@Nepia said in All Blacks XV:
@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks XV:
Flanders form this season has clearly been down on previous seasons (carrying an injury?)
His form at the tail end of the NPC was actually really good. IIRC he has been carrying an injury most of the year.
I am a fan of Flanders but I reckon he needs a season of showing he can get through intense games at Super level without cramping/breaking down before being selected at the next level.
Ryan says they picked on NPC form. That doesn't explain the selection of some bench players.
Not sure what the goals of the team are. If I was selecting a team it would be based on potential to reach a higher level that's why I don't understand the selection of Gatland. I can appreciate he did a great job for North Harbor but he would be swallowed up at international level.
@Bovidae said in All Blacks XV:
Ryan says they picked on NPC form. That doesn't explain the selection of some bench players.
How on earth did Laghlan McWhannell & Ollie Norris not make the squad then?
@broughie said in All Blacks XV:
Not sure what the goals of the team are. If I was selecting a team it would be based on potential to reach a higher level that's why I don't understand the selection of Gatland. I can appreciate he did a great job for North Harbor but he would be swallowed up at international level.
I believe the selection is for next year. As in - who is the next cab of the rank next year if people start falling over (ala first fives in the 2011 RWC). I suppose one thing in Gatland's favour is he is very experienced but on form/potential I would think Fergus Burke is perhaps a better option.
@KiwiMurph yeah I don’t mind the Gatland selection and he could do a job ala Donald should Mo’unga, Beaudie, Perofeta, DMac (and probably Jordie) all get a visit from Suzie
@Bovidae said in All Blacks XV:
Ryan says they picked on NPC form. That doesn't explain the selection of some bench players.
Eek, I made the mistake of reading the comments to that article. Self uppercut.
@Nepia said in All Blacks XV:
@Bovidae said in All Blacks XV:
Ryan says they picked on NPC form. That doesn't explain the selection of some bench players.
Eek, I made the mistake of reading the comments to that article. Self uppercut.
Never go full retard Stuff comments
@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks XV:
@Nepia said in All Blacks XV:
@Bovidae said in All Blacks XV:
Ryan says they picked on NPC form. That doesn't explain the selection of some bench players.
Eek, I made the mistake of reading the comments to that article. Self uppercut.
Never go full
retardStuff comments
TBF I was assigning some comments to Fern posters in my head. 
@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks XV:
@broughie said in All Blacks XV:
Not sure what the goals of the team are. If I was selecting a team it would be based on potential to reach a higher level that's why I don't understand the selection of Gatland. I can appreciate he did a great job for North Harbor but he would be swallowed up at international level.
I believe the selection is for next year. As in - who is the next cab of the rank next year if people start falling over (ala first fives in the 2011 RWC). I suppose one thing in Gatland's favour is he is very experienced but on form/potential I would think Fergus Burke is perhaps a better option.
Burke getting selected along with all the other Cantabs? That would have been a poplar selection.
@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks XV:
@Nepia said in All Blacks XV:
@Bovidae said in All Blacks XV:
Ryan says they picked on NPC form. That doesn't explain the selection of some bench players.
Eek, I made the mistake of reading the comments to that article. Self uppercut.
Never go full
retardStuff comments
comments section on you tube videos can be pretty interesting too 
@KiwiMurph Might be true but could you imagine that scenario? Could Beaver come out of retirement?
@broughie said in All Blacks XV:
@KiwiMurph Might be true but could you imagine that scenario? Could Beaver come out of retirement?
It's hard to imagine a scenario of 4 or 5 guys that would be ahead of Gatland all going down, but never say never aye.
The thing with Donald and 2011 is that he knew Henry's system so it wasn't completely foreign to him when lightning struck for the third time! I'm not as down on Gatland and actually prefer that the likes of Burke aren't being rushed.
@Crazy-Horse said in All Blacks XV:
@Nepia said in All Blacks XV:
@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks XV:
Flanders form this season has clearly been down on previous seasons (carrying an injury?)
His form at the tail end of the NPC was actually really good. IIRC he has been carrying an injury most of the year.
I am a fan of Flanders but I reckon he needs a season of showing he can get through intense games at Super level without cramping/breaking down before being selected at the next level.
Agreed. He looks to be the big, physical - defence & offence that is ideal for test rugby. However he seems to be cursed by the injury bug.
@Bovidae said in All Blacks XV:
Bridge was in the promo so always looked like being selected.
Yeah. Although Ollivon certainly won't be available. France play SA the day before.
Every test team is in action that weekend so unless they get dispensation (like Tuisova must have) then it will mostly be club players. I'm sure it should still be a strong lineup.
I expect some more NZ players to be involved, if they get a NZR release. How about some of those considered unlucky not be to playing in black in this game?
For example:
Hodgman
Eklund
Thompson
Ah Kuoi
Sangster/MSR
Suafoa
PGS
Stevenson
@Cpt-Kumera For Ta'avao?
