2019 Rugby Championship

[Stargazer]

@Bovidae Yep, an earlier time than the usual starting time of the Breakdown. I wonder whether they'll also announce the Māori All Blacks squad?

[rotated]

@Gunner said in 2019 Rugby Championship:

If they pick Rueben Whitelock over Savea I will lose my shit.

As captain? Or just in general?

[Bovidae]

@Stargazer I would say so but the focus will be on the AB squad. The Maori actually play a week earlier so an enlarged AB squad will further reduce their options.

I'll watch my first episode of Breakdown this year.

[Stargazer]

@Bovidae I'd wonder whether some of the All Blacks that haven't played many minutes this year or are coming back from injury, will play the first MABs game, if they are eligible. Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, for example. Maybe Hemopo, too.

I actually looked at the possible MABs squad, and I think it won't be too difficult to select a squad, even with an elarged AB squad. It will be very similar to last year. I'll post something in the Māori All Blacks thread.

[Bovidae]

@Stargazer I wrote something before seeing your post.

[Stargazer]

@Bovidae I'm turning mine into a blog post. It's a bit longer than a thread post.

[Duluth]

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/news/article.cfm?c_id=80&objectid=12245516

[Stargazer]

@Duluth Hmmm, another article without any (new) info. Patrick McKendry is really a click-bait sports journo, who rarely writes anything interesting. I wish you could see who the author is before clicking on an article.

[Gunner]

@rotated said in 2019 Rugby Championship:

@Gunner said in 2019 Rugby Championship:

If they pick Rueben Whitelock over Savea I will lose my shit.

As captain? Or just in general?

Just in general

[cgrant]

Tu'inukuafa has not played for a while now. So the loosehead could be given to Atu Moli who had a big late season.

[taniwharugby]

so, Crotty out for upto 8 weeks, Scott Barrett upto 6...both with breaks in thier hands.

Changes things.

[Stargazer]

@taniwharugby Bad news, but at least both will be back in time for the RWC.

[Stargazer]

@nzzp said in 2019 Rugby Championship:

@taniwharugby said in 2019 Rugby Championship:

so, Crotty out for upto 8 weeks, Scott Barrett upto 6...both with breaks in thier hands.

Changes things.

@Jaguares4real will be bullish now

Made a massive difference when they went off

Won't make much of a difference to the Pumas' chances in the Rugby Championship (the thread we're in). Crotty and Barrett wouldn't have made the trip to Buenos Aires anyway.

[KiwiMurph]

It will be interesting to see who comes in the AB squad announced tonight to replace Crotty and S Barrett.

My first thought is they might lean on bringing in a 13 rather than a 12 to replace Crotty as they already have plenty of cover for 12 (ALB, Laumape, SBW, Goodhue can play 12) whereas not as much at 13.

The names that come to mind for 13 would be Ennor or Proctor.

For Barrett I'd assume they'd replace him with a lock (rather than a 6) so someone like IWL, Franklin or Parkinson?

[Stargazer]

@KiwiMurph If he's not already in, Havili might be another option, as he can cover both 12 and 15, and has a great boot.

For Barrett, they might also fall back on Romano, especially because it's only a temporary replacement.

[gt12]

@KiwiMurph

Agreed.

This should provide Ennor with his chance to be a squaddie. It also means that Laumape will get a better chance for a WC spot. I’ll be surprised if they go back to Proctor (he breaks almost as much as Crotty) but does have the class and works well with Laumape.

At lock, I’d say Hemopo gets a good look at the lock/six and I agree that they could/should bring in IWL (on form) or PPP (on size/talent).

I also think it makes Fifita relatively safe for now.

[E African Troll]

@Stargazer said in 2019 Rugby Championship:

@nzzp said in 2019 Rugby Championship:

@taniwharugby said in 2019 Rugby Championship:

so, Crotty out for upto 8 weeks, Scott Barrett upto 6...both with breaks in thier hands.

Changes things.

@Jaguares4real will be bullish now

Made a massive difference when they went off

Won't make much of a difference to the Pumas' chances in the Rugby Championship (the thread we're in). Crotty and Barrett wouldn't have made the trip to Buenos Aires anyway.

TBH I don't think many Los Pumas fans give a fuck about their 1st game in BA vs All Blacks

Once Jaguares made the final, TRC means fuck all

Essentially pre season games for European based Pumas & chance to rest Jaguares players

ARG game has been given a massive boost by Jaguares success this season

No one will look back and give a damn about TRC in September

Glorified friendlies and warm up for RWC

[mariner4life]

@KiwiMurph said in 2019 Rugby Championship:

It will be interesting to see who comes in the AB squad announced tonight to replace Crotty and S Barrett.

My first thought is they might lean on bringing in a 13 rather than a 12 to replace Crotty as they already have plenty of cover for 12 (ALB, Laumape, SBW, Goodhue can play 12) whereas not as much at 13.

The names that come to mind for 13 would be Ennor or Proctor.

For Barrett I'd assume they'd replace him with a lock (rather than a 6) so someone like IWL, Franklin or Parkinson?

I can't see why. They have 5 midfielders they like for 4 spots. One went down, meaning the other 4 get the gig.

[gt12]

Because chances are that SBW will get injured too?

Actually, you make a reasonable point though, those four cover 12/13 pretty well. They might use the opportunity to look at others.

Nonu has been forgotten too..

[mariner4life]

@gt12 said in 2019 Rugby Championship:

Because chances are that SBW will get injured too?

Actually, you make a reasonable point though, those four cover 12/13 pretty well. They might use the opportunity to look at others.

Nonu has been forgotten too..

so what you are saying is, we are facing the very real possibility of both Crotty and SBW being broken? At the same time? No! how could this have come to pass?