All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test

I think news hub guess is what we're going to see, injuries permitting

Predicted team: 1-George Bower, 2-Codie Taylor, 3-Nepo Laulala, 4-Brodie Retallick, 5-Sam Whitelock, 6-Dalton Papalii, 7-Sam Cane (c), 8-Ardie Savea, 9-Aaron Smith, 10-Beauden Barrett, 11-Caleb Clarke, 12-David Havili, 13-Rieko Ioane, 14-Will Jordan, 15-Jordie Barrett.

Reserves: 16-Samisoni Taukei'aho, 17-Karl Tu'inukuafe, 18-Ofa Tu'ungafasi, 19-Scott Barrett, 20-Akira Ioane, 21-Finlay Christie, 22-Richie Mo'unga, 23-Leicester Fainga'anuku

@Machpants I sure hope they are wrong

@ARHS said in All Blacks 2022:

@Machpants I sure hope they are wrong

Certainly not what I'd like

It would be a big risk to start Clarke after not playing for a while due to a hamstring injury. If Havili is the 2nd 5, Foster and co have learnt nothing.

Lol that's a pretty average selection

I mean it's close

But yaaaay three 6.5s how goooood

If Reece isn't in the 23 I will be pissed

@Bovidae Same thing happens every year. The Crusaders winning the Super Rugby title every year makes people forget about a certain few of them constantly failing at the next level.

@African-Monkey Using the same argument, we saw how many of the Blue's AB players failed at the pointy end of SR let alone test rugby.

Three very different starting XVs from the Stuff journos. I lean more towards Knowler's team. Cully is adventurous.

Richard Knowler's ABs XV: Jordie Barrett, Will Jordan, Rieko Ioane, Jack Goodhue, Sevu Reece, Beauden Barrett, Aaron Smith, Ardie Savea, Sam Cane (captain), Dalton Papalii, Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Nepo Laulala, Samisoni Taukei'aho, George Bower.

Marc Hinton’s ABs XV: Will Jordan, Sevu Reece, Rieko Ioane, David Havili, Caleb Clarke, Beauden Barrett, Aaron Smith: Ardie Savea, Sam Cane (captain), Akira Ioane, Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Nepo Laulala, Codie Taylor, George Bower.

Paul Cully’s ABs XV: Jordie Barrett, Will Jordan, Jack Goodhue, Quinn Tupaea, Rieko Ioane, Beauden Barrett, Aaron Smith, Ardie Savea, Sam Cane (captain), Pita Gus Sowakula, Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Ofa Tuungafasi, Samisoni Taukei’aho, Aidan Ross.

@Old-Samurai-Jack Yeah they did, but we're not talking about SR, we're talking big boys stuff here. Look, I want everyone to succeed in the Black jersey and couldn't care less where they come from, but not gonna lie, a fair few Crusaders players have failed to make the step up to test rugby, no need to throw tantrums when players from your team get criticised, and don't worry, there are Blues players in that category too.

@African-Monkey
What would the list look like of players who have failed to fire?

Of the newish players-

Possibly Underperformed
Crusaders: Bridge, Havili, Ennor, Bower(??) Mounga(??), others??,
Blues: Akira vs South Africa, Ofa(??), Karl T(??), Nepo(??)

Confirmed test level status:
Crusaders: Will Jordan, Ethan Blackadder.
Blues: Papalii, Akira vs everyone bar South Africa.

@Frank not sure that the confirmed test status is anyone given your bar. It's 'starring' at Test level, not just being at the test level.

Ofa's got 44 tests over 6 years. Not newby.
Blackadders' yet to show his physicality on the biggest stage (but looked better this year)
Mo'unga's got the ability to play open, needs to transfer his Super kicking and territory game to the top level.

@African-Monkey said in All Blacks 2022:

@Old-Samurai-Jack Yeah they did, but we're not talking about SR, we're talking big boys stuff here. Look, I want everyone to succeed in the Black jersey and couldn't care less where they come from, but not gonna lie, a fair few Crusaders players have failed to make the step up to test rugby, no need to throw tantrums when players from your team get criticised, and don't worry, there are Blues players in that category too.

I get what you are trying to say, but that was not a tantrum from @Old-Samurai-Jack.

@Bovidae I like Knowler’s team except for the loose trio.

The other two are having a laugh.

@Machpants said in All Blacks 2022:

I think news hub guess is what we're going to see, injuries permitting

Predicted team: 1-George Bower, 2-Codie Taylor, 3-Nepo Laulala, 4-Brodie Retallick, 5-Sam Whitelock, 6-Dalton Papalii, 7-Sam Cane (c), 8-Ardie Savea, 9-Aaron Smith, 10-Beauden Barrett, 11-Caleb Clarke, 12-David Havili, 13-Rieko Ioane, 14-Will Jordan, 15-Jordie Barrett.

Reserves: 16-Samisoni Taukei'aho, 17-Karl Tu'inukuafe, 18-Ofa Tu'ungafasi, 19-Scott Barrett, 20-Akira Ioane, 21-Finlay Christie, 22-Richie Mo'unga, 23-Leicester Fainga'anuku

You're probably pretty close, but I think Foster will go for experience above all, so I'd expect Goodhue instead of Havili at 12 and Havili on the bench instead of Leicester to cover midfield.

Paps v Akira is a tricky one for Foster. Personally, I'm happy with either. Ditto Reece v Caleb Clarke. Sami T coming on for impact looks great and/but I'd hope he's given a start in the latter tests.

@Frank said in All Blacks 2022:

@African-Monkey
What would the list look like of players who have failed to fire?

Of the newish players-

Possibly Underperformed
Crusaders: Bridge, Havili, Ennor, Bower(??) Mounga(??), others??,
Blues: Akira vs South Africa, Ofa(??), Karl T(??), Nepo(??)

Confirmed test level status:
Crusaders: Will Jordan, Ethan Blackadder.
Blues: Papalii, Akira vs everyone bar South Africa.

I think Ennor and Bridge performed to the best of their ability in their selected positions.

@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks 2022:

@Bovidae I like Knowler’s team except for the loose trio.

That could be the loose forward trio that finishes the game though.

@Stargazer so QT is a lock-in at 12?

@taniwharugby For the first game, yes, looks like it.

I hope there are not going to be more positive tests over the next few days.

I suspect Covid is going to spoil a few more games, this year, and mess up selections.

@pakman Panadol?

They absolutely must play RTS now

@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2022:

But yaaaay three 6.5s how goooood

Trying to get all your best players on the park rather than picking a team.

We will get our come-uppance somewhere down the line if we take this path.

@Stargazer said in All Blacks v Ireland:

@pakman Panadol?

Leon Macdonald - nickname from all the headknocks he took as a player.

@taniwharugby said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:

@Stargazer so QT is a lock-in at 12?

That's the most likely selection

The BB/RTS/Ioane combo is probably tempting. Although I don't think they want to start RTS yet

I think Jordie has a niggle? If he's fully fit, that could be an option.

Ennor joining the team is the most alarming bit of news.

@Crucial said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:

Ennor joining the team is the most alarming bit of news.

Is it really though? Are there any other capped midfielders not injured outside the current squad? I mean if you need a replacement midfielder who knows the systems who else would u suggest? ALB is injured and Umaga-Jensen is probably too given his injury record.

@Billy-Tell said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:

@Crucial said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:

Ennor joining the team is the most alarming bit of news.

Is it really though? Are there any other capped midfielders not injured outside the current squad? I mean if you need a replacement midfielder who knows the systems who else would u suggest? ALB is injured and Umaga-Jensen is probably too given his injury record.

I know the options are limited. There isn't really another to call in at this late stage. It's just more scary that we need him than it is that Foster won't be there.

The Ennor thing is probably getting ahead of things just in case there are more disruptions. Between QT, RTS, RI, JB and LF we will be OK.

These sorts of disruptions are the only way Foster moves on from previous players.

@Kirwan said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:

These sorts of disruptions are the only way Foster moves on from previous players.

Yet the pundits still think he will start with Taylor at 2?
Sami got one of those 'disruption' callups last year and has proven to be the best hooker we have.

Is there no stone unturned in our efforts to lose at Eden Park?

@Crucial Just imagine Akira, Papali'i and/or PGS testing positive. You all know who they'll bring back into the squad, and it won't be Robinson or MMT.

@Stargazer and rhymes with The Shizzle, but aint...

I saw some comments on social media saying 'what do you expect when the players are all out mingling with the public'

@Stargazer said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:

@Crucial Just imagine Akira, Papali'i and/or PGS testing positive. You all know who they'll bring back into the squad, and it won't be Robinson or MMT.

In that situation I'd be OK with either Grace or Jacobsen. If the systems aren't much different to last year (given the short turnaround) then Jacobsen.

@taniwharugby Good point though. Didn't see them wearing masks on most photos when they were not able to physically distance.

@Kirwan said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:

These sorts of disruptions are the only way Foster moves on from previous players.

I hope Ennor isn't considered moving on.

There's been a bit more added to the article since the news broke...

Stuff understands that the All Blacks are bracing for more disruption, with the very real potential for other members of the playing and/or coaching groups to join the defections.

The All Blacks had been building up with a camp in Northland last week, but the loss of their two most senior coaches threatens to throw their preparations into disarray.

With Foster and Plumtree both out for the week, the All Blacks will be in the hands of remaining coaches Scott McLeod, Greg Feek and Brad Mooar. It is not clear whether former Ireland coach Joe Schmidt could potentially step in this week.

The experienced head coach is due to join the All Blacks setup after this series as a selector and has worked with the Blues throughout their Super Rugby Pacific campaign.

Foster said he was confident in the team’s ability to carry on preparing for the first test without the absences causing too much duress.

“We’ve had a plan for this happening, and it’s a great opportunity for the wider coaching group and the senior players, who will be highly motivated to step up,” he said.

"We have learned how to cope with the unexpected, like everyone has over the past couple of years. I will still be working alongside the coaches and team via Zoom and I have huge faith in the coaching group and the players.

"We have structures in place and everyone is working together."

Looks like the perfect storm building up for our hold on Eden Park to finally be broken. Statistically it is due anyway but the thought of being 4-2 down against the Irish over the last few years will be hard to swallow.

Hopefully the ground will be nice and firm and we will be able to blow them away all over the park with some physical and attacking rugby

Surely would be a good opportunity to bring in Joe Schmidt, at least to have him in the coaches box on Saturday