@Derm-McCrum oops... forgot to ask if anyone else had different predictions...
Yeah The Boys
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I think that the final will be between us (New Zealand) and Ireland too. These will probably be the players in each team's match-day 23 permitting fitness.
All Blacks:
- Karl Tu'inukuafe
- Codie Taylor
- Owen Franks
- Brodie Retallick
- Sam Whitelock
- Vaea Fifita
- Ardie Savea
- Kieran Read - Captain
- TJ Perenara
- Beauden Barrett
- Rieko Ioane
- Ma'a Nonu
- Jack Goodhue
- Ben Smith
- Damian McKenzie
Reserves: - Dane Coles
- Joe Moody
- Nepo Laulala
- Scott Barrett
- Jackson Hemopo
- Aaron Smith
- Richie Mo'unga
- Anton "give me a start" Lienert-Brown
Ireland:
- Cian Healy
- Rory Best - Captain
- Tadgh Furlong
- Devin Toner
- James Ryan
- Peter O'Mahony
- Sean O'Brien
- CJ Stander
- Conor Murray
- Johnny Sexton
- Jacob Stockdale
- Bundee Aki
- Robbie Henshaw
- Jordan Larmour
- Rob Kearney
Reserves: - Niall Scannell
- Jack McGrath
- Andrew Porter
- Iain Henderson
- Dan Leavy
- Kieran Marmion
- Joey Carbery
- Will Addison
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So... the Rugby World Cup is this year... I reckon that the eight teams to make the playoffs will be:
Ireland and Scotland (Pool A)
New Zealand and South Africa (Pool
England and Argentina (Pool C)
Wales and Fiji (Pool D) -
Hmm... an All Black squad in 2020... that depends on what spots are vacant. This will probably be the 2019 World Cup squad that Shag picks. He'll probably pick these players for the 2019 World Cup:
Hookers:
- Codie Taylor
- Dane Coles
- Asafo Aumua
Props:
4. Karl Tu'inukuafe
5. Owen Franks
6. Ofa Tu'ungafasi
7. Nepo Laulala
8. Joe MoodyLocks:
9. Sam Whitelock
10. Brodie Retallick
11. Scott BarrettLoose forwards:
12. Kieran Read - Captain
13. Ardie Savea
14. Vaea Fifita
15. Jackson Hemopo
16. Matt Todd/Sam Cane - IF Cane comes back
17. Luke WhitelockScrum-halves:
18. TJ Perenara
19. Aaron "kick away possession" Smith
20. Te Toiroa TahuriorangiFirst-Fives:
21. Beauden "kick away possession" Barrett
22. Richie Mo'unga
23. Damian "kick away possession" McKenzieMidfield:
24. Ma'a Nonu (Williams and Crotty are past it)
25. Anton Lienert-Brown
26. Jack Goodhue
27. Ngani LaumapeOutside backs:
28. Rieko
29. Ben Smith
30. George Bridge
31. Waisake NaholoSo after the World Cup we'll need to find replacements for Owen Franks, Ben Smith, Kieran Read, Dane Coles, Waisake Naholo, Ma'a Nonu, Aaron Smith, Matt Todd, and possibly Beauden Barrett. If Foster is Head Coach, all of those other players will stay the same.
Here's some possible replacements for those 8 or 9 players:
Folau Fakatava (currently uncapped) WILL replace Aaron Smith, it's just a matter of when
Jordie Barrett, David Havili could be re-called in 2020, or Will Jordan and Solomon Alaimalo could debut as replacements for Ben Smith. Matt Duffie is a bit old for a re-call.
Tyrel Lomax, Reuben O'Neil (uncapped), Mike Alaalatoa (uncapped) and Harry Allan (uncapped) are possible replacements for Owen Franks
Marino Mikaele-Tu'u (uncapped), Devan Flanders and Akira Ioane are probably better replacements for Read in the long-term, rather than sticking with Gareth Evans
I think we all know that even if Nathan Harris is chosen over Ricky Riccitelli (uncapped) and Asafo Aumua for 2019, both of them will be All Blacks by 2020 as replacements for Coles
So many options to replace Naholo, luckily. Uncapped players who could replace him are Salesi Rayasi, Etene Nanai-Seturo, Jordan Trainor, Caleb Clarke, Leicester Faingaanuku (who I think is the next Julian Savea), Tevita Li, even Jonah Lowe could have a crack at taking Naholo's spot.
Potential uncapped new midfielders to replace Nonu include the likes of Vince Aso (hope he isn't selected), Billy Proctor, the Umaga-Jensen brothers, but personally I'd move Rieko to centre and re-call David Havili to blood some new outside backs like Clarke.
Wether Dalton Papali'i makes the next World Cup or not, he's going to be a regular starter by 2023's World Cup. Other loose forwards who could possibly make their debuts after 2019's World Cup are Hugh Renton, Ethan Blackadder, Lachlan Boshier, Mitch Karpik and Blake Gibson. They'll do the job replacing Matt Todd.
If Beauden Barrett does end up leaving, I'd say it's a straight race between Brett Cameron and Bryn Gatland (uncapped) for his jersey. I don't see Stephen Perofeta giving Mo'unga a challenge at the starting role.
2019 Rugby World Cup
2019 Rugby World Cup
2019 Rugby World Cup
2020 All Blacks Squad