All Blacks XV 2022

@Tim

Maybe his experience would be useful on this tour. He's playing well too esp when Wellington took the shield. He was a regular starter for the Canes and also for Wellington so coaches must think he still has something to offer

@Stargazer said in All Blacks XV:

The Barbarians game isn't at Twickenham. I thought they always played at Twickenham, when playing at home?

Will the Qatar world cup be on at that same time? Probably. Looks like unused football stadium could provide some economic competition? Or more likely, now I think about it, England , Wales etc. are already playing home games that weekend.

A back three of Stevenson, Telea and Lam would be bloody good to watch.

@Bovidae said in All Blacks XV:

A back three of Stevenson, Telea and Lam would be bloody good to watch.

With Levi Aumua and Thomas Umaga-Jensen in midfield.

What are people's thought on Emoni Narawa? He's looked dynamite from highlights, what's the rest of his game like?

@cgrant said in All Blacks XV:

Thomas Umaga-Jensen

If he's not injured

If I had to pick a team based on the fact McKenzie will most likely come into the All Blacks for Perofeta, I would go for something like this as a 23. (Assuming everyone is fit by the time the squad heads away).

1. Alex Hodgman (Auckland)
2. Asafo Aumua (Wellington)
3. Angus Ta’avao (Auckland)
4. Justin Sangster (Bay of Plenty)
5. Zach Gallagher (Canterbury)
6. Luke Jacobsen (Waikato)
7. Tom Christie (Canterbury)
8. Devan Flanders (Hawkes Bay)
9. Brad Weber (Hawkes Bay)
10. Stephen Perofeta (Taranaki)
11. AJ Lam (Auckland)
12. Thomas Umaga-Jensen (Otago)
13. Peter Umaga-Jensen (Wellington)
14. Mark Telea (North Harbour)
15. Josh Moorby (Northland)
16. Kurt Eklund (Bay of Plenty)
17. Tamaiti Williams (Canterbury)
18. Tevita Mafileo (Bay of Plenty)
19. Fabian Holland (Otago)
20. Peter Lakai (Wellington)
21. Cam Roigard (Counties Manukau)
22. Aiden Morgan (Wellington)
23. Bailyn Sullivan (Waikato)

Id add emoni narawa and nikora broughton to that team

@Canes4life said in All Blacks XV:

If I had to pick a team based on the fact McKenzie will most likely come into the All Blacks for Perofeta, I would go for something like this as a 23. (Assuming everyone is fit by the time the squad heads away).

1. Alex Hodgman (Auckland)
2. Asafo Aumua (Wellington)
3. Angus Ta’avao (Auckland)
4. Justin Sangster (Bay of Plenty)
5. Zach Gallagher (Canterbury)
6. Luke Jacobsen (Waikato)
7. Tom Christie (Canterbury)
8. Devan Flanders (Hawkes Bay)
9. Brad Weber (Hawkes Bay)
10. Stephen Perofeta (Taranaki)
11. AJ Lam (Auckland)
12. Thomas Umaga-Jensen (Otago)
13. Peter Umaga-Jensen (Wellington)
14. Mark Telea (North Harbour)
15. Josh Moorby (Northland)
16. Kurt Eklund (Bay of Plenty)
17. Tamaiti Williams (Canterbury)
18. Tevita Mafileo (Bay of Plenty)
19. Fabian Holland (Otago)
20. Peter Lakai (Wellington)
21. Cam Roigard (Counties Manukau)
22. Aiden Morgan (Wellington)
23. Bailyn Sullivan (Waikato)

Josh Dickson will be next cab off the ranks for the locks, as he spent about a montn as injury cover. I'd expect, as others have mentioned dirt trackers like Aidan Ross, Fakatava, RTS, Sotutu, Sowakula, Fainga'anuku and Ennor should be locks for this squad/game day 23. While a lot of us would really like this team to be packed full of our young talent. There are quite a few guys with a cap here and there who will contiue in the system through this squad. Or at least the 23.

@SouthernMann said in All Blacks XV:

@Canes4life said in All Blacks XV:

If I had to pick a team based on the fact McKenzie will most likely come into the All Blacks for Perofeta, I would go for something like this as a 23. (Assuming everyone is fit by the time the squad heads away).

1. Alex Hodgman (Auckland)
2. Asafo Aumua (Wellington)
3. Angus Ta’avao (Auckland)
4. Justin Sangster (Bay of Plenty)
5. Zach Gallagher (Canterbury)
6. Luke Jacobsen (Waikato)
7. Tom Christie (Canterbury)
8. Devan Flanders (Hawkes Bay)
9. Brad Weber (Hawkes Bay)
10. Stephen Perofeta (Taranaki)
11. AJ Lam (Auckland)
12. Thomas Umaga-Jensen (Otago)
13. Peter Umaga-Jensen (Wellington)
14. Mark Telea (North Harbour)
15. Josh Moorby (Northland)
16. Kurt Eklund (Bay of Plenty)
17. Tamaiti Williams (Canterbury)
18. Tevita Mafileo (Bay of Plenty)
19. Fabian Holland (Otago)
20. Peter Lakai (Wellington)
21. Cam Roigard (Counties Manukau)
22. Aiden Morgan (Wellington)
23. Bailyn Sullivan (Waikato)

Josh Dickson will be next cab off the ranks for the locks, as he spent about a montn as injury cover. I'd expect, as others have mentioned dirt trackers like Aidan Ross, Fakatava, RTS, Sotutu, Sowakula, Fainga'anuku and Ennor should be locks for this squad/game day 23. While a lot of us would really like this team to be packed full of our young talent. There are quite a few guys with a cap here and there who will contiue in the system through this squad. Or at least the 23.

Oh yes, forgot about Dickson. It really depends who gets picked in the AB tour squad. I’d expect most of the guys you’ve mentioned above will be in the main squad wouldn’t they? which is why I haven’t included them.

@Canes4life said in All Blacks XV:

@SouthernMann said in All Blacks XV:

@Canes4life said in All Blacks XV:

If I had to pick a team based on the fact McKenzie will most likely come into the All Blacks for Perofeta, I would go for something like this as a 23. (Assuming everyone is fit by the time the squad heads away).

1. Alex Hodgman (Auckland)
2. Asafo Aumua (Wellington)
3. Angus Ta’avao (Auckland)
4. Justin Sangster (Bay of Plenty)
5. Zach Gallagher (Canterbury)
6. Luke Jacobsen (Waikato)
7. Tom Christie (Canterbury)
8. Devan Flanders (Hawkes Bay)
9. Brad Weber (Hawkes Bay)
10. Stephen Perofeta (Taranaki)
11. AJ Lam (Auckland)
12. Thomas Umaga-Jensen (Otago)
13. Peter Umaga-Jensen (Wellington)
14. Mark Telea (North Harbour)
15. Josh Moorby (Northland)
16. Kurt Eklund (Bay of Plenty)
17. Tamaiti Williams (Canterbury)
18. Tevita Mafileo (Bay of Plenty)
19. Fabian Holland (Otago)
20. Peter Lakai (Wellington)
21. Cam Roigard (Counties Manukau)
22. Aiden Morgan (Wellington)
23. Bailyn Sullivan (Waikato)

Josh Dickson will be next cab off the ranks for the locks, as he spent about a montn as injury cover. I'd expect, as others have mentioned dirt trackers like Aidan Ross, Fakatava, RTS, Sotutu, Sowakula, Fainga'anuku and Ennor should be locks for this squad/game day 23. While a lot of us would really like this team to be packed full of our young talent. There are quite a few guys with a cap here and there who will contiue in the system through this squad. Or at least the 23.

Oh yes, forgot about Dickson. It really depends who gets picked in the AB tour squad. I’d expect most of the guys you’ve mentioned above will be in the main squad wouldn’t they? which is why I haven’t included them.

The All Blacks will be in Cardiff and Edinburgh when the All Blacks XV are playing. I'd suspect squad members 25 - jack in the squad will be playing in the All Black XV games. What I will find interesting is whether a full squad will be named for the All Black XV or a partial squad. Could also be the potential for them to train and prepare in the same city as the All Blacks to allow players to float between the main squad and the AB XV. Then just head to Dublin and London a day before the games. I think there is a lot of opportunities to maximise gametime for the players on tour. Some of the squad players might play Japan and the two All Blacks XV games. It would be a waste for guys like Fakatava or RTS to sit in the stands when there are opportunities for the AB XV side.

@Frye said in All Blacks XV:

What are people's thought on Emoni Narawa? He's looked dynamite from highlights, what's the rest of his game like?

Prone to loose moments far too often prior to this year. Has tightened up his accuracy noticeably this season. I like his positional awareness for an attacking opportunity and how he runs hard onto the ball.

@SouthernMann said in All Blacks XV:

@Canes4life said in All Blacks XV:

@SouthernMann said in All Blacks XV:

@Canes4life said in All Blacks XV:

If I had to pick a team based on the fact McKenzie will most likely come into the All Blacks for Perofeta, I would go for something like this as a 23. (Assuming everyone is fit by the time the squad heads away).

1. Alex Hodgman (Auckland)
2. Asafo Aumua (Wellington)
3. Angus Ta’avao (Auckland)
4. Justin Sangster (Bay of Plenty)
5. Zach Gallagher (Canterbury)
6. Luke Jacobsen (Waikato)
7. Tom Christie (Canterbury)
8. Devan Flanders (Hawkes Bay)
9. Brad Weber (Hawkes Bay)
10. Stephen Perofeta (Taranaki)
11. AJ Lam (Auckland)
12. Thomas Umaga-Jensen (Otago)
13. Peter Umaga-Jensen (Wellington)
14. Mark Telea (North Harbour)
15. Josh Moorby (Northland)
16. Kurt Eklund (Bay of Plenty)
17. Tamaiti Williams (Canterbury)
18. Tevita Mafileo (Bay of Plenty)
19. Fabian Holland (Otago)
20. Peter Lakai (Wellington)
21. Cam Roigard (Counties Manukau)
22. Aiden Morgan (Wellington)
23. Bailyn Sullivan (Waikato)

Josh Dickson will be next cab off the ranks for the locks, as he spent about a montn as injury cover. I'd expect, as others have mentioned dirt trackers like Aidan Ross, Fakatava, RTS, Sotutu, Sowakula, Fainga'anuku and Ennor should be locks for this squad/game day 23. While a lot of us would really like this team to be packed full of our young talent. There are quite a few guys with a cap here and there who will contiue in the system through this squad. Or at least the 23.

Oh yes, forgot about Dickson. It really depends who gets picked in the AB tour squad. I’d expect most of the guys you’ve mentioned above will be in the main squad wouldn’t they? which is why I haven’t included them.

The All Blacks will be in Cardiff and Edinburgh when the All Blacks XV are playing. I'd suspect squad members 25 - jack in the squad will be playing in the All Black XV games. What I will find interesting is whether a full squad will be named for the All Black XV or a partial squad. Could also be the potential for them to train and prepare in the same city as the All Blacks to allow players to float between the main squad and the AB XV. Then just head to Dublin and London a day before the games. I think there is a lot of opportunities to maximise gametime for the players on tour. Some of the squad players might play Japan and the two All Blacks XV games. It would be a waste for guys like Fakatava or RTS to sit in the stands when there are opportunities for the AB XV side.

The AB management does seem to like the Lensbury facilities so it wouldn't surprise me if that remains the base. Might need to go to each playing city in time for promotional/sponsor stuff but no reason to need much more than a field for trainings.

"It's an opportunity for the All Blacks coaches to see a wider pool," MacDonald told Newstalk ZB. "They'll take a squad away on the end-of-year tour that they'll have a good, close look at leading into a World Cup year, and this gives them an opportunity to see some other guys who have just missed out or are on the fringe.

"I think the next-best is important. If [the All Blacks] have injuries or form [issues], they want to know who's ready to go. So there's going to be some guys who have been in the All Blacks and aren't there now, or on the cusp, and then it might be an opportunity to start bringing some other guys through as well.

"You'll get a little bit of both, but predominantly it's about getting that next tier of player some exposure at that next level."

With the All Blacks set to take away 36 men for their four-match tour, MacDonald's squad will be slightly smaller as players who enjoy little test action can also see time in the second-tier team.

Watched a few minutes of Waikato/BOP game, and McKenzie doesn't look very good. I'd start Perofeta at 10.

Could be a pretty handy tight five, depending on who is available from this year's ABs. Bench lock might be a tough pick.

1 Hodgman
2 Aumua
3 Ta'avao
4 Dickson
5 Tuipulotu

16 Eklund
17 Ross
18 Newell
19 ?

@Tim I reckon Thompson could be worth a look at 2 as well.

@taniwharugby Yeah, Aumua and Thompson are also guys for the future. Eklund not so much.

@SouthernMann said in All Blacks XV:

@Canes4life said in All Blacks XV:

If I had to pick a team based on the fact McKenzie will most likely come into the All Blacks for Perofeta, I would go for something like this as a 23. (Assuming everyone is fit by the time the squad heads away).

1. Alex Hodgman (Auckland)
2. Asafo Aumua (Wellington)
3. Angus Ta’avao (Auckland)
4. Justin Sangster (Bay of Plenty)
5. Zach Gallagher (Canterbury)
6. Luke Jacobsen (Waikato)
7. Tom Christie (Canterbury)
8. Devan Flanders (Hawkes Bay)
9. Brad Weber (Hawkes Bay)
10. Stephen Perofeta (Taranaki)
11. AJ Lam (Auckland)
12. Thomas Umaga-Jensen (Otago)
13. Peter Umaga-Jensen (Wellington)
14. Mark Telea (North Harbour)
15. Josh Moorby (Northland)
16. Kurt Eklund (Bay of Plenty)
17. Tamaiti Williams (Canterbury)
18. Tevita Mafileo (Bay of Plenty)
19. Fabian Holland (Otago)
20. Peter Lakai (Wellington)
21. Cam Roigard (Counties Manukau)
22. Aiden Morgan (Wellington)
23. Bailyn Sullivan (Waikato)

Josh Dickson will be next cab off the ranks for the locks, as he spent about a montn as injury cover. I'd expect, as others have mentioned dirt trackers like Aidan Ross, Fakatava, RTS, Sotutu, Sowakula, Fainga'anuku and Ennor should be locks for this squad/game day 23. While a lot of us would really like this team to be packed full of our young talent. There are quite a few guys with a cap here and there who will contiue in the system through this squad. Or at least the 23.

But they're not hurricanes.

@Bones No, no, no, some kid named Peter Lakai will definitely be in the team, and then starting for the ABs at the World Cup!

@Tim said in All Blacks XV:

@Bones No, no, no, some kid named Peter Lakai will definitely be in the team, and then starting for the ABs at the World Cup!

To be fair, naming a crusader in the positions where you hate the canes player is almost clever. But I just watched Christie get shat on by Lentjes of all players, while Harmon was killing it all over the park.

@Bones Harmon combined well with the rest of the Maori loose trio in that first game too. That was a handy combination.

A 26-man squad to be named a few days after the AB squad. Foster has said there will be little cross-over between the squads due to the location and dates of their respective games.

@Canes4life said in All Blacks XV:

If I had to pick a team based on the fact McKenzie will most likely come into the All Blacks for Perofeta, I would go for something like this as a 23. (Assuming everyone is fit by the time the squad heads away).

1. Alex Hodgman (Auckland)
2. Asafo Aumua (Wellington)
3. Angus Ta’avao (Auckland)
4. Justin Sangster (Bay of Plenty)
5. Zach Gallagher (Canterbury)
6. Luke Jacobsen (Waikato)
7. Tom Christie (Canterbury)
8. Devan Flanders (Hawkes Bay)
9. Brad Weber (Hawkes Bay)
10. Stephen Perofeta (Taranaki)
11. AJ Lam (Auckland)
12. Thomas Umaga-Jensen (Otago)
13. Peter Umaga-Jensen (Wellington)
14. Mark Telea (North Harbour)
15. Josh Moorby (Northland)
16. Kurt Eklund (Bay of Plenty)
17. Tamaiti Williams (Canterbury)
18. Tevita Mafileo (Bay of Plenty)
19. Fabian Holland (Otago)
20. Peter Lakai (Wellington)
21. Cam Roigard (Counties Manukau)
22. Aiden Morgan (Wellington)
23. Bailyn Sullivan (Waikato)

Stephenson > Moorby
I think they will bring Tamaiti Williams for this tour. He is not the finished product yet but his ceiling is very high.

Given the attrional nature of the loose, I'd also like to find room somewhere for Harmon and Lentjes.

@Jailbreak7 I don’t know if Harmon will make this side but for me he has been a standout in this years NPC.

For the AB XV I would’ve loved to have seen a loose trio with Grace, Jacobsen and PGS. Add Dickson and one of the young up and coming locks plus the front rowers that have been in the ABs previously and you have a pretty decent pack.

@Jailbreak7 said in All Blacks XV:

Given the attrional nature of the loose, I'd also like to find room somewhere for Harmon and Lentjes.

Big no for Lentjes. Lentjes is just another Gibson. Will pull out a decent game every so often but few and far between. A good super rugby filler.

Big yes for Harmon. Consistent and can pull it out in the big games, plus seemingly a great rugby brain.

If they're wanting to stay close to AB patterns they could do worse than 7 Jacobson and 8 Harmon.

@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks XV:

@Jailbreak7 I don’t know if Harmon will make this side but for me he has been a standout in this years NPC.

Harmon has been a massive improver in NZ rugby. Looked a bit of a plodder early in his career and I would have laughed if anyone mentioned him for any sort of higher honour.

The Crusaders must be wondering if they kept the wrong 7.

@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks XV:

For the AB XV I would’ve loved to have seen a loose trio with Grace, Jacobsen and PGS.

PGS really? He should be done, he was out of form by the time he was selected and then looked out of his depth. If we're just rolling the dice letting anyone have a shot then MMT or Flanders are your guys, for some reason they just popped into my head.

@Nepia he'll looked pretty solid for the highlanders i thought baring injuries

@Kiwiwomble said in All Blacks XV:

@Nepia he'll looked pretty solid for the highlanders i thought baring injuries

Harmon? Yep, by early career I was meaning his Cantab/Crusader days before you guys fixed him.

@Nepia we can’t keep every player (whilst we poach the odd one here or there…)

Harmon has taken his opportunity at the Landers and I think it’s good. Getting more playing time than he would’ve if we had kept him. We have Blackadder and backup with Christie. Blackadder has played blindside too because of injuries.

If only 26 players are going to be named in the squad that doesn't provide too much opportunity to select a few young players to develop. They're selecting a match-day 23 with 3 extra players. Normally those would be specialists such as another prop, hooker and halfback. That would leave you short to cover the loose forwards and outside backs. Playing 3 or 4 games would have allowed a slightly larger squad to tour, but sadly, that isn't happening.

@Bovidae said in All Blacks XV:

If only 26 players are going to be named in the squad that doesn't provide too much opportunity to select a few young players to develop. They're selecting a match-day 23 with 3 extra players. Normally those would be specialists such as another prop, hooker and halfback. That would leave you short to cover the loose forwards and outside backs. Playing 3 or 4 games would have allowed a slightly larger squad to tour, but sadly, that isn't happening.

This points to the possibility of using dirt trackers from the ABs squad though.
There are certainly players in the ABs that could do with international experience levels increasing.

@Crucial said in All Blacks XV:

This points to the possibility of using dirt trackers from the ABs squad though.

A possibility for the AB XV game against Ireland A, as the ABs play Wales the following day. It appears that the AB test against Scotland and the NZ XV-Barbarians game is to be played at the same time.

@Bovidae said in All Blacks XV:

@Crucial said in All Blacks XV:

This points to the possibility of using dirt trackers from the ABs squad though.

A possibility for the AB XV game against Ireland A, as the ABs play Wales the following day. It appears that the AB test against Scotland and the NZ XV-Barbarians game is to be played at the same time.

I still dont see that as a problem. Lets say that the AB squad is 32/33. They will nail down 23 for the match and hold a couple if there are niggles but there will be players that can leave one camp and go to the other. If you look at the RC squad there were a whole bunch that were helping at training only.
Besides, I wouldn't be surprised if both squads are together as much as possible for opposed training and only moving to venue city two days before.

Kirwin also shared a little “whisper” he’d heard regarding selection:

“(I) don’t know a lot about this young man but Levi Aumua, I’ve heard that he got the envelope under the door; ‘don’t name yourself available for Samoa or Fiji because we’ve got some sights on you’.”

@Tim one of very few from Moana Pasifika who was eligible but not selected for pacific teams this year. I did wonder why. Was unimpressed in his earlier stint in super rugby but he has improved.

Team announced on October 9th according to James Parsons.

@Daffy-Jaffy said in All Blacks XV:

Team announced on October 9th according to James Parsons.

I read that this squad would be announced a day or so after the AB squad, similar to the Māori squad naming earlier in the year. The focus will be on the AB squad on Oct 9, so it makes sense to do this on separate days.

@Bovidae maybe Parsons had the AB squad date in his head.