All Blacks 2023

@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2023:

@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks 2023:

@Crucial said in All Blacks 2023:

@Darren said in All Blacks 2023:

Doesn't Love just seem to small for AB level 15?

Not much different to Will Jordan or BB.

Both of them would be at least 2 or 3 inches taller than Love and heavier.

Love would be about the same as Mils.

Love is apparently 1.83m high and 90kg, a behemoth compared to Dmac.

Aaron Cruden says to hold his beer

I don’t buy this “too small” shit for a second. He’s not a bloody blindside flanker. If he can make tackles round the ankles and isn’t afraid to put his body on the line then he’s big enough. Especially if we play Jordie outside him, a willing carthorse of static ball.

That’s not saying he has a realistic shot at this years squad , but if past RWCs have taught us anything, it’s that players not initially involved should keep their phones on

@voodoo said in All Blacks 2023:

Love is apparently 1.83m high and 90kg, a behemoth compared to Dmac.

Aaron Cruden says to hold his beer

Because his hands aren't big enough? (I can't give Cruden shit, an exciting player with a big heart IMO).

I don’t buy this “too small” shit for a second. He’s not a bloody blindside flanker. If he can make tackles round the ankles and isn’t afraid to put his body on the line then he’s big enough. Especially if we play Jordie outside him, a willing carthorse of static ball.

I'd rather have a smaller man at 10 than 15. And Love would be nearly as heavy as Carter and taller. Carter was such a solid tackler his size was never a problem.
But at 15 I'd rather see a bigger player. Will Jordan doesn't look heavy but he's rangy.

That’s not saying he has a realistic shot at this years squad , but if past RWCs have taught us anything, it’s that players not initially involved should keep their phones on

-play players in their position
-don't eat roadside food
-and get Barnes to specsavers

a good coach would probably help too but there's another thread for that.

@Tim said in All Blacks 2023:

And with that positional switch likely to remain leading into this year’s World Cup, Foster would have been pleased by Holland confirming that Barrett would spend the majority of the Super Rugby season with No 12 on his back.

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Not good news for Riley Higgins and PUJ.

@cgrant Well with the AB rest protocols etc, I can see them getting a bit of time, will suit how they would want to hanle Higgins who I suggest will only be treated as a project player, and wouldn't expect much time anyway (like Lakai)

@cgrant said in All Blacks 2023:

@Tim said in All Blacks 2023:

And with that positional switch likely to remain leading into this year’s World Cup, Foster would have been pleased by Holland confirming that Barrett would spend the majority of the Super Rugby season with No 12 on his back.

View embedded content

Not good news for Riley Higgins and PUJ.

isn't PUJ more a 13?

@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2023:

@cgrant said in All Blacks 2023:

@Tim said in All Blacks 2023:

And with that positional switch likely to remain leading into this year’s World Cup, Foster would have been pleased by Holland confirming that Barrett would spend the majority of the Super Rugby season with No 12 on his back.

View embedded content

Not good news for Riley Higgins and PUJ.

isn't PUJ more a 13?

Yep cna play either well, without being a worldbeater.

@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2023:

@cgrant said in All Blacks 2023:

@Tim said in All Blacks 2023:

And with that positional switch likely to remain leading into this year’s World Cup, Foster would have been pleased by Holland confirming that Barrett would spend the majority of the Super Rugby season with No 12 on his back.

View embedded content

Not good news for Riley Higgins and PUJ.

isn't PUJ more a 13?

I did a quick count of where he played for the Hurricanes last season. I think this is accurate.

4 starts at 12
1 start at 13

Sullivan was generally the Hurricanes preferred 13 with Proctor also getting some time

PUJ had injuries, but when fit, his usual spot was on the bench

@cgrant said in All Blacks 2023:

@Tim said in All Blacks 2023:

And with that positional switch likely to remain leading into this year’s World Cup, Foster would have been pleased by Holland confirming that Barrett would spend the majority of the Super Rugby season with No 12 on his back.

View embedded content

Not good news for Riley Higgins and PUJ.

Higgins will spend a lot of time coming off the bench this year, same with Lakai I feel. Over time I think Higgins will grab one of those centre positions, he’s got the size, the skillset and the smarts to go very far in this game, but no need to rush him considering his age.

Also, isn’t PUJ out for half the season anyway? He’s still recovering from shoulder surgery?

@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2023:

Also, isn’t PUJ out for half the season anyway?

That goes without saying when referencing either brother doesn't it?

@Duluth yes Canes coaches played him off the bench and usually at 12 but for the ABs as I recall he played at 13 off the bench (or was it 12?) and he just looks better at 13 (and a poster on here agreed with me a year or two ago)

Let's see if he makes it through the season...

@Bovidae said in All Blacks 2023:

Let's see if he makes it through the season...

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I see it says last in pro rugby, I see Coles playing for Horwhenua/Kapiti for a few games next year.You read it here first!!

watching the 6 Nations, especially Ireland, it has rammed home to me that the ABs are really missing a front line breakdown menace.

Cane isn't that guy. I'm not actually sure Papali'i is either. Savea is good for a last ditch turnover but he's not a battle in the trenches guy. And who ever we have at 6 definitely aren't. Ireland have two in VdF and Doris is a massive pest. And they create a constant stream of shit ball for their opponents.

I'm battling to think of who around the country fits the bill?

@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2023:

watching the 6 Nations, especially Ireland, it has rammed home to me that the ABs are really missing a front line breakdown menace.

Cane isn't that guy. I'm not actually sure Papali'i is either. Savea is good for a last ditch turnover but he's not a battle in the trenches guy. And who ever we have at 6 definitely aren't. Ireland have two in VdF and Doris is a massive pest. And they create a constant stream of shit ball for their opponents.

I'm battling to think of who around the country fits the bill?

Part of the problem IMO is that our comps are 'hard' on spoilers. Hopefully the new WR directives are closer to that with stricter ruling of 'off feet'. When Ireland were here last year we saw their players actually lying on top of rucks and disrupting ball and getting away with it. I hope that changes.
On the player front probably Kirifi and Robinson fit the spoiler category but neither, IMO, have the full range of qualities to be considered.

@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2023:

watching the 6 Nations, especially Ireland, it has rammed home to me that the ABs are really missing a front line breakdown menace.

Cane isn't that guy. I'm not actually sure Papali'i is either. Savea is good for a last ditch turnover but he's not a battle in the trenches guy. And who ever we have at 6 definitely aren't. Ireland have two in VdF and Doris is a massive pest. And they create a constant stream of shit ball for their opponents.

I'm battling to think of who around the country fits the bill?

S Barrett can get a little scrappy..

@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2023:

watching the 6 Nations, especially Ireland, it has rammed home to me that the ABs are really missing a front line breakdown menace.

Cane isn't that guy. I'm not actually sure Papali'i is either. Savea is good for a last ditch turnover but he's not a battle in the trenches guy. And who ever we have at 6 definitely aren't. Ireland have two in VdF and Doris is a massive pest. And they create a constant stream of shit ball for their opponents.

I'm battling to think of who around the country fits the bill?

Hugh Renton has statistically been the biggest pest in the breakdown the last few years - but I don't think he'd ever be rounded enough that the All Blacks will look at him

@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2023:

I'm battling to think of who around the country fits the bill?

Boshier?