AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?
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Sparky's 23 to take on Whoever:
Moody, Taylor, Laulala, Whitelock, Tuipulotu, Frizell, Cane (c), Sotutu, A. Smith, Mo'unga, C. Clarke, ALB, R. Ioane, Jordan, J. Barrett
Coles, Hodgman, Ofa T, Strange or Grace, A. Savea, TJP, B. Barrett, Goodhue
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@Bones Hodgman Vs Karl T. Not much in that but slightly prefer the taller Hodgman for lineout lifting and carrying.
Reiko Ioane Vs Jack Goodhue. Not much in that either. Ioane more of an attacking threat this year, but possibly no longer has the top-end speed for a starting 11. Goodhue better at 13 than 12. Both will feature, I'm sure.
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@sparky said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@Bones Hodgman Vs Karl T. Not much in that but slightly prefer the taller Hodgman for lineout lifting and carrying.
Reiko Ioane Vs Jack Goodhue. Not much in that either. Ioane more of an attacking threat this year, but possibly no longer has the top-end speed for a starting 11. Goodhue better at 13 than 12. Both will feature, I'm sure.
Goodhue is best AB 13 I’ve seen for a long time at running good lines and setting up his wings. For now prefer Roane on wing. No way at 23 he’s lost the X factor. Spoilt for choice for other wing.
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@shark said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@sparky Ioane only burst onto the scene 3-4 years ago. He must be in his mid-20s. Yet you speak of him like he's 30 years plus and/or coming back from a knee injury.
He is 23. Played Centre at School/Under 20. Started pro-Rugby on the Wing. Was oustanding in 2017. Had some calf/hamstring problems in 2018 and 2019. Now says he prefers 13. Looking good there.
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@sparky said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
Sparky's 23 to take on Whoever:
Moody, Taylor, Laulala, Whitelock, Tuipulotu, Frizell, Cane (c), Sotutu, A. Smith, Mo'unga, C. Clarke, ALB, R. Ioane, Jordan, J. Barrett
Coles, Hodgman, Ofa T, Strange or Grace, A. Savea, TJP, B. Barrett, Goodhue
Nothing really screams Fozzie about this squad, I am still of the opinion he will be very conservative with first match
Moody, Taylor, Laulala, Whitelock, Tuipulotu, Frizell, Cane (c), Savea, A. Smith, Mo'unga, Bridge, ALB, Goodhue, Reece, B. Barrett
Coles, Hodgman, Ofa , Strange. Sotutu, TJP, J. Barrett, R. Iaone -
Hard to get excited about this. I mean you need opposition.
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@Billy-Tell said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
Hard to get excited about this. I mean you need opposition.
Perhaps we can now play “the Real ABs” vs “those that didn’t make it”
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@DMX said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@sparky said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
Sparky's 23 to take on Whoever:
Moody, Taylor, Laulala, Whitelock, Tuipulotu, Frizell, Cane (c), Sotutu, A. Smith, Mo'unga, C. Clarke, ALB, R. Ioane, Jordan, J. Barrett
Coles, Hodgman, Ofa T, Strange or Grace, A. Savea, TJP, B. Barrett, Goodhue
Nothing really screams Fozzie about this squad, I am still of the opinion he will be very conservative with first match
Moody, Taylor, Laulala, Whitelock, Tuipulotu, Frizell, Cane (c), Savea, A. Smith, Mo'unga, Bridge, ALB, Goodhue, Reece, B. Barrett
Coles, Hodgman, Ofa , Strange. Sotutu, TJP, J. Barrett, R. IaoneNew blood will be introduced via the bench or through injury as usual.
The locks will rotate on the pine and I can see Savea playing cover while the likes of Sotutu are given a start.
Lomax and Hodgman will get some bench roles too.
The starting changes should be ditching Bridge and Reece (who have been fizzers IMO) and establishing Clarke and Jordan. -
@Crucial said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
The starting changes should be ditching Bridge and Reece (who have been fizzers IMO) and establishing Clarke and Jordan.
Yes to Bridge being dumped - I watched him again in the Ireland game last year. He's the ultimate low risk boring winger - would go well in the NH. Highish work rate, but can't beat people and runs into contact way too much.
Reece, on the other hand, is electric going forward. I can see a game plan with space for him.
Clarke is a talent, can't wait to see him go at the top level.
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@Gunner said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@nzzp @Crucial Bridge = Ralph v 2.0
I'll be pissed if they go with the safe boring option. Clarke should be the starter every day of the week ending in a y.
Well seeing as tests are often on a Satdee or a Sundee I can see them going with Bridge on occasions.
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@MN5 said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@Gunner said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@nzzp @Crucial Bridge = Ralph v 2.0
I'll be pissed if they go with the safe boring option. Clarke should be the starter every day of the week ending in a y.
Well seeing as tests are often on a Satdee or a Sundee I can see them going with Bridge on occasions.
So he'll get the odd Bledisloe but nothing else.
My preferred back three are Barrett (the good one), Rieko and Clarke, with Goodhue and ALB in the midfield.
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Reiko should be given opportunities as a midfielder too. It has been a while since we had a good centre/wing option ala Kahui.
When you have 10s that can play 15 well, a centre/wing is a great option in the 23. Helps the bench makeup by either having an impact wing or a midfield rather than an all rounder. -
@Nepia said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@MN5 said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@Gunner said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@nzzp @Crucial Bridge = Ralph v 2.0
I'll be pissed if they go with the safe boring option. Clarke should be the starter every day of the week ending in a y.
Well seeing as tests are often on a Satdee or a Sundee I can see them going with Bridge on occasions.
So he'll get the odd Bledisloe but nothing else.
My preferred back three are Barrett (the good one), Rieko and Clarke, with Goodhue and ALB in the midfield.
You need to be more specific. The one who won Player of the Year but whose abilities may be waning or the one who used to be a bit shit but now seems really good ?
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@MN5 said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@Nepia said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@MN5 said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@Gunner said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@nzzp @Crucial Bridge = Ralph v 2.0
I'll be pissed if they go with the safe boring option. Clarke should be the starter every day of the week ending in a y.
Well seeing as tests are often on a Satdee or a Sundee I can see them going with Bridge on occasions.
So he'll get the odd Bledisloe but nothing else.
My preferred back three are Barrett (the good one), Rieko and Clarke, with Goodhue and ALB in the midfield.
You need to be more specific. The one who won Player of the Year but whose abilities may be waning or the one who used to be a bit shit but now seems really good ?
The one who's currently injured, he's not really a fullback, but he wasn't really a blindside either and that didn't matter in the biggest game of the year.
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@sparky said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@shark said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@sparky Ioane only burst onto the scene 3-4 years ago. He must be in his mid-20s. Yet you speak of him like he's 30 years plus and/or coming back from a knee injury.
He is 23. Played Centre at School/Under 20. Started pro-Rugby on the Wing. Was oustanding in 2017. Had some calf/hamstring problems in 2018 and 2019. Now says he prefers 13. Looking good there.
Thanks for the player bio. How about explaining how or why he's no longer fast enough to play wing, in your opinion?
I'd guarantee he's quicker than Ben Smith was the last few years, quicker than CJ at his peak etc etc.
