2021 Rugby predictions and questions.
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Question: Will Brodie Retallick still be a world class player?
Prediction: Jacob Pierce will play for the ABs.
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@Tim I hope I'm wrong, but I have my doubts he will come back as BBBR, more just a shadow of the player formerly known as.
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A lot will depend on the number of games he plays for Kobelco. With covid, BBBR has been on an extended holiday so far.
Kaino was in Japan for a similar length of time and regained his mojo when he returned.
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@Bovidae said in 2021 Rugby predictions and questions.:
A lot will depend on the number of games he plays for Kobelco. With covid, BBBR has been on an extended holiday so far.
Kaino was in Japan for a similar length of time and regained his mojo when he returned.
Good post that makes me feel good.
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@Tim said in 2021 Rugby predictions and questions.:
Prediction: Jacob Pierce will play for the ABs.
I agree, but probably not at hat eating point.
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Josh Lord to be the find of the year after putting some 10 kgs of muscles onto his frame.
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South Africa and England to sink down the rankings rapidly.
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@Bones said in 2021 Rugby predictions and questions.:
South Africa and England to sink down the rankings rapidly.
How though? They're unbeatable.
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OK, here goes with some predictions:
I predict that the Top League will be essentially cancelled again at some point this year, allowing Barrett to return early, and the Blues will win Super Rugby Aotearoa with Barrett back playing at 10
Without Barrett, the Blues final but probably lose.
Zarn Sullivan to establish himself as a Super Rugby 15, earning at least a consistent bench spot (probably starting) by the end of the season.
NZ to discover at least two future AB locks, both of whom will get time in the squad (two of Pierce, Lord, PPP, or MSR). Robinson will also became an AB.
The Chiefs will not be the worst kiwi franchise, but it will be close.
The new young 10 at the Canes will be on the bench, possibly starting by the end of the season.
PUJ will be the form center of the SRA competition, creating some very difficult decisions for the AB coaches.
The new young Crusaders prop (Newell) will go close to be selected for the ABs, after some impressive work off the bench. With Williams, they’ll have the best 1/2 tight head combination in SRA in 2022, until one of them eventually leaves if they cant break into the ABs.
The landers will lose to the Chiefs by a drop goal kicked by Gatland. Fakatava will be the form HB off the bench stirring debate in the NH media about us poaching him, as he will reject turning out for Tonga when approached. Thomas Umaga Jensen will be a starting midfielder by the end of the season, starting discussion by a journalist at the ODT about whether we will ever see an Umaga Jensen AB midfield.
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My biggest hope is that a genuine 12 option will emerge for the All Blacks.
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@Bones said in 2021 Rugby predictions and questions.:
South Africa and England to sink down the rankings rapidly.
How though? SA aren't going to play any one
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@Tim said in 2021 Rugby predictions and questions.:
My biggest hope is that a genuine 12 option will emerge for the All Blacks.
I hear this Laumape guy is quite good.
My biggest hope is that we don't see JB on the right wing for a season again.
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@Nepia At test level he's really shit. A league player with poor distribution, who is too small to play the way he does at Super Rugby level. The poor man's Sam Tuitupou.
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@Bovidae said in 2021 Rugby predictions and questions.:
A lot will depend on the number of games he plays for Kobelco. With covid, BBBR has been on an extended holiday so far.
Kaino was in Japan for a similar length of time and regained his mojo when he returned.
Difference is that Retallick is coming off a big injury whereas Kaino went to Japan fit and healthy.
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@Bones said in 2021 Rugby predictions and questions.:
South Africa and England to sink down the rankings rapidly.
Not the all conquering, massive forwards, the ‘you better bring your A game for the entire 80 minutes or else’, flawless, no mistakes, they have the ABs number, teams.
Surely not.
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@Nepia said in 2021 Rugby predictions and questions.:
@Tim said in 2021 Rugby predictions and questions.:
My biggest hope is that a genuine 12 option will emerge for the All Blacks.
I hear this Laumape guy is quite good.
My biggest hope is that we don't see JB on the right wing for a season again.
So JB can’t play on the wing and we are looking for a 12, mmm
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@ACT-Crusader said in 2021 Rugby predictions and questions.:
@Nepia said in 2021 Rugby predictions and questions.:
@Tim said in 2021 Rugby predictions and questions.:
My biggest hope is that a genuine 12 option will emerge for the All Blacks.
I hear this Laumape guy is quite good.
My biggest hope is that we don't see JB on the right wing for a season again.
So JB can’t play on the wing and we are looking for a 12, mmm
Shit, that backfired on me.
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@Tim said in 2021 Rugby predictions and questions.:
@Nepia At test level he's really shit. A league player with poor distribution, who is too small to play the way he does at Super Rugby level. The poor man's Sam Tuitupou.
I know his nickname was Slammin Sammy and he never shied away fro contact, but to me Tuitupo ran excellent lines which is what made him really effective in my view. Laumape still runs too much into contact and therefore in tight tests he has been a little anonymous.
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@ACT-Crusader said in 2021 Rugby predictions and questions.:
@Bovidae said in 2021 Rugby predictions and questions.:
A lot will depend on the number of games he plays for Kobelco. With covid, BBBR has been on an extended holiday so far.
Kaino was in Japan for a similar length of time and regained his mojo when he returned.
Difference is that Retallick is coming off a big injury whereas Kaino went to Japan fit and healthy.
An injury that happened nearly 18 months ago now. As I said, Retallick has played only a few games in Japan since the 2019 RWC so should be fully fit when he returns.
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@Bovidae said in 2021 Rugby predictions and questions.:
@ACT-Crusader said in 2021 Rugby predictions and questions.:
@Bovidae said in 2021 Rugby predictions and questions.:
A lot will depend on the number of games he plays for Kobelco. With covid, BBBR has been on an extended holiday so far.
Kaino was in Japan for a similar length of time and regained his mojo when he returned.
Difference is that Retallick is coming off a big injury whereas Kaino went to Japan fit and healthy.
An injury that happened nearly 18 months ago now. As I said, Retallick has played only a few games in Japan since the 2019 RWC so should be fully fit when he returns.
I hope so too.
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@Machpants said in 2021 Rugby predictions and questions.:
@Bones said in 2021 Rugby predictions and questions.:
South Africa and England to sink down the rankings rapidly.
How though? SA aren't going to play any one
They'll play Lesotho in a 3 match series and lose.
