AB EOYT 2018

[Daffy Jaffy]

.
Hookers
Dane Coles (31, Wellington, 56)
Nathan Harris (26, Bay of Plenty, 18)
Codie Taylor (27, Canterbury, 38)

Props
Owen Franks (30, Canterbury, 103)
Nepo Laulala (27, Counties Manukau, 13)
Joe Moody (30, Canterbury, 36)
Karl Tu’inukuafe (25, North Harbour, 9)
Ofa Tuungafasi (26, Auckland, 22)

Locks
Scott Barrett (23, Taranaki, 14)
Brodie Retallick (27, Hawke’s Bay, 71)
Patrick Tuipulotu (25, Auckland, 19)
Samuel Whitelock (30, Canterbury, 105)

Loose Forwards
Vaea Fifita (26, Wellington, 7)
Dalton Papalii (21, Auckland, uncapped)
Kieran Read, captain (32, Counties Manukau, 114)
Ardie Savea (25, Wellington, 31)
Liam Squire (27, Ta$man, 20)
Matt Todd (30, Canterbury, 14)

Backs:

Halfbacks
TJ Perenara (26, Wellington, 51)
Aaron Smith (28, Manawatu, 79)
Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi (23, Taranaki, 1)

First five–eighths
Beauden Barrett (27, Taranaki, 69)
Damian McKenzie (23, Waikato, 19)
Richie Mo’unga (24, Canterbury, 4)

Midfielders
Ryan Crotty (30, Canterbury, 41)
Jack Goodhue (23, Northland, 5)
Anton Lienert-Brown (23, Waikato, 30)
Sonny Bill Williams (33, Counties Manukau, 49)

Outside backs
Jordie Barrett (21, Taranaki, 7)
Rieko Ioane (21, Auckland, 20)
Waisake Naholo (27, Taranaki, 24)
Ben Smith (32, Otago, 73)

Hookers
Asafo Aumua (20, Wellington, uncapped, two non-Tests)
Liam Coltman (28, Otago, 3)

Props
Tyrel Lomax (22, Ta$man, uncapped)
Reuben O’Neill (23, Taranaki, uncapped)
Tim Perry (29, Ta$man, 5)
Angus Ta’avao (28, Taranaki, 1)

Locks
Luke Romano (32, Canterbury, 31)

Loose Forwards
Jackson Hemopo (24, Manawatu, 2)
Gareth Evans (27, Hawke’s Bay, uncapped)
Dillon Hunt (23, North Harbour, uncapped, one non-Test)
Luke Whitelock (27, Canterbury, 6)

Backs:

Halfbacks
Mitchell Drummond (24, Canterbury, uncapped, one non-Test)
Bryn Hall (26, North Harbour, uncapped)

First five–eighths
Brett Cameron (21, Canterbury, uncapped)

Midfielders
Ngani Laumape (25, Manawatu,
Matt Proctor (25, Wellington, uncapped)

Outside backs
George Bridge (23, Canterbury, uncapped)
David Havili (23, Ta$man, 3)
Nehe Milner-Skudder (27, Manawatu, 12)

[akan004]

Poor Akira.

[gt12]

So they pick some unknowns in places where we have strength and some depth (prop, 1st five) and no new locks?

WTF?

[African Monkey]

@gt12 He should just give up haha.

[mariner4life]

so we really are fucked at lock aren't we?

[taniwharugby]

@mariner4life nah Romano got that covered in the 2nd team!

[gt12]

@african-monkey

The story will be about him getting time for the Maori, but that's shit.

If they don't think he has a better upside that Fifita, they are fucking dreaming.

By the way, Frizell has been totally dropped?

[Nepia]

I'm from Hawkes Bay and there's no way Evans should be in there over Akira.

Where is the Tongan? I assume it's a misprint and he's still there?

[Steven Harris]

Shannon Frizell the most interesting omission..Brad Webber has now fallen behind Hall and Drummond..Really...?

[Nepia]

Oh yeah, and Hall? WTF.

[Duluth]

@gt12 said in AB EOYT 2018:

By the way, Frizell has been totally dropped?

Listed as unavailable. Not sure why

[gt12]

@duluth

Cheers. Probably played too many minutes this year. The highlanders really played him too much.

[taniwharugby]

@gt12 haha, although the amusing thing is, he has probably played as many AB minutes as the Highlanders!

[African Monkey]

@nepia Watching him play behind the North Harbour pack really does show his level. He should thank the Crusaders pack for making him look so much better than what he really is.

[Nepia]

So, one great selection in Papali'i and a whole lot of WTF elsewhere. Hansen is trolling us.

[Stockcar86]

@nepia said in AB EOYT 2018:

I'm from Hawkes Bay and there's no way Evans should be in there over Akira.

Maybe it is trying players out for the world cup. With the reduced squad size, less space for specialists, so you need players who can cover multiple positions

[taniwharugby]

@stockcar86 surely Akira can cover 6/8, which is multiple isnt it?

[SammyC]

@african-monkey said in AB EOYT 2018:

@nepia Watching him play behind the North Harbour pack really does show his level. He should thank the Crusaders pack for making him look so much better than what he really is.

Yeah he's great for the Crusaders, but I'm always disappointed watching him play for harbour.

[gt12]

Is Todd being selected the wedge of not needing to play in NZ? He is a great servant of NZ rugby, and he is coming back, but my understanding is that he is currently not under contract. An open door for the future?

No Akira is just, well, fuck, I don't know. If they want to look at everyone and his dog, why not take Akira?

No new lock? I like the Romano selection, but they should have picked another young one as well.

[Nepia]

@stockcar86 said in AB EOYT 2018:

@nepia said in AB EOYT 2018:

I'm from Hawkes Bay and there's no way Evans should be in there over Akira.

Maybe it is trying players out for the world cup. With the reduced squad size, less space for specialists, so you need players who can cover multiple positions

Obviously I'm not saying Evans is shit ... he's awesome for us and the Canes but it's FU they can find a spot for him but not Akira.

Akira may as well fuck off overseas now if this is how they rank him.