All Blacks XV 2022

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.

@ARHS I would like to see vikena picked as he has a lot of talent and is one for the future.

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.

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The coaches must feel like they are back at school/club and working out the team when they see who arrives on the day.

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.

@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.

Speaking of match schedule clashes.

@Bovidae said in All Blacks XV:

Speaking of match schedule clashes.

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It's 1949 all over again.

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.

@Crucial your Chiefs 10 ioane has been announced as the replacement for his fellow chief Gatland

@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:

Props

Finlay 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)

Hookers

Brodie McAlister (25, Crusaders / Canterbury)

Tyrone Thompson (22, Chiefs / Hawke's Bay)

Locks

Josh Dickson (27, Highlanders / Otago)

Zach Gallagher (21, Crusaders / Canterbury)

Loose Forwards

Dominic 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:


Halfbacks

TJ Perenara (30, Hurricanes / Wellington)

Cortez Ratima (21, Chiefs / Waikato)

Cam Roigard (21, Hurricanes / Counties Manukau)

First five-eighths

Josh Ioane (27, Chiefs / Otago)

Midfielders

Levi Aumua (28, Moana Pasifika / Ta$man)

Bryce Heem (33, Blues / Auckland)

Alex Nankivell (26, Chiefs / Ta$man)

Bailyn Sullivan (24, Hurricanes / Waikato)

Outside backs

AJ 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.

Other than Mafileo, which of these props is a regular TH?

@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.

@pakman
I fear Tamaiti Williams will be used as a tight head where he looks uncomfortable. He is a far better LHP IMO. Ross and Brewis have never played on the tight head, as far as I know.

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.

Definitely gonna need these guys back.

And a couple of All Blacks as well probably looking at the propping stocks. With four tightheads I'm pretty sure they can spare one.

Have we simply run out of locks in NZ? What happens if one goes down early?

@chimoaus said in All Blacks XV:

Have we simply run out of locks in NZ? What happens if one goes down early?

Tuipulotu should move back to this team after the weekend. Relying on Gardiner to be a lock isn't wise.

@Machpants said in All Blacks XV:

So is this a eligibility capture team?

No, that's the ABs. :winking_face_with_tongue:

@Bovidae said in All Blacks XV:

@chimoaus said in All Blacks XV:

Have we simply run out of locks in NZ? What happens if one goes down early?

Tuipulotu should move back to this team after the weekend. Relying on Gardiner to be a lock isn't wise.

Agree. He is a but like Grace in that he is ok as a stop gap but he is not a long term lock. Canterbury seemed a bit underpowered when he played lock.

@NTA said in All Blacks XV:

@Machpants said in All Blacks XV:

So is this a eligibility capture team?

No, that's the ABs. :winking_face_with_tongue:

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You must be disappointed we managed to steal a Fijian from your wing farm.

@Nepia said in All Blacks XV:

your wing farm

the melbourne storm?

Also posted in another thread:

The All Blacks coach said Cane had suffered a fractured cheekbone in the match at National Stadium, while veteran hooker Coles has succumbed to a calf injury which had seen him a late scratching from Saturday’s test.

Canterbury and Highlanders loose forward Billy Harmon, and Wellington, Hurricanes, and six-test hooker Asafo Aumua – both of whom were part of the All Blacks XV squad – have been called up for the remaining tests against Wales, Scotland and England.

Foster also confirmed lock Patrick Tuipulotu and playmaker Damian McKenzie would rejoin the ABs XV squad, while winger Mark Telea – a late call-up after Leicester Fainga’anuku went home for family reasons – would stay on with the All Blacks as Will Jordan will stay on in New Zealand to get over his inner ear issue.

So the AB XVs lose Harmon and Aumua, meaning that the AB XV are left with two hookers (McAlister and Thompson). Either Aumua will still be available to them in case of injury (if he doesn't get game time for the ABs), or they'll call up another hooker. You'd think that Eklund or Marshall will be the frontrunners.

More interesting is the loose forward position. Of the loosies in this squad, Harmon was the only one who regularly plays at 7 (at least in Super Rugby). Will they call up a specialist 7? Tom Christie is probably the most likely selection if they want a specialist 7. Not sure who else.

Interestingly, that article doesn't say whether Weber will stay with the ABs or will rejoin the ABXV squad. I hope they keep him with the ABs, because the alternative would be TJP.

Kirifi should be the player to replace Harmon. Outplayed Christie in the NPC final and finished the season strongly. But Christie plays for Canterbury...

Tuipulotu might end up being back with the ABs once the AB XV tour is finished.

@Bovidae said in All Blacks XV:

Kirifi should be the player to replace Harmon. Outplayed Christie in the NPC final and finished the season strongly. But Christie plays for Canterbury...

Tuipulotu might end up being back with the ABs once the AB XV tour is finished.

Will be quite the snub if Kirifi isnt called in IMO.

So if RTS and Ennor are joining that that mean they push aside the midfield already there?

@Bovidae Yeah, true, totally forgot about him.

@Crucial Not necessarily. There are only three outside backs in the squad.

@Crucial If I was Ireland A I'd be keen to face a RTS-Ennor midfield.

@Crucial said in All Blacks XV:

@Bovidae said in All Blacks XV:

Kirifi should be the player to replace Harmon. Outplayed Christie in the NPC final and finished the season strongly. But Christie plays for Canterbury...

Tuipulotu might end up being back with the ABs once the AB XV tour is finished.

Will be quite the snub if Kirifi isnt called in IMO.

So if RTS and Ennor are joining that that mean they push aside the midfield already there?

100% has to be Kirifi but with Ryan in there as a selector it will end up being Christie.

@Stargazer said in All Blacks XV:

Also posted in another thread:

The All Blacks coach said Cane had suffered a fractured cheekbone in the match at National Stadium, while veteran hooker Coles has succumbed to a calf injury which had seen him a late scratching from Saturday’s test.

Canterbury and Highlanders loose forward Billy Harmon, and Wellington, Hurricanes, and six-test hooker Asafo Aumua – both of whom were part of the All Blacks XV squad – have been called up for the remaining tests against Wales, Scotland and England.

Foster also confirmed lock Patrick Tuipulotu and playmaker Damian McKenzie would rejoin the ABs XV squad, while winger Mark Telea – a late call-up after Leicester Fainga’anuku went home for family reasons – would stay on with the All Blacks as Will Jordan will stay on in New Zealand to get over his inner ear issue.

So the AB XVs lose Harmon and Aumua, meaning that the AB XV are left with two hookers (McAlister and Thompson). Either Aumua will still be available to them in case of injury (if he doesn't get game time for the ABs), or they'll call up another hooker. You'd think that Eklund or Marshall will be the frontrunners.

More interesting is the loose forward position. Of the loosies in this squad, Harmon was the only one who regularly plays at 7 (at least in Super Rugby). Will they call up a specialist 7? Tom Christie is probably the most likely selection if they want a specialist 7. Not sure who else.

Interestingly, that article doesn't say whether Weber will stay with the ABs or will rejoin the ABXV squad. I hope they keep him with the ABs, because the alternative would be TJP.

Lol Perenara easily outplayed Weber in the NPC. Weber is overated. Roigard should be the one starting for the All Black’s XV. He’s the future and right now he’s playing the best footy out of him Weber and Perenara.

@Crucial said in All Blacks XV:

@Bovidae said in All Blacks XV:

Kirifi should be the player to replace Harmon. Outplayed Christie in the NPC final and finished the season strongly. But Christie plays for Canterbury...

Tuipulotu might end up being back with the ABs once the AB XV tour is finished.

Will be quite the snub if Kirifi isnt called in IMO.

So if RTS and Ennor are joining that that mean they push aside the midfield already there?

The same Kirifi who is derided on here as being a useless dumb thug?

@Crazy-Horse said in All Blacks XV:

@Crucial said in All Blacks XV:

@Bovidae said in All Blacks XV:

Kirifi should be the player to replace Harmon. Outplayed Christie in the NPC final and finished the season strongly. But Christie plays for Canterbury...

Tuipulotu might end up being back with the ABs once the AB XV tour is finished.

Will be quite the snub if Kirifi isnt called in IMO.

So if RTS and Ennor are joining that that mean they push aside the midfield already there?

The same Kirifi who is derided on here as being a useless dumb thug?

I can’t recall reading any of that. Don’t think it is the general accepted view at all.
I think he is limited as far as the top end of the game goes but otherwise is a busy effective player that has matured quite a bit in the last year and a bit.

@Canes4life said in All Blacks XV:

@Crucial said in All Blacks XV:

@Bovidae said in All Blacks XV:

Kirifi should be the player to replace Harmon. Outplayed Christie in the NPC final and finished the season strongly. But Christie plays for Canterbury...

Tuipulotu might end up being back with the ABs once the AB XV tour is finished.

Will be quite the snub if Kirifi isnt called in IMO.

So if RTS and Ennor are joining that that mean they push aside the midfield already there?

100% has to be Kirifi but with Ryan in there as a selector it will end up being Christie.

Don't think it will be Kirifi, I think he may just be considered to small for test rugby?

@Dan54 said in All Blacks XV:

@Canes4life said in All Blacks XV:

@Crucial said in All Blacks XV:

@Bovidae said in All Blacks XV:

Kirifi should be the player to replace Harmon. Outplayed Christie in the NPC final and finished the season strongly. But Christie plays for Canterbury...

Tuipulotu might end up being back with the ABs once the AB XV tour is finished.

Will be quite the snub if Kirifi isnt called in IMO.

So if RTS and Ennor are joining that that mean they push aside the midfield already there?

100% has to be Kirifi but with Ryan in there as a selector it will end up being Christie.

Don't think it will be Kirifi, I think he may just be considered to small for test rugby?

Harmon and Christie aren’t big either.

@Crucial said in All Blacks XV:

@Crazy-Horse said in All Blacks XV:

@Crucial said in All Blacks XV:

@Bovidae said in All Blacks XV:

Kirifi should be the player to replace Harmon. Outplayed Christie in the NPC final and finished the season strongly. But Christie plays for Canterbury...

Tuipulotu might end up being back with the ABs once the AB XV tour is finished.

Will be quite the snub if Kirifi isnt called in IMO.

So if RTS and Ennor are joining that that mean they push aside the midfield already there?

The same Kirifi who is derided on here as being a useless dumb thug?

I can’t recall reading any of that. Don’t think it is the general accepted view at all.
I think he is limited as far as the top end of the game goes but otherwise is a busy effective player that has matured quite a bit in the last year and a bit.

You don't? Even in the NPC final thread, a game in which he played pretty well, he was slagged off. Don't get me wrong, I like him and if given the chance he will give everything. Not saying you were one of the ones slagging him off over the last few years, but I find it amusing some are now calling for him to be selected. Hopefully they aren't the same posters who have been up him.

@Crazy-Horse I think most of the negative comments were mainly posted in 2020/2021, when he was a real a-hole and gave away a lot of penalties. Although he sometimes still shows those traits now and then, he has been much more disciplined this year, and had a good NPC season.

Still think Harmon is the better player though, more versatile too. As to Christie, he had a very good year, too, but I think he's pretty limited.