@Stargazer said in All Blacks 2022:
Holy sh*t!
What I would do. Schmidt to take change. Razor and Rangi to be his assistants for the week.
@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.
Topic event: Duluth referenced this topic on
@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.
@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.
@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.
@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
What I would like to see happen is the team play amazingly well without Foster in the box, would be very ironic.
Have some compassion for Foster FFS. You do realise that he will probably be exposed to listening to Justin Marshall for the first time in ages.
@Crucial said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:
Have some compassion for Foster FFS. You do realise that he will probably be exposed to listening to Justin Marshall for the first time in ages.
Let's hope he takes time to read the fern and uncover the secrets to the AB's success that we all clearly know.
@chimoaus said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:
@Crucial said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:
Have some compassion for Foster FFS. You do realise that he will probably be exposed to listening to Justin Marshall for the first time in ages.
Let's hope he takes time to read the fern and uncover the secrets to the AB's success that we all clearly know.
"Don't involve Foster"?
@NTA said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:
@chimoaus said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:
@Crucial said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:
Have some compassion for Foster FFS. You do realise that he will probably be exposed to listening to Justin Marshall for the first time in ages.
Let's hope he takes time to read the fern and uncover the secrets to the AB's success that we all clearly know.
"Don't involve Foster"?
Lol, yes that might be a little hard to swallow.
@chimoaus said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:
@NTA said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:
@chimoaus said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:
@Crucial said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:
Have some compassion for Foster FFS. You do realise that he will probably be exposed to listening to Justin Marshall for the first time in ages.
Let's hope he takes time to read the fern and uncover the secrets to the AB's success that we all clearly know.
"Don't involve Foster"?
Lol, yes that might be a little hard to swallow.
He looks like he has no issue swallowing anything else
#fosterfatjoke
@Nevorian said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:
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.
I guess I'm in the minority here, but I think the AB's will win comfortably. The Irish at the end of their season and an AB side under pressure to raise their standards
@taniwharugby said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:
@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'
Explain? Surely Luke Jacobson after what was said at selection time.
ABs typically struggle in the first test of the season (not going to count the Tonga test last year) - i'm expecting a scrappy encounter.
I'm hoping to witness two wins live this week, and fine weather for both games would be good.
@Tim said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:
Nice. Good practise for when he's AB coach after the RWC
@mariner4life just hope more players dont go down.
Surely they only need isolate if they are ill and/or showing symptoms?
Plenty of the normal flu going about at the moment, and like Covid, it hits some hard, and others barely and missing some, are they testing and isolating for that too?
@taniwharugby said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:
@mariner4life just hope more players dont go down.
Surely they only need isolate if they are ill?
Plenty of the normal flu going about at the moment, and like Covid, it hits some hard, and others barely and missing some.
You isolate so you don't spread it to others not because you are ill.
In hindsight, the Far North wasn't the best place to hold the AB camp at this time, particularly if the players were regularly interacting with the public and not wearing masks.
@Bovidae said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:
In hindsight, the Far North wasn't the best place to hold the AB camp at this time, particularly if the players were regularly interacting with the public and not wearing masks.
Especially when far northers only isolate when they’re ill 
@taniwharugby said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:
@MN5 not the thread for it, but both my kids have had the normal flu the past 10 days, tested them for the covid, negative, but I didnt test myself or isolate.
You seem very confused.