New Zealand Rugby Team Watch

[KiwiM]

At 6 I'll be keeping an eye on Finau tomorrow. If he can shine vs a quality Brumbies pack he'd be worth taking a flyer on imo.

He hits like a truck, has a big engine, can carry and has the measurables you want. He's a little raw but he's quickly improving.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Sorry, keep getting interrupted. Don't these bloody customers know I'm busy doing G&GR stuff?

Anyways & as above I'd want 14. WJ or Stevenson v SA or anyone else who kicks often & well. My fear, however, is that Foster will go with the all-attack all the time option that hasnt really worked previously & it doesn't work again.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

At 6 I'll be keeping an eye on Finau tomorrow. If he can shine vs a quality Brumbies pack he'd be worth taking a flyer on imo.

He hits like a truck, has a big engine, can carry and has the measurables you want. He's a little raw but he's quickly improving.

There's a Blackadder-sized hole in the loose forward stocks ATM...

That said I think there'll only be one loose forward with the initials SF named unless he names seven & drops a lock which I don't think he will because (a) I expect SamW to be named fit or not & (b) I think he still thinks ScoBar is as good at 6 as at lock.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

FWIW here's my predicted 36:

Props: Lomax, Ofa, deGroot, Williams, Nepo, Ross
Hookers: Samisoni, Taylor, Aumua
Locks: SamW, Lurch, ScoBar, Vai'i, Lord
Loosies: Cane (c), Ardie, Frizell, Papali'i, Jacobsen, Harmon
9: AS, Weber, Roigard
10: RMo, DMac, Beaugan
Midfield: Rieko, JBar, AL-B, Aumua
Back 3: Jordan, Stevenson, Clarke, Faianganuku, Telea, Narawa

 

[KiwiM]

I can't see the value of picking Frizell - he looked better at lock than 6 for Highlanders this year and he's hardly a proven test star. He's also off overseas, not to mention his off field stuff.

 

[Dan54]

FWIW here's my predicted 36:

Props: Lomax, Ofa, deGroot, Williams, Nepo, Ross
Hookers: Samisoni, Taylor, Aumua
Locks: SamW, Lurch, ScoBar, Vai'i, Lord
Loosies: Cane (c), Ardie, Frizell, Papali'i, Jacobsen, Harmon
9: AS, Weber, Roigard
10: RMo, DMac, Beaugan
Midfield: Rieko, JBar, AL-B, Aumua
Back 3: Jordan, Stevenson, Clarke, Faianganuku, Telea, Narawa

I be honest, I wouldn't change one of them WOB. There maybe possibly one or 2 (I not sure who they will be keen on as 2nd and 3rd 9s) and they may try and sneak in Akira Ioane (or Finau) ahead of Harmon. but I can't think of any I would argue over.
I guessing Harmon may possibly be seen as a good captain for ABXV.

 

[KiwiM]

One thing that could count against L Aumua is his defence. Fozzie made specific mention earlier in the season in the importance of defence when selecting midfielders and it's not exactly his strength.

 

[Rugbyman2023]

How long are moody and Blackadder out for? If they were available uou would think they would get in
Other then that maybe Akita and sotutu over harmen and frizell
Other then that rest of the team looks pretty settled

 

[KiwiM]

FWIW here's my predicted 36:

10: RMo, DMac, Beaugan
Midfield: Rieko, JBar, AL-B, Aumua
Back 3: Jordan, Stevenson, Clarke, Faianganuku, Telea, Narawa

I don't think you need that many outside backs when you have oodles of cover anyway.

I'd add an extra midfielder (i'd swap Heem for Aumua and I'd add someone like Goodhue) and i'd drop Clarke.

 

[Dan54]

Have to say I starting to look forward to the naming on Sunday night. Got the makings of a good way to finish a great weekend.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

As I said it's my predicted 36, based in part on who the drums are beating for & more importantly who's beating them/ being fed inside info.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

How long are moody and Blackadder out for? If they were available uou would think they would get in
Other then that maybe Akita and sotutu over harmen and frizell
Other then that rest of the team looks pretty settled

Moody's had surgery so RWC at the earliest, Blackadder is officially "several weeks" but I've got a funny feeling he'll need surgery as well so also RWC at best, and that's assuming either gets some NPC game time.

 

[Dismal Pillock]

Plenty of Chiefs under the microscope stood up tonight in a test match level arm wrestle. Would be funny if Fozzie, aggrieved and sour at being turfed out, said "fine then, fuckyuz, you call me a conservative company man, you want some fresh blood, here ya go, I'm gonna go full Chiefs mafia and biff all the 50/50 Chiefs in there, can't say they don't deserve it, best team all year....."

1-Ethan de Groot
2-Samisoni Taukei'aho,
3-Tyrel Lomax
4-Brodie Retallick
5-Sam Whitelock
6-Samipeni Finau
7-Sam Cane
8-Luke Jacobson
9-Aaron Smith
10-Damian McKenzie
11-Mark Telea
12-Anton Lienert-Brown
13-Rieko Ioane
14-Emoni Narawa
15-Shaun Stevenson

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

stuff.co.nz, quoting Midi Olympique, reporting that Jack Goodhue is about to sign with Castres. Probably a good idea for him to get cashed-up before the constant injuries catch up with him.

 

[Dismal Pillock]

Guessing Fozzie will kowtow and appease the weight of public opinion and pick Stevenson. But Narawa, Harmon, Aumua and Finau will be overlooked in favour of the "experienced" plonkers who shit the bed last season LOL.

Might pick prop T.Williams to keep tenured sleepwalkers Ofa and Nepo at least occasionally awake and in fear of getting dropped.

Jacobsen in for Sotutu.

Blackadder in for Akira.

Roigard/Barkays Fakatava for Christie.

TL/DR ffs just get all the spineless Blues charlatans out of the setup entirely

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Five new caps incl Dallas McLeod who I don't think any of the pundits named in their predictions.

Hookers:
Codie Taylor (32, Crusaders / Canterbury, 76)
Dane Coles (36, Hurricanes / Wellington, 84)
Samisoni Taukei’aho (25, Chiefs / Waikato, 24)

Props:
Ethan de Groot (24, Highlanders / Southland, 13)
Fletcher Newell (23, Crusaders / Canterbury, 6)
Nepo Laulala (31, Blues / Counties Manukau, 45)
Ofa Tu’ungafasi (31, Blues / Northland, 50)
Tamaiti Williams (22, Crusaders / Canterbury, *)
Tyrel Lomax (27, Hurricanes / Tasman, 23)

Locks:
Brodie Retallick (32, Chiefs / Hawkes Bay, 100)
Josh Lord (22, Chiefs / Taranaki, 2)
Samuel Whitelock (34, Crusaders / Canterbury, 143)
Scott Barrett (29, Crusaders / Taranaki, 58)
Tupou Vaa’i (23, Chiefs / Taranaki, 18)

Loose forwards:
Ardie Savea (29, Hurricanes / Wellington, 70)
Dalton Papali’i (25, Blues / Counties Manukau, 22)
Luke Jacobson (26, Chiefs / Waikato, 12)
Sam Cane (captain) (31, Chiefs / Bay of Plenty, 86)
Samipeni Finau (24, Chiefs / Waikato, *)
Shannon Frizell (29, Highlanders / Tasman, 25)

Halfbacks:
Aaron Smith (34, Highlanders / Manawatu, 114)
Finlay Christie (27, Blues / Tasman, 14)
Cam Roigard (22, Hurricanes / Counties Manukau, *)

First-five eighths:
Beauden Barrett (32, Blues / Taranaki, 112)
Damian McKenzie (28, Chiefs / Waikato, 40)
Richie Mo’unga (29, Crusaders / Canterbury, 44)

Midfielders:
Anton Lienert-Brown (28, Chiefs / Waikato, 60)
Jordie Barrett (26, Hurricanes / Taranaki, 48)
Rieko Ioane (26, Blues / Auckland, 59)
Braydon Ennor (25, Crusaders / Canterbury, 6)
Dallas McLeod (24, Crusaders / Canterbury, *)

Outside backs:
Caleb Clarke (24, Blues / Auckland, 15)
Emoni Narawa (23, Chiefs / Bay of Plenty, *)
Leicester Fainga’anuku (23, Crusaders / Tasman, 2)
Mark Telea (26, Blues / North Harbour, 2)
Will Jordan (25, Crusaders / Tasman, 21)

Shaun Stevenson named as injury cover for Telea (knee injury, severity unknown).

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

The All Blacks XV has also been named.

Props
Jermaine Ainsley (28, Highlanders, Otago)
Oli Jager (27, Crusaders, Canterbury)
Tevita Mafileo (25, Hurricanes, Bay of Plenty)
Xavier Numia (24, Hurricanes, Wellington)
Aidan Ross (27, Chiefs, Bay of Plenty)

Hookers
Asafo Aumua (26, Hurricanes, Wellington)
Ricky Riccitelli (28, Blues, Taranaki)
Tyrone Thompson (23, Chiefs, Wellington)

Locks
Naitoa Ah Kuoi (23, Chiefs, Bay of Plenty)
Quinten Strange (26, Crusaders, Tasman)
Isaia Walker-Leawere (26, Hurricanes, Hawke’s Bay)

Loose Forwards
Billy Harmon (28, Highlanders, Canterbury)
Akira Ioane (28, Blues, Auckland)
Du’Plessis Kirifi (26, Hurricanes, Wellington)
Christian Lio-Willie (24, Crusaders, Otago)
Pita Gus Sowakula (28, Chiefs, Taranaki)
Cameron Suafoa (27, Blues, North Harbour)

Backs:
Halfbacks
Folau Fakatava (23, Highlanders, Hawke’s Bay)
Brad Weber (32, Chiefs, Hawke’s Bay)

First-five-eighths
Brett Cameron (26, Hurricanes, Manawatū)
Stephen Perofeta (26, Blues, Taranaki)

Midfielders
Jack Goodhue (27, Crusaders, Northland)
Alex Nankivell (26, Chiefs, Tasman)
Billy Proctor (24, Hurricanes, Wellington)
Bailyn Sullivan (24, Hurricanes, Waikato)

Outside Backs
Sam Gilbert (24, Highlanders, Otago)
AJ Lam (24, Blues, Auckland)
Ruben Love (22, Hurricanes, Wellington)
Etene Nanai-Seturo (23, Chiefs, Counties Manukau)
Jona Nareki (25, Highlanders, Otago)

 

[zer0]

Clarke would certainly be a sus selection off Super Rugby form. Though he will now be playing within a Schmidt offensive scheme. Schmidt likes to use the power winger in close off the breakdown to attack the space between forwards as they set themselves up on defence. Clarke's best match last season was against the Boks when he got heavily involved in these sorts of plays (including powering through a Kolisi tackle for his big downfield break, iirc).

So I guess Schmidt is backing himself to get that level of involvement out of Clarke. And/or they'll yeet Fainga'anuku (and maybe McLeod) in there and see who does best, then select them for the RWC.

 

[zer0]

Would've thought Zarn Sullivan would be in the XV though.

 

[Dismal Pillock]

LOL@Akira and Sotutu, dumped to shit. Sotutu can't even make the AB XV. Good on Finau. An actual gutsy worker.

FFS Zarn misses out altogether.

Goddamnit FUCKING Frizzle is still there.

Dallas Mcleod over Stevenson?