All Blacks Squad for France
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But the news was a lot brighter on the rest of the All Blacks' walking wounded, with Hansen confirming it was hoped Sam Cane (abdominal strain), Jordan Taufua (calf), Jack Goodhue (hamstring), Sam Whitelock (concussion symptoms) and Ryan Crotty (concussion symptoms) would all be available for selection after missing chunks of time with their franchises.
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But the news was a lot brighter on the rest of the All Blacks' walking wounded, with Hansen confirming it was hoped Sam Cane (abdominal strain), Jordan Taufua (calf), Jack Goodhue (hamstring), Sam Whitelock (concussion symptoms) and Ryan Crotty (concussion symptoms) would all be available for selection after missing chunks of time with their franchises.
@tim I found this bit interesting as well:
They are not sure of the extent of Retallick's absence through the injury yet, but have removed him from the equation for the first week at least. Veteran Crusaders lock Luke Romano (for Sonny Bill Williams) and impressive Highlanders second row Tom Franklin (as cover for Retallick) have both been drafted into the squad to bolster their stock of big men. Experienced Crusaders No 7 Matt Todd has also been called in, essentially to cover for some "soreness" being felt by Hurricanes openside Ardie Savea in the wake of their 30-14 defeat to the Highlanders in Dunedin on Friday.So Todd brought in to cover for Ardie, not Cane.
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@tim I found this bit interesting as well:
They are not sure of the extent of Retallick's absence through the injury yet, but have removed him from the equation for the first week at least. Veteran Crusaders lock Luke Romano (for Sonny Bill Williams) and impressive Highlanders second row Tom Franklin (as cover for Retallick) have both been drafted into the squad to bolster their stock of big men. Experienced Crusaders No 7 Matt Todd has also been called in, essentially to cover for some "soreness" being felt by Hurricanes openside Ardie Savea in the wake of their 30-14 defeat to the Highlanders in Dunedin on Friday.So Todd brought in to cover for Ardie, not Cane.
I prefer Todd over Savea myself. I still haven't seen what Savea offers apart from fresh legs off the bench, seems highly visible but generally ineffective but maybe I have missed his work in tight..
I think I also prefer Todd for a bench position now. -
@nostrildamus I don't think Todd has been as good as he was last year. There was a definite gap between him and Savea that isn't there this year.
Defensively the two are close but on attack the two are miles apart.
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How so this year? Savea has played 200 less minutes but made more tackles, made more dominant tackles.
I would think that Todd works harder at the breakdown.
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@toddy I think on attack they just have different styles. Todd has great hands and is a brilliant link man, Ardie...runs lots and thrashes his head around. I don't think he's markedly better. I know which style suits the ABs better.
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Starting XV?
Moody (F)/Taylor/Franks (F)/Whitelock (S)/Barrett (S)/Cane/Squire/Whitelock (L)/Smith (A)/Barrett (B)/Crotty/Goodhue (Jack)/Ioane (A)/Naholo/Smith (B)
Bench: Harris/Tuinukuafe/Tu'ungafasi/Todd/Fifita/TJP/Barrett (J)/ALB
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Starting XV?
Moody (F)/Taylor/Franks (F)/Whitelock (S)/Barrett (S)/Cane/Squire/Whitelock (L)/Smith (A)/Barrett (B)/Crotty/Goodhue (Jack)/Ioane (A)/Naholo/Smith (B)
Bench: Harris/Tuinukuafe/Tu'ungafasi/Todd/Fifita/TJP/Barrett (J)/ALB
@pakman said in All Blacks Squad for France:
Starting XV?
Moody (F)/Taylor/Franks (F)/Whitelock (S)/Barrett (S)/Cane/Squire/Whitelock (L)/Smith (A)/Barrett (B)/Crotty/Goodhue (Jack)/Ioane (A)/Naholo/Smith (B)
Bench: Harris/Tuinukuafe/Tu'ungafasi/Todd/Fifita/TJP/Barrett (J)/ALB
Not sure if Fred Moody or Frank Franks are better than Joe and Owen.
And I'd prefer Rieko to Akira as a winger.
More seriously I essentially agree with that XXIII with the exception of your back reserve: Swap out ALB for DMac. We need specialist 10 cover. I know it's current trend to hate on DMac and to prefer Mounga, but I'll swim against that tide.
Midfield cover from Ioane
(A)(R) and Barrett (J). -
@bones Ardie has more meters, more passes, though less offloads.
An example of Todd's lack of form compared to last year - he's more than twice as likely to knock on than Brad Toaster for hands Shields. Just let that sink in.
@toddy said in All Blacks Squad for France:
@bones Ardie has more meters, more passes, though less offloads.
An example of Todd's lack of form compared to last year - he's more than twice as likely to knock on than Brad Toaster for hands Shields. Just let that sink in.
Savea’s Style is effective at Super Rugby level, but completely ineffective at Test level. He’s too small, get pushed back and he avoids tackling to go for a turnover.
There is a reason he only gets to come on as a sub against tiring defences. Cane and Todd should be 1 & 2, screw this super sub bullshit.
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@toddy said in All Blacks Squad for France:
@bones Ardie has more meters, more passes, though less offloads.
An example of Todd's lack of form compared to last year - he's more than twice as likely to knock on than Brad Toaster for hands Shields. Just let that sink in.
Savea’s Style is effective at Super Rugby level, but completely ineffective at Test level. He’s too small, get pushed back and he avoids tackling to go for a turnover.
There is a reason he only gets to come on as a sub against tiring defences. Cane and Todd should be 1 & 2, screw this super sub bullshit.
@kirwan I don't disagree with your comments regarding Savea at test level. I just think Todd's form this year didn't warrant his selection in the initial team. Last year was a different story.
Todd's handling errors alone point to him being off. Hopefully the ABs can help him lift his game.
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@pakman said in All Blacks Squad for France:
Starting XV?
Moody (F)/Taylor/Franks (F)/Whitelock (S)/Barrett (S)/Cane/Squire/Whitelock (L)/Smith (A)/Barrett (B)/Crotty/Goodhue (Jack)/Ioane (A)/Naholo/Smith (B)
Bench: Harris/Tuinukuafe/Tu'ungafasi/Todd/Fifita/TJP/Barrett (J)/ALB
Not sure if Fred Moody or Frank Franks are better than Joe and Owen.
And I'd prefer Rieko to Akira as a winger.
More seriously I essentially agree with that XXIII with the exception of your back reserve: Swap out ALB for DMac. We need specialist 10 cover. I know it's current trend to hate on DMac and to prefer Mounga, but I'll swim against that tide.
Midfield cover from Ioane
(A)(R) and Barrett (J).@booboo The Forearm bros, Joe and Owen!
I prefer Mo'unga too. DMac would open space for ALB -- Mo'unga/Barrett (J) OR DMac/ALB.
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I’d much prefer a back three of
11 Ioane
14 Naholo
15 B. SmithB. Barrett drops back quite a bit anyway, so we always have 3 or sometimes 4 players behind the ball for the counter. That’s two kicking options. We don’t need a third on the wing. Even if we do, both Ioane and Naholo have shown they know how to clear it.
J. Barrett is a good bench option for fullback/wing/midfield cover.
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I’d much prefer a back three of
11 Ioane
14 Naholo
15 B. SmithB. Barrett drops back quite a bit anyway, so we always have 3 or sometimes 4 players behind the ball for the counter. That’s two kicking options. We don’t need a third on the wing. Even if we do, both Ioane and Naholo have shown they know how to clear it.
J. Barrett is a good bench option for fullback/wing/midfield cover.
@act-crusader Your back three is the most likely variation to what I've picked (IMO). I thought abnout that for a while.
I think having DMac and Jordie on the bench has a lot of redundancy and I'm far from convinced that Jordie is first rate cover in the midfield or wing. Also he'll be earning just his third test cap, so I think they'll be cautious about what they task him with.
So, I'm somewhat of the opinion that if Jordie doesn't start he doesn't play. And I think they'll want him to play. And I think they'll want to give DMac plenty of time to bed in as a Supersub.
So to get them both in the 23, I've got Jordie starting - but, I won't be surprised to be wrong.
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@act-crusader Your back three is the most likely variation to what I've picked (IMO). I thought abnout that for a while.
I think having DMac and Jordie on the bench has a lot of redundancy and I'm far from convinced that Jordie is first rate cover in the midfield or wing. Also he'll be earning just his third test cap, so I think they'll be cautious about what they task him with.
So, I'm somewhat of the opinion that if Jordie doesn't start he doesn't play. And I think they'll want him to play. And I think they'll want to give DMac plenty of time to bed in as a Supersub.
So to get them both in the 23, I've got Jordie starting - but, I won't be surprised to be wrong.
@chris-b yeah just to make fern history I'm going to disagree with @ACT-Crusader.
I don't see the value in DMac and 5aMac on the bench either and can't abide the latter as midfield cover. Although can't say I'd be all that comfortable with Ioane covering it either.
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@chris-b yeah just to make fern history I'm going to disagree with @ACT-Crusader.
I don't see the value in DMac and 5aMac on the bench either and can't abide the latter as midfield cover. Although can't say I'd be all that comfortable with Ioane covering it either.
@bones said in All Blacks Squad for France:
@chris-b yeah just to make fern history I'm going to disagree with @ACT-Crusader.
I don't see the value in DMac and 5aMac on the bench either and can't abide the latter as midfield cover. Although can't say I'd be all that comfortable with Ioane covering it either.
So many names for him now
5AMac
McBarrett
Big Mac Barret. -
@bones said in All Blacks Squad for France:
@chris-b yeah just to make fern history I'm going to disagree with @ACT-Crusader.
I don't see the value in DMac and 5aMac on the bench either and can't abide the latter as midfield cover. Although can't say I'd be all that comfortable with Ioane covering it either.
So many names for him now
5AMac
McBarrett
Big Mac Barret.@hooroo said in All Blacks Squad for France:
@bones said in All Blacks Squad for France:
@chris-b yeah just to make fern history I'm going to disagree with @ACT-Crusader.
I don't see the value in DMac and 5aMac on the bench either and can't abide the latter as midfield cover. Although can't say I'd be all that comfortable with Ioane covering it either.
So many names for him now
5AMac
McBarrett
Big Mac Barret.Pimply Giraffe
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@chris-b yeah just to make fern history I'm going to disagree with @ACT-Crusader.
I don't see the value in DMac and 5aMac on the bench either and can't abide the latter as midfield cover. Although can't say I'd be all that comfortable with Ioane covering it either.
@bones 5aMac - nice, I had to think about that briefly.
Yeah - specialist midfield cover on the bench - especially given that I've picked Crotty to start.
Much as I like Crots, he's starting to feel a bit like having Guppy opening in test matches. It's more hope than expectation that he'll still be out there an hour after the start.
