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    Are there any All Blacks wildcards left ?

    Sports Talk
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    • C
      cgrant last edited by Duluth

      Here is an article from the NZ Herald :

      https://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/news/article.cfm?c_id=80&objectid=12078681

      Current outsiders :
      LHP : Aidan Ross (was great for the Chiefs until that terrible injury)
      Loose forwards : Akira Ioane
      Scrum half : Brad Weber, Bryn Hall
      Back three : Ben Lam, Simon Alaimalo, Melani Nanai

      Who else ?

      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • M
        muddyriver last edited by

        Luke Jacobsen from the chiefs has done extremely well since he's got the starting role. Probably 2 years off though

        Another chief Angus taavao probably the next best tight head with nepo unavailable.

        But I agree most positions covered and I agree with your listed selections although I don't think melani is at all in the frame based on this year. Would be a good replacement for seta at the crusaders if he wanted to improve.

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
        • Bovidae
          Bovidae last edited by

          Agree on Jacobson. Papali'i is another young loosie in the same category.

          I was curious that Bidwell mentioned Taukei'aho in one of his pre-selection articles about the AB squad. But he's only rated the 3rd Chiefs hooker at the moment and has similar qualities to Aumua.

          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
          • A
            ARHS last edited by

            Agree on most of those. Taukei'aho has huge potential. A fit Taleni Seu could press for inclusion. Rob Thompson is another. How about Xavier Roe as third halfback? And 10 depth is very shallow, so Perofeta could push a case.

            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • A
              allblacksfan72 last edited by

              How about George bridge? Has all the qualities needed for test rugby

              Crucial 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 3
              • Crucial
                Crucial @allblacksfan72 last edited by

                @allblacksfan72 said in Are there any All Blacks wildcards left ?:

                How about George bridge? Has all the qualities needed for test rugby

                A red and black jersey?

                A 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 14
                • A
                  allblacksfan72 @Crucial last edited by

                  @crucial said in Are there any All Blacks wildcards left ?:

                  @allblacksfan72 said in Are there any All Blacks wildcards left ?:

                  How about George bridge? Has all the qualities needed for test rugby

                  A red and black jersey?

                  What does that mean? Not good enough ?

                  Crucial 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • Crucial
                    Crucial @allblacksfan72 last edited by Crucial

                    @allblacksfan72 said in Are there any All Blacks wildcards left ?:

                    @crucial said in Are there any All Blacks wildcards left ?:

                    @allblacksfan72 said in Are there any All Blacks wildcards left ?:

                    How about George bridge? Has all the qualities needed for test rugby

                    A red and black jersey?

                    What does that mean? Not good enough ?

                    It means it was a weak joke at the expense of the age old notion that Cantab players get easier access to the ABs

                    As for Bridge himself, tbh I haven't watched him closely as he hasn't warranted that much attention. I have seen him make good plays and I have seen him be average. Haven't seen anything that makes me wish the AB coaches would get their hands on him.

                    Canerbry 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                    • Canerbry
                      Canerbry @Crucial last edited by

                      @crucial A weak reply from a weak position, at the support of the age old notion that Cantab players are written off by the pig island circle jerk due to ugly jealousy.

                      Watch Bridge.

                      booboo 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 4
                      • booboo
                        booboo last edited by

                        Talent Seu?

                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • booboo
                          booboo @Canerbry last edited by

                          @canerbry said in Are there any All Blacks wildcards left ?:

                          @crucial A weak reply from a weak position, at the support of the age old notion that Cantab players are written off by the pig island circle jerk due to ugly jealousy.

                          Watch Bridge.

                          Look! Someone caught a @Canerbry !

                          Canerbry 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 11
                          • Canerbry
                            Canerbry @booboo last edited by

                            @booboo WOOO!

                            booboo 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                            • booboo
                              booboo @Canerbry last edited by

                              @canerbry

                              Yeah. It's not hard really is it?

                              Canerbry Crucial 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 1
                              • Canerbry
                                Canerbry @booboo last edited by

                                @booboo I don't see what any of this has to do with George Bridge.

                                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                • Crucial
                                  Crucial @booboo last edited by

                                  @booboo said in Are there any All Blacks wildcards left ?:

                                  @canerbry

                                  Yeah. It's not hard really is it?

                                  It's a bit like hooking a pike when salmon fishing though.

                                  Easy, bony and inedible.

                                  Canerbry 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                  • Canerbry
                                    Canerbry @Crucial last edited by

                                    @crucial Must be annoying.

                                    Crucial 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                    • Crucial
                                      Crucial @Canerbry last edited by

                                      @canerbry said in Are there any All Blacks wildcards left ?:

                                      @crucial Must be annoying.

                                      A minor irritant.

                                      Canerbry 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                      • Canerbry
                                        Canerbry @Crucial last edited by

                                        Not worth making such a big a fuss about really.

                                        Unlike George Bridge.

                                        A 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                        • A
                                          allblacksfan72 @Canerbry last edited by

                                          @canerbry said in Are there any All Blacks wildcards left ?:

                                          Not worth making such a big a fuss about really.

                                          Unlike George Bridge.

                                          Bridge is all class I think,very under rated player,reminds me of Ben smith in the way he goes about the game.
                                          I also rate tevita li on this season’s form,been outplaying Naholo in my opinion

                                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                          • C
                                            cgrant last edited by

                                            I will have a close look at Caleb Clarke. Unfortunately, he is playing in a very poor team so he will not have too many occasions to show his talent.

                                            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                            • Rapido
                                              Rapido last edited by

                                              Unlikely. But young guys who could debut. IF there are injuries in their positions AND they themselves carve up. Guys with potential to own a position for a few years post 2019.

                                              Quentin Strange
                                              Dalton Papalii

                                              (Assuming Akira Ioane and Aumua aren't bolsters as they have played non-capped games on tour, been in squads etc)

                                              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
                                              • Chris B.
                                                Chris B. last edited by Chris B.

                                                Whetu Douglas is a reasonable wildcard call.

                                                Bridge isn't a bad call given that Ben Smith and Naholo didn't have the greatest of times on the wing during the French series and NMS hasn't really looked the same player he was in 2015. Different player to Ben Lam - more wing-fullback.

                                                Hard to know quite who Hansen would choose as his second choice loosehead if everyone is fit - so few of them have been when the ABs have been selected in the past eight months. Tu'ikaunafe managed to bang a very solid stake into the ground, so he's doubtless leapt up the pecking order - possibly to the top (behind Moody). Edit: and I'm forgetting about Hames who is probably still no. 2.

                                                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                                • Stockcar86
                                                  Stockcar86 last edited by

                                                  Looking forward to next years world cup, something that is going to be key is versatility. With the squad sizes limited to 31, and the inability to bring in someone from outside the squad without sending someone home, having a player who can competently cover several positions to allow someone to rehab from a minor injury may be key.

                                                  A 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                                  • A
                                                    allblacksfan72 @Stockcar86 last edited by

                                                    @stockcar86 said in Are there any All Blacks wildcards left ?:

                                                    Looking forward to next years world cup, something that is going to be key is versatility. With the squad sizes limited to 31, and the inability to bring in someone from outside the squad without sending someone home, having a player who can competently cover several positions to allow someone to rehab from a minor injury may be key.

                                                    Good point! I am not a fan of just having 31 players,I really wish it was changed to 34.

                                                    Chris B. 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                                    • Machpants
                                                      Machpants last edited by

                                                      Esp since world rugby insist on having to full front rows in the 23, they should have upped the numbers when they changed that rule

                                                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                                      • No Quarter
                                                        No Quarter last edited by No Quarter

                                                        Bridge took a little while to find his feet at Super level, and first impressions do tend to last unfortunately. He has been very classy this year, if he continues to improve he could make a strong push next year. If I was him I'd be demanding the number 14 jumper for the Saders.

                                                        Aumua is an interesting one. Picked for the EOYT from the ITM Cup based on raw talent, but has been injured most of this year. I see @Chris-B had Coltman going ahead of him next year, but as the coaches don't tend to drop players based on injury I still see him as our third hooker.

                                                        Chris B. 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                                        • Chris B.
                                                          Chris B. @allblacksfan72 last edited by

                                                          @allblacksfan72 said in Are there any All Blacks wildcards left ?:

                                                          @stockcar86 said in Are there any All Blacks wildcards left ?:

                                                          Looking forward to next years world cup, something that is going to be key is versatility. With the squad sizes limited to 31, and the inability to bring in someone from outside the squad without sending someone home, having a player who can competently cover several positions to allow someone to rehab from a minor injury may be key.

                                                          Good point! I am not a fan of just having 31 players,I really wish it was changed to 34.

                                                          On the other hand, I really like it. Creates a bit of intrigue in the selections - rather than being able to pick people to cover every contingency.

                                                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                                          • Chris B.
                                                            Chris B. @No Quarter last edited by

                                                            @no-quarter My team was if Hansen was picking tomorrow.

                                                            Coltman - based on Harris having a Grade A shocker in his limited time in the second test and Aumua being a rookie Project.

                                                            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
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