New Zealand Rugby Team Watch

[waiopehu oldboy]

Given the schedule, the ability of so many players to cover multiple positions & being able to call in replacements at very short notice I'm wondering if the squad named on Monday might be more World Cup- than Rugby Championship size: three hookers & six props, but only four locks & five loosies; three halfbacks, two 5/8's, four midfield & five outside backs gives you 32.

Edit: reported overnight that Ofa needs an op so likely to miss July but be back for TRC.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Meanwhile Boshier, who many in these parts regard as another Monkley or Holah, is off to Panasonic:

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby...an-boshier-heading-to-japanese-club-panasonic

Not really surprising given the evolution that's been happening in International loose forward play, he's pretty much a throwback to what we used to think a 7 should be rather than what a 7 actually is these days.

 

[Dan54]

Meanwhile Boshier, who many in these parts regard as another Monkley or Holah, is off to Panasonic:

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby...an-boshier-heading-to-japanese-club-panasonic

Not really surprising given the evolution that's been happening in International loose forward play, he's pretty much a throwback to what we used to think a 7 should be rather than what a 7 actually is these days.

Yep it pretty tough being a 7 in NZ. It's been a few years since one of his size made it and he not small by any means.
Also explains the attempted conversion at end of game last week.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

If the Hurld is to be believed, AL-B has had surgery to remove bone fragments from an elbow & will be sidelined for a few weeks, possibly back in time for 2nd Fiji Test.

 

[Dan54]

If the Hurld is to be believed, AL-B has had surgery to remove bone fragments from an elbow & will be sidelined for a few weeks, possibly back in time for 2nd Fiji Test.

Think that would make Reiko happy. Still most interesting is who will be other 12 with Havili.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

^ JBar, obviously, so Foster can fulfill his fantasy of having Mo'unga, Beaugan, JBar & DMac in the same 23.......

 

[Dan54]

Mate in all seriousness, I would of enjoyed JB playing at 12 where he used to play, and looked ok when playing there for Canes.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Given the schedule, the ability of so many players to cover multiple positions & being able to call in replacements at very short notice I'm wondering if the squad named on Monday might be more World Cup- than Rugby Championship size: three hookers & six props, but only four locks & five loosies; three halfbacks, two 5/8's, four midfield & five outside backs gives you 32.

Article on stuff.co.nz re: AL-B's surgery says the squad to be named on Monday will comprise "up to" 36. Can't see a need for additional front rowers or halves (unless in an apprentice-type situation), so maybe a fifth lock, sixth loose forward, fifth midfield & sixth outside back?

 

[Dan54]

Yep sit down to watch Team announcement on tv, and Voila! A f***en powercut!!!

 

[zer0]

Biggest talking point of the All Blacks announcement: the Maori squad selection becomes retroactively, and exponentially, more stupid for overlooking Zarn Sullivan.

 

[Dan54]

Hookers
Asafo Aumua (24, Hurricanes / Wellington, 1)
Dane Coles (34, Hurricanes / Wellington, 74)
Codie Taylor (30, Crusaders / Canterbury, 56)
Props
George Bower (29, Crusaders / Otago, uncapped)
Ethan de Groot (22, Highlanders / Southland, new cap)
Nepo Laulala (29, Blues / Counties Manukau, 29)
Tyrel Lomax (25, Hurricanes / Tasman, 6)
Angus Ta’avao (31, Chiefs / Auckland, 14)
Karl Tu’inukuafe (28, Blues / North Harbour, 17)
Locks
Scott Barrett (27, Crusaders / Taranaki, 36)
Brodie Retallick (30, Chiefs / Hawke’s Bay, 81)
Patrick Tuipulotu (28, Blues / Auckland, 35)
Tupou Vaa’i (21, Chiefs / Taranaki, 4)
Samuel Whitelock (32, Crusaders / Canterbury, 122) – captain
Loose Forwards
Ethan Blackadder (26, Crusaders / Tasman, new cap)
Shannon Frizell (27, Highlanders / Tasman, 13)
Akira Ioane (26, Blues / Auckland, 2)
Luke Jacobson (24, Chiefs / Waikato, 2)
Dalton Papalii (23, Blues / Counties Manukau, 4)
Ardie Savea (27, Hurricanes / Wellington, 49)
Hoskins Sotutu (22, Blues / Counties Manukau, 5)
Backs
Halfbacks
Finlay Christie (25, Blues / Tasman, new cap)
Aaron Smith (32, Highlanders / Manawatu, 97)
Brad Weber (30, Chiefs / Hawke’s Bay, 7)
First five–eighths
Beauden Barrett (30, Blues / Taranaki, 88)
Richie Mo’unga (27, Crusaders / Canterbury, 22)
Midfielders
Braydon Ennor (23, Crusaders / Canterbury, 1)
David Havili (26, Crusaders / Tasman, 3)
Rieko Ioane (24, Blues / Auckland, 33)
Anton Lienert-Brown (26, Chiefs / Waikato, 49)
Quinn Tupaea (22, Chiefs / Waikato, new cap)
Outside backs
Jordie Barrett (24, Hurricanes / Taranaki, 23)
George Bridge (26, Crusaders / Canterbury, 10)
Will Jordan (22, Crusaders / Tasman, 2)
Damian McKenzie (26, Chiefs / Waikato, 27)
Sevu Reece (23, Crusaders / Tasman, 8)

 

[Dan54]

Pretty happy that young Tupaea is getting a look. He's got some upsides and could go alright.
Also gives a player for some to moan about!!

Love it!!

disapponted for Nareki who I thought might be a shot.

 

[zer0]

There's plenty of big physical guys in the squad (Akira, Papali'i, Sotutu, Vaa'i etc.....). Lets see if they actually use them to build a proper, test level, pack instead of farting around with combinations like Frizell/Savea/Jacobson.

Also Ennor and Bridge are punishingly safe and boring selections. tbh Heem would be a better selection than Bridge. He can at least batter backs on defence like Kahui lite.

 

[Dctarget]

Pretty happy that young Tupaea is getting a look. He's got some upsides and could go alright.
Also gives a player for some to moan about!!

Love it!!

disapponted for Nareki who I thought might be a shot.

Amazing Nareki doesn't get a look in. If he was an Aussie, we'd be crowing about how he's the next super talent that would win a Bledisloe. Wonder if he's got an Aussie grandma.

 

[Dan54]

There's plenty of big physical guys in the squad (Akira, Papali'i, Sotutu, Vaa'i etc...). Lets see if they actually use them to build a proper, test level, pack instead of farting around with combinations like Frizell/Savea/Jacobson.

Also Ennor and Bridge are punishingly safe and boring selections. tbh Heem would be a better selection than Bridge. He can at least batter backs on defence like Kahui lite.

Personally think Ennor a little lucky, but he seems to be a player who will be around for 23 WC so can understnad.
I will be happy with most loosie combos we put out with that lot.
Wouldn't mind Blackadder getting a run at 7 either!
Would add Jordan definitely there as wing in that squad you would think.

 

[Dismal Pillock]

Horribly underwhelming squad.

The props and the midfield, ffs

George Bridge

On what fucking PLANET has Bridge had a better season than Nareki or Leicester? Or fucking ANYONE in NZ? Goddamn Bryce Heem has done 10x the job this guy has done.

Braydon Ennor

Quinn Tupaea

Umaga Jensen must be filthy at the canes coach for inexplicably picking Proctor all bloody season

 

[Derpus]

Aww lame. Lurch is back.

 

[Dismal Pillock]

Props

George Bower. wft. this guy? surely just opposed scrum training til Moody and Ofa get back.
Ethan de Groot. worth a look. young as hell for a prop
Nepo Laulala and Karl T. pretty much failed so far at test rugby. Both needs some RWC2019 redemption
Tyrel Lomax. ffs. This guy? Really? The guy that barely gives a shit and looks like he'd rather be anywhere else than on the rugby field?
Angus Ta’avao. are you fucking shitting me? what the FUCK does this guy have to do with RWC2023 planning? Zero. What about Aidan Ross ffs, a guy for the future with some upside.

"It starts up front, and that's where we lost it in 2019, up front, so I had this awesome idea of picking the same guys again cos' that's what the opposition won't be expecting. I consider this high-level strategic thinking".
-Fozzie.

 

[Dismal Pillock]

Loose Forwards

Dalton Papalii. murder on stilts.
Akira Ioane. starting 6 ffs, Crossword Frizzle can go be a big baby somewhere else
Luke Jacobson. in case of KFC Akira, break glass.
Ardie Savea. will start due to Fozzie's tenured company man mentality, but hopefully usurped this season at BOTH his positions, 7 by Papalii and 8 by Sotutu.
Hoskins Sotutu. fantastic lineout option at 8, should see him supplant Ardie there
Ethan Blackadder. top addition. huge brain injury concern the way he plays though.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Shannon Frizell. proven test failure. Just get Big Red in there, he's no vanishing man

 

[KiwiM]

Well summed up above.

Failures like Bridge and Frizell keep getting selected. Not surprised but it's still annoying.

What the hell is Christie doing there - it screams of just picking the 9 from the team that just won a comp. His decision making and speed of service are horrendous.

Tupaea, De Groot and Blackadder are good picks.

Ennor and Bower both lived charmed lives - do fuck all and make the ABs cos you play for the Crusaders.