

[Canes4life]

@canefan said in Name Your AB Team:

@Frank said in Name Your AB Team:

I would be quite happy with Newell and Williams being picked.
Both are young and have high potential.
Newell is a very powerful scrummager and Williams is devastating close to the line.
Hard luck on Numia.

Numia is hurt, and he's young. Has time on his side. But his upside looks huge

I feel Numia will get a shot this year, most likely end of year tour or if injuries strike. Absolutely gutted for him when he got injured. He was a beast around the park this year and was never beaten at scrum time.

[KiwiMurph]

Speaking of young props - Fusitua could be one to keep an eye on in a year or so. Good scrummager. Mobile. AB XV candidate perhaps

[canefan]

@Canes4life said in Name Your AB Team:

@canefan said in Name Your AB Team:

@Frank said in Name Your AB Team:

I would be quite happy with Newell and Williams being picked.
Both are young and have high potential.
Newell is a very powerful scrummager and Williams is devastating close to the line.
Hard luck on Numia.

Numia is hurt, and he's young. Has time on his side. But his upside looks huge

I feel Numia will get a shot this year, most likely end of year tour or if injuries strike. Absolutely gutted for him when he got injured. He was a beast around the park this year and was never beaten at scrum time.

Our scrum was immense. Left a lot of opposition packs broken. That is not something you often say about Hurricanes packs

[Canes4life]

@canefan said in Name Your AB Team:

@Canes4life said in Name Your AB Team:

@canefan said in Name Your AB Team:

@Frank said in Name Your AB Team:

I would be quite happy with Newell and Williams being picked.
Both are young and have high potential.
Newell is a very powerful scrummager and Williams is devastating close to the line.
Hard luck on Numia.

Numia is hurt, and he's young. Has time on his side. But his upside looks huge

I feel Numia will get a shot this year, most likely end of year tour or if injuries strike. Absolutely gutted for him when he got injured. He was a beast around the park this year and was never beaten at scrum time.

Our scrum was immense. Left a lot of opposition packs broken. That is not something you often say about Hurricanes packs

100%. Let's hope we get that pack humming at the right end of the season next year. Getting Gallagher is huge aswell, will add to the engine room.

[canefan]

@Canes4life said in Name Your AB Team:

@canefan said in Name Your AB Team:

@Canes4life said in Name Your AB Team:

@canefan said in Name Your AB Team:

@Frank said in Name Your AB Team:

I would be quite happy with Newell and Williams being picked.
Both are young and have high potential.
Newell is a very powerful scrummager and Williams is devastating close to the line.
Hard luck on Numia.

Numia is hurt, and he's young. Has time on his side. But his upside looks huge

I feel Numia will get a shot this year, most likely end of year tour or if injuries strike. Absolutely gutted for him when he got injured. He was a beast around the park this year and was never beaten at scrum time.

Our scrum was immense. Left a lot of opposition packs broken. That is not something you often say about Hurricanes packs

100%. Let's hope we get that pack humming at the right end of the season next year. Getting Gallagher is huge aswell, will add to the engine room.

Injuries killed us. But our fozz blacks game plan in the SF was a self inflicted wound that we must learn from

[Canes4life]

The AB team I want to see tomorrow is as follows (excluding injured players). In brackets are players I think will be picked by Razor based on the chat.

Props
Lomax
Newell
Tu'ungafasi
Williams
De Groot

Hookers:
Taylor
Aumua
Riccitelli (Bell)

Locks:
Darry (Vaa'i)
Barrett
Tuipolotu
Walker-Leawere (Strange)

Loose forwards:
Papali'i
Sotutu (Sititi)
Lakai (Cane)
Savea
Finau
Blackadder

Halfbacks:
Perenara
Ratima
Christie

First Fives:
McKenzie
Plummer

Centres:
Proctor (Havili)
Ioane
Barrett
ALB

Outside backs:
Clarke
Reece
Telea
Love (Barrett)
Narawa

[canefan]

I could live with that list, minus the bracketed players!

[Chris B.]

If Chchfanatic is right and Scott and Ardie are going to be co-captains, I think I like that. Makes some sense to share the load in this day and age.

I think another interesting thing where Razor's experience might be in play is that he's not naming his team until Monday night. Gives the winners an opportunity to celebrate (and the losers to decompress) without having to worry about leaping on a plane to Christchurch at 9am on Sunday morning. Temptation would have been to rush everyone into camp. Hope it doesn't backfire!

Incidentally, congratulations to the Blues.