AB squad next RWC (2023)?
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@Steven-Harris said in AB squad next RWC (2023)?:
@Tim cupboard is pretty bare after Patty T and Paripari Parkinson hopefully he comes on big time for the Blues..
I was really disappointed Manaaki Selby Rickit got himself into trouble with the law this year..at 22 years old, 6’7 and 112kgs this kid is an athlete..incredibly good in the air, I have no doubt he would have picked up a super contract next year, given the shortage of quality locks...it’s a real bugger,but only has himself to blame .I got to shake Pari Pari's hand on Saturday night.
He is just an enormous unit - I think he's the biggest person I've ever stood right next to. TV gives no idea really. You can see where stories like David and Goliath can come from.
Then I looked up Steven Adams and he's 7cm taller than Pari Pari!
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@Nepia said in AB squad next RWC (2023)?:
@Tim said in AB squad next RWC (2023)?:
Who's more promising out of Mikaele-Tu’u and Flanders?
Flanders I'd say, although Mikaele-Tu'u can put in some blockbusting performances.
I thought the 2017 U20 loose forward trio of Jacobson, Papalii and Mikaele-Tu'u was great and very balanced. Mikaele-Tu'u is a the dynamic ball runner so hopefully he gets a chance now at the Highlanders.
If we are wanting some tall locks a player like Josh Lord should have developed nicely in 4 years. There is also Sam Darry.
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@Tim said in AB squad next RWC (2023)?:
@Bovidae How about McWhannell? Seems to have been injured a lot.
Only one injury, a broken leg I think. He was back for the last 2 Waikato games and I hope he's signed for the Chiefs again. McWhannell is listed at 1.98 m so not really tall for a modern-day lock. He has plenty of potential though, mobile and good in the lineout.
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@Bovidae said in AB squad next RWC (2023)?:
@Nepia said in AB squad next RWC (2023)?:
@Tim said in AB squad next RWC (2023)?:
Who's more promising out of Mikaele-Tu’u and Flanders?
Flanders I'd say, although Mikaele-Tu'u can put in some blockbusting performances.
I thought the 2017 U20 loose forward trio of Jacobson, Papalii and Mikaele-Tu'u was great and very balanced. Mikaele-Tu'u is a the dynamic ball runner so hopefully he gets a chance now at the Highlanders.
If we are wanting some tall locks a player like Josh Lord should have developed nicely in 4 years. There is also Sam Darry.
I wasn't wanting to put down Mikaele-Tu'u, I just think Flanders has the potential to be a long term AB.
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@Chris-B said in AB squad next RWC (2023)?:
@Steven-Harris said in AB squad next RWC (2023)?:
@Tim cupboard is pretty bare after Patty T and Paripari Parkinson hopefully he comes on big time for the Blues..
I was really disappointed Manaaki Selby Rickit got himself into trouble with the law this year..at 22 years old, 6’7 and 112kgs this kid is an athlete..incredibly good in the air, I have no doubt he would have picked up a super contract next year, given the shortage of quality locks...it’s a real bugger,but only has himself to blame .I got to shake Pari Pari's hand on Saturday night.
He is just an enormous unit - I think he's the biggest person I've ever stood right next to. TV gives no idea really. You can see where stories like David and Goliath can come from.
Then I looked up Steven Adams and he's 7cm taller than Pari Pari!
I shook hands today with BBBR. Firm handshake and big unit.
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@pakman said in AB squad next RWC (2023)?:
@Chris-B said in AB squad next RWC (2023)?:
@Steven-Harris said in AB squad next RWC (2023)?:
@Tim cupboard is pretty bare after Patty T and Paripari Parkinson hopefully he comes on big time for the Blues..
I was really disappointed Manaaki Selby Rickit got himself into trouble with the law this year..at 22 years old, 6’7 and 112kgs this kid is an athlete..incredibly good in the air, I have no doubt he would have picked up a super contract next year, given the shortage of quality locks...it’s a real bugger,but only has himself to blame .I got to shake Pari Pari's hand on Saturday night.
He is just an enormous unit - I think he's the biggest person I've ever stood right next to. TV gives no idea really. You can see where stories like David and Goliath can come from.
Then I looked up Steven Adams and he's 7cm taller than Pari Pari!
I shook hands today with BBBR. Firm handshake and big unit.
Think his fingers were clutching my wrist!
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@Nepia said in AB squad next RWC (2023)?:
I wasn't wanting to put down Mikaele-Tu'u, I just think Flanders has the potential to be a long term AB.
Understand but Flanders is a similar player to Jacobson and what the ABs will need is a bruising no.8 to complement those types of players. Akira if he gets his shit together, but Mikaele-Tu'u has all those attributes.
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@sparky said in AB squad next RWC (2023)?:
Sure Rugby performance is probably 30% about mindset, but it is 70% about talent and Akira Ioane has the talent.
I hope someone can persuade him to sort his stuff out and seize the opportunities he has.
If anyone can, I'd put my money on Razor. Shame he didn't get swallowed up by the Crusaders machine.
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@sparky said in AB squad next RWC (2023)?:
Sure Rugby performance is probably 30% about mindset, but it is 70% about talent and Akira Ioane has the talent.
I hope someone can persuade him to sort his stuff out and seize the opportunities he has.
Not saying they should have selected him exactly , but the game against england probably showed , we lack big brutal physical players of his type, and he did have one of his best ever games against the lions
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@kiwiinmelb except you are missing the fact that the majority of games he plays he is simply lazy and shys away from hard work. Yes he had a big workload this year, but I lost count at how many times he just stood near a ruck and watched his team mates hit the ruck. Teariki Ben Nicholas (Wellington), Gareth Evans (Hawkes Bay) and Devan Flanders (Hawkes Bay) are all better options moving forward.
No doubt Ardie will probably command the 8 jersey with Cane at 7 and someone else at 6.
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@sparky said in AB squad next RWC (2023)?:
@cgrant said in AB squad next RWC (2023)?:
That German loose forward playing for the NZ schoolboy team is one to watch.
Aaron Segner. Technique at breakdown looks excellent for an 18 year old.
Hopefully he'll stick with NZRU rather than be tempted back to Europe. Wouldn't be surprised if the Paris or London clubs were keeping an eye on him.
Even changed his first name...dedicated to the cause
Ja, he plays rugby sehr gut.
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@pakman I think PPP and BBBR are the same height.
Seeing them playing - they're in among a bunch of other people who are big units, as well. Someone like Mitch Hunt who looks tiny out there is actually solid as fuck in real life.
Seeing them wander round among the crowd of normal sized people, they look like giants. It's no wonder that contact with the head happens when they tackle halfbacks!
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Not Coltman, Frizzell and Webber?
Its easy to put the selectorial boot in now, after the fact.
Jacobson was a brave selection for 2019, but his subsequent replacement by Frizzell rather than Papalii was not.
No Aumua or TTT in the 3rd choice positions either in 2019.
For the record, I would have liked Aumua to have been good enough for 2019 selection, but if his throwing isn't good enough yet then I too would select someone else. Hooker is second most important position in the team.
As much as I like Webber, I'm disappointed that TTT didn't play for the ABs this year and go to the RWC.
