All Blacks XV 2022

@Bones said in All Blacks XV:

@Winger said in All Blacks XV:

@Bones said in All Blacks XV:

@Stargazer said in All Blacks XV:

@Duluth If he doesn't keep planting his shoulder in opponent's faces.

And can bloody learn to throw. Get sick of seeing Welly get a penalty and kick to touch, only to lose the lineout.

His throwing has been good recently.

I think I turned the rugby on for the shield match and it was a lineout immediately. We lost it.

I see his lineout throwing as good now. Not 100% but close enough. A few are lost but overall good enough for me now.

@Bones said in All Blacks XV:

@Machpants said in All Blacks XV:

@Bones said in All Blacks XV:

@Machpants said in All Blacks XV:

@Bones said in All Blacks XV:

@Winger said in All Blacks XV:

@Bones said in All Blacks XV:

@Stargazer said in All Blacks XV:

@Duluth If he doesn't keep planting his shoulder in opponent's faces.

And can bloody learn to throw. Get sick of seeing Welly get a penalty and kick to touch, only to lose the lineout.

His throwing has been good recently.

I think I turned the rugby on for the shield match and it was a lineout immediately. We lost it.

So it's nothing to do with Aumua, it's you

I will be watching the ABs.

Can you miss the next game, please? I'm going to that one

Aumua won't be.

it depends how far he can throw...this is not a serious comment but I do hope his throwing has improved...at least past the Taylor standard...

@nostrildamus it's improved, but he's not a patch on ST/DC in terms of actually being reliable. While he might get most throws, I'd still be anxious watching him throw.

What about Levi Aumua ? He is on fire in the NPC. Or with the All Blacks ? His combo with Jordie Barrett would be fun to watch.

Yeh, even though the ABs have been a bit shit for much of this year, they win another Rugby Championship.

I'd like to see a guy like nikora broughton and ngatoa ah kuoi have w run in this team

Keeping my eyepatch on. Fabian Holland showing all his skills this afternoon.

@cgrant said in All Blacks XV:

What about Levi Aumua ? He is on fire in the NPC. Or with the All Blacks ? His combo with Jordie Barrett would be fun to watch.

Someone reckoned a few weeks ago that the ABs were looking at him.

He's going great guns. Lost some weight I think and looking fitter and faster.

Test rugby is a massive step up from NPC though, so this AB XV would make more sense.

@Chris-B He plays for Moana Pasifika, is he still eligible for All Black selection?

@Chris-B said in All Blacks XV:

Someone reckoned a few weeks ago that the ABs were looking at him.

A TSFer was quoting a commentator a few weeks ago. I think they mis heard. Pretty sure the commentator was talking about Nankivell

@SBW1 born in NZ...playing NPC and super rugby in NZ...I'm not saying pick him, but there is zero reason not to if he is good enough

@Duluth That actually makes more sense in a way - though I reckon Alex is solid at best - not big, not fast.

@Duluth said in All Blacks XV:

@Chris-B said in All Blacks XV:

Someone reckoned a few weeks ago that the ABs were looking at him.

A TSFer was quoting a commentator a few weeks ago. I think they mis heard. Pretty sure the commentator was talking about Nankivell

That was me. Nankivell would make more sense. Might have to watch the replay to see if I misheard.

@Crazy-Horse

If it’s the same comment, the commentator was talking about both centres. Then said the ABs were interested in ‘him’ and that he narrowly missed out on the first squad of the year. It was confusing but I think the ‘him’ was Nankivell

@Duluth said in All Blacks XV:

@Crazy-Horse

If it’s the same comment, the commentator was talking about both centres. Then said the ABs were interested in ‘him’ and that he narrowly missed out on the first squad of the year. It was confusing but I think the ‘him’ was Nankivell

If I can work out what game it was I will watch the replay. It should still be on Stan.

Edit: It was Ta$man V Taranaki

@Duluth Nankivell was more impressive in super than Ennor imo.

ALB is due back, so hard to see a fresh midfielder making the EOYT.

Nankivell and Aumua should both be in contention for this XV. Big Levi has been a revelation in this NPC.

Alex is a glue guy. You could slot him in the ABs and he'd be Ryan Crotty-lite. Wouldn't let you down, but wouldn't offer enough threat IMO.

NZR haven't even officially named the coaching staff yet have they?

I hope they decide to select a younger player in all positions to develop along with more experienced players. It would be a missed opportunity otherwise.

@Bovidae great idea would love to see young Sean Withy backing up Billy Harmon on tour

@taniwharugby said in All Blacks XV:

@SBW1 born in NZ...playing NPC and super rugby in NZ...I'm not saying pick him, but there is zero reason not to if he is good enough

Nope there is an agreement that NZR won't pick NZ qual player's from MP. He'd have to leave for another franchise, MP s effectively not an NZ SR franchise, it just plays home games in NZ

@Machpants Has he signed for MP for 2023 and is he a serious candidate for All Black XV selection?

@SBW1 said in All Blacks XV:

@Machpants Has he signed for MP for 2023 and is he a serious candidate for All Black XV selection?

He’s contracted to MP in 2023

So is the AB XV officially named as our second team? Be a bit disingenuous but if not, Aumua could still be selected.

@Machpants said in All Blacks XV:

@taniwharugby said in All Blacks XV:

@SBW1 born in NZ...playing NPC and super rugby in NZ...I'm not saying pick him, but there is zero reason not to if he is good enough

Nope there is an agreement that NZR won't pick NZ qual player's from MP. He'd have to leave for another franchise, MP s effectively not an NZ SR franchise, it just plays home games in NZ

Really, I thought the opposite was true (no impact on NZ eligibility) to encourage some younger guys to turn out for MP to strengthen them?

@Nepia Nope, it has been reported that there is an agreement not to pick ABs/Wallabies eligible players from MP. Obviously, it only applies to players who are actually eligible to play for the Pacific Islands, not players who are still in their stand-down period of 3 years if they are already NZ/OZ capped and want to change country, or players who can not qualify for the Islands, because they have no (grand)parents born in the Islands and can't meet the residency requirement either (like McClutchie).

So, in the case of Levi Aumua, it would be against the agreement to name him in the All Blacks XV, because he's under contract with MP for 2023.

By the way, it has also been reported that MP can sign up to 20% of players that are not eligible for the Islands, but despite that, there was some opposition when they signed McClutchie, because he's not Island eligible.

I'd love to know what is actually in players' contracts. Do they have to sign a clause in which they declare for their country of birth/heritage - if that's one of the PIs - for the duration of their contract? Or do they have to agree to a clause not to accept an invitation from the ABs for the duration of their contract (= not the same thing)? Or is this just an agreement between NZR, RA and the PI Unions?

@Bones The situation is a bit ambiguous. NZR has stated that the ABs XV are our "next senior XV" team like the Junior ABs were in the past, but - unlike the Junior ABs - has not designated it as such under the World Rugby Regulations (which would mean that players are captured by playing for this team). To the contrary, NZR has said multiple times that players will not be captured by the ABs XV. Legally, only the official designation under WR Regs is relevant.

@Stargazer oooh that could make it juicy eh. Technically fine to select him, but a bit of a middle finger from NZR if they do.

@Stargazer I wonder if Danny didn't realise he was signing up to Samoa when he signed with MP.

I prefer the way I thought it was running.

@Bones said in All Blacks XV:

@Stargazer oooh that could make it juicy eh. Technically fine to select him, but a bit of a middle finger from NZR if they do.

Aren't they just middle fingering themselves as they basically organise and fund the team and made the agreement, despite its a Pasifika team?

@Nepia said in All Blacks XV:

fingering themselves

Yeah I'm out.

@ACT-Crusader Sladey would do a job. No doubt.

If the AB XV doesn't affect Levi Aumua's eligibility for Samoa/Fiji then what's the problem?

@Frye Why would NZR want to develop a player at the highest level, who could then go on and play for another country?

@Stargazer there's nothing wrong with helping to develop an MP player. Or helping to develop someone playing for a Pacific nation. Potentially helping develop LA into a marquee player for MP is good for Super rugby, it gives the comp more credibility.

Also, if he goes really well then maybe a conversation with him about choosing NZ.

I thought things along the same lines as @nepia given NZR funded the team last year, there would be a few with dual eligibility to try and improve the strength of MP without hindering players aspirations.

Obviously I was wrong.

@Stargazer said in All Blacks XV:

@Nepia Nope, it has been reported that there is an agreement not to pick ABs/Wallabies eligible players from MP. Obviously, it only applies to players who are actually eligible to play for the Pacific Islands, not players who are still in their stand-down period of 3 years if they are already NZ/OZ capped and want to change country, or players who can not qualify for the Islands, because they have no (grand)parents born in the Islands and can't meet the residency requirement either (like McClutchie).

So, in the case of Levi Aumua, it would be against the agreement to name him in the All Blacks XV, because he's under contract with MP for 2023.

By the way, it has also been reported that MP can sign up to 20% of players that are not eligible for the Islands, but despite that, there was some opposition when they signed McClutchie, because he's not Island eligible.

I'd love to know what is actually in players' contracts. Do they have to sign a clause in which they declare for their country of birth/heritage - if that's one of the PIs - for the duration of their contract? Or do they have to agree to a clause not to accept an invitation from the ABs for the duration of their contract (= not the same thing)? Or is this just an agreement between NZR, RA and the PI Unions?

This. It's a deal that NZR has signed as part of MP set up.

I like what I have seen of Fabian Holland so far. He could be a bolter for the AB XV. Another Otago player who caught my eye is Henry Bell. He is dynamic in the loose and he can throw. Could we have both brothers selected ?

@Duluth said in All Blacks XV:

@Crazy-Horse

If it’s the same comment, the commentator was talking about both centres. Then said the ABs were interested in ‘him’ and that he narrowly missed out on the first squad of the year. It was confusing but I think the ‘him’ was Nankivell

I rewatched the game, or at least had it on in the background to listen to the commentary. It didn't take long. Three minutes and 50 seconds in during a stop in play for a scrum Wilson talks about Nankivell "one of those players getting consistent game time in 2022, has managed to stay healthy I touch wood on that because he has suffered a number injuries...this midfield combination of Nankivell and Aumua they can have an impact on the game..." Vision at this moment switches to Aumua. Wilson says "Look at this guy. Super rugby we saw he's some sort of player and there were whispers at the back end of Super Rugby that maybe he was in the All Black picture."

I stand by my interpretation that Wilson was talking about Aumua when it came to AB whispers. But I agree it's ambiguous so I am not insisting I am right. If anyone else can be bothered checking the replay (starts 3 mins 50 secs into the game) I would be interested in their opinion. I would have thought Aumua was miles away from selection, but I never watched him with my selector's hat on.

I think they both lack some of the high end subtleties and skills needed for international level but show bursts of strong play at lower level. TUJ Procter and Sullivan seem to have a higher ceiling.

@ARHS said in All Blacks XV:

I think they both lack some of the high end subtleties and skills needed for international level but show bursts of strong play at lower level. TUJ Procter and Sullivan seem to have a higher ceiling.

Not sure if you been watching NPC, but in the Waikato games I have seen it looks like poor old Sullivan's form has fallen off a cliff. On the weekend it seemed everything the poor bastard touched turn to shit. Hope he turns it around because he looked like he had a touch of class about him during the Super season.

@Crazy-Horse

His form disappeared as soon as SR ended. He struggled a bit for the Maori too. It's the first season he's had with this volume of rugby. He'll probably come right next year

For the midfield I think we should be picking people who fit the same profile as the full AB side. So a 12 with a strong kicking game (like Havili/JB) and a centre with the pace of a winger

Guys like Sullivan and PUJ would've been interesting in the Ioane role.. but injuries and form have changed that