All Blacks Squad for France

[antipodean]

@stargazer said in All Blacks Squad for France:

Loosies:
Sam Cane (vc), Vaea Fifita, Shannon Frizell (new), Ardie Savea, Liam Squire, Jordan Taufua (new), Luke Whitelock

I see a lot of upside to Frizell as well, but the selectors have lost their minds if he, Taufua and Savea get in over Akira.

Akira Ioane also training with squad
Halfbacks:
TJ Perenara, Aaron Smith, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi (new)

Good. The only bit they've got right.

First-fives:
Beauden Barrett, Damian McKenzie, Richie Mo'unga

If Beaudy gets injured, we're fucked. The other two are so underwhelming you have to wonder if the country has first five-eighths anymore. In fact I'll go further and ask how in the sweet name of christ do they pick DMac after the utter bag of dicks that has been his display in Super Rugby? There's no way that diminutive clown is a Test level game manager.

Midfielders:
Ryan Crotty, Jack Goodhue, Ngani Laumape, Anton Lienert-Brown, Sonny Bill Williams

So who's stepping in for Crotty's inevitable injury?

[SammyC]

@nepia said in All Blacks Squad for France:

@sammyc said in All Blacks Squad for France:

@nepia said in All Blacks Squad for France:

@sammyc said in All Blacks Squad for France:

@nepia said in All Blacks Squad for France:

@sammyc said in All Blacks Squad for France:

@nepia said in All Blacks Squad for France:

@sammyc said in All Blacks Squad for France:

@tim said in All Blacks Squad for France:

@nepia Note that neither of the Ioane's have re-signed with the NZRU yet.

So we should pick Akira because he might throw a tantrum and leave if we don’t?

Not the type of guy I want in the ABs if that’s the case.

Was kind of hoping he didn’t get picked to see the meltdown on here. It hasn’t disappointed

Pretty shit defensive effort by Akira to let Bryn hall score last night, he’s had a few lapses like that this year

Yawn, if you want to pretend that Akira hasn't been one of the best players this 'season' not just last night, and that Shannon Frizzell has then go for you life.

I thought you'd be more disappointed that the in form Matt Todd is omitted for the hopelessly out of form Savea TBH.

Bring it back to a Canterbury thing again mate. Like you guys do with stargazer every time. Enjoy the cheap likes from all the regulars.

Get over yourself, you came blustering onto this thread on the troll with nothing constructive, just a mention of one missed tackle last night, just so you could give shit to fans of one player and now you're claiming woe is me everybody hates Canterbury.

Well the selectors obviously don’t hate Canterbury I’m pretty happy for the 10 crusaders that got picked.

I said he’s had other defensive lapses this year too. The highlanders loss recently springs to mind. Christian Cullen pointed out a couple in that game on one of the sky analysis shows.

I’ve said on here before I think Akira can be a great all black.

> What’s wrong with making him work for it?

Think about that bold ... then have a think about Shannon Frizzell.

No problem with what you say there, I haven’t defended Frizells selection at all.

do you need me to discuss every single player selected so you can call bias at me 31 more times?

I’m really stoked for Taufua... he has worked so hard for this.

Are you now pretending that Frizzell hasn't been a part of this discussion on Akira missing out? And furthermore if you're going to suggest a player should 'work for it' why ignore that for another player.

I don't have a problem with the ever growing taller Taufua's selection.

I agree with you about frizzell he also should be made to work for it. Stop trying to create an argument with me

[Nepia]

@sammyc said in All Blacks Squad for France:

@nepia said in All Blacks Squad for France:

@sammyc said in All Blacks Squad for France:

@nepia said in All Blacks Squad for France:

@sammyc said in All Blacks Squad for France:

@nepia said in All Blacks Squad for France:

@sammyc said in All Blacks Squad for France:

@nepia said in All Blacks Squad for France:

@sammyc said in All Blacks Squad for France:

@tim said in All Blacks Squad for France:

@nepia Note that neither of the Ioane's have re-signed with the NZRU yet.

So we should pick Akira because he might throw a tantrum and leave if we don’t?

Not the type of guy I want in the ABs if that’s the case.

Was kind of hoping he didn’t get picked to see the meltdown on here. It hasn’t disappointed

Pretty shit defensive effort by Akira to let Bryn hall score last night, he’s had a few lapses like that this year

Yawn, if you want to pretend that Akira hasn't been one of the best players this 'season' not just last night, and that Shannon Frizzell has then go for you life.

I thought you'd be more disappointed that the in form Matt Todd is omitted for the hopelessly out of form Savea TBH.

Bring it back to a Canterbury thing again mate. Like you guys do with stargazer every time. Enjoy the cheap likes from all the regulars.

Get over yourself, you came blustering onto this thread on the troll with nothing constructive, just a mention of one missed tackle last night, just so you could give shit to fans of one player and now you're claiming woe is me everybody hates Canterbury.

Well the selectors obviously don’t hate Canterbury I’m pretty happy for the 10 crusaders that got picked.

I said he’s had other defensive lapses this year too. The highlanders loss recently springs to mind. Christian Cullen pointed out a couple in that game on one of the sky analysis shows.

I’ve said on here before I think Akira can be a great all black.

> What’s wrong with making him work for it?

Think about that bold ... then have a think about Shannon Frizzell.

No problem with what you say there, I haven’t defended Frizells selection at all.

do you need me to discuss every single player selected so you can call bias at me 31 more times?

I’m really stoked for Taufua... he has worked so hard for this.

Are you now pretending that Frizzell hasn't been a part of this discussion on Akira missing out? And furthermore if you're going to suggest a player should 'work for it' why ignore that for another player.

I don't have a problem with the ever growing taller Taufua's selection.

I agree with you about frizzell he also should be made to work for it. Stop trying to create an argument with me

Give it a rest, your first post in this thread was designed to kick off an argument.

[Chris B.]

@akan004 said in All Blacks Squad for France:

Lots of forwards named in that squad that I wouldn't be comfortable seeing start in a test. Frizell, Taufua, Barrett, JTA, Perry, Ofa, Savea, Fifita and even L Whitelock to name a few. It just shows that having Super Rugby depth doesn't necessarily mean that you will have a lot of International quality depth.

To be fair, we've got a fair few injuries - Hames and Laulala would be significant upgrades on the two props selected. It will be interesting if Franks goes for a skate, who the next tighthead off the rank will be - Ta'avao?

In the loose forwards, losing Read and Kaino (permanently) is always going to create a bit of a gap, so it's no surprise that we look a bit weak there.

What is concerning is that lots of these players have got two "near test match" intensity derbies to play - and then three tests - attrition will certainly test our depth.

[antipodean]

@chris-b said in All Blacks Squad for France:

Not sure about that for Taufua. He's played a bit of openside at NPC, so at a pinch he could cover all three positions.

Yeah, no. We're talking about Tests here.

[broughie]

So what’s the line at the TAB for that to happen?

So who's stepping in for Crotty's inevitable injury?

[Nepia]

@antipodean said in All Blacks Squad for France:

@chris-b said in All Blacks Squad for France:

Not sure about that for Taufua. He's played a bit of openside at NPC, so at a pinch he could cover all three positions.

Yeah, no. We're talking about Tests here.

We've really missed a trick not selecting Messam - 8, 6, Best Ever Waterboy and 7 in Super Rugby this year.

[Chris B.]

@antipodean The plan would be for Cane to play 80 minutes.

[Tim]

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=12055111

Hurricanes captain Shields, recently selected for his adopted team England, would "probably" have been included in the 2018 All Blacks squad, according to coach Steve Hansen.

Just several years too late there Steve.

[Chris B.]

@nepia Messam and Vito must have covered openside for the ABs on occasion?

[Machpants]

Just diggin the knife in!

Is it possible, with Akira joining the squad in the last EOYT, that he didn't impress the selectors in training/touring and they're seeing if his attitude etc has improved there? Juat a thought as to why. I have no idea how awesome Frizzell has been, only watch home Highlander games, but not read anything about how great he is up until very recently.

[Virgil]

so no mention of picking a winger who has hardly played in 2 years and has the pace of an English forward?

[Stargazer]

Going by the whining in this thread, we have already lost the June Series?

[Nepia]

@chris-b said in All Blacks Squad for France:

@nepia Messam and Vito must have covered openside for the ABs on occasion?

Vito definitely did, 2011 RWC against Canada at the Caketin, not sure about Messam but you'd assume so.

[Chris B.]

@nepia Probably even in a real game.

[taniwharugby]

@virgil Shields is pretty quick for a forward

[gt12]

I’m assuming that Akira lost out to Luke Whitelock, with Squire, and Ardie and Taufua providing 8 cover. I can’t believe he’s not there, so there must be something in his stats or workrate that they don’t like. Maybe he needs a fucking shave and a haircut? Seemed to work magic for Squire?

Frizzell seems to have taken the ‘project’ ‘amazing athlete’ 6 position of Fifita. Who, after a second look, I see is still there, there, covering lock? WTF? Jesus, the boy better be good.

I came to try to defend how these selections may have came about, but, now, I, can’t...

[Chris B.]

@bovidae said in All Blacks Squad for France:

Looking ahead to the 1st test vs France, based on the comments from Hansen, Foster and Fox the only question mark in the backs is who plays between Naholo and J Barrett. That will also determine the makeup of the bench (TJP, DMac and ??).

If Jordie plays, then they could stick Mo'unga on the bench. If DMac is on the bench then he's presumably covering first five and fullback.

I think, either way, the third bench player is probably a midfielder. Given that Crotty is the starting centre, I'd be inclined to pick one of the specialist centres on the bench, but I'd guess that Hansen and Co. don't think like that.

[Marty]

@gt12 said in All Blacks Squad for France:

Frizzell seems to have taken the ‘project’ ‘amazing athlete’ 6 position of Fifita.

That's my take. Barring an injury disaster in the squad I reckon he won't get anywhere near selection. They just want to get a closer look at him and see how he responds in the AB environment.

[Nepia]

@marty said in All Blacks Squad for France:

@gt12 said in All Blacks Squad for France:

Frizzell seems to have taken the ‘project’ ‘amazing athlete’ 6 position of Fifita.

That's my take. Barring an injury disaster in the squad I reckon he won't get anywhere near selection. They just want to get a closer look at him and see how he responds in the AB environment.

Wouldn't the way to do that be as an attached player and not full squad member?

Why select a full squad member who you aren't going to play? They'd be better off selecting another midfielder since ours break all the time.