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.