oops sounds like Hoskins, Paps, Jacobsen and Bladders are all out injured and out of the tour.
Lakai, Cane, Finau, Sititi and Ardie are about to play a shitload of rugby.
If 3 of them can really own the jersey on this tour then old man Bladders, Nothingburger Jacobsen and the hated Blues Paps and Hoskins might not be seen in black again.....
Surely we can rule Cane out after this tour?! Ardie and Sititi aren't going anywhere, that just leaves Finau and Lakai.
I have never been a fan of either Blackadder or Jacobsen but Blackadder actually played a couple of good Tests this year - can his body hold up to the rigours of it though? Jacobsen has been exactly what he has always been in a black jersey...nothing to write home about. Reminds me of Razor as an AB.
Hoskins looks like he'll never get another chance. I haven't watched any NPC this year but I have seen comments on social media saying that it doesn't look like he has done much to change the AB selectors mind about him or it doesn't look like he is doing much to play the way they are wanting their 8 to play. I've said it before - I think he deserved another shot at least. I always thought Luke Braid wasn't given a proper go over Cane....Hoskins could be another Blues loosie not given a lot of chances.
It's a shame Papali'i isn't touring. I want him to be a real good AB but he hasn't really shown anything special or different in his outings. I don't think he has played any better than Cane unfortunately. He is starting to look like a guy who fills the gap between Cane and whoever the next long-term 7 is. Hopefully more like McCaw than Cane LOL
It makes me wonder - what is the difference between guys like Akira, Hoskins, Papali'i etc and Sititi. The former guys get a number of games and don't really make an impact while Sititi has played 4 Tests and looks undroppable.