All Blacks 2023
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@Chris-B Yep certainly some good points there and I agree with your logic, my thinking was that the selection would be based of utility value and maybe Ennor offered a little bit more there but player for player Havili probably has the inside running.
Feel sorry for Goodhue - he's kinda like the forgotten man of NZ rugby, just a terrible run of injures really chopped down his career in his tracks.
Still when the debate on this forum is about the backups to the backups it shows how settled the team is this year in terms of selection, which is a nice problem to have as prior years have been head scratching at times, to say the least.
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The draw may influence the squad members numbered 24-33 as well.
7 days between games. Hardest game first up, a fortnight to Italy, and two absolute gimmes for the others may just allow them to be very "top 23" focused, and by that i mean, take guys who they think will slot in if one of the top side goes down, rather than trying to cover a heap of positions. There is ample rest time so the top guys can play a lot of each game if they need to.
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it's hilarious that two of the top 4 will definitely be out by the end of the quarters, but huge chance the other two make the final.
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@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2023:
it's hilarious that two of the top 4 will definitely be out by the end of the quarters, but huge chance the other two make the final.
It's mad that the RWC doesn't push the pool runner up to the other side of the draw.
It would be basically a non-issue that we have such a ridiculous early draw and this situation.
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@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2023:
it's hilarious that two of the top 4 will definitely be out by the end of the quarters, but huge chance the other two make the final.
On the other hand pool play would be pretty bloody boring if the top 4 were in 4 separate pools.
Real uncertainty as to who is going to win any pool
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@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2023:
@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2023:
it's hilarious that two of the top 4 will definitely be out by the end of the quarters, but huge chance the other two make the final.
On the other hand pool play would be pretty bloody boring if the top 4 were in 4 separate pools.
Real uncertainty as to who is going to win any pool
i love it. The World Cup is so much better with real early jeopardy.
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@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2023:
@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2023:
@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2023:
it's hilarious that two of the top 4 will definitely be out by the end of the quarters, but huge chance the other two make the final.
On the other hand pool play would be pretty bloody boring if the top 4 were in 4 separate pools.
Real uncertainty as to who is going to win any pool
i love it. The World Cup is so much better with real early jeopardy.
Feck off, that's only good if it is not my team in jeopardy!
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@Bovidae Georgia is 11th which means the Aus, Wales, Fiji, Georgia pool will be competitive....
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@Machpants said in All Blacks 2023:
@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2023:
@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2023:
@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2023:
it's hilarious that two of the top 4 will definitely be out by the end of the quarters, but huge chance the other two make the final.
On the other hand pool play would be pretty bloody boring if the top 4 were in 4 separate pools.
Real uncertainty as to who is going to win any pool
i love it. The World Cup is so much better with real early jeopardy.
Feck off, that's only good if it is not my team in jeopardy!
fair. The England/Wales/Australia/Fiji pool in 2015 was enormous fun
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So the jeopardy, McCaw needs to travel to France
Former All Blacks captain Richie McCaw continues to be on the fringes of the squad, which will train in Christchurch for the majority of the week, due to the FIFA Women's World Cup teams having first crack at the facilities in Dunedin.
"Then you have got Ricko walking around there in the hotel, he is keeping us on edge I think,'' hooker Codie Taylor said. "Just to have his presence there, it shows what it means to be an All Black.''
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@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2023:
it's hilarious that two of the top 4 will definitely be out by the end of the quarters, but huge chance the other two make the final.
I haven’t studied it that closely, for the two sides that make it to the semis .
Who are the likely opponents there ?
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@kiwiinmelb said in All Blacks 2023:
@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2023:
it's hilarious that two of the top 4 will definitely be out by the end of the quarters, but huge chance the other two make the final.
I haven’t studied it that closely, for the two sides that make it to the semis .
Who are the likely opponents there ?
It can be anyone of the teams from the other side of the draw, Ozzie, England, Argentina, Scotland on world ranking
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@kiwiinmelb said in All Blacks 2023:
@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2023:
it's hilarious that two of the top 4 will definitely be out by the end of the quarters, but huge chance the other two make the final.
I haven’t studied it that closely, for the two sides that make it to the semis .
Who are the likely opponents there ?
who knows? One probably gets England. The other Aus/Arg/Wales hell even Fiji.
If i was forced to make a bet, you say the Quarters are Eng v Wales and Aus v Argentina. And then Eng and Arg progressing from that.
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@TheMojoman said in All Blacks 2023:
Given Havili has had zero game time it’s hard to see him get picked over Goodhue or Nankivell?
He's only been out for a couple of months and reports are he will play for the Mako on Friday. Easily get in several games before RWC kicks off.
Slim possibility that he misses out to Goodhue, I think Nankivell is a fair way off - behind Havili, Ennor, McLeod, Goodhue and probably Tupaea.
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I think it's fair to say we are playing a significantly different style now, compared to the helter skelter stuff of the last two years. Jordie has been a big upgrade with his direct runs. I wonder if Havili, assuming he makes the cut, would be encouraged to play a more direct game and could he do this successfully if needed?
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My strong money is on Havili, assuming he is fit.
Foster drops nobody. Not for form, not for a better mix, not to change the style of play. You only leave the Foster team or squad because you are injured or retire.
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@canefan said in All Blacks 2023:
I think it's fair to say we are playing a significantly different style now, compared to the helter skelter stuff of the last two years. Jordie has been a big upgrade with his direct runs. I wonder if Havili, assuming he makes the cut, would be encouraged to play a more direct game and could he do this successfully if needed?
He has been playing that, he has been hitting it up for most of the last few years. It is just fucking ineffective when he does it
