Are there any All Blacks wildcards left ?
-
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 NanaiWho else ?
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
How about George bridge? Has all the qualities needed for test rugby
-
@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?
-
@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 ?
-
@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.
-
@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.
-
Talent Seu?
-
@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 !
-
@booboo WOOO!
-
Yeah. It's not hard really is it?
-
@booboo I don't see what any of this has to do with George Bridge.
-
@booboo said in Are there any All Blacks wildcards left ?:
Yeah. It's not hard really is it?
It's a bit like hooking a pike when salmon fishing though.
Easy, bony and inedible.
-
@crucial Must be annoying.
-
@canerbry said in Are there any All Blacks wildcards left ?:
@crucial Must be annoying.
A minor irritant.
-
Not worth making such a big a fuss about really.
Unlike George Bridge.
-
@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 -
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.
-
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)
-
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.
-
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.
-
@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.
-
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
-
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.
-
@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.
-
@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.
