All Blacks XV 2022

@Canes4life said in All Blacks XV:

@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.

Harmon is about Richie McCaw size isn't he?
I am sure I read an ex-AB a year or two ago reckoning Harmon could make a good 6/8 and he had his eye on him. I thought it was an ex AB loosie who would know (e.g. Kaino) but I can't find it anyway.

@nostrildamus more Savea size..

@Bones said in All Blacks XV:

@nostrildamus more Savea size..

Oh that mystery size?

@Daffy-Jaffy don’t tell the Hurricanes supporters

@Daffy-Jaffy Good to see those recruited. Would love to see room made for Ah Kuoi......

This site could come in handy for the selectors - you can go and view results, players, it's got it all.

@nostrildamus said in All Blacks XV:

@Canes4life said in All Blacks XV:

@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.

Harmon is about Richie McCaw size isn't he?
I am sure I read an ex-AB a year or two ago reckoning Harmon could make a good 6/8 and he had his eye on him. I thought it was an ex AB loosie who would know (e.g. Kaino) but I can't find it anyway.

He certainly looks about the Richie size nostri, same as Sam Cane, Papalii, seems the feeling 7s really need to be reasnnably solid build at test level. Even someone like Pocock was probably a more pwerful build than many others?

@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks XV:

@Daffy-Jaffy don’t tell the Hurricanes supporters

Or the Blues & BoP supporters.

@Bones said in All Blacks XV:

This site could come in handy for the selectors - you can go and view results, players, it's got it all.

View embedded content

It’s all they need,Perfect

The selections around this team are bizarre in my view. I just wonder who may not have been fully fit or available and who may be wanted by Baabaas. Some odd omissions. Regardless the loosies and midfield selections are odd indeed.

Pretty predictable side.

Gardiner at 6 probably the only surprise.

@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks XV:

Pretty predictable side.

Stevenson goes from not being in the squad to starting. An example of the muddled selections of this team. You would also think that Sullivan would offer more utility off the bench than Nankivell.

@ARHS Although I am easily confused tis true, if they were short of 10s, why not select Aiden Morgan? And the snubbing of Hodgman is just really weird..

@Jailbreak7 said in All Blacks XV:

@ARHS Although I am easily confused tis true, if they were short of 10s, why not select Aiden Morgan? And the snubbing of Hodgman is just really weird..

They aren’t Cantabs.

The selection of Gardiner is a bit of a shocker. He got bumped off by James Blackwell in the NPC final and was a bit average tbh. There are quite a number of blindside flankers in NZ I would have picked instead of of him but I guess he only gets in because of one-eyed Ryan.

@Daffy-Jaffy I understand the choice. He's very involved defensively with a strong completion rate. There's plenty of flair in the team already.

What he doesn't tend to do is give away dumb penalties as much as Kirifi. Also better decision making.

I feel confident that's what Clayton and Leon would be thinking too.

@Bovidae said in All Blacks XV:

An example of the muddled selections of this team

Maybe the AB selectors picked the squad and then MacDonald and McMillan picked the 23?

The selection logic is not consistent

For those who remember the 70s and can't use Instagram ...

1: Aidan Ross (26, Bay of Plenty / Chiefs)
2: Brodie McAlister (25, Canterbury / Crusaders)
3: Tevita Mafileo (24, Bay of Plenty / Hurricanes)
4: Josh Dickson (27, Otago / Highlanders)
5: Patrick Tuipulotu – Captain (29, Auckland / Blues)
6: Dominic Gardiner (21, Canterbury / Crusaders)
7: Luke Jacobson (25, Waikato / Chiefs)
8: Marino Mikaele-Tu’u (24, Hawke’s Bay / Highlanders)
9: TJ Perenara - Vice-Captain (30, Wellington / Hurricanes)
10: Damian McKenzie (27, Waikato / Chiefs)
11: AJ Lam (24, Auckland / Blues)
12: Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (29, Auckland / Blues)
13: Braydon Ennor (25, Canterbury / Crusaders)
14: Shaun Stevenson (25, North Harbour / Chiefs)
15: Ruben Love (21, Wellington / Hurricanes)

16: Tyrone Thompson (22, Hawke’s Bay / Chiefs)
17: Finlay Brewis (22, Canterbury / Crusaders)
18: Tamaiti Williams (22, Canterbury / Crusaders)
19: Zach Gallagher (21, Canterbury / Crusaders)
20: Christian Lio-Willie (24, Otago / Crusaders)
21: Cam Roigard (21, Counties Manukau / Hurricanes)
22: Josh Ioane (27, Otago / Chiefs)
23: Alex Nankivell (26, Ta$man / Chiefs)

@booboo said in All Blacks XV:

For those who remember the 70s and can't use Instagram ...

1: Aidan Ross (26, Bay of Plenty / Chiefs)
2: Brodie McAlister (25, Canterbury / Crusaders)
3: Tevita Mafileo (24, Bay of Plenty / Hurricanes)
4: Josh Dickson (27, Otago / Highlanders)
5: Patrick Tuipulotu – Captain (29, Auckland / Blues)
6: Dominic Gardiner (21, Canterbury / Crusaders)
7: Luke Jacobson (25, Waikato / Chiefs)
8: Marino Mikaele-Tu’u (24, Hawke’s Bay / Highlanders)
9: TJ Perenara - Vice-Captain (30, Wellington / Hurricanes)
10: Damian McKenzie (27, Waikato / Chiefs)
11: AJ Lam (24, Auckland / Blues)
12: Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (29, Auckland / Blues)
13: Braydon Ennor (25, Canterbury / Crusaders)
14: Shaun Stevenson (25, North Harbour / Chiefs)
15: Ruben Love (21, Wellington / Hurricanes)

16: Tyrone Thompson (22, Hawke’s Bay / Chiefs)
17: Finlay Brewis (22, Canterbury / Crusaders)
18: Tamaiti Williams (22, Canterbury / Crusaders)
19: Zach Gallagher (21, Canterbury / Crusaders)
20: Christian Lio-Willie (24, Otago / Crusaders)
21: Cam Roigard (21, Counties Manukau / Hurricanes)
22: Josh Ioane (27, Otago / Chiefs)
23: Alex Nankivell (26, Ta$man / Chiefs)

LOL. That is fucking me! I couldn't work out how to see the team in the Instagram post and gave up thinking someone will post it properly sooner or later. And yes, I do remember the 70s, but only just.

The match thread has the team list as text.

Aumua Sullivan Heem and Nankivell were all original selections as midfielders. Wonder how many of them will get a start in midfield on this tour.
For all those calling for better all round skills in our front rowers the front row replacement selections are a step the other way. A bit like saying we don't have the skills to improve your scrummaging but we can help you maul better.
The loosies are odd also in who is starting in what position. Thought Gardner is mainly a bench choice and Luke J is a number 8 option foremost and MMT showed promise as a 6.

That all said I do wonder if other options may have ruled themselves out.

@Bovidae said in All Blacks XV:

The match thread has the team list as text.

So does this one now

Do we know how to watch this in various countries?

Haven't watched much NPC but from what I saw in SR, Gardner is as average as they come. How is he in this team? Has he stood out for Canterbury?

@akan004 iIRC he looked handy when he got on for the Crusaders, but wasnt as good in NPC

@taniwharugby said in All Blacks XV:

@akan004 iIRC he looked handy when he got on for the Crusaders, but wasnt as good in NPC

He was completely outplayed in the NPC final by Delany, Blackwell and Bird at lineout time and he fell off a couple one on one tackles.

NZ Rugby need to stop selecting teams before the final has been played. No better measure of a player than when the heat is on. Gardiner isn't up to International standard. (yet)

Same goes for the non-selection of Cullen Grace in the ABs earlier this year when he was an obvious stand-out in the Super final.

@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks XV:

Do we know how to watch this in various countries?

I can't find any other official source than Virgin 2, in Ireland. It's free to air so you may be able to get it to work with a VPN.

@Bones thanks heaps!

Josh Ioane is such a pointless selection considering that McKenzie and Love both play 10.

Ioane doesn't have a future with ABs anyway, he's already 28, not worth investing in.

Swap him out for Bailyn Sullivan on the bench, he can play anywhere from 11-15.

@kiwi_expat said in All Blacks XV:

Josh Ioane is such a pointless selection considering that McKenzie and Love both play 10.

Ioane doesn't have a future with ABs anyway, he's already 28, not worth investing in.

Swap him out for Bailyn Sullivan on the bench, he can play anywhere from 11-15.

But if 10s start dropping like flies next year ala 2011, Ioane could very easily get a call up given he’s been there before.

Love isn’t going to get the call up.

@ACT-Crusader

After Mo'unga, Barrett - McKenzie, Perofeta, Havili (yes), all capped, more experienced in the environment & better options at 10 in an emergency.

@kiwi_expat said in All Blacks XV:

@ACT-Crusader

After Mo'unga, Barrett - McKenzie, Perofeta, Havili (yes), all capped, more experienced in the environment & better options at 10 in an emergency.

They might even put Jordie near the end of that list, maybe before Havili...

Based on that DMac should be in the RWC squad.

Patty T, Gardiner, M M-T, TJP, RTS, Stevenson and Love all putting their hand up too. I hope the selectors will keep an eye on them all in 2023.

@sparky RWC squads aren't that big. If a player is added, at least one other has to drop out. I can see Dmac make the squad instead of Perofeta, but I expect that Love will have to wait until the next RWC unless there's more than one injury at fullback.

I hate TJP's slow passes, so that's a big 'no' from me.

PT will be challenging Vaa'i.

Gardiner will only get a look in if Blackadder doesn't get back to his good form, but even then it will be hard to knock someone out of the team. I can't see it happening. 2027 RWC, yes.

MMT is competing with Sotutu who hasn't been very convincing and MMT is a more physical specimen, but it's harder to drop out of the squad than to get in, so it will maybe only happen in case of injury.

RTS hasn't been that convincing (especially his positioning and defence are weak) and I can't see him in the RWC squad if Tupaea (who has a much higher ceiling) can get back to full fitness.

Stevenson is probably competing with Jordan. If Jordan is injured, maybe, although I'd also happily swap him for Clarke, who I find disappointing (hopefully he proves me wrong this month, because he has great potential).

@Stargazer it would be nice if one of Tupaea or RTS really kicked on next year. Both have real issues on defence they need to iron out. I'm skeptical for both.

Agreed that MMT is putting real pressure on Sotutu.

Whilst Clarke still has a lot of improvement he is the first choice left wing who has a great bounce back year this year. His power in the backs has really helped the attack.

@Stargazer said in All Blacks XV:

MMT is competing with Sotutu who hasn't been very convincing

Sotutu has barely played so he hasn't had a chance to be very convincing or not convincing (and the one match he did play he was pretty good) - and obviously I want MMT in the ABs.

I wish this team had a different jersey, even adidas stripes. They are diluting the AB brand playing in the exact same shirt.

It should be obvious who the All Blacks are.

That said, I hope they keep this concept going, had an old school tour vibe of seeing the up and coming players.

@Kirwan Yeah, really enjoyed watching this team and watch the players who are either challenging current ABs for a spot in the senior squad or who are showing why they could be the ABs of the future (after the 2023 RWC), with some older players adding some experience and leadership.

Good to see how our depth compares to that of other countries.

@Stargazer said in All Blacks XV:

@Kirwan Yeah, really enjoyed watching this team and watch the players who are either challenging current ABs for a spot in the senior squad or who are showing why they could be the ABs of the future (after the 2023 RWC), with some older players adding some experience and leadership.

Good to see how our depth compares to that of other countries.

Yeah, I’ve been pretty negative about our depth recently. But that looks more to be an individual player issue at a level they aren’t comfortable at yet.

Was really impressed with Stevenson, who I’m not a fan of. Was like watching a more powerful Will Jordan at times. Great for wing depth, as that’s looked pretty shaky.

I’d be happy with him, Telea, Lam all getting a shot.