All Blacks XV 2024
-
Well, aside from the obvious amazement at Hoskins' selection (please make him captain, Razor), the biggest surprise for me is no Ricky Riccitelli - with Eklund seemingly preferred. I guess we'll wait for any forthcoming news, but Ricky came off the bench for Taranaki at the weekend and I don't recall him hobbling off.
Aside from that, seems like most of the rest of the squad were name-checked on the fern. Don't recall du Plessis Kirifi getting many mentions, but he's an incumbent from last year.
Dallas McLeod the other surprise for me - though I guess being a test player last year, it's not that big of a surprise. I thought he was pretty poor in Super rugby, but I haven't watched much of Canterbury in the NPC so maybe he's gone better in recent times.
-
@Chris-B said in All Blacks XV 2024:
Well, aside from the obvious amazement at Hoskins' selection (please make him captain, Razor), the biggest surprise for me is no Ricky Riccitelli - with Eklund seemingly preferred. I guess we'll wait for any forthcoming news, but Ricky came off the bench for Taranaki at the weekend and I don't recall him hobbling off.
Aside from that, seems like most of the rest of the squad were name-checked on the fern. Don't recall du Plessis Kirifi getting many mentions, but he's an incumbent from last year.
Dallas McLeod the other surprise for me - though I guess being a test player last year, it's not that big of a surprise. I thought he was pretty poor in Super rugby, but I haven't watched much of Canterbury in the NPC so maybe he's gone better in recent times.
Did McMillan have a hand in selection?
-
@Chris-B Kirifi has been out injured for a while with the broken jaw.
It's interesting that Ryan and Cotter have different views on the merits of Riccitelli and Eklund.
@Bovidae said in All Blacks XV 2024:
@Chris-B Kirifi has been out injured for a while with the broken jaw.
It's interesting that Ryan and Cotter have different views on the merits of Riccitelli and Eklund.
Yeah - TBH I'd have thought Ricky comfortably.
-
I feel if Lio-Willie was selected as an 8 only, Brayden Iose probably should have got that position. Aside from Sotutu, Iose was the form 8 in Super Rugby and has been solid for Manawatu this year. Lio-Willie didn’t do much tbh.
Riccitelli also the other guy that would be a little peeved I reckon.
-
Lio Willie is a good player as is Iose. It make sense they favour the Crusader guy - like they've done with most of the other selections. Out of all the Crusaders players that don't deserve selection in the squads Lio Willie is not one of them. He's also played 6 for the Crusaders.
-
Lio Willie is a good player as is Iose. It make sense they favour the Crusader guy - like they've done with most of the other selections. Out of all the Crusaders players that don't deserve selection in the squads Lio Willie is not one of them. He's also played 6 for the Crusaders.
@brodean said in All Blacks XV 2024:
Lio Willie is a good player as is Iose. It make sense they favour the Crusader guy - like they've done with most of the other selections. Out of all the Crusaders players that don't deserve selection in the squads Lio Willie is not one of them. He's also played 6 for the Crusaders.
Plays 6 and 8 very well which will be a bit important in that squad as well. They only have 5 loosies (plus Ah Kuio I guess), so his selection makes sense.
I thought he was easily the best crusaders loose forward this year too.
-
@SBW1 said in All Blacks XV 2024:
@SBW1 He is already in the EOYT squad, ETG has been replaced.
If you are going to talk to yourself, how about quoting yourself so the rest of us know who you are talking about without having to dig through previous posts? Or was it a private conversation and I should mind my own business?
-
I did think withy and Taylor would be in the squad
Also fakatavaHappy with most of the backs except I’m surprised with McLeod and fihaki who I personally think are extremely lucky.
Etene nanai setoru and Daniel Rona I think are more deserving of a place -
I did think withy and Taylor would be in the squad
Also fakatavaHappy with most of the backs except I’m surprised with McLeod and fihaki who I personally think are extremely lucky.
Etene nanai setoru and Daniel Rona I think are more deserving of a place@family-man said in All Blacks XV 2024:
I did think withy and Taylor would be in the squad
Also fakatavaHappy with most of the backs except I’m surprised with McLeod and fihaki who I personally think are extremely lucky.
Etene nanai setoru and Daniel Rona I think are more deserving of a placeGuess we shouldn't be surprised with McLeod and Fihaki, both Crusaders etc, and Fihaki being called in training squad was a sure sign.
-
@SBW1 said in All Blacks XV 2024:
@SBW1 He is already in the EOYT squad, ETG has been replaced.
If you are going to talk to yourself, how about quoting yourself so the rest of us know who you are talking about without having to dig through previous posts? Or was it a private conversation and I should mind my own business?
@Crazy-Horse George Bower, a recent change for Ethan De Groot.
-
These will be interesting, too
A small number of players from the All Blacks XV squad will travel early to Japan with the All Blacks to help with their preparation and gain additional experience in the All Blacks environment, before joining up with the All Blacks XV squad to play Munster and Georgia in November.
@Machpants said in All Blacks XV 2024:
These will be interesting, too
A small number of players from the All Blacks XV squad will travel early to Japan with the All Blacks to help with their preparation and gain additional experience in the All Blacks environment, before joining up with the All Blacks XV squad to play Munster and Georgia in November.
In particular if Hoss is one!
-
@Bovidae said in All Blacks XV 2024:
Suafoa is an omission.
I think it could be a blessing in disguise
Watching him in npc he looks like he needs a proper offseason.
Given mentally and physically everything he has gone through over the last 12 months it makes sense.
@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks XV 2024:
@Bovidae said in All Blacks XV 2024:
Suafoa is an omission.
I think it could be a blessing in disguise
Watching him in npc he looks like he needs a proper offseason.
Given mentally and physically everything he has gone through over the last 12 months it makes sense.
I hope they had a chat with him. Amazing man.
-
So,...by my count that's 13 of the Blues starting XV in this year's final that have made the ABs or the AB XV. According to my forecast, Riccitelli has missed out to his team mate Eklund, and Akira has signed in Japan.
Hoskins got picked!
So are Razor and Ryan still fluffybunnies, or what?
Five hours and the silence is deafening, guys!
While you ponder all this, some light reading...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moon_landing_conspiracy_theories
