All Blacks 2022
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Fakatava brought to tears with All Blacks call up
New All Blacks halfback Folau Fakatava said hearing his named read out in the squad to prepare for the series against Ireland left him in tears.
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@Bones you'd like to think players hit the field running when they make the ABs, rather than take time to bed in...
TBF I'd say ST, AI, WJ all looked the goods before making ABs, so is more continuation...I'll give you Christie though, I think he has thrived in the AB environment...Lord is a good prospect, so thats on them, but still some way off IMO
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@Bovidae said in All Blacks 2022:
Papalii is larger than your typical openside, and I said months ago I expected him to be used at 6 at some stage. More likely off the bench.
Yep he one of the biggest of the loosies going around, I not suggesting he should be there, but would be ineteresting to see. Foster didn't say he would be there only they think they might like a look at him there.
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@taniwharugby said in All Blacks 2022:
@Bones you'd like to think players hit the field running when they make the ABs, rather than take time to bed in...
TBF I'd say ST, AI, WJ all looked the goods before making ABs, so is more continuation...I'll give you Christie though, I think he has thrived in the AB environment...Lord is a good prospect, so thats on them, but still some way off IMO
I think Taukieaho has come on leaps and bounds after making the AB's too, he's gone to another level. Jordan's game has been a lot tidier this year.
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@taniwharugby said in All Blacks 2022:
@Tim TBH I think its the props that are the real issue and lack of mobility with ball carrying, ruck hitting and hard hitting defence, hopefully this is something they will be working on alot with the current lot to take some of the load off our locks and loosies allowing them to focus more on thier jobs instead of thiers + more
Contrary to popular opinion, I think Bower has been showing really well around the park - he has certainly been hitting hard ball in hand. Just a little bit inconsistent at the moment.
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PGS is only there because Blackadder is injured, so I am not sure it is indicative of a change in strategy by the coaches in the loose forward mix (as implied by a couple of articles I read). I'd love to know what MMT's work-ons are.
It's a shame we don't have easier matches first up because then the coaches could have blooded these younger talents more easily.
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@Frank said in All Blacks 2022:
I don't think he has a shit's show of starting , but RTS is very lucky in that he plays between the starting 1st five and starting center - COMBINATIONS!!!!!!!
Frankly (get it?) I disagree. Definitely up there as a top 2 12 option.
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@Old-Samurai-Jack said in All Blacks 2022:
I kind of understand PGS's inclusion (type of player) but when you have Grace, Robinson, Jacobson, MMT (haven't noticed too much but will defer to Fern narrative) running around.......
Grace and Robinson especially have been superb at the business end while PGS has looked overawed. Oh well... I hope he proves all the doubters wrong and becomes a beast in test rugby.Good point re Grace. Has built nicely these last couple of weeks.
Am not on the MMT Bandwagon.
Ginge and Jacobsen I'm a fan of.
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@taniwharugby said in All Blacks 2022:
@gt12 is mentioned in the article, well why they picked KT, all down to experience
And scrummaging.
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@Stag said in All Blacks 2022:
@Victor-Meldrew Cane is fine in the squad but he is still not a captains arsehole. That’s the big problem here.
Ploise exploin
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@Stag said in All Blacks 2022:
@KiwiMurph obviously Blackadder would have been there, Luke Jacobson should be there and Cullen Grace absolutely should be there
The question is for whom?
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I’m very happy with most of the squad named but I personally would not have picked tuuinukuafe and I would have gone for de groot
Whitelock seems to be on the slide quickly and I would have gone for Luke Jacobson a extra back rower
Other one change I would have left havili out for Thomas umaga jenson although I understand he may be injured -
Love the chat about NRL grand final winning, Dally M winning, Dally M fullback and winger of the year winning, and 20 test playing RTS maybe battling with the pressure of test rugby.
And against a good but hardly tricky Irish midfield.
I understand there's no guarantee he'll kill it, but no more doubt than any other newbie, except this one won't be overawed by the occasion.
No chance a June test v Ireland is higher stakes than an NRL GF.
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@Frank said in All Blacks 2022:
@Dan54 said in All Blacks 2022:
@NZbloke said in All Blacks 2022:
Foster said they're keen to use Papalii on the blindside, I bet that was Schmidt's idea, not his... Papallii has never had the pace to be a link player at 7, which is a pretty big factor in the ABs playing a fast paced game.
Well as Foster talked about it last year, I not sure where you got that idea from.
Papalii at 6, Cane at 7, Savea at 8 = three opensides - what could possibly go wrong?
Indeed. Not sure why Fozzie thinks Papali’i would make a good 6 when he has plenty of options there? Frizell pre-injury was tearing it up albeit he’s never really transferred his super form to test rugby.
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Hard to disagree with this. Add Lomax to the list.
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@TheMojoman said in All Blacks 2022:
Hard to disagree with this. Add Lomax to the list.
No-one who watched the Tahs game would think Lomax was unlucky. Had an absolute horror of a time against Bell and was subbed before halftime. He's still young but realistically he's a liability at this stage, hopefully he sticks it out because he'd be a huge asset if he gets it right.
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@taniwharugby said in All Blacks 2022:
@Bones you'd like to think players hit the field running when they make the ABs, rather than take time to bed in...
TBF I'd say ST, AI, WJ all looked the goods before making ABs, so is more continuation...I'll give you Christie though, I think he has thrived in the AB environment...Lord is a good prospect, so thats on them, but still some way off IMO
AI was a bit ho hum at times and Hansen didn't seem to rate him. But he's become a much better player since Foster gave him a chance. Hope he can kick-on this year as he faded a bit in the later 2021 Tests.
As you say, Lord (and Vaii) look prospects. Hope they develop this year into serious contenders for starting 4 &5 and we don't end up with another Pat T situation
Stuff