Forwards for the All Blacks squad
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="sparky" data-cid="567925" data-time="1459184818">
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<p>Steve Luatau is likely to be in the squad as well. I think Blake Gibson will be an All Blacks by the end of 2016. Brendon Edmonds can't be far away from a call up at Prop.</p>
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<p>The ABs have invested heavily in Cane and he isn't exactly doing anything wrong. He may not be as dynamic as Ardie but he is playing a McCaw like role in getting to every breakdown and making a massive amount of effective tackles. </p>
<p>As good as Gibson may look, I can't see him (barring injury) forcing his way up the pecking order.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Crucial" data-cid="567933" data-time="1459193132"><p>
The ABs have invested heavily in Cane and he isn't exactly doing anything wrong. He may not be as dynamic as Ardie but he is playing a McCaw like role in getting to every breakdown and making a massive amount of effective tackles. <br>
As good as Gibson may look, I can't see him (barring injury) forcing his way up the pecking order.</p></blockquote>
Yep, Cane very much the first choice open side, Ardie the back up 7, Gibson to get a debut against Italy. -
A player who has really impressed me so far is vaea fifita of the Hurricanes <br><br><br>
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<p>Yep, Fifita has made more metres than Dixon with less game time. He also has a better tackling percentage, so far, and has made nearly as many tackles and is a handy lineout option. Also, Liam Squire, with much less game time (roughly half), has made the same number of metres with the ball as Dixon and has made 3/4 of the number of tackles (so more per min on the field), with a much better completion percentage.</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Hooroo" data-cid="567952" data-time="1459200114">
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<p>Where do you get this information?</p>
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<p>NZ Herald site. They get their stats from Opta, I believe, who supply the NZ super rugby teams with statistics. So it should be pretty accurate.</p>
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<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/statscentre.cfm'>http://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/statscentre.cfm</a></p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Hooroo" data-cid="567952" data-time="1459200114">
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<p>Where do you get this information?</p>
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<p>If you navigate through the options available in this link you will find what you are looking for</p>
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<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/statscentre.cfm?'>http://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/statscentre.cfm?</a></p> -
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<p>It's interesting to speculate about the make up of Hansen's All Black squads this year, and the forward contingent within these squads.</p>
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<p>The best hint to what Hansen will do in the future is to look at what he has done in the past. You can't really look at last year because they used an expanded squad for the RC and the RWC squad had slightly different requirements. So if you look at Hansen's 2014 squads, he selected a 31 man squad for the Rugby Championship comprised of 18 forwards and 13 backs. Of those 18 forwards he went with the following split; 2 hookers, 5 props, 4 locks, 7 loosies. I think their 2016 squads are likely to conform to this structure. So assuming that Savea, Ioane and Messam are unavailable because of 7s duties, Nepo Laulala is injured and NH bound Vito is not required unless we are desperate, I think Hansen's 31 man squad for Wales will look a bit like this;</p>
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<p><strong>Hookers: </strong></p>
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<p>Coles</p>
<p>Taylor (I'm not sold on him yet but he took his limited opportunities last year and didn't let anyone down when he was on the field. The fact that the Crusaders set piece is the best of the NZ teams won't hurt his chances either)</p>
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<p><strong>Props:</strong></p>
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<p>Franks</p>
<p>Faumuina</p>
<p>Crockett</p>
<p>Moody</p>
<p>+ 1 more prop - I suspect Hansen will want to bring a youngster. This could be based on potential rather than what they have actually achieved. I'm going to be controversial and suggest Ofa Tuungafasi.</p>
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<p><strong>Locks:</strong></p>
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<p>Whitelock</p>
<p>Retallick</p>
<p>Romano</p>
<p>Tuipulotu</p>
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<p><strong>Loosies:</strong></p>
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<p>Read</p>
<p>Kaino</p>
<p>Cane</p>
<p>Dixon</p>
<p>Todd</p>
<p>Luatua</p>
<p>Liam Squires</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Crucial" data-cid="567964" data-time="1459203673"><p>
Pity you only get season totals though (unless I am driving it wrong). <br>
I was interested in seeing what Canes tackle count was against the Force which was looking huge during the first half but probably tailed off once the Chiefs blew them away.</p></blockquote>
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Try the Vodacom Super Rugby app. It'll give you a breakdown per round. <br><br>
It lists Cane ad having made 10 tackles. I've got no idea how accurate it is. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Toddy" data-cid="567991" data-time="1459209452">
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<p>Try the Vodacom Super Rugby app. It'll give you a breakdown per round.<br><br>
It lists Cane ad having made 10 tackles. I've got no idea how accurate it is.</p>
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<p>Thanks for that! </p>
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<p>The stats in the app align perfectly with what is on the NZ Herald website, so they are legit.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Crucial" data-cid="567990" data-time="1459209331">
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<p>Don't forget the policy that has injured players return for a chance.<br>
Nathan Harris come on down</p>
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<p>I think Nathan Harris will struggle to earn a recall to the test team. He came into the AB squad when depth at hooker was arguably at an all time low, and I don't remember him doing anything much. Codie Taylor is not close to being the finished product yet, but he can run an accurate lineout and he's by far the more athletic of the two. The beauty of Taylor is that he can play the same role as Coles, and make an impact off the bench. Harris never struck me as being an impact player.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Cantab79" data-cid="567994" data-time="1459210080">
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<p>I think Nathan Harris will struggle to earn a recall to the test team. He came into the AB squad when depth at hooker was arguably at an all time low, and<strong> I don't remember him doing anything much</strong>. Codie Taylor is not close to being the finished product yet, but he can run an accurate lineout and he's by far the more athletic of the two. The beauty of Taylor is that he can play the same role as Coles, and make an impact off the bench. Harris never struck me as being an impact player.</p>
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<p>After 21 minutes of test rugby over two games I'd be surprised if he did imprint himself on you, however he did score a try in that short time.</p>
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<p>It may be that he has los his chance but the point I was making is that the selectors have a policy that you don't unselect yourself solely through getting injured.</p>
<p>Now, if he was unable to get much time in Super Rugby from form selection then maybe that surpasses this AB policy but I wouldn't be surprised if he is on a plan to be firing toward the end of the Super comp.</p>
<p>At the time he was selected he was seen as being 'Coles-like'. That is why they went for him. They may still be interested.</p> -
<p>Cody Taylor is definately the second hooker picked now. Have followed his career very closely since he started playing club rugby down here.</p>
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<p>He has obviously worked very hard during the off season, and has started the season in excellent form.</p>
