AB squad for the EOYT
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@rotated Bird? Luatua too, I guess, as he can cover lock.
Though aside from when players go on sabbatical or are injured, when was the last time anyone was rested from the EOYT anyway? Marshall way back in 2004? I can't see them doing it now, at most they'll give the starters a one game rest.
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@Unco said in AB squad for the EOYT:
@rotated Bird? Luatua too, I guess, as he can cover lock.
Though aside from when players go on sabbatical or are injured, when was the last time anyone was rested from the EOYT anyway? Marshall way back in 2004? I can't see them doing it now, at most they'll give the starters a one game rest.
Agree, and that's usually the "easiest" test. So that would be Italy.
I also wonder what impact the simultaneous presence in Europe of the Maori All Blacks and many Kiwis in the Baabaas squad will have on the size and composition of the All Blacks squad, if any.
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Good call. There will be a ton of players "on-site" available to call up through injury - and there will almost certainly be injury.
Parsons, Slade and Bird got added to the 2014 EOYT mid tour when Harris, Jane and BBBR got injured (BBBR was a precaution and I don't know if he even missed a game in the end).
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@Unco said in AB squad for the EOYT:
@rotated Bird? Luatua too, I guess, as he can cover lock.
Though aside from when players go on sabbatical or are injured, when was the last time anyone was rested from the EOYT anyway? Marshall way back in 2004? I can't see them doing it now, at most they'll give the starters a one game rest.
Wasn't Conrad Smith rested on the 2013 tour? The tour that Bender played centre.
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@ACT-Crusader said in AB squad for the EOYT:
@Unco said in AB squad for the EOYT:
@rotated Bird? Luatua too, I guess, as he can cover lock.
Though aside from when players go on sabbatical or are injured, when was the last time anyone was rested from the EOYT anyway? Marshall way back in 2004? I can't see them doing it now, at most they'll give the starters a one game rest.
Wasn't Conrad Smith rested on the 2013 tour? The tour that Bender played centre.
That was a sabbatical wasn't it? Like Ali Williams' one.
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@WillieTheWaiter
Atu Moli is probably the long term successor at THP. His scrummaging has improved a lot and his workrate is excellent. His physique is more suited to international rugby than Laulala's IMO. -
@Stargazer said in AB squad for the EOYT:
@Unco said in AB squad for the EOYT:
@rotated Bird? Luatua too, I guess, as he can cover lock.
Though aside from when players go on sabbatical or are injured, when was the last time anyone was rested from the EOYT anyway? Marshall way back in 2004? I can't see them doing it now, at most they'll give the starters a one game rest.
Agree, and that's usually the "easiest" test. So that would be Italy.
I also wonder what impact the simultaneous presence in Europe of the Maori All Blacks and many Kiwis in the Baabaas squad will have on the size and composition of the All Blacks squad, if any.
I see Shields, Whitelock and Taufua all in the BaaBaas. Would be interesting to see the call up order from that one.
I would guess the known quantity Whitelock would probably be first in line followed by Shields (both with ability to cover two positions), Taufua the outside bet (although he is currently in hot form and can cover 6 and 7 at a pinch). -
@Crucial said in AB squad for the EOYT:
@Stargazer said in AB squad for the EOYT:
@Unco said in AB squad for the EOYT:
@rotated Bird? Luatua too, I guess, as he can cover lock.
Though aside from when players go on sabbatical or are injured, when was the last time anyone was rested from the EOYT anyway? Marshall way back in 2004? I can't see them doing it now, at most they'll give the starters a one game rest.
Agree, and that's usually the "easiest" test. So that would be Italy.
I also wonder what impact the simultaneous presence in Europe of the Maori All Blacks and many Kiwis in the Baabaas squad will have on the size and composition of the All Blacks squad, if any.
I see Shields, Whitelock and Taufua all in the BaaBaas. Would be interesting to see the call up order from that one.
I would guess the known quantity Whitelock would probably be first in line followed by Shields (both with ability to cover two positions), Taufua the outside bet (although he is currently in hot form and can cover 6 and 7 at a pinch).Taufua can cover 8, too. Not sure he's played there this year, with Read playing almost every game, but he has in previous years.
I actually find the presence of Goodes as a back-up much more interesting.
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@Stargazer said in AB squad for the EOYT:
@Crucial said in AB squad for the EOYT:
@Stargazer said in AB squad for the EOYT:
@Unco said in AB squad for the EOYT:
@rotated Bird? Luatua too, I guess, as he can cover lock.
Though aside from when players go on sabbatical or are injured, when was the last time anyone was rested from the EOYT anyway? Marshall way back in 2004? I can't see them doing it now, at most they'll give the starters a one game rest.
Agree, and that's usually the "easiest" test. So that would be Italy.
I also wonder what impact the simultaneous presence in Europe of the Maori All Blacks and many Kiwis in the Baabaas squad will have on the size and composition of the All Blacks squad, if any.
I see Shields, Whitelock and Taufua all in the BaaBaas. Would be interesting to see the call up order from that one.
I would guess the known quantity Whitelock would probably be first in line followed by Shields (both with ability to cover two positions), Taufua the outside bet (although he is currently in hot form and can cover 6 and 7 at a pinch).Taufua can cover 8, too. Not sure he's played there this year, with Read playing almost every game, but he has in previous years.
I actually find the presence of Goodes as a back-up much more interesting.
Agree. He is the most obvious one in there.
My comment was more regarding the AB squad makeup and whether they take into account the loose cover on hand (would guess Akira in the Maori team as well)
With no Laulala and Ofa's TH play not strong enough, Goodes is a solid option. -
When is the last time a BaaBaas or NZM player actually got used on a tour? I can recall Mike Brewer being called in from a holiday in England in about 1993 (?) to take a huge shit on Liam Barry... but since then?
I mean there is a LOT of talk about how we will draft from those 2 sides, but when have we ever actually done that? We've played what? 20 odd EOYT tests under Hansen and has he ever gone outside the touring party for a player who has had a single minute of gametime?
Maybe a prop?
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@gollum said in AB squad for the EOYT:
When is the last time a BaaBaas or NZM player actually got used on a tour? I can recall Mike Brewer being called in from a holiday in England in about 1993 (?) to take a huge shit on Liam Barry... but since then?
Parsons
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@gollum said in AB squad for the EOYT:
When is the last time a BaaBaas or NZM player actually got used on a tour? I can recall Mike Brewer being called in from a holiday in England in about 1993 (?) to take a huge shit on Liam Barry... but since then?
Parsons, Bird and Slade in 2014
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@Duluth said in AB squad for the EOYT:
@gollum said in AB squad for the EOYT:
When is the last time a BaaBaas or NZM player actually got used on a tour? I can recall Mike Brewer being called in from a holiday in England in about 1993 (?) to take a huge shit on Liam Barry... but since then?
Parsons
That was an interesting move. Harris went down injured and we had just come off a tough test vs England using Coles and Mealamu. Hansen took a punt and called in Parsons after his Baabaas game to start ahead of Coles and Kev.
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@ACT-Crusader said in AB squad for the EOYT:
@Duluth said in AB squad for the EOYT:
@gollum said in AB squad for the EOYT:
When is the last time a BaaBaas or NZM player actually got used on a tour? I can recall Mike Brewer being called in from a holiday in England in about 1993 (?) to take a huge shit on Liam Barry... but since then?
Parsons
That was an interesting move. Harris went down injured and we had just come off a tough test vs England using Coles and Mealamu. Hansen took a punt and called in Parsons after his Baabaas game to start ahead of Coles and Kev.
And he was found wanting. He's better now. But he was short of a gallop then.
Given his age he is not a long term answer and not worth persevering with imo.
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Paulasi Manu would be a shot if they take a third loosehead. I'd tend to think it would be him or Kane Hames.
Tom Franklin was ahead of Dom Bird at the last waypoint, though I'm not sure they need five locks. I'd say something like:
Crockett
Moody
Hames(?)
Franks
Faumuina
Tu'ungafasiColes
Taylor
Coltman (?)Retallick
Whitelock
Tuipolotu
RomanoKaino
Dixon
Cane
Savea
Read
SquireSmith
Perenara
Kerr-BarlowBarrett
Cruden
SopoagaCrotty
Lienert-Brown
Fekitoa
MoalaSavea
Naholo
Dagg
R. Ioane(?)
Smith
McKenziePlus one - and most likely that's a loose forward - Luatua, A. Ioane or Todd. I can't really see them taking another tighthead prop, because Laulala is next in line. I can't see why they'd need five locks - with several loosies who can cover lock.
There's heaps of utility options in the backs, but they might take a fifth midfielder - Tamanivalu, even though Ioane gives them cover there (or they might take Seta instead of Rieko).
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Looks good @Chris-B
What's happening with Harris? Would Coltman be preferred over Parsons?
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@ACT-Crusader said in AB squad for the EOYT:
Would Coltman be preferred over Parsons?
I think Coltman was preferred to Parsons for the SA trip because of his utility value. It was a risk only taking 5 props on tour and he was extra insurance
I suspect they will go for Coltman again on the EOYT though. It's a close call and Parsons has been out for a long time with a concussion issue.I agree with the squad @Chris-B picked
For that extra loosie position I think it's between Todd and Luatua. That call probably depends on who they plan on resting for certain matches
Akira looks like he needs an off season.
