AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?
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If a 32 man squad is retained for the next Spring, what could it look like ?
LHP : Moody, Tuinukuafe (if fit. If not, Hodgman ?)
THP : Lomax, Tu'ungafasi, Laulala
Hookers : Taylor, Coles, Aumua
Locks : Tuipolutu, Whitelock, Barrett (if fit. If not : ?)
Loose forwards : Robinson (If fit. If not, Grace or Ioane), Papali'i, Cane, Savea, Sotutu, Mikaele-Tuu
Halfbacks : Smith, Perenara, Weber
1st Fives : Mo'unga, Barrett
2nd Fives and Centres : Lienert-Brown, Goodhue, Ennor, Ioane
Back three : Clarke, Telea, Reece, Jordan, MacKenzie.
Utility back : Barrett (or Havili)
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Wrote down this squad and was going to post on another thread. A bit larger than yours (35) so its a bit of a training squad. Potentially lots of new ABs. Taking a bit of a punt on the Highlanders Locks TBH.
Props: Moody, Tu'inukuafe, Laulala, Tu'ungafasi, Lomax
Hookers: Taylor, Coles, Coltman
Locks: S Whitelock, Tuipulotu, Parkinson, Dickson
Back Row: Cane (c), Savea, Frizell, Grace, A Ioane, Papali'i, Mikaele-Tu'u, Sotutu
Half Backs: A Smith, Perenera, Hall
First Five: Beauden Barrett, Mo'unga
Midfield: ALB, Goodhue, Faiane, R Ioane
Back Three: C Clarke, Reece, Jordan, J Barrett (might shift to midfield), M Telea, McKenzie————------
Bubbling under/ Worth consideration: Hodgman, Aumua, Strange, D. Hunt, Gibson, Weber, Black, Havili, Laumape, Ennor, Bridge.
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Injured/Unavailable : Moli, Ta'avao, S Barrett, Retallick, Robinson, Lentjes, Jacobson, J Ioane
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Retired/Gone abroad: Todd, Read, SBW, Crotty, B Smith.
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@sparky said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
Hunt
I can't see why either of the Highlanders ones would be considered bubbling under when you consider the wealth of talent in front of them.
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@Bones said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@sparky said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
Hunt
I can't see why either of the Highlanders ones would be considered bubbling under when you consider the wealth of talent in front of them.
@sparky is Grant Fox...
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@Bones Possible injuries and keeping guys NZ-based.
By the 2023 RWC, the ABs will need 40-50 international class players to take on SA, England and France.
Hunt has an excellent work rate. Frizell has all the skills. If he can't show them then he'll fall down the pecking order and fast.
Lots of talent out there. Probably will need some new players at Hooker, Lock, Half Back and First Five by next RWC.
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@cgrant Not sure about Weber or Ennor. Not showing the same form yet as 2019. Think Robinson might be out for the season. But the rest of that squad looks right.
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@sparky so not Mitch?
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Havili should be in the squad. Likely at the expense of Reece/Telea/Ennor. Can't see Jordie being dropped though.
My starting side would have Beauds at 10, Havili at 15 and Mounga on the bench. Prolly alongside Perenara and Reiko.
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@Bones Mitch Brown? Good player, but an All Black?
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@Bones Great to see David Havili back. I rate him (he should have been in ABs squad last year) and perhaps by the time of Bledisloe he will be ready to play international Rugby again, but his long-term health is the priority. I'd give him a long off-season.
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@sparky said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@Bones Mitch Brown? Good player, but an All Black?
Mate, you named Hunt as bubbling under. There's more than one...
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@Bones Mitch Karpik. Add him and Lachlan Boshier to Bubbling Under I suppose. Good Super Rugby Players who give 100%.
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@sparky I give up.
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@Bones Mitch Dunshea? I rate Dickson and Parkinson more.
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@Bones said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@sparky said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@Bones Mitch Brown? Good player, but an All Black?
Mate, you named Hunt as bubbling under. There's more than one...
Mitch Hunt for the ABs? Only if the other First Five option is Brett Cameron.
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I'm thinking Gilbert could be in with a shot.
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@Bones FABSG
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@Snowy that's not how you spell butt.
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I reckon they might get Otere Black in as an apprentice, but otherwise it's going to be a green squad if they pick on form. A fair few edge ABs not playing well. And once again were short of locks and props, tight 5 is our problem area (tight 6 if you include a tall and/or smashing people 6).
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@Machpants plenty of potential 6s about who could step up.
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@Bones yeah potential. I'm worried there are a lot, but no stand out, and we'll get mix and match and no top pick.
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@Machpants said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
no stand out
There has been one for a year or two, but for some reason he is a bit controversial, so I won't mention him.
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@Snowy said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@Machpants said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
no stand out
There has been one for a year or two, but for some reason he is a bit controversial, so I won't mention him.
Barrett is an 808.
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Need to see:
8. Sotutu
15. Jordan
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@mofitzy_ said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
Need to see:
8. Sotutu
15. JordanProbably Jordan off the bench. IIRC he can cover wing too?
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Jordie has to be pretty far down the pecking order now, never really made the most of getting the call up and now there so many guys putting their hand up with awesome form, i cant think of anywhere id consider him even in the top three
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The love for Will Jordan on this thread sounds very much like the love for George Bridge last year. Just saying.
Good player but he's not a patch on prime Ben Smith (which is the benchmark)
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Scored three tries at RWC 2019. Still only 23. Big, strong, super skilled and fast, issues around his composure but Jordie Barrett is far too good for the selectors to ignore.
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@Crucial said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
The love for Will Jordan on this thread sounds very much like the love for George Bridge last year. Just saying.
Good player but he's not a patch on prime Ben Smith (which is the benchmark)
Yeah, but for many years Ben Smith wasn't yet as good as prime Ben Smith.
Lots to like about Will Jordan, good finisher, brave in contact, very solid under the high ball, fast, doesn't seem to slow much when carrying the ball in two hands, strong work rate.
Not fully convinced yet about the composure or his passing but he deserves a chance to show what he can do at international level.
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@sparky said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@Crucial said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
The love for Will Jordan on this thread sounds very much like the love for George Bridge last year. Just saying.
Good player but he's not a patch on prime Ben Smith (which is the benchmark)
Yeah, but for many years Ben Smith wasn't yet as good as prime Ben Smith.
Lots to like about Will Jordan, good finisher, brave in contact, very solid under the high ball, fast, doesn't seem to slow much when carrying the ball in two hands, strong work rate.
Not fully convinced yet about the composure or his passing but he deserves a chance to show what he can do at international level.
Pretty much proves my point that this is what people were saying about Bridge.
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@Crucial said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@sparky said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@Crucial said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
The love for Will Jordan on this thread sounds very much like the love for George Bridge last year. Just saying.
Good player but he's not a patch on prime Ben Smith (which is the benchmark)
Yeah, but for many years Ben Smith wasn't yet as good as prime Ben Smith.
Lots to like about Will Jordan, good finisher, brave in contact, very solid under the high ball, fast, doesn't seem to slow much when carrying the ball in two hands, strong work rate.
Not fully convinced yet about the composure or his passing but he deserves a chance to show what he can do at international level.
Pretty much proves my point that this is what people were saying about Bridge.
Jordan has been earmarked for a long time (much moreso than Bridge) - was outstanding for NZ U20s and then Tasman in the Mitre 10 Cup.
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@sparky said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@Crucial said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
The love for Will Jordan on this thread sounds very much like the love for George Bridge last year. Just saying.
Good player but he's not a patch on prime Ben Smith (which is the benchmark)
Yeah, but for many years Ben Smith wasn't yet as good as prime Ben Smith.
Lots to like about Will Jordan, good finisher, brave in contact, very solid under the high ball, fast, doesn't seem to slow much when carrying the ball in two hands, strong work rate.
Not fully convinced yet about the composure or his passing but he deserves a chance to show what he can do at international level.
Ben Smith was world class long before it was recognised outside of the south, he suffered from the old issue of sometimes being harder to get out of the AB's than in it
your point about Jordie falls into this, wasnt one of his tries against canada? in a 60 something to zip hiding...hardly grounds to keep him around when there are guys putting their hands up in this brutal Aotearoa comp, he need to match them in my mine
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I’m not fully convinced about Jordan yet but he has one thing that Bridge doesn’t - genuine ability to beat a man.
He’s very quick to get going too, although I’m not sure about his top range speed.
I think he’d make a good apprentice this year, but he might play depending on where and how Barrett gets used.
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@gt12 said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
I’m not fully convinced about Jordan yet but he has one thing that Bridge doesn’t - genuine ability to beat a man.
He’s very quick to get going too, although I’m not sure about his top range speed.
I think he’d make a good apprentice this year, but he might play depending on where and how Barrett gets used.
I don't disagree that the kid has talent or could be a good international, I'd just like to see him fine tune things (in or out of the AB camp) before inking him into a squad.
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I’m only pointing out a few flaws in the comparison to
Caleb RalphGeorge Bridge.
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@gt12 said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
I’m only pointing out a few flaws in the comparison to
Caleb RalphGeorge Bridge.The comparison was to the fawning on here. But I do get your point.
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@Crucial said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@gt12 said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
I’m only pointing out a few flaws in the comparison to
Caleb RalphGeorge Bridge.The comparison was to the fawning on here. But I do get your point.
Poor old Caleb, last test was 17 years ago but he still gets grief. I suppose being slow and passive in contact lives long in the memory.
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@MN5 said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@Crucial said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@gt12 said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
I’m only pointing out a few flaws in the comparison to
Caleb RalphGeorge Bridge.The comparison was to the fawning on here. But I do get your point.
Poor old Caleb, last test was 17 years ago but he still gets grief. I suppose being slow and passive in contact lives long in the memory.
I try to remember him as that good centre for the Maori, and that star 7s player who Titch always included in his best 7s team - not as the dude who had all the flair beaten out of him at the Death Star (which TBF worked well for him as it got him a bunch of caps).
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Ralph is the example i use when explaining not everyone can make the step up to international rugby and coaches need to be able to spot in a player
if they're doing well in super rugby because theyre playing at the top of their game, maybe bringing up those around him
or
doing well at super rugby but could do keep growing if surrounded by world class
i worry Jordie is the former rather than the later
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@KiwiMurph said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@Crucial said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@sparky said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@Crucial said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
The love for Will Jordan on this thread sounds very much like the love for George Bridge last year. Just saying.
Good player but he's not a patch on prime Ben Smith (which is the benchmark)
Yeah, but for many years Ben Smith wasn't yet as good as prime Ben Smith.
Lots to like about Will Jordan, good finisher, brave in contact, very solid under the high ball, fast, doesn't seem to slow much when carrying the ball in two hands, strong work rate.
Not fully convinced yet about the composure or his passing but he deserves a chance to show what he can do at international level.
Pretty much proves my point that this is what people were saying about Bridge.
Jordan has been earmarked for a long time (much moreso than Bridge) - was outstanding for NZ U20s and then Tasman in the Mitre 10 Cup.
He's not a Johnny come lately by any stretch and we don't have Ben Smith anymore. So who replaces him? McKenzie and Jordie are there and cover a few positions. Are they better options for the bench?
Hardly any fawning going on, we just need someone else in the squad. Best place to try him of the bench I reckon. Is he up to international standard? There is one way to find out...
