All Blacks XV 2022

@Bones yeah you'd hope they'd look at someone younger over TJ, Weber is the senior player to mentor them, and Moorby over Love for me.

Not sure Ta'avao will be right, looked a nasty knock last night

@taniwharugby said in All Blacks XV:

@Bones yeah you'd hope they'd look at someone younger over TJ, Weber is the senior player to mentor them, and Moorby over Love for me.

Not sure Ta'avao will be right, looked a nasty knock last night

Yeah my thoughts on halfback too. I haven't seen a great amount of npc but what I've seen of Perenara and Love they're not exactly setting the world on fire.

@Bones TJ was very good today, but he should be at NPC.

@Bones TJ is a slightly milder version of me picking Owen Franks. I don't think we're going to be picking our 6th halfback or tighthead over TJ or Owen for RWC so keep them involved.

I like Love, man - he's a little bit extraneous (and my 28th pick), because a specialist wing might be more useful, but WTF!

Could be miles out - hard to know who the selectors have in their sights - but, it's a very important selection to see who they think is the next tier.

@Chris-B said in All Blacks XV:

TJ is a slightly milder version of me picking Owen Franks

That's why Weber is there... but he actually looks like he could step up

Stevenson should be in the AB XV, IMO.

@cgrant rumours he might be off to league...so that'll put a fork in him if he is

@cgrant said in All Blacks XV:

Stevenson should be in the AB XV, IMO.

I'd be his biggest critic over the years, but barring outside circumstances he definitely should be.

@taniwharugby said in All Blacks XV:

@cgrant rumours he might be off to league...so that'll put a fork in him if he is

Is his contract up for renewal? That’s what this smells like to me. It could just be this ‘rumor’ is his representatives saying if he’s not selected in the AB15 they are open to offers?

@gt12 Stevenson is contracted until 2023. He deserves to be selected.

@gt12 said in All Blacks XV:

@taniwharugby said in All Blacks XV:

@cgrant rumours he might be off to league...so that'll put a fork in him if he is

Is his contract up for renewal? That’s what this smells like to me. It could just be this ‘rumor’ is his representatives saying if he’s not selected in the AB15 they are open to offers?

It would seem a pretty weak attempt. It's not like he's a marquis player who would have teams banging down the door.

@Bovidae said in All Blacks XV:

@gt12 Stevenson is contracted until 2023. He deserves to be selected.

If Nogusta says Dolphins then that is generally very good sauce.
On form though he has been a stand out throughout the year and I agree

Probably also depends on what happens to Perofeta/DMac unless they play him on a wing

@bayimports The Dolphins aren't having much luck signing players at the moment.

My point is that Stevenson would need to get an early release.

Perofeta should be selected for the AB XV so he can play 2 games at 1st 5, rather than a single test for the ABs (vs Japan). Stevenson could be at fullback.

@Chris-B Articles I have read say 35 for the ABs and only 26 for the AB XV.

@Bovidae Yeah - I've seen 35 for the ABs as well (and 36).

But, I got to 34 and couldn't see anyone else I needed. Everyone else seems more valuable in the AB XV.

@Chris-B said in All Blacks XV:

So, 36 for the AB squad and 26 for the ABs XV with some crossover seems the intel. But,...
I struggle to see the need for 36 ABs, so I'm going for 34 and 28 - you can promote a couple as you see fit.

Otherwise - I reckon the ABs will be pretty predictable.

de Groot, Bower, Tu'ungafasi
Sami T., Taylor, Coles
Lomax, Laulala, Newell
Retallick, Whitelock, SBarrett, Vaaí
Frizell, AIoane, Cane, Papali'i, Savea, Sotutu
Smith, Christie, Fakatava
Mo'unga, BBarrett,
Havili, RTS, ALB, RIoane
Clarke, Fainga'anuku, Jordan, Reece, JBarrett, Perofeta

So, an additional 28 man squad, that might have to be a bit front row heavy, given there's a few outside backs sure to be available from the ABs. Injuries might preclude a couple.

Ross, Williams, Hodgman
Aumua, McAlister, Thompson
Taávao, Jager, Franks (maybe/maybe not for Owen)
Dickson, Tuipolotou, Strange,
Sowakula, Harmon, Jacobson, Mikaele-Tu'u
Weber, Perenara, Roigard
McKenzie, Gatland
Nankivell, Ennor, Aumua
Telea, Lam, Love, ZSullivan

Replace Strange with Fabian Holland and we'll be off to the Races

@taniwharugby said in All Blacks XV:

@cgrant rumours he might be off to league...so that'll put a fork in him if he is

Isn't that just Aus paper talk, hell he would get a lot more going to Japan if he was actually going.

@FakatavaAllBlack said in All Blacks XV:

@Chris-B said in All Blacks XV:

So, 36 for the AB squad and 26 for the ABs XV with some crossover seems the intel. But,...
I struggle to see the need for 36 ABs, so I'm going for 34 and 28 - you can promote a couple as you see fit.

Otherwise - I reckon the ABs will be pretty predictable.

de Groot, Bower, Tu'ungafasi
Sami T., Taylor, Coles
Lomax, Laulala, Newell
Retallick, Whitelock, SBarrett, Vaaí
Frizell, AIoane, Cane, Papali'i, Savea, Sotutu
Smith, Christie, Fakatava
Mo'unga, BBarrett,
Havili, RTS, ALB, RIoane
Clarke, Fainga'anuku, Jordan, Reece, JBarrett, Perofeta

So, an additional 28 man squad, that might have to be a bit front row heavy, given there's a few outside backs sure to be available from the ABs. Injuries might preclude a couple.

Ross, Williams, Hodgman
Aumua, McAlister, Thompson
Taávao, Jager, Franks (maybe/maybe not for Owen)
Dickson, Tuipolotou, Strange,
Sowakula, Harmon, Jacobson, Mikaele-Tu'u
Weber, Perenara, Roigard
McKenzie, Gatland
Nankivell, Ennor, Aumua
Telea, Lam, Love, ZSullivan

Replace Strange with Fabian Holland and we'll be off to the Races

I would have Stevenson definitely, not sure if Holland can play in WC next year (residential?) so might be better to stick with players who can even if I think he is going to be one of the greats in a few years. Wouldn't mind seeing Roigard get a gig at 9 either.

@Dan54 it was initially mentioned by a poster who has some of the best sauce, then a week later was that article, so who knows.

I think he is a shoe in for a spot if he is sticking around.

@Dan54 said in All Blacks XV:

@FakatavaAllBlack said in All Blacks XV:

@Chris-B said in All Blacks XV:

So, 36 for the AB squad and 26 for the ABs XV with some crossover seems the intel. But,...
I struggle to see the need for 36 ABs, so I'm going for 34 and 28 - you can promote a couple as you see fit.

Otherwise - I reckon the ABs will be pretty predictable.

de Groot, Bower, Tu'ungafasi
Sami T., Taylor, Coles
Lomax, Laulala, Newell
Retallick, Whitelock, SBarrett, Vaaí
Frizell, AIoane, Cane, Papali'i, Savea, Sotutu
Smith, Christie, Fakatava
Mo'unga, BBarrett,
Havili, RTS, ALB, RIoane
Clarke, Fainga'anuku, Jordan, Reece, JBarrett, Perofeta

So, an additional 28 man squad, that might have to be a bit front row heavy, given there's a few outside backs sure to be available from the ABs. Injuries might preclude a couple.

Ross, Williams, Hodgman
Aumua, McAlister, Thompson
Taávao, Jager, Franks (maybe/maybe not for Owen)
Dickson, Tuipolotou, Strange,
Sowakula, Harmon, Jacobson, Mikaele-Tu'u
Weber, Perenara, Roigard
McKenzie, Gatland
Nankivell, Ennor, Aumua
Telea, Lam, Love, ZSullivan

Replace Strange with Fabian Holland and we'll be off to the Races

I would have Stevenson definitely, not sure if Holland can play in WC next year (residential?) so might be better to stick with players who can even if I think he is going to be one of the greats in a few years. Wouldn't mind seeing Roigard get a gig at 9 either.

Some are predicting Fakatava might be sent to play in these two matches, if so I still hope he will play for the main All Blacks side against Japan beforehand

@FakatavaAllBlack I thought that earlier, but given the relative squad numbers, I think it will genuinely be the All Blacks and a 2nd XV (26) so to speak - with one way traffic - people being released to play for the 2nd XV.

How has Ratima been for Waikato? any chance he makes the squad?

@FakatavaAllBlack said in All Blacks XV:

@Chris-B said in All Blacks XV:

So, 36 for the AB squad and 26 for the ABs XV with some crossover seems the intel. But,...
I struggle to see the need for 36 ABs, so I'm going for 34 and 28 - you can promote a couple as you see fit.

Otherwise - I reckon the ABs will be pretty predictable.

de Groot, Bower, Tu'ungafasi
Sami T., Taylor, Coles
Lomax, Laulala, Newell
Retallick, Whitelock, SBarrett, Vaaí
Frizell, AIoane, Cane, Papali'i, Savea, Sotutu
Smith, Christie, Fakatava
Mo'unga, BBarrett,
Havili, RTS, ALB, RIoane
Clarke, Fainga'anuku, Jordan, Reece, JBarrett, Perofeta

So, an additional 28 man squad, that might have to be a bit front row heavy, given there's a few outside backs sure to be available from the ABs. Injuries might preclude a couple.

Ross, Williams, Hodgman
Aumua, McAlister, Thompson
Taávao, Jager, Franks (maybe/maybe not for Owen)
Dickson, Tuipolotou, Strange,
Sowakula, Harmon, Jacobson, Mikaele-Tu'u
Weber, Perenara, Roigard
McKenzie, Gatland
Nankivell, Ennor, Aumua
Telea, Lam, Love, ZSullivan

Replace Strange with Fabian Holland and we'll be off to the Races

A 19 year old who is yet to play Super?

Quin's staying in my team!

Hinton has Tuipulotu in his AB squad. He'd be a better chance for this team.

@kiwi_expat said in All Blacks XV:

How has Ratima been for Waikato? any chance he makes the squad?

He's mainly been used off the bench, and his form has been up and down. If both Weber and Perenara are selected for the AB XV there would only be room for one other halfback. Roigard might be favoured.

@Bovidae
Or Hotham.

Roigard, Ratima, Hotham, Roe etc, maybe others, have all been mentioned at various times. Seems it depends on a particular tun of form and recency bias as to who is seen as the front runner(s).

@cgrant said in All Blacks XV:

@Bovidae
Or Hotham.

I'd be very surprised if they pick anyone who hasn't played Super rugby.

@Bovidae said in All Blacks XV:

Hinton has Tuipulotu in his AB squad. He'd be a better chance for this team.

And Ennor - which gets him to 36 compared to the 34 I picked above.

I guess their original squad had Lord and Jack Goodhue, so if they really take 36 those two make positional sense, but I don't see the point in them for a 4 match tour.

I wonder whether the squad of 36 has any room for an apprentice?

@Chris-B said in All Blacks XV:

I wonder whether the squad of 36 has any room for an apprentice?

Is there anyone that undeniably ‘will be an AB’ that is also too young/inexperienced for the ABXV?

@gt12 Maybe Hotham. Maybe Holland.

Edit: Maybe George Bell.

@Chris-B wasnt it only 12 months ago Fakatava was being looked at as the apprentice and/or the next big thing? Granted he has had limited chances, but I'd say 9 isnt where they'll throw in an apprentice or have a bit of a gamble, if they do...2, now I can see that!

In saying that, when was the last player to go straight from NPC to ABs (although AB XV is a skight level down)

@Chris-B said in All Blacks XV:

@gt12 Maybe Hotham. Maybe Holland.

Edit: Maybe George Bell.

Guaranteed to be an AB? I think that the ABXV is good because we don't have to make these choices too young. IMO, Aumua wasn't helped by being an apprentice, and even Ardie would have likely been just as well developed if we had run out an AB Junior team.

@gt12 I guess no-one is ever guaranteed.

If they were looking at apprentices, these guys would be among the contenders I can think of - look like ABs in the making, but not ready to play for either team.

@taniwharugby Yep. I don't expect anyone who hasn't played Super to make either team, unless as a non-playing apprentice.

The only reason I raised the possibility is that I can't see the point of 36 players in the AB squad.

@gt12 said in All Blacks XV:

@Chris-B said in All Blacks XV:

I wonder whether the squad of 36 has any room for an apprentice?

Is there anyone that undeniably ‘will be an AB’ that is also too young/inexperienced for the ABXV?

George Bell will be an AB. Put your house on it.

Just in case, I like my hats with BBQ sauce….

What time tomorrow for the squad announcement? This will be more interesting than the ABs.

Foster has already said that this XV side will be a reserve squad for the WC instead of a development squad this close to the WC. Therefore guys like Perenara/Weber would be favoured over guys like Roigard/Hotham I would imagine.

@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks XV:

@gt12 said in All Blacks XV:

@Chris-B said in All Blacks XV:

I wonder whether the squad of 36 has any room for an apprentice?

Is there anyone that undeniably ‘will be an AB’ that is also too young/inexperienced for the ABXV?

George Bell will be an AB. Put your house on it.

Just in case, I like my hats with BBQ sauce….

Guaranteed like how when people saw DC and went he’ll be an AB or when those blokes on the Fern watched the U20s and guaranteed Robbie Robinson was going to be a long term AB 10 instead of AC?

@Canes4life said in All Blacks XV:

Foster has already said that this XV side will be a reserve squad for the WC instead of a development squad this close to the WC. Therefore guys like Perenara/Weber would be favoured over guys like Roigard/Hotham I would imagine.

Given there are going to be new players, I think it will serve both purposes.

Halfback, 1st 5 and lock will be particularly interesting because you have Weber, TJP, DMac, Tuipoluto all in the mix.