All Blacks XV 2024

@Chris-B said in All Blacks XV 2024:

Here's a wild crack at the squad of 29. Some will doubtless be wrong - probably even picking some injured or ineligible.

6 props: Bower, Numia, Ross, Renata, Dyer, O'Neill (a captain's call for McMillan - seems like less options at tighthead)

3 hookers: Riccitelli, Slater, McAlister (maybe Taylor)

3 Locks: Lord, Holland, Walker-Leaware

5 Loose forwards: Suafoa, Grace, Lakai, Sotutu, Lio-Willie

3 halfbacks: Hotham, Christie, Fakatava

2 First fives: Plummer, Jacomb

3 Midfielders: Higgins, Rona, Tupaea

4 Outsides: Narawa, Lam, Tavatavanawai*, Fihaki

*possibly injured - maybe Nanai-Seturo, but he may be injured as well?

For purposes of practice it would make more sense to take 5 props and three locks.

Also, availability of AB back up allows two halfbacks.

@pakman I just figure you need the prop cover in case someone tears a calf in warm-up - though probably there's guys who can play both sides in a pinch.

I've basically picked my match day 23 and then spares - two props, a hooker, a halfback + an extra loose forward and an extra outside back. I'm a bit light at fullback if ENS doesn't get picked, but I couldn't leave Timoci out!

@antipodean said in All Blacks XV 2024:

@Chris said in All Blacks XV 2024:

@antipodean said in All Blacks XV 2024:

@Chris said in All Blacks XV 2024:

@brodean said in All Blacks XV 2024:

@Chris

There is no one reliable in the squad to replace him so there is zero pressure.

That is unknown until Bell gets chances how do you know.

We could look at his performances in SR...

He may step up the Crusaders enviroment wasn’t a good one to perform in this season.

LOL. What a handy excuse since the players couldn't possibly be responsible for their own performances.

I am glad you liked it.

@pakman Have you got some thoughts on props?

Seems like quite a lot of options at loosehead - e.g. Norris and Rakete-Stones - maybe even Brewis - additional options - but, a bit of a struggle for tightheads.

@Chris-B said in All Blacks XV 2024:

@pakman Have you got some thoughts on props?

Seems like quite a lot of options at loosehead - e.g. Norris and Rakete-Stones - maybe even Brewis - additional options - but, a bit of a struggle for tightheads.

I’d say loosehead ranking likely to be Bower, Numia, Ross in that order.

TH tricker. I thought Renata was excellent for Blues, scrummaging a step up from previously. Dyer seemed to be top TH at Chiefs and solid. Thought the Ta$man TH was very solid against Lions, but may be contracted elsewhere. Rakete-Stones and Tevita Mafileo can play both sides

@pakman I thought the Crusaders should have given Sam Matenga a contract a couple of years ago - but, they didn't. He wasn't as good last year, but good again this year.

Hard to see someone who hasn't played Super rugby making the team, though.

Reuben O’Neill had several excellent early games for Chiefs but then trailed off, and scrummaging right off, being hammered by Numia. So much so that I wondered if he had picked up an injury.
Did you watch Ta$man Bulls game?

So will all these players be pulled from thier respective teams for the upcoming npc finals?

@pakman said in All Blacks XV 2024:

@Chris-B said in All Blacks XV 2024:

@pakman Have you got some thoughts on props?

Seems like quite a lot of options at loosehead - e.g. Norris and Rakete-Stones - maybe even Brewis - additional options - but, a bit of a struggle for tightheads.

I’d say loosehead ranking likely to be Bower, Numia, Ross in that order.

TH tricker. I thought Renata was excellent for Blues, scrummaging a step up from previously. Dyer seemed to be top TH at Chiefs and solid. Thought the Ta$man TH was very solid against Lions, but may be contracted elsewhere. Rakete-Stones and Tevita Mafileo can play both sides

What about the highlanders Ma’ua big enough unit.

@pakman I did, but I can't remember much about the scrums.

I think mostly even, but maybe we edged a couple.

We couldn't put any pressure on their lineout and ours melted down at the end - which eventually rang the death knell!

@taniwharugby I don't see why they would need to be.

I think the first AB XV game is the Saturday after the final - and Razor should be able to manage his squad not to have to call in guys needed for the final.

@Chris said in All Blacks XV 2024:

@pakman said in All Blacks XV 2024:

@Chris-B said in All Blacks XV 2024:

@pakman Have you got some thoughts on props?

Seems like quite a lot of options at loosehead - e.g. Norris and Rakete-Stones - maybe even Brewis - additional options - but, a bit of a struggle for tightheads.

I’d say loosehead ranking likely to be Bower, Numia, Ross in that order.

TH tricker. I thought Renata was excellent for Blues, scrummaging a step up from previously. Dyer seemed to be top TH at Chiefs and solid. Thought the Ta$man TH was very solid against Lions, but may be contracted elsewhere. Rakete-Stones and Tevita Mafileo can play both sides

What about the highlanders Ma’ua big enough unit.

Yeah with my eye patch on he has improved a lot over the season. Gone bloody well in the scrum too. I wouldn't be surprised if Jacomb is picked as a 15/10. Allowing room for Millar to be picked as well. The young Landers I want to see are Ma'u, Taylor (J), Holland, Haig, Withy, Fakatava, Millar and JRK.

@Chris said in All Blacks XV 2024:

@pakman said in All Blacks XV 2024:

@Chris-B said in All Blacks XV 2024:

@pakman Have you got some thoughts on props?

Seems like quite a lot of options at loosehead - e.g. Norris and Rakete-Stones - maybe even Brewis - additional options - but, a bit of a struggle for tightheads.

I’d say loosehead ranking likely to be Bower, Numia, Ross in that order.

TH tricker. I thought Renata was excellent for Blues, scrummaging a step up from previously. Dyer seemed to be top TH at Chiefs and solid. Thought the Ta$man TH was very solid against Lions, but may be contracted elsewhere. Rakete-Stones and Tevita Mafileo can play both sides

What about the highlanders Ma’ua big enough unit.

I thought he might be a roughy for ABs but to me didn’t set world on fire for Clan, and Tosi stepped right up. Certainly has the physical attributes but haven’t really watched much NPC.

@SouthernMann The team I picked is light at opensidel, so Withy potentially slots in as well.

Has Lio-Willie ever played 7? He looks quick enough.

@pakman Taʻavao has been forgotten already. Given his age and form I wouldn't select him. Renata is on the other side of 30 too so if this team is about developing players for this RWC cycle he could be marginal.

@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks XV 2024:

@Chris said in All Blacks XV 2024:

@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks XV 2024:

@Chris said in All Blacks XV 2024:

@brodean said in All Blacks XV 2024:

@Mr-Fish

Aumua needs pressure on him and Bell isn't providing that because he's ill disciplined and has an unreliable lineout.

There is plenty of Pressure on Aumua he is not doing much to retain his place in the squad.
There is pressure to stay there.

There's not plenty of pressure on Aumua.

They never give a 3rd hooker any game time regardless of how Aumua is playing

If they do Aumua is out once ST comes back

The point is that they don't. Bledisloe 2 seemed like a perfect opportunity to give Bell some game time but.... nothing.

Based on his super rugby campaign, Bell should have been sweating on his place in the crusaders not rewarded with an AB contract.

I would like to think super rugby get rewarded with a call up which is why RR should have been given a crack based on his super rugby form as he clearly deserved it.

Bell deserved nothing.

@DaGrubster said in All Blacks XV 2024:

@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks XV 2024:

@Chris said in All Blacks XV 2024:

@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks XV 2024:

@Chris said in All Blacks XV 2024:

@brodean said in All Blacks XV 2024:

@Mr-Fish

Aumua needs pressure on him and Bell isn't providing that because he's ill disciplined and has an unreliable lineout.

There is plenty of Pressure on Aumua he is not doing much to retain his place in the squad.
There is pressure to stay there.

There's not plenty of pressure on Aumua.

They never give a 3rd hooker any game time regardless of how Aumua is playing

If they do Aumua is out once ST comes back

The point is that they don't. Bledisloe 2 seemed like a perfect opportunity to give Bell some game time but.... nothing.

Based on his super rugby campaign, Bell should have been sweating on his place in the crusaders not rewarded with an AB contract.

I would like to think super rugby get rewarded with a call up which is why RR should have been given a crack based on his super rugby form as he clearly deserved it.

Bell deserved nothing.

Yes he was fucken hopeless, and deserves all the criticism that comes his way. Most of his throws were ending up in the first fives hands. One of the worst campaigns you'll see from a hooker.

However, I do see the logic in picking a guy like Bell, and yes, it is Jason Ryan getting his boy in, but in saying that, we do need to bring some younger players through too, and if they can turn someone llike Bell into a world class player, then we're onto something going forward, so I'll back them on this one, but the criticisms of him are more than deserved at the same time.

@Chris-B said in All Blacks XV 2024:

Here's a wild crack at the squad of 29. Some will doubtless be wrong - probably even picking some injured or ineligible.

6 props: Bower, Numia, Ross, Renata, Dyer, O'Neill (a captain's call for McMillan - seems like less options at tighthead)

3 hookers: Riccitelli, Slater, McAlister (maybe Taylor)

3 Locks: Lord, Holland, Walker-Leaware

5 Loose forwards: Suafoa, Grace, Lakai, Sotutu, Lio-Willie

3 halfbacks: Hotham, Christie, Fakatava

2 First fives: Plummer, Jacomb

3 Midfielders: Higgins, Rona, Tupaea

4 Outsides: Narawa, Lam, Tavatavanawai*, Fihaki

*possibly injured - maybe Nanai-Seturo, but he may be injured as well?

Being my ever picky self... you've only got 1 x 7, and who are your 15s? Narawa and Fihaki?

I suppose Love could slot down to cover for a game.

Would have Sullivan Z in front of both Fihaki, and probably Lam.

Not many 7s in both squads.

@African-Monkey said in All Blacks XV 2024:

@DaGrubster said in All Blacks XV 2024:

@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks XV 2024:

@Chris said in All Blacks XV 2024:

@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks XV 2024:

@Chris said in All Blacks XV 2024:

@brodean said in All Blacks XV 2024:

@Mr-Fish

Aumua needs pressure on him and Bell isn't providing that because he's ill disciplined and has an unreliable lineout.

There is plenty of Pressure on Aumua he is not doing much to retain his place in the squad.
There is pressure to stay there.

There's not plenty of pressure on Aumua.

They never give a 3rd hooker any game time regardless of how Aumua is playing

If they do Aumua is out once ST comes back

The point is that they don't. Bledisloe 2 seemed like a perfect opportunity to give Bell some game time but.... nothing.

Based on his super rugby campaign, Bell should have been sweating on his place in the crusaders not rewarded with an AB contract.

I would like to think super rugby get rewarded with a call up which is why RR should have been given a crack based on his super rugby form as he clearly deserved it.

Bell deserved nothing.

Yes he was fucken hopeless, and deserves all the criticism that comes his way. Most of his throws were ending up in the first fives hands. One of the worst campaigns you'll see from a hooker.

However, I do see the logic in picking a guy like Bell, and yes, it is Jason Ryan getting his boy in, but in saying that, we do need to bring some younger players through too, and if they can turn someone llike Bell into a world class player, then we're onto something going forward, so I'll back them on this one, but the criticisms of him are more than deserved at the same time.

As I've said before, it's so fucking dumb. Get an injury and you have a useless kid on the bench for a big game, while encouraging your depth to fuck off overseas.
Just change the internal rules, and allow yourselves to have young guys train with the squad without being in it.
Problem solved dickheads. No charge.

@African-Monkey the ABs are not a development side. Apparently the coaches didn't get the memo