AB EOYT 2018

[Rapido]

This post is deleted!

[Tim]

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/news/article.cfm?c_id=80&objectid=12139424

[dogmeat]

@tim sub-Editor should have headed it "Blindingly obvious comments from once heralded but now irrelevant coach"

[Nepia]

@dogmeat said in AB EOYT 2018:

@tim sub-Editor should have headed it "Blindingly obvious comments from idiot who moved Cullen from fullback"

I think this is what you were saying, right?

[Machpants]

Probably bollaux too. I would imagine without the carrot of a ton of easy Yen he might be signed permanently overseas. This way he makes his cash and the ABS keep him for, basically, an emergency backup at RWC. There has to be some good offer to keep someone of his calibre around as nothing but emergency backup, with no time in the black jersey guaranteed or even likely. The ABs will cope with Mr A N Other for 7 this tour in the north

[Chris B.]

Here's a rough shot by the numbers. I've got no great opinion on the replacement 7, so I've chucked in John Hart's pick.

I've tended to go for people who've been there before among the 19 reinforcements, with a few exceptions for balance.

32 MAN SQUAD

Joe Moody
Karl Tu'inukuafe
Owen Franks
Ofa Tuungafasi
Tim Perry

Codie Taylor
Dane Coles
Nathan Harris

Samuel Whitelock
Brodie Retallick
Scott Barrett

Kieran Read
Ardie Savea
Liam Squire
Luke Whitelock
Shannon Frizell
Dillon Hunt??

Aaron Smith
Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi
TJ Perenara

Beauden Barrett
Richie Mo'unga
Damian McKenzie

Anton Lienert-Brown
Jack Goodhue
Ryan Crotty
Sonny Bill Williams

Ben Smith
Jordie Barrett
Rieko Ioane
Nehe Milner-Skudder
Waisake Naholo

TEAM FOR JAPAN (INCLUDING 10 FROM ABOVE)

Tim Perry
Dane Coles
Nepo Laulala
Luke Romano
Patrick Tuipolotu
Shannon Frizell
Dillon Hunt
Luke Whitelock
Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi
Richie Mo'unga
George Bridge
Ngani Laumape
Anton Lienert-Brown
Nehe Milner-Skudder
Jordie Barrett

Liam Coltman
Angus Ta'avao
Alex Hodgman??
Jackson Hemopo
Akira Ioane
Bryn Hall
Otere Black
Matt Proctor

PLUS ANOTHER SIX
Asafo Aumua
Jeff Toomaga-Allen
Vaia Fifita
Brad Weber
Ben Lam
David Havili

Edit: And a slight shuffle, because I've got a loose forward too many.

[footy01]

@chris-b you’d have Otere Black who has been pretty average after having a year off rugby

[Chris B.]

@footy01 To be honest I only saw him come off the bench against Ta$man and he looked pretty sharp.

Any of our next options are a fair way from international quality IMO. And if I'd picked Mitch Hunt I'd be accused of bias!

In all honesty, if we had a run like 2011 at RWC and lost a couple of Beauden, DMac and Richie, I'd be inclined to break our own rules and call up Sopoaga, Cruden or Slade.

[Tim]

@footy01 Who are the other options with Super Rugby experience? Hunt, Perofeta, Garden-Bachop, Gatland, and Falcon?

[Bones]

@chris-b said in AB EOYT 2018:

@footy01 To be honest I only saw him come off the bench against Ta$man and he looked pretty sharp.

Any of our next options are a fair way from international quality IMO. And if I'd picked Mitch Hunt I'd be accused of bias!

In all honesty, if we had a run like 2011 at RWC and lost a couple of Beauden, DMac and Richie, I'd be inclined to break our own rules and call up Sopoaga, Cruden or Slade.

IS DAGG GOING OVERSEAS?????

[Chris B.]

@bones To quote the guy from The Castle - "Tell him he's dreaming!"

[Bones]

@chris-b said in AB EOYT 2018:

@bones To quote the guy from The Castle - "Tell him he's dreaming!"

He wouldn't have said that if the Cortina, Camira, Torana and Commodore were all broken down.

[No Quarter]

@bones said in AB EOYT 2018:

@chris-b said in AB EOYT 2018:

@footy01 To be honest I only saw him come off the bench against Ta$man and he looked pretty sharp.

Any of our next options are a fair way from international quality IMO. And if I'd picked Mitch Hunt I'd be accused of bias!

In all honesty, if we had a run like 2011 at RWC and lost a couple of Beauden, DMac and Richie, I'd be inclined to break our own rules and call up Sopoaga, Cruden or Slade.

IS DAGG GOING OVERSEAS?????

If Dagg won us a WC at 10 then I think the Fern would be complete, no need for any further threads.

[footy01]

@tim I couldn’t probably see Perofeta as the only one who could be an all black in that group. In a good team, going forward , he would be awesome

[footy01]

*could

[Crucial]

@no-quarter said in AB EOYT 2018:

@bones said in AB EOYT 2018:

@chris-b said in AB EOYT 2018:

@footy01 To be honest I only saw him come off the bench against Ta$man and he looked pretty sharp.

Any of our next options are a fair way from international quality IMO. And if I'd picked Mitch Hunt I'd be accused of bias!

In all honesty, if we had a run like 2011 at RWC and lost a couple of Beauden, DMac and Richie, I'd be inclined to break our own rules and call up Sopoaga, Cruden or Slade.

IS DAGG GOING OVERSEAS?????

If Dagg won us a WC at 10 then I think the Fern would be complete, no need for any further threads.

I think we could still debate how great Charlie Ngatai might have been

[cgrant]

Possible bolters ?

Hooker : Makalio. He's on fire. I think his lack of speed is not a problem for the AB game. Remember the SA vs AB last saturday : the AB spent the last 10 minutes driving with their forwards and did not take high risks with their backline. So Makalio could fit in very well in similar circumstances.

Props : I don't see any new cap here as there are a sufficient number of players. Maybe Lomax ?

Locks : Pari Pari Parkinson as an apprentice ? He is the one with the best potential and could be the next Retallick.

Blind side flankers : None

Open side flankers : Dalton Papali'i.

Utility loose forward : Gareth Evans.

Halfbacks : Drummond is playing very well but will they bring 4 halfbacks ?

1st Fives : None

2nd Fives : Havili (can he be considered a bolter ?)

Centres : Thompson, Proctor, Ennor, Faddes ... None of them is really convincing.

Wings : this is a position where the AB need new names => Alaimalo, maybe Lam

Full backs : Jordan as an apprentice. He's an outstanding talent. Maybe the next AB fullback when B. Smith retires.

[MN5]

@crucial said in AB EOYT 2018:

@no-quarter said in AB EOYT 2018:

@bones said in AB EOYT 2018:

@chris-b said in AB EOYT 2018:

@footy01 To be honest I only saw him come off the bench against Ta$man and he looked pretty sharp.

Any of our next options are a fair way from international quality IMO. And if I'd picked Mitch Hunt I'd be accused of bias!

In all honesty, if we had a run like 2011 at RWC and lost a couple of Beauden, DMac and Richie, I'd be inclined to break our own rules and call up Sopoaga, Cruden or Slade.

IS DAGG GOING OVERSEAS?????

If Dagg won us a WC at 10 then I think the Fern would be complete, no need for any further threads.

I think we could still debate how great Charlie Ngatai might have been

Oooooooooo......OOOOOO!!!! Can We?!?!?!?!

[Crucial]

@mn5 said in AB EOYT 2018:

@crucial said in AB EOYT 2018:

@no-quarter said in AB EOYT 2018:

@bones said in AB EOYT 2018:

@chris-b said in AB EOYT 2018:

@footy01 To be honest I only saw him come off the bench against Ta$man and he looked pretty sharp.

Any of our next options are a fair way from international quality IMO. And if I'd picked Mitch Hunt I'd be accused of bias!

In all honesty, if we had a run like 2011 at RWC and lost a couple of Beauden, DMac and Richie, I'd be inclined to break our own rules and call up Sopoaga, Cruden or Slade.

IS DAGG GOING OVERSEAS?????

If Dagg won us a WC at 10 then I think the Fern would be complete, no need for any further threads.

I think we could still debate how great Charlie Ngatai might have been

Oooooooooo......OOOOOO!!!! Can We?!?!?!?!

Feel free my friend. The stage is yours.

[pakman]

@frank said in AB EOYT 2018:

51 players.
Unlucky Akira, you were the 52nd.
Honest mate.

H's attached to the squad for training.