All Blacks XV 2022

@Stargazer said in All Blacks XV:

I'm not convinced Q Strange is ABs material, but that's more because he has his development constantly interrupted by injuries. He needs to play a full season, before we really can see where he's at. At this stage, that's higher in the pecking order than Holland though.

If you'd said that last (or maybe 2 years ago, poor memory again) I would have been right with you, but I've begrudgingly (he's one of those punchable face guys for me) come around to seeing that he's a pretty handy player in his limited appearances over the past year or so. He looks to have bulked up a bit too (cue irrelevant comments about my size...).

What about Pouri Rakete-Stones ? He is not a bad scrummager and he is certainly one of the most dynamic props in NZ.
I'd like to see Suafoa in there too. He was the best maori forward (along with Dickson) against Ireland. Surprisingly, he was dropped for the second game.

@cgrant said in All Blacks XV:

What about Pouri Rakete-Stones ? He is not a bad scrummager and he is certainly one of the most dynamic props in NZ.
I'd like to see Suafoa in there too. He was the best maori forward (along with Dickson) against Ireland. Surprisingly, he was dropped for the second game.

Not dropped. It was made clear that the whole squad would play. Part of the team culture thing.....

@Stargazer Strange already got picked for the ABs. He'd have played for them if he hadn't got injured.

He's a solid bet.

Possible bolters : Roigard / Hotham as halfbacks. This tour was organized in order to prepare the future, right?

Is this team where we see DMac and Perofeta at 10/15 swap-arounds?

@Crucial said in All Blacks XV:

Is this team where we see DMac and Perofeta at 10/15 swap-arounds?

I wouldn't be surprised if DMac's with the ABs by then mate.

I'd like to see Hohepa selected. His combo with Roigard is excellent, probably the best in this year's NPC.

@cgrant said in All Blacks XV:

I'd like to see Hohepa selected. His combo with Roigard is excellent, probably the best in this year's NPC.

Considering the lack of solid 10s going around at the moment he wouldn't be a bad option. They will probably search for the 'next big thing' though.
Perofeta should be given a go for experience sake rather than be carrying bags in the ABs.
Roigard has to be a squaddie here if the selectors have any brains.
He adds that old 9/10 role back into the mix like a not fat Piri Weepu.

Rather Bryn Gatland and Lincoln McClutchie than Hohepa.

It depends on what the coaches see as the purpose of the AB XV. Is it the next best players, a means of identifying and developing players to make that step up, or a combination of both? Hohepa is the same age as Gatland (27). I would expect Ioane to be one of the 1st 5s selected.

@Stargazer said in All Blacks XV:

Rather Bryn Gatland and Lincoln McClutchie than Hohepa.

Gatland is sooooo average.

I would hope that this side is a mixture of strength to win alongside an eye to the future. Players that look to have reached their ceiling are down the list for me but it will have to be a balance I guess.
We need to have an eye on 2027 IMO and tht means areas like lock, halfback, 10....

@Crucial It was a response to the suggesiton of Hohepa, who IMO is very far removed from being a top 10 in NZ. Gatland is better than Hohepa.

@Bovidae said in All Blacks XV:

It depends on what the coaches see as the purpose of the AB XV. Is it the next best players, a means of identifying and developing players to make that step up, or a combination of both? Hohepa is the same age as Gatland (27). I would expect Ioane to be one of the 1st 5s selected.

Plummer's having a good season behind a pack that isn't functioning that well. He's been around forever but is still only 24

@Stargazer said in All Blacks XV:

Rather Bryn Gatland and Lincoln McClutchie than Hohepa.

-Does McClutchie have potential at the higher level? Asking as I haven't seen him play.

Select Fergus Burke!

Irish newspapers have reported the Allblacks XV will also play Ireland A on Friday the 4th November at the RDS ground in Dublin on their northern tour

Pick Aiden Morgan, he’s been sound since making his debut for the Canes last year.

I think either Gatland or Ioane with either Morgan or Plummer. I. E. One experienced and one for the future.

I have to admit that I didn't realise Plummer was still so young. He's never really excited me but could be one that has the experience to build on to being a very effective controlling 10.
Mind you, I think Perofeta has already gone through that stage and now desperately needs time in the saddle. He has the biggest potential.
Surely there is a way with the XV that they can plan around him being rushed back to the main squad if required?

You would think that only one of DMac and Perofeta makes the AB squad, so the other will be in the AB XV. Perofeta might benefit more with regular time at 10 rather than just being a squadie in the ABs.

Yes fair call. How many are they taking? If 36 then room for 3 tens. Would also like to see Roigard and Roe join Weber as nines and Bell and Eklund as hookers.

@ARHS said in All Blacks XV:

Yes fair call. How many are they taking? If 36 then room for 3 tens. Would also like to see Roigard and Roe join Weber as nines and Bell and Eklund as hookers.

No way it will be 36, more like 26. They have ABs around to top up if desperate.

@nostrildamus said in All Blacks XV:

@Stargazer said in All Blacks XV:

Rather Bryn Gatland and Lincoln McClutchie than Hohepa.

-Does McClutchie have potential at the higher level? Asking as I haven't seen him play.

I think super rugby is his level. Same as Morgan. Neither look like potential ABs to me

Reading some of the names being thrown around, we sure this isn’t an old Heartland XV tour…

Burke, McClutchie, Morgan, Plummer aren’t there.

Ioane seems so hot and cold.

If Bernard Foley is getting a test for the Wallabies we should get Colin Slade or Aaron Cruden a run.

@ACT-Crusader I think out of anyone, Gatland probably deserves a shot as he's proved to be a good facilitator in big games... the return of David Holwell.

Ioane the closest to Mo/Beauds in style.

Perofeta though, plays the game they're wanting with the flat backline, so at least give him a fucking go.

@Bones said in All Blacks XV:

@ACT-Crusader I think out of anyone, Gatland probably deserves a shot as he's proved to be a good facilitator in big games... the return of David Holwell.

Ioane the closest to Mo/Beauds in style.

Perofeta though, plays the game they're wanting with the flat backline, so at least give him a fucking go.

Garland has impressed this year. He’s always been a solid game manager, great boot, steady playmaker but boy has he started taking on the line this year. He deserves a shot IMO.

Josh Ioane is fast becoming the 2nd coming of Orene Ai’i.

Five eighths will either be one of McDonald or Perofeta and then Gatland plus a younger player - Aidan Morgan maybe? Pure bolter would be someone like Cashmore, Reihana.

@TheMojoman said in All Blacks XV:

McDonald

Fuck I thought I was going senile....was racking my brain! I realise now you possibly mean DMac?

What is the philosophy behind "All Blacks XV" ? Will it be a team to test young players for the future (Murray, Springer, Hotham, Lakai, Bell, to name just a few) ? Or will it be an All Blacks "B" side (with players such as TJP, Weber, Sowakula, Ta'avao) ? Or will it be a mix of the two ?

@cgrant This is the original media release about the All Blacks XV:

"The high-performance benefits of this team will be significant. It will help to develop the next group of players, many of whom will likely become our future All Blacks, as well as give further opportunities for our coaches and other team personnel.

"We also believe that this will aid with retention of players and personnel in New Zealand, which will benefit our Super Rugby clubs and provincial unions as well as the All Blacks," Cass said.

Cass said that, while the concept of a second-tier national team was not new in New Zealand, the intention was for the All Blacks XV to become a regular national team playing second-tier overseas opposition.

"Teams such as the New Zealand A team and the Junior All Blacks who last played in the Pacific Nations Cup in 2009 have filled a similar high-performance role and have done so effectively, with a very high percentage going on to play for the All Blacks.

"These teams have been sporadic in the past, and we believe that there is great value in making this a regular national team going forward.

"Beyond its high-performance role, this new team also has real commercial value for NZR. It will play offshore in growing rugby markets that are of strategic and commercial importance, allowing us to showcase and grow New Zealand's brand of rugby in many more parts of the world," Cass said.

The problem with Gatland is his ceiling. If this is a squad to get potential ABs game time Gatland is not the guy. Yes, the next coming of David Howell who never was going to be an AB. I would take Plummer before Gatland and as Crucial mentioned put Perofeta in their for game time. I am not in the know about other potential talent out their.

For the benefit of NZ rugby, Perofeta has to go as the primary 10. We need to find out if he is up to the job.

@Crazy-Horse Depth at No 10 is what we really recquire at present. Wonder if there is any correlation between how our depth was when the Juniour All Blacks last played.

Zarn Sullivan.

Numia and Aumua are not doing their chances any harm with their recent form. Likewise TJ and Morgan. And Delany although I don't think he will make it. Like Morgan.

Lakai is maybe a bit young still

@Crazy-Horse said in All Blacks XV:

For the benefit of NZ rugby, Perofeta has to go as the primary 10. We need to find out if he is up to the job.

Agree. McKenzie thankfully is showing what he's capable of for Waikato. But Perofeta needs time at first if he is to be considered a serious replacement option for the top side