AB RWC squad
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@Crazy-Horse yet to prove himself in black, but I think he's well proven at super level and a very abrasive player - probably a lot like a young Read. Beats tackles in a similar mode to Savea and hits in a similar mode to Cane.
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Not really a controversial squad. I struggle with Todd (3rd 7 behind Cane and Savea) but I agree with their two 10’s.
The ABs have proven time time again 10s can slot in to the squad. Think WC semi and final in 11, Sopoaga in Joburg 2015, Taylor in a Wellington Bled. If we lose both then I’m sure Ioane will be on a plane and or others.
Only change I would make is one of Hemopo or Frizell for Todd. I do think that Pat T may just surprise quite a few and proper step up.
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Like the squad. With 31 players you have to take a risk somewhere, and two 10s is the best risk to take given the players available, as others have said above.
Would be a different story if DMac was fit, he'd cover 10, replace Jordie Barrett in the outside backs, and allow them to take an extra midfielder in Laumape given how often SBW and Crotty are injured. So Laumape is the unluckiest man. Franks' time has passed sadly, but its the right call. Moli lucky Big Karl is still too crook.
No one has really stepped up to 6 (aside from Savea from an unconventional pathway), so taking one of Frizell/Fifita/Jacobson/Papali'i/Squire/Hemopo is all pretty much of a muchness; Jacobsen will get to beat up on some minnows and that's about it barring injuries.
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@Crazy-Horse This is what Hansen said on Jacobson:
"His maturity is way beyond that," he told Stuff. "He's ex-Under-20s captain, he understands the game really well, his defensive work is outstanding, his ability to get into the ruck and cause havoc there is outstanding and he's a good ball-carrier. "It's exciting where he could end up … if he stays injury-free he could have a long career in the All Blacks jersey."
Also mentioned that he was chosen ahead of Fifita and Hemopo at 6. No mention of Papalii at all. Jacobson could also feature at no.8 in some of those pool games if Read and/or Savea are rested.
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@Machpants said in RWC squad. Who's in, who's out?:
@MrDenmore not insights, into their thinking no. But how I see it is tens need experience in the big games, and they'd rather take someone who has experience in internationals than someone who has experience at ten at lower levels. Like Piri in 2011, or the first BIL they'll play off nine, and an experienced player who knows the system will hopefully not shit the bed in 10. And there not enough time to blood ioane under real pressure before RWC. Since the last one we've lost two international quality tens, and then our third choice 10 in DMac. It's a risk, they see the lock of international experience a bigger risk than lack of time at 10. What I think the rational is. Hopefully it won't get found out!
I reckon it's simpler than that.
They know Josh Ioane isn't ready for test rugby and there isn't time to get him ready, so they're rolling the dice that neither Beauden nor Richie will get hurt.
If one of them does, then they'll hope the other can play 80 minutes of remaining knock-out games without getting injured - and they'll deal with the decision-making around calling up Josh and who sits on the bench if/when it happens.
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@akan004 said in RWC squad. Who's in, who's out?:
Pretty happy with that squad overall. Glad they didn't pick Squire. Was hoping that BBBR would be fit for the opening game but that would have been asking for too much. Just hope he can recover in time for the 1/4s That's the only major worry at this stage. The non selection of Franks makes sense. If they had picked him over Moli, they would have had four props capable of playing tighthead and only two at loosehead (Angus is not a realistic option), with only one of them being a specialist. Moli gives that extra loosehead option but needs to improve his scrummaging imo.
Angus and Moli get some dirt tracker work. Ofa reserve LH for big games.
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@Tim said in RWC squad. Who's in, who's out?:
No f*cking idea what Todd is there for.
Playing the final 20 minutes of the big tests at pace.
They'll be starting Ardie, Cane and Read, with Todd (and others) providing fresh legs and increasing the tempo with 20 minutes to go. Backing our fitness to run other teams off their feet.
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@Bones I wouldn't say he is well proven at Super level (just checked Wiki he has 21 appearances dating back to 2018, so a fair bit more than I expected) - but I did like what I saw.
I am happy for him to be there and I don't doubt his pedigree at the underage level. None of the others were screaming 'pick me' and really, given his lack of game time I don't think he was either. Unless he was outstanding at training, and if he was, why wasn't he played more?
Edit - just remembered his concussion as a reason he may not have been played more.
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No issues with the squad..
2 most unlucky players are Nani Laumape and Jackson Hemapo in my opinion
It’s just bad luck for Laumape that there’s 4 other quality midfielders around at the minute on saying that he’s only an injury away from a call up.Jackson Hemapo is just plain unlucky that Brodie Retallick is injured but is still going..hence Patrick Tuipulotu has become the beneficiary of having to carry an extra lock..
..love the selection of Luke Jacobson, anybody who saw his game for the chiefs against the Highlanders at Forsyth Bar during super rugby would have witnessed easily the best all round performance from a number 6 the accuracy of his performance that night was not lost on the All Black coaches .
Throw in the fact he as great leadership skills which was seen when he skipped the 2017 Baby Blacks to World Cup glory
An inspired selection ..! -
@Steven-Harris said in RWC squad. Who's in, who's out?:
No issues with the squad..
2 most unlucky players are Nani Laumape and Jackson Hemapo in my opinion
It’s just bad luck for Laumape that there’s 4 other quality midfielders around at the minute on saying that he’s only an injury away from a call up.Jackson Hemapo is just plain unlucky that Brodie Retallick is injured but is still going..hence Patrick Tuipulotu has become the beneficiary of having to carry an extra lock..
True, but he's also the beneficiary of taking full advantage of the opportunity when given it. He was unstoppable in Bled II.
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@MajorRage my only doubt about Tuipulotu..Can he string together consecutive quality performances ..?,based on history,I am not that convinced..!.
One thing Hemapo gives you is 100% every time he takes the field, was consistently one of the Highlanders best players during super rugby. -
@Steven-Harris said in RWC squad. Who's in, who's out?:
@MajorRage my only doubt about Tuipulotu..Can he string together consecutive quality performances ..?,based on history,I am not that convinced..!.
One thing Hemapo gives you is 100% every time he takes the field, was consistently one of the Highlanders best players during super rugby.Based on historical form, I have doubts as well.
But, like Luatua before him, I think he's got an x-factor which not all players have, in that his ceiling as a player is much higher than others. Just needs to be managed right to get the best out of him.
I even trolled once last year that I thought he had future AB captain potential ...
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@Crazy-Horse said in RWC squad. Who's in, who's out?:
@Bones I wouldn't say he is well proven at Super level (just checked Wiki he has 21 appearances dating back to 2018, so a fair bit more than I expected) - but I did like what I saw.
I am happy for him to be there and I don't doubt his pedigree at the underage level. None of the others were screaming 'pick me' and really, given his lack of game time I don't think he was either. Unless he was outstanding at training, and if he was, why wasn't he played more?
Edit - just remembered his concussion as a reason he may not have been played more.
Geez, what's proven then? All of his performances I saw this year were very impressive, he was one of the form NZ loosies...in most loose forward positions!
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@MajorRage said in RWC squad. Who's in, who's out?:
True, but he's also the beneficiary of taking full advantage of the opportunity when given it. He was unstoppable in Bled II.
Hansen mentioned that they changed Tuipulotu’s nutrition recently and he’s a bit lighter. He would have been following instructions before, but maybe they had it slightly wrong?
He was always a guy who took a few games to get into a groove. I was surprised when he played well with no lead up games.
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@Steven-Harris said in RWC squad. Who's in, who's out?:
..love the selection of Luke Jacobson, anybody who saw his game for the chiefs against the Highlanders at Forsyth Bar during super rugby would have witnessed easily the best all round performance from a number 6 the accuracy of his performance that night was not lost on the All Black coaches .
Throw in the fact he as great leadership skills which was seen when he skipped the 2017 Baby Blacks to World Cup glory
An inspired selection ..!I'm sure I saw that Chiefs'game - it was the first time I'd really paid attention to Jacobson.
I think the selectors are deserving of a bit of a boot in the backside in regard to his selection though, given that he's on the plane with 22 minutes of test rugby under his belt.
Better selecting would have seen him start that test vs Argentina instead of Fifita and start the next one vs the Boks instead of Frizell. And he would be on the plane with two test starts under his belt, instead of none!
