@kiwi_expat said in All Blacks XV:
McWhannell
I hope he is injury free next year - could overtake Vaa'i.
@kiwi_expat said in All Blacks XV:
I'm still struggling to understand how bang average Gardiner & Tuipoluto deserve a spot, but not the outstanding Ah Kuoi & McWhannell, they have been exceptional lately, I'm predicting they will have standout seasons in SR next year.
Tuipulotu was outstanding for Auckland in the quarter final vs Harbour and one of the only Auckland players to play well in the semi final vs Wellington.
I understand that he has underwhelmed at test level but as a 42 test All Black he is always likely to be in the mix 12 months out from a RWC in a squad like this.
I'm a McWhannell fan but he's barely played Super Rugby. After injury riddled 2020 and 2021 I think he debuted for the Chiefs this year and only played 3 games.
Naitoa Ah Kuoi as a 6... is everything Liam Squire was but 5x better, he looks built for test rugby, he honestly could become another Jerry Collins for us, he is going to fold guys at int. level, 23 years and 196cm/116kg, I really hope he eventuates as NZ's long-term 6 after 2023...
@kiwi_expat Hope he gets a good crack at 6 for the Chiefs - to me he looks better suited to 6 than Vaai or Finau.
@Tim said in All Blacks XV:
Guys, I really think that @ARHS might just have been joking about selecting an ancient and mediocre Canterbury player ...
Yep. I am staggered by a few selections but prop and lock most of all. Felt sure Ollie Norris and Hodgman were lock ins and either Mcwhannell or MSR would make it unless Holland promoted.
Am thinking Roigard is like for like replacement for Fakatava, only better.
Happy on the 3 promoted but mystified by xv selections.
Thought they said it was based on form of players they were watching but if only watching Crusaders forwards and Blues backs they will be coaching next year then it makes sense...
@taniwharugby said in All Blacks XV:
@booboo several in the squad meet that criteria IMO.
Particularly the Cantabrian criteria, which Heinz slam dunks.
@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks XV:
@kiwi_expat Hope he gets a good crack at 6 for the Chiefs - to me he looks better suited to 6 than Vaai or Finau.
I think that will be the plan for Ah Kuoi. Gives the Chiefs an extra lineout option and he is mobile.
@broughie said in All Blacks XV:
@Tim In all fairness in his last couple of games he has been unremarkable.
The whole Canterbury pack the last couple of games have been unremarkable. Problem with Auckland was with the tighthead side, unfortunately Renata had a shocking season with his technique. I also.queationed whether the locks were.doing.much in the way of support
@Chris said in All Blacks XV:
@SBW1 said in All Blacks XV:
@ARHS Will Heinz has been quality for Canterbury. Is there any likelihood he will stay on and play for the Crusaders. It would be three years since he last played for England.
Yes he has signed for 2023
Crusaders?
@SBW1 said in All Blacks XV:
@Chris said in All Blacks XV:
@SBW1 said in All Blacks XV:
@ARHS Will Heinz has been quality for Canterbury. Is there any likelihood he will stay on and play for the Crusaders. It would be three years since he last played for England.
Yes he has signed for 2023
Crusaders?
Yep
@SBW1 said in All Blacks XV:
@Chris That is a very good signing especially with the departure of Bryn Hall to Japan.
He is replacing TTT.
@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks XV:
@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
Your post isn't as satirical as it first appears
@number9. You might be right and certainly Wellington dominated them yesterday. It's just been my observation that his work around the park has tailed off. Not knocking him for his scrummaging.
Bell and McAllister both unlikely for NZ XV due to injury. Sounds like a badly broken toe and an ACL issue...
@booboo said in All Blacks XV:
Who is next cab(s) off the rank?
Thompson?
And Eklund.
Who knows though.
@booboo said in All Blacks XV:
@friedrugby who is next cab(s) off the rank?
Thompson?
It would have to be Canterbury club player wouldn't it? Ryan hasn't dipped into South Canterbury yet either.
Surely Eklund with either Thompson Marshall or OReilly. But won't surprise me if they push for Vikena who should be below all of these.
Article on the injuries and promotions of the 28 players initially selected in this team.
@Winger said in All Blacks XV:
Article on the injuries and promotions of the 28 players initially selected in this team.
The coaches must feel like they are back at school/club and working out the team when they see who arrives on the day.
@Bovidae said in All Blacks XV:
Is Gatland definitely out? Breakdown had him on the list of injured players.
@Bovidae said in All Blacks XV:
Is Gatland definitely out? Breakdown had him on the list of injured players.
If so then the squad is very light on 10s unless DMac returns.
weird innit.
November is obviously an absolute feast of international rugby in Europe, you've got 6 international 6 Nations teams all hosting, therefore all taking up the normal 4 slots (Friday evening, Saturday afternoon, Saturday evening, Sunday afternoon). Plus add Tier 2 hostings.
Really, these 'A' or 'XV' games should all be midweek Wednesday night games, if talking TV scheduling. Actually a rare chance in modern days for a rugby board to be able to provide midweek broadcastable product to their rights holders.
I suppose a Barbarians game is a bit different, as there is usually a good sized crowd, both Barbarians FC and NZRU probably hoping to maximize money out of ticket sales. Therefore an afternoon match. Not the Twickers car park boot party vibe though at Tottenham.
I see All Blacks XV v Ireland 'A' is a Friday night fixture. (Just gone and looked that up, in doing so - I see the 6 Nations unions have quite well staggered their games to avoid clashing) - e.g. SAT 5 NOVEMBER:
- Scotland v Fiji (1pm, BT Murrayfield) Live on Amazon Prime
- Wales v New Zealand (3.15pm, Principality Stadium) Live on Amazon Prime
- Ireland v South Africa (5.30pm, Aviva Stadium) Live on Amazon Prime
Which reminded me that the 6 nations have packaged their Autumn internationals as 'Autumn Nations somefink ...' as part of their CVC deal, so some co-ordination happening.
The South Africa Select XV are also playing a couple of Thu night games (vs Munster and Bristol).
@Rapido said in All Blacks XV:
Not the Twickers car park boot party vibe though at Tottenham.
Will be quite funny to see the twats with their popped up collar polo shirts flooding the streets of Tottenham.
@FakatavaAllBlack said in All Blacks XV:
@Crucial your Chiefs 10 ioane has been announced as the replacement for his fellow chief Gatland
That is actually quite a surprise.
The All Blacks XV have called in an additional six players to join the squad, ahead of their inaugural Northern Tour against Ireland A (4 November) and Barbarians (13 November).
Cortez Ratima, Pouri Rakete-Stones, Shaun Stevenson, Josh Ioane, Tevita Mafileo and Tyrone Thompson will join the All Blacks XV in Auckland tomorrow morning. Replacing injured players and covering those called in to join the All Blacks.
The updated 25-strong All Blacks XV squad is as follows (age, Super Rugby club, province):
Forwards:
PropsFinlay Brewis (22, Crusaders / Canterbury)
Pouri Rakete-Stones (27, Hurricanes / Hawke's Bay)
Aidan Ross (26, Chiefs / Bay of Plenty)
Tamaiti Williams (22, Crusaders / Canterbury)
Tevita Mafileo (24, Hurricanes / Bay of Plenty)
HookersBrodie McAlister (25, Crusaders / Canterbury)
Tyrone Thompson (22, Chiefs / Hawke's Bay)
LocksJosh Dickson (27, Highlanders / Otago)
Zach Gallagher (21, Crusaders / Canterbury)
Loose ForwardsDominic Gardiner (21, Crusaders / Canterbury)
Billy Harmon (27, Highlanders / Canterbury)
Luke Jacobson (25, Chiefs / Waikato)
Christian Lio-Willie (24, Crusaders / Otago)
Marino Mikaele-Tu'u (24, Highlanders / Hawke's Bay)
Backs:
HalfbacksTJ Perenara (30, Hurricanes / Wellington)
Cortez Ratima (21, Chiefs / Waikato)
Cam Roigard (21, Hurricanes / Counties Manukau)
First five-eighthsJosh Ioane (27, Chiefs / Otago)
MidfieldersLevi Aumua (28, Moana Pasifika / Ta$man)
Bryce Heem (33, Blues / Auckland)
Alex Nankivell (26, Chiefs / Ta$man)
Bailyn Sullivan (24, Hurricanes / Waikato)
Outside backsAJ Lam (24, Blues / Auckland)
Ruben Love (21, Hurricanes / Wellington)
Shaun Stevenson (25, Chiefs / North Harbour)
Unavailable due to injury: George Bell, Bryn Gatland, Oli Jager and Angus Ta’avao
Asafo Aumua, Damian McKenzie, Mark Telea, Patrick Tuipulotu and Brad Weber have been called in from the All Blacks XV to join the All Blacks as a result of forced personnel changes. These players may re-join the All Blacks XV squad in Ireland, any updates to the squad will be worked through following All Blacks v Japan match this weekend.
Really chuffed that Rakete-Stones and Thompson have been added to the squad. Also Stevenson really deserving!
Surprised they've picked Ioane over Burke, but I guess the Crusaders quota has been more than filled with forwards.
@pakman His first two seasons for Hawke's Bay (2017-2018), Rakete-Stones mostly played at TH. He changed to LH because that's where they needed him (same at the Canes); for Hawke's Bay, he sometimes still switches from LH to TH in the second half (btw, he was a hooker for Napier Boys'). Tamaiti Williams obviously can also play at both sides, but I don't know whether he has ever played there regularly.