@Machpants said in All Blacks XV v Barbarians:

@Stargazer said in All Blacks XV v Barbarians:

@Machpants That's not an answer to my question to @Bovidae. And see my post above about the scheduling.

There are no free weekends when the Prem and Top 14 aren't playing, so baa Baas have to get employers permission to play. Or am i miss understanding your question? Edit: I was talking about all good players, you were on NZ sorry, my misunderstanding.

Edit: do players even need permission from NZR if they're not playing for the ABs/ABXV?

Edit 2: The best NZ players are in the ABs/ABXV; maybe Razor didn't want any of the remaining players for the Baabaass

Yes players are still employed by NZR and need their permission. It will take away a rest week, impacting next season. Same with Oz, SA etc.

So the players have to get permission, NH +SA will miss a domestic game, NZ, Au will miss a rest week, impacting SR next year

Even amateur players are required to a clearance to play for Barbarians or anywhere outside their country, always been so from what I know.

Barbarians squad:

FORWARDS

Facundo Bosch (Stade Rochelais, Argentina)

Camille Chat (Stade Rochelais, France)

George Henri Colombe (Stade Rochelais)

Cedate Gomes Sa (Racing 92, France)

Joe Marler (Harlequins, England)

Zach Mercer (Montpellier, England)

John Ryan (Munster, Ireland)

Romain Sazy (Stade Rochelais)

Lekima Tagitagivalu (Section Paloise, Fiji)

Aaron Wainwright (Dragons, Wales)

Lauret Wenceslas (Racing 92, France)

Luke Whitelock (Section Paloise, New Zealand)

BACKS

George Bridge (Montpellier, New Zealand)

Antoine Hastoy (Stade Rochelais, France)

Tawera Kerr Barlow (Stade Rochelais, New Zealand)

Dillyn Leyds (Stade Rochelais, South Africa)

Joe Marchant (Harlequins, England)

Charlie Ngatai (Leinster, New Zealand)

Remi Picquette (Stade Rochelais)

Raymond Rhule (Stade Rochelais, South Africa)

Teddy Thomas (Stade Rochelais, France)

Rhys Webb (Ospreys, Wales)

Ihaia West (Toulon)

@Stargazer said in All Blacks XV v Barbarians:

Charlie Ngatai (Leinster, New Zealand)

ABs XV is fucked now.

@Nepia said in All Blacks XV v Barbarians:

@Stargazer said in All Blacks XV v Barbarians:

Charlie Ngatai (Leinster, New Zealand)

ABs XV is fucked now.

But Jesus never sinned and never married so must have remained a virgin?

@Stargazer said in All Blacks XV v Barbarians:

Actually quite a good team, other than bare at lock?

Reckon the ABs XV will win this by 15 to 20 points.

Just as well O'Gara can choose so many of his own club players to make up the numbers.

@game_film said in All Blacks XV v Barbarians:

Anyone going to this? I’m tempted but trying to scoop a bargain perhaps as the crowd is going to be pitiful. Scheduling genius of NZRU clashing with the ABs and with people paying so much throughout the the month.

I'm taking my eldest along (8) and hoping for a bit of fun. His main question was if any Barretts would be there

@Stargazer Looks like four Kiwis are playing, are there any more on that list?

@SBW1 Five Kiwis: Whitelock, Bridge, Kerr-Barlow, Ngatai and West.

@Bovidae said in All Blacks XV v Barbarians:

Just as well O'Gara can choose so many of his own club players to make up the numbers.

You may add Ihaia West who was playing for La Rochelle last season.

@Stargazer and Mercer who is half kiwi.

Baaabaas are well known for their dynamic exciting play.

Then there is Luke Whitelock and George Bridge.

@Machpants said in All Blacks XV v Barbarians:

@ARHS said in All Blacks XV v Barbarians:

This seems so Micky Mouse. Half the team not even announced a week out. Usually Baabaas teams are trumpeted a long way out to encourage spectators and viewers. Is it a full house already?

Because the calendar is so congested nowadays they struggle to get players, baa baas is a dying concept

That last baabaas v England game was terrific. A good baabaas side with a lot of talent that played with a good solid set piece and then opened the game up. Was really enjoyable.

@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks XV v Barbarians:

@Machpants said in All Blacks XV v Barbarians:

@ARHS said in All Blacks XV v Barbarians:

This seems so Micky Mouse. Half the team not even announced a week out. Usually Baabaas teams are trumpeted a long way out to encourage spectators and viewers. Is it a full house already?

Because the calendar is so congested nowadays they struggle to get players, baa baas is a dying concept

That last baabaas v England game was terrific. A good baabaas side with a lot of talent that played with a good solid set piece and then opened the game up. Was really enjoyable.

They was the trench b team, you mean? Yeah good gamer but really took there piss out of Baa Baas concept by being a training vehicle for France

@game_film said in All Blacks XV v Barbarians:

Anyone going to this? I’m tempted but trying to scoop a bargain perhaps as the crowd is going to be pitiful. Scheduling genius of NZRU clashing with the ABs and with people paying so much throughout the the month.

Just picked up tickets. Were re-sales, so good. Stoked to be going. The damn thing is the train travel getting there. Been listening to Dave Dobbyn all week!

@Stargazer Excellent! - Cheers for that info - makes it an easier decision for departure/exiting station too

@ARHS said in All Blacks XV v Barbarians:

This seems so Micky Mouse. Half the team not even announced a week out. Usually Baabaas teams are trumpeted a long way out to encourage spectators and viewers. Is it a full house already?

Will they go old school and lend some of the non-playing XXIII to the sheep?

I am heading along to this and very much looking forward to it but...

It appears both this game and the All Blacks match are being played at the same time?

What the actual fuck!

Seems very odd to schedule it that way as I and most others going would want to see the game

The All Blacks XV team has been named to play the Barbarians at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on Sunday 13 November, kick-off at 2.00PM GMT (3.00AM Monday 14 November NZDT).

The matchday 23 is as follows (Province/Super Rugby Club)

1. Aidan Ross (26, Bay of Plenty / Chiefs)

2. Brodie McAlister (25, Canterbury / Crusaders)

3. Tamaiti Williams (22, Canterbury / Crusaders)

4. Josh Dickson (27, Otago / Highlanders)

5. Patrick Tuipulotu – Captain (29, Auckland / Blues)

6. Dominic Gardiner (21, Canterbury / Crusaders)

7. Tom Christie (24, Canterbury / Crusaders)

8. Luke Jacobson (25, Waikato / Chiefs)

9. Brad Weber (31, Hawke’s Bay / Chiefs)

10. Damian McKenzie (27, Waikato / Chiefs)

11. Leicester Fainga’anuku (23, Ta$man / Crusaders)

12. Alex Nankivell (26, Ta$man / Chiefs)

13. Levi Aumua (28, Ta$man / Moana Pasifika)

14. Bryce Heem (33, Auckland / Blues)

15. Shaun Stevenson (25, North Harbour / Chiefs)

16. Andrew Makalio (30, Ta$man / Highlanders)

17. Finlay Brewis (22, Canterbury / Crusaders)

18. Pouri Rakete-Stones (27, Hawke's Bay / Hurricanes)

19. Zach Gallagher (21, Canterbury / Crusaders)

20. Christian Lio-Willie (24, Otago / Crusaders)

21. Cortez Ratima (21, Waikato / Chiefs)

22. Josh Ioane (27, Otago / Chiefs)

23. Bailyn Sullivan (24, Waikato / Hurricanes)

All Blacks XV Head Coach Leon MacDonald has named strong team to challenge the Barbarians in their closing match at Tottenham Spur Stadium this Sunday. Following a win against Ireland ‘A’, the side sees the return of key combinations, alongside a mix of experience and rising talent with nine All Blacks XV players set to take field for the first time.

The All Blacks XV starting front row features loosehead prop Aidan Ross, tighthead prop Tamaiti Williams and Brodie McAlister at hooker. Andrew Makalio, Finlay Brewis and Pouri Rakete-Stones will provide impact off the bench.

Josh Dickson and Captain Patrick Tuipulotu make up the locking duo, with Dominic Gardiner, Tom Christie and Luke Jacobson the loose forward trio. With Crusaders players Zach Gallagher and Christian Lio-Willie on the bench.

In the backs, the experienced combination of Chiefs duo Brad Weber and Damian McKenzie will take the field at nine and ten, alongside Alex Nankivell and Levi Aumua in the mid-field at 12 and 13. Young Chiefs half-back Cortez Ratima will provide impact off the bench.

The back three is made up of Leicester Fainga’anuku on the left wing, Bryce Heem on the right and Shaun Stevenson starting at fullback. With Josh Ioane and Bailyn Sullivan named to be injected off the bench.

All Blacks XV Head Coach Leon MacDonald said: “To go out last weekend and win against Ireland A was special, especially given it was our first match as the All Blacks XV. We need to build on that performance against the Barbarians on Sunday.”

“This is going to be an exciting and intense match, the Barbarians have a squad filled with international experience, there are a number of key players currently at the top of their game. We have kept some combinations from last week and added in new players, it has also been great to have the talented Brad Weber and Leicester Fainga’anuku join us from the All Blacks.”

“It’s going to be an incredibly proud moment for the players and their whanau, especially the players who will be wearing the All Blacks XV jersey for the first time,” added MacDonald.

@Number-10 WTF, no MMT? One of the best last week, and out of the squad entirely? Thompson gone, too. He got only 10 minutes.. :angry_face:

@Davesofthunder if you have Prime there should be a full replay of the ABs match available....

@Stargazer imho MMT at 8 was better than Luke J at 6.

@Number-10 Apart from no MMT and McAllister, it's a pretty good looking team. Pleased for Levi A and Christie, who get to show their class plus Chiefs combo DMac and Weber. MF Will be interesting with Levi and Nankivell.

@nostrildamus Luke J played at 7, last week. Dom Gardiner started at 6 and will, again, this weekend. I blame this on the Christie selection, but based on last week's performance, they should have dropped either Jacobson, or Lio-Willie (who shouldn't have been named in the squad in the first place).

@Jailbreak7 McAlister had a good game, last week, but IMO they should have given Makalio the start and Thompson again the bench spot. That's assuming they want to give all squad members game time.

Stevenson at fullback. I hope Sullivan gets some decent time off the bench.

@Bovidae Hopefully more than Thompson's 10 minutes.

With only two games there was never going to be merit based selection from first to second game

@Crucial Which again brings into question the purpose of this squad and tour.

Really like the backline, shame I won't bloody get to watch it! Might head across the Ta$man again for a download.

@Stargazer said in All Blacks XV v Barbarians:

@Crucial Which again brings into question the purpose of this squad and tour.

ProMotion and a chance to see some other players in an overseas environment. Remember that we have a couple of years where we haven’t had some opportunities to develop depth. Big pity that they couldn’t secure more games but at least NZR didn’t can the idea entirely.

@Stargazer said in All Blacks XV v Barbarians:

@Jailbreak7 McAlister had a good game, last week, but IMO they should have given Makalio the start and Thompson again the bench spot. That's assuming they want to give all squad members game time.

They will want to see as much of McAlister as possible.

@ACT-Crusader If that's the reason, you'd think they'd given MMT another start as well. or at least the bench spot instead of Lio-Willie, who can't even be close to consideration for ABs.

@Stargazer said in All Blacks XV v Barbarians:

@ACT-Crusader If that's the reason, you'd think they'd given MMT another start as well. or at least the bench spot instead of Lio-Willie, who can't even be close to consideration for ABs.

Not all players or position options are equal in the eyes of the coaches

@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks XV v Barbarians:

They will want to see as much of McAlister as possible.

For the same reason Aumua would be a good chance to be on the bench for the ABs this weekend, as he wasn't released to the AB XV.

I assume Harmon is injured?

@Bones He's still with the ABs.