All Blacks 2022
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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
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@Frye said in All Blacks 2022:
@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.
One poor game doesn’t make a poor prop. DeGroot gave Tu’ungafasi grief as well. Outside of that game he’s been scrummaging well the past couple of seasons.
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@TheMojoman said in All Blacks 2022:
@Frye said in All Blacks 2022:
@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.
One poor game doesn’t make a poor prop. DeGroot gave Tu’ungafasi grief as well. Outside of that game he’s been scrummaging well the past couple of seasons.
I don't think Lomax has developed like they had hoped. They've picked him the last 2 seasons as a 'special project' tighthead and he just hasn't kicked on.
Feels like ABs are almost in a bit of a holding pattern until Newell etc are ready.
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@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2022:
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.
Yep it won’t be the occasion or pressure that will be an issue. He’s the consummate professional. His preparation has always been impeccable even in his last season with the Warriors when he was saying “play the kid at fullback”, he trained and prepared as if he was playing.
It will just be a few of the nuances of test rugby to get used to (eg NH refs, pace of the play which even seasoned debutantes say is a step up). I’m guessing he gets the bench spot in the first test.
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@TheMojoman said in All Blacks 2022:
Hard to disagree with this. Add Lomax to the list.
I wouldn’t have Perenara or Robinson in the unlucky camp.
The writers attempt to link Perenara’s dropping to last years tests misses the point that his form has not been great for 2 years and I don’t think his Super performances this year showed any sign of it returning to his peak of 3-4 years ago.
As for Robinson, in my opinion it’s just a case of him being behind Scott Barrett and Vaa’i.
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Happy with the hookers, they picked themselves. Aumua has never kicked on, especially with the core roles of a hooker. The props are disappointing, and the selection of Karl T is one of the worst in recent times. Locks are fine, but we really need to manage SW/BR workload if we want them at peak levels. Looses I can live with, but PGS needs to step up.
Halves pick themselves. Midfield too. They need to get the combination right though. Outside backs fine, although I think LF needs to seriously up his work-rate.
There is no doubt we have a backs selection there capable of beating any team. I remain underwhelmed by the tight five though, especially the props.
No matter what happens, Foster is with us until post-RWC, so will get on behind the team. It would nice to put Ireland to the sword, not least because we may well meet them in a RWC ¼ final in 2023.
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@Bones said in All Blacks 2022:
Has Ainsley even been mentioned? I think he's more unlucky than Lomax.
Agree. Both will be in the Māori squad. Ainsley started the season well but his form fell away a little in the back half. We didn't see as much of him running with the ball, which was his strength.
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@Bovidae said in All Blacks 2022:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2022:
Has Ainsley even been mentioned? I think he's more unlucky than Lomax.
Agree. Both will be in the Māori squad. Ainsley started the season well but his form fell away a little in the back half. We didn't see as much of him running with the ball, which was his strength.
Yeah, he definitely wasn't standing out as much ball in hand, but still seemed to be very much holding his own at set piece and hitting hard at ruck/defence.
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@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2022:
@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2022:
He's a bit more experienced than your average newbie, so they won't be concerned about him being overawed.
Personally, I'd pick Jack Goodhue at 12, but he's really been selected as a centre so maybe they'll ask him to specialize..
RTS at 12 with Jack on the bench wouldn't be bad.
RTS is a big risk against the Irish midfield. Might come off, might wreck his career. Don't think the coaches will throw him in the deep end
Afraid I just don't agree Vic. This isn't teenage Jonah or Toeava.
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@Duluth said in All Blacks 2022:
@taniwharugby said in All Blacks 2022:
didnt Dalton start more as a 6 for the Blues?
Yes and he initially made the ABs as a 6
But Schmidt thought of it first ...
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@Bovidae said in All Blacks 2022:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2022:
Has Ainsley even been mentioned? I think he's more unlucky than Lomax.
Agree. Both will be in the Māori squad. Ainsley started the season well but his form fell away a little in the back half. We didn't see as much of him running with the ball, which was his strength.
Maori front row will be ok won't it? Tamaiti Williams, Lomax Ainsley (forgot he was Maori) and Ollie Norris? I looking forward to seeing that team named, and am going up to Hamilton for first game!! Yeehaa!!
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@Bones said in All Blacks 2022:
@NZbloke said in All Blacks 2022:
Papallii has never had the pace to be a link player at 7
🤣
Are you on drugs ? ...do you even realize a 7 should be a fetcher, an openside has to have the pace to link up with the backs, especially with the speed the ABs play, that isn't Papalii, he's too slow for the position & weighs about 115kg, which is why he's better suited to 6 or 8.
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