All Blacks 2021

nostrildamus

@stargazer thanks yes I knew I was forgetting someone. Flanders and Grace both 21 (only) but Flanders will turn 22 in a few months-still quite young for an AB loose forward I would have thought.

booboo

@crucial said in All Blacks 2021:

My question at present is whether the selectors can continue to dismiss the Bosh.
When you think that they selected Kirifi ahead of him it doesn't fill you with hope.

Somewhere in the back of my mind I have this feeling Boshier was injured. Could be wrong though.

nostrildamus

@chris-b said in All Blacks 2021:

@taniwharugby said in All Blacks 2021:

Robinson is an interesting one, at 1.98m, think he can genuinely play that 6/lock role
Jacobson 8/6 (werent his 2 tests at 6?)
Dalton 7/6
Akira 8/6
Savea 7,8,6
Cane 7/6.5

PLus several others, we are pretty flush with candidates

Rest are probably more specialists?

Grace has been playing 8 pretty much all season and growing into it - previously a 6.

Blackadder can play all three roles at a pinch, but it was quite a while since I recall him at 7 prior to last night. But, if Cane was down to play 80 minutes at 7, I'd be reasonably comfortable with him on the bench.

Pretty sure Frizell has played a bit of 8, but mainly a specialist 6.

With Cane in the wings, I think they'll only pick two sevens, which will probably be Ardie and Papali'i.

But, two guys that I've grouped as 6s and 8s are probably going to miss out - and both will be unlucky.

I'd really like to see how Robinson goes at 6 but I just think they will put Cane/x? and Ardie off the bench (or at 8 with a dedicated 6) ahead of him.
I'm thinking Dalton is really competing with Ardie and Boshier (strange though, such different players) while Ardie when fit is also competing with Jacobson and Sotutu.
Akira competes with Frizzell and they'll pick Cullen, Flanders, Blackadder or Jacobson but my money is on Jacobson at 8 and Dalton as back up to 6/8. But hell, I think they'll want to test Blackadder.
I really don't know who they prefer at 6 now, arguably it is the most interesting given all the potential new blood.

nostrildamus

the midfield seems a little less interesting, so many here seem keen on Havili and ALB (but who is on the bench? I like PUJ but how can they choose someone with so little play time?)

nostrildamus

@booboo said in All Blacks 2021:

@crucial said in All Blacks 2021:

My question at present is whether the selectors can continue to dismiss the Bosh.
When you think that they selected Kirifi ahead of him it doesn't fill you with hope.

Somewhere in the back of my mind I have this feeling Boshier was injured. Could be wrong though.

He might have been returning from injury? But he was still gutted (well he said a little disappointed, but I'm going full nz media on this one):

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/300141063/overlooked-and-overcooked-lachlan-boshier-on-his-all-blacks-anguish

Old Samurai Jack

That young no.12 from the Chiefs must be in the conversation now. Does he have a kicking game? Distribution seems sound.

Bovidae

It's worthwhile including this info when we talk about the makeup of the squad.

Foster said the plan was to pick 35 for July, then disassemble and re-select a second squad the same size for the championship and extra Bledisloe. He admitted July would present the opportunity to look at some fringe contenders, but pledged to pick as close as he can to full-strength groups.

He confirmed Beauden Barrett and Brodie Retallick would both be available for selection for July, though TJ Perenara was likely to have to play some domestic rugby before he could be considered because of his contractual situation.

On the injury front they are still looking at early to mid-September for Sam Cane’s return to action, so it was likely he would figure only on the November tour: Ardie Savea was due back on the field over the next week or two; Jack Goodhue is out for a full year; and Joe Moody is looking at early-September from his foot problem.

The coach confirmed he had picked his replacement captain, but would not name him until the July squad was selected.

Tim

So no Moody, Goodhue, Cane, and Perenara for the July squad.

Bovidae

I'm sure they will find some way of selecting TJP, even if it is initially for the Maori game against Samoa.

Bones

@old-samurai-jack Nankivell?

Old Samurai Jack

@bones That's the one. Probably a bit early yet but showing some real promise.

sparky

I wrote down this two weeks ago as an AB 36 just after Super Rugby Aotearoa finished.

Props: Karl T, Hodgman, De Groot, Laulala, Ofa. T, Angus Ta'avao

Hooker: Taylor, Aumua, Eklund

Lock: S. Whitelock (c) , B. Retallick, S. Barrett, Vaa'i

Back row: A. Ioane, S. Frizell, C. Grace, A. Savea, D. Papali'i, L Jacobson, H. Sotutu

Half Backs: A. Smith, B. Weber, M. Drummond

First Fives: R. Mo'unga, B. Barrett, D. McKenzie

Midfield: D. Havili, ALB, Nankivell, Peter Umaga-Jensen

Back three: R. Ioane, W. Jordan, S. Reece, Leicester Fainga'anuku, C. Garden-Bachop, J. Barrett

Probably one too many outside back so one of Nankivell, PUJ or Connor Garden-Bachop can drop out. Tom Robinson and Lachlan Bolshier are in cracking form so could get picked in the back row if one. or more of the capped ABs are injured. Blackadder and Harmon are playing the best Rugby of their careers so far.

Victor Meldrew

@frye said in All Blacks 2021:

An absolute plethora of backrow talent available right now. Even with Cane and Savea injured.

I'd love to see Jacobson, Papali'i and Blackadder in the same backrow.

Incredible that the likes of Frizzell, Ioane, Grace or Sotutu could miss out on a 23

Have to agree. Speaks volumes for the current 6/7/8 pool that the likes of Devan Flanders doesn't get a mention.

nostrildamus

@sparky good list. #9 looks shallow.
I'm a bit happier about DM at 10 now.
Would suspect Rieko has an edge along with Leicester for potential midfield support.
Is Angus Ta'avao playing that well?
And doesn't SB have some lock/6 competition?

Mackerzzzz

What about world cup team?

It is only two years away...

This is my pick at the moment:

A Hogman
C Taylor
N Laulala
S Whitelock
S Barrett
E Blackadder / or T Robinson
S Cane(c)
H Sotutu or A Savea
A Smith
R Moanga
C Clarke
D Havili
A Lenert-Brown
W Jordan
DMac or J Barrett
E De Groot
A Aumua
O Tuangafassi
T Vaii
A Ioane or A Savea (depending on who starts)
F Fakatava
B Barrett
R Ioane

No RTS cos I'm not sure how they will play him. Although if they play him in 15 he will likely be a shoe in.

Mackerzzzz

@sparky said in All Blacks 2021:

I wrote down this two weeks ago as an AB 36 just after Super Rugby Aotearoa finished.

Props: Karl T, Hodgman, De Groot, Laulala, Ofa. T, Angus Ta'avao

Hooker: Taylor, Aumua, Eklund

Lock: S. Whitelock (c) , B. Retallick, S. Barrett, Vaa'i

Back row: A. Ioane, S. Frizell, C. Grace, A. Savea, D. Papali'i, L Jacobson, H. Sotutu

Half Backs: A. Smith, B. Weber, M. Drummond

First Fives: R. Mo'unga, B. Barrett, D. McKenzie

Midfield: D. Havili, ALB, Nankivell, Peter Umaga-Jensen

Back three: R. Ioane, W. Jordan, S. Reece, Leicester Fainga'anuku, C. Garden-Bachop, J. Barrett

Probably one too many outside back so one of Nankivell, PUJ or Connor Garden-Bachop can drop out. Tom Robinson and Lachlan Bolshier are in cracking form so could get picked in the back row if one. or more of the capped ABs are injured. Blackadder and Harmon are playing the best Rugby of their careers so far.

CGB is gone for the season and PUJ hasn't played or shown much

Victor Meldrew

@mackerzzzz

I'd go for Akira at 6. Think he showed last year he's turned the corner and his work rate in the Trans Ta$man has been exceptional.

Would like both Robinson and Blackaddder to get some game time to see how they go. And I'd want to give Jacobson a start at 8 as well as Sotutu.

sparky

@mackerzzzz Didn't know CGB was out for the season. Scrub him from my list and that makes 35.

I'd stick with PUJ even though his form hasn't been great. Think he's a handful off the bench for the opposition at International level. Rate his skills and potential more than Ennor's.

sparky

@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2021:

@sparky good list. #9 looks shallow.
I'm a bit happier about DM at 10 now.
Would suspect Rieko has an edge along with Leicester for potential midfield support.
Is Angus Ta'avao playing that well?
And doesn't SB have some lock/6 competition?

Agree about 9. I've been impressed by both the Chiefs and the Highlanders scrums this year. I was worried a couple of weeks ago about Tom. Robinson's defensive work rate, but that has been improved in the last two games.

Bovidae

@sparky De Groot is definitely one for the future but I think he is behind Ross in the LH prop pecking order.

Coles will still be there as you can't beat experience.

The Silver Fern

All Blacks 2021