All Blacks 2024
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@MajorRage Ardie overlooked for the captaincy, albeit for a very good candidate in Scott Barrett
Akira Ioane, nowhere to be seen, although he's signed to go to Japan.
Hoskins Sotutu not included, but given some encouraging comments by the Head Coach.
We might not like it, but questions will be asked if there's a pattern here?
@sparky said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@MajorRage Ardie overlooked for the captaincy, albeit for a very good candidate in Scott Barrett
Akira Ioane, nowhere to be seen, although he's signed to go to Japan.
Hoskins Sotutu not included, but given some encouraging comments by the Head Coach.
We might not like it, but questions will be asked if there's a pattern here?
The irony here. Sotutu misses out to Sititi. Ioane misses out to Finau.
The Barrett as captain has nothing to do with racism, and everything to do with being a trusted ally.
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Of the players, they've picked I'm most worried about Bell. Judging on his performances in Super Rugby this year, he ain't Test standard.
@sparky said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Of the players, they've picked I'm most worried about Bell. Judging on his performances in Super Rugby this year, he ain't Test standard.
Riccitelli and McAllister aren't either, so they've picked on potential.
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@sparky said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@MajorRage Ardie overlooked for the captaincy, albeit for a very good candidate in Scott Barrett
Akira Ioane, nowhere to be seen, although he's signed to go to Japan.
Hoskins Sotutu not included, but given some encouraging comments by the Head Coach.
We might not like it, but questions will be asked if there's a pattern here?
The irony here. Sotutu misses out to Sititi. Ioane misses out to Finau.
The Barrett as captain has nothing to do with racism, and everything to do with being a trusted ally.
@frugby said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@sparky said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@MajorRage Ardie overlooked for the captaincy, albeit for a very good candidate in Scott Barrett
Akira Ioane, nowhere to be seen, although he's signed to go to Japan.
Hoskins Sotutu not included, but given some encouraging comments by the Head Coach.
We might not like it, but questions will be asked if there's a pattern here?
The irony here. Sotutu misses out to Sititi. Ioane misses out to Finau.
The Barrett as captain has nothing to do with racism, and everything to do with being a trusted ally.
Yeah, but it can and it will be spun differently.
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@sparky said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@MajorRage Ardie overlooked for the captaincy, albeit for a very good candidate in Scott Barrett
Akira Ioane, nowhere to be seen, although he's signed to go to Japan.
Hoskins Sotutu not included, but given some encouraging comments by the Head Coach.
We might not like it, but questions will be asked if there's a pattern here?
The irony here. Sotutu misses out to Sititi. Ioane misses out to Finau.
The Barrett as captain has nothing to do with racism, and everything to do with being a trusted ally.
@frugby said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@sparky said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@MajorRage Ardie overlooked for the captaincy, albeit for a very good candidate in Scott Barrett
Akira Ioane, nowhere to be seen, although he's signed to go to Japan.
Hoskins Sotutu not included, but given some encouraging comments by the Head Coach.
We might not like it, but questions will be asked if there's a pattern here?
The irony here. Sotutu misses out to Sititi. Ioane misses out to Finau.
The Barrett as captain has nothing to do with racism, and everything to do with being a trusted ally.
That’s not irony.
It’s why the hypothesis deserves disdain.
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There are five new All Blacks in the squad. Which one do you think will end up with the most Test caps?
George Bell
Pasilio Tosi
Wallace Sititi
Cortez Ratima
Billy Proctor@sparky said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
There are five new All Blacks in the squad. Which one do you think will end up with the most Test caps?
George Bell
Pasilio Tosi
Wallace Sititi
Cortez Ratima
Billy ProctorI think from that lot I would say Ratima. I think when Roigard comes back he'll be the impact halfback moving forward.
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@sparky said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
There are five new All Blacks in the squad. Which one do you think will end up with the most Test caps?
George Bell
Pasilio Tosi
Wallace Sititi
Cortez Ratima
Billy ProctorI think from that lot I would say Ratima. I think when Roigard comes back he'll be the impact halfback moving forward.
@Canes4life I agree, I'm really excited about the competition between Ratima and Roigard to become the first-choice half back.
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Cool video with him too
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A journo looks at the stats and attempts to figure out the Sotutu omission
EDIT: and ignore the click bait headline (headline editors are fluffybunnies) it is a bit more thoughtful than SOTUTU SHIT AT THIS ZOMFG
@Machpants said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
A journo looks at the stats and attempts to figure out the Sotutu omission
EDIT: and ignore the click bait headline (headline editors are fluffybunnies) it is a bit more thoughtful than SOTUTU SHIT AT THIS ZOMFG
Lies, damn lies and statistics. Let's delve a little deeper into them.
M/C Rank Name Start? 26.0 1 Sititi Bench 12.8 2 Sotutu Start 12.0 3 Sotutu Start 8.5 4 Sotutu Bench 7.8 5 Sititi Start 7.4 6 Sotutu Start 7.0 7 Sititi Bench 5.6 8 Sotutu Start 5.3 9 Sititi Bench 4.8 10 Sotutu Start 4.2 11 Sotutu Start 3.9 12 Sotutu Start 3.4 13 Sititi Start 3.2 14 Sotutu Start 3.2 15 Sititi Start 3.2 15 Sititi Start 2.9 17 Sotutu Start 2.8 18 Sotutu Start 2.7 19 Sotutu Start 2.4 20 Sititi Start 2.3 21 Sititi Start 1.9 22 Sotutu Start 1.3 23 Sititi Start 1.0 24 Sititi Bench That suggests an outlier from the bench pumps up the carries metric.
Perhaps another way to look at it is rank their individual efforts and contrast them:
M/C Name M/C Name Compared 26.0 Sititi 12.8 Sotutu Sititi 7.8 Sititi 12.0 Sotutu Sotutu 7.0 Sititi 8.5 Sotutu Sotutu 5.3 Sititi 7.4 Sotutu Sotutu 3.4 Sititi 5.6 Sotutu Sotutu 3.2 Sititi 4.8 Sotutu Sotutu 3.2 Sititi 4.2 Sotutu Sotutu 2.4 Sititi 3.9 Sotutu Sotutu 2.3 Sititi 3.2 Sotutu Sotutu 1.3 Sititi 2.9 Sotutu Sotutu 1.0 Sititi 2.8 Sotutu Sotutu 2.7 Sotutu 1.9 Sotutu It's correct to point out Sotutu is penalised more, but as a coach you have to ask if that's decision making or technique etc. And then ask yourself if someone appears coachable. Why are they giving out penalties - are they brain snaps or contests where the ref makes a judgement call?
IMO they've made a grave error not selecting Sotutu and Ioane, because they're doing the work on both sides of the ball that permit their team to dominate other forward packs.
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@taniwharugby He's like Carl Hayman but in reverse.
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@MajorRage Ardie overlooked for the captaincy, albeit for a very good candidate in Scott Barrett
Akira Ioane, nowhere to be seen, although he's signed to go to Japan.
Hoskins Sotutu not included, but given some encouraging comments by the Head Coach.
We might not like it, but questions will be asked if there's a pattern here?
@sparky said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@MajorRage Ardie overlooked for the captaincy, albeit for a very good candidate in Scott Barrett
Akira Ioane, nowhere to be seen, although he's signed to go to Japan.
Hoskins Sotutu not included, but given some encouraging comments by the Head Coach.
We might not like it, but questions will be asked if there's a pattern here?
Oh, cripes. American society's mental disease has finally entered the conversation. Go bash your head against a wall.
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@frugby said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@sparky said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@MajorRage Ardie overlooked for the captaincy, albeit for a very good candidate in Scott Barrett
Akira Ioane, nowhere to be seen, although he's signed to go to Japan.
Hoskins Sotutu not included, but given some encouraging comments by the Head Coach.
We might not like it, but questions will be asked if there's a pattern here?
The irony here. Sotutu misses out to Sititi. Ioane misses out to Finau.
The Barrett as captain has nothing to do with racism, and everything to do with being a trusted ally.
Yeah, but it can and it will be spun differently.
@sparky said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@frugby said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@sparky said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@MajorRage Ardie overlooked for the captaincy, albeit for a very good candidate in Scott Barrett
Akira Ioane, nowhere to be seen, although he's signed to go to Japan.
Hoskins Sotutu not included, but given some encouraging comments by the Head Coach.
We might not like it, but questions will be asked if there's a pattern here?
The irony here. Sotutu misses out to Sititi. Ioane misses out to Finau.
The Barrett as captain has nothing to do with racism, and everything to do with being a trusted ally.
Yeah, but it can and it will be spun differently.
By who? Anything can be spun differently , with whover is selected.
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The Times is reporting that "snubbed" Hoskins Sotutu could switch allegiances in 2025 and be playing for England in the future. (Paywall)
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@Bovidae said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
If Brodie McAlister was fit, does Bell even make the Crusaders 23? He has certainly been fortunate due to injuries to other hookers.
McAllister is back fit from what I've heard, Bell preferred.
Just to throw my two cents in on Riccitelli, what is the point in picking a 29 year old journeyman to be your number three hooker? Granted, I've heard Taukei'aho has done his achilles, so it really depends how badly, so he could be out for the year.
Did Riccitelli play well for the Blues? Yes. Is Riccitelli a good player? Yes. Is he ever going to be a test hooker? No. He's another Parsons. If we get an injury, he can always be called into the squad, but I'm quite happy for them to develop a younger third hooker, especially when in theory at this moment he really only is a placeholder.
Was his lineout throwing perfect? Of course it wasn't, but the other hookers the Crusaders used were hardly any better... it only improved right at the end of the year when they changed their locks. For those floors, Bell clearly has a bigger frame, and has the potential to grow into being an All Black hooker.
His defence was quite a lot stronger... (Aumua & Taukei'aho added for context)
@frugby said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Bovidae said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
If Brodie McAlister was fit, does Bell even make the Crusaders 23? He has certainly been fortunate due to injuries to other hookers.
McAllister is back fit from what I've heard, Bell preferred.
Just to throw my two cents in on Riccitelli, what is the point in picking a 29 year old journeyman to be your number three hooker? Granted, I've heard Taukei'aho has done his achilles, so it really depends how badly, so he could be out for the year.
Did Riccitelli play well for the Blues? Yes. Is Riccitelli a good player? Yes. Is he ever going to be a test hooker? No. He's another Parsons. If we get an injury, he can always be called into the squad, but I'm quite happy for them to develop a younger third hooker, especially when in theory at this moment he really only is a placeholder.
Was his lineout throwing perfect? Of course it wasn't, but the other hookers the Crusaders used were hardly any better... it only improved right at the end of the year when they changed their locks. For those floors, Bell clearly has a bigger frame, and has the potential to grow into being an All Black hooker.
His defence was quite a lot stronger... (Aumua & Taukei'aho added for context)
what is the definition of a dominant tackle? No go-forward in contact?
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Well, that's a shit squad with no clear direction. Admittedly it's still an AB squad and nearly 3/4 of them pick themselves, so it isn't like we're going to be beaten by all and sundry, but it is a pretty disappointing start.
Bell. If you want to include a young guy who is nowhere near good enough now but you think is going to be a star, then bring him in but don't name him in the squad, name Riccitelli. That is better for both parties, and better for all players in NZ who see selection being made on merit. It's just shit man management to do what they've done, and if a hooker goes down and Bell has to throw pressure lineouts in a close game then what?
Do the same 'development player' with Sititi, and pick Sotutu, who has done more than enough.
Hell, do the same with Tosi.
And, pick a fucken fourth lock. IWL and Darry have both played better than Vaai, and while I'd love to see it happen, I've yet to see big Pat step it up at international level. We are thin there, and selections making it thinner.
Perofeta hasn't done enough. Nitpicking Sotutu's excellent performance and glossing over major inadequacies from Perofeta, Bell etc is again just showing double standards which is poor management.
Beauden Barrett is old and not as good as Plummer. McKenzie is light years ahead, but if he gets injured we are shot, and he's 29: we need to be developing another 10, not padding out BB's retirement.
What has happened to the AB legacy of world's best 7s. Jacobsen is Cane lite, and a penalty magnet. Dalton is the same player, just a tackler. A very good one sure, but he's hardly going to provoke fear in any tier 1 opposition. It's like Robertson wants more Robertsons / Reuben Thornes in the team. Clean slate, could have moved Ardie back to 7 and fixed the loosie balance problems we've been seeing throughout the previous tenure.
Ah, that feels better. -
D Duluth forked this topic on
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Yeah on Sotutu, to leave him put altogether suggests that they don't like him. Sure, they may think he has a few flaws in his game, but if they really wanted him, wouldn't they work on trying to iron those out whilst having him in the environment? He doesn't need to be playing down in the NPC, He's way too good for that level and will gain nothing from beating up a bunch of semi pros from Manawatu, Canterbury, Northland etc. so yeah, to me, they clearly don't like the guy, unless they want him to take out his anger out by playing for the AB XV first before calling him up later?
Either way, he should be in the squad, even if he isn't currently in their starting 23.
@African-Monkey Hoskins would be in the squad if Rangi went in to bat for him. Rangi has not gone in to bat for Hoskins. Hoskins is not in the squad.
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What idiot thought putting Kirsty Stanway front and centre of so much of Sky Rugby coverage is a good idea?
Her voice makes me want to cut my ears off and her knowledge is awful.
@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
What idiot thought putting Kirsty Stanway front and centre of so much of Sky Rugby coverage is a good idea?
Her voice makes me want to cut my ears off and her knowledge is awful.
I wouldn't mind her so much, except she seems to be almost yelling all the time.
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@sparky said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@MajorRage Ardie overlooked for the captaincy, albeit for a very good candidate in Scott Barrett
Akira Ioane, nowhere to be seen, although he's signed to go to Japan.
Hoskins Sotutu not included, but given some encouraging comments by the Head Coach.
We might not like it, but questions will be asked if there's a pattern here?
The irony here. Sotutu misses out to Sititi. Ioane misses out to Finau.
The Barrett as captain has nothing to do with racism, and everything to do with being a trusted ally.
@frugby said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@sparky said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@MajorRage Ardie overlooked for the captaincy, albeit for a very good candidate in Scott Barrett
Akira Ioane, nowhere to be seen, although he's signed to go to Japan.
Hoskins Sotutu not included, but given some encouraging comments by the Head Coach.
We might not like it, but questions will be asked if there's a pattern here?
The irony here. Sotutu misses out to Sititi. Ioane misses out to Finau.
The Barrett as captain has nothing to do with racism, and everything to do with being a trusted ally.
No, I think Akira has missed out to Blackadder given they already have Dalts and Jacobson for the number 7 position. And it looks like that was always destined to happen, Akira was going to play second fiddle to Blackadder whom appears to be rated God like by this group of coaches even if he never plays. He must absolutely train the house down in between injuries.
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@frugby said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Bovidae said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
If Brodie McAlister was fit, does Bell even make the Crusaders 23? He has certainly been fortunate due to injuries to other hookers.
McAllister is back fit from what I've heard, Bell preferred.
Just to throw my two cents in on Riccitelli, what is the point in picking a 29 year old journeyman to be your number three hooker? Granted, I've heard Taukei'aho has done his achilles, so it really depends how badly, so he could be out for the year.
Did Riccitelli play well for the Blues? Yes. Is Riccitelli a good player? Yes. Is he ever going to be a test hooker? No. He's another Parsons. If we get an injury, he can always be called into the squad, but I'm quite happy for them to develop a younger third hooker, especially when in theory at this moment he really only is a placeholder.
Was his lineout throwing perfect? Of course it wasn't, but the other hookers the Crusaders used were hardly any better... it only improved right at the end of the year when they changed their locks. For those floors, Bell clearly has a bigger frame, and has the potential to grow into being an All Black hooker.
His defence was quite a lot stronger... (Aumua & Taukei'aho added for context)
what is the definition of a dominant tackle? No go-forward in contact?
@JayCee said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
what is the definition of a dominant tackle? No go-forward in contact?
It's subjective isn't it? That's why watching a game even with multiple camera angles and analysts editing footage is so important. Live you really get an appreciation of the impact because one tackle where you don't lose ground isn't as good as one where you smash them back a metre.
