@reprobate said in All Blacks XV 2024:
sure yeah there is versatility, but total number of super caps at 13 in the squad is what, fuck-all?
According to all.rugby, Tupaea is 16 starts at 13 in his career. McLeod 24 so there is a few.... not sure what that breaks to in SR.
Brodie McAlister… Not bad for a guy who has 2 All Blacks ahead of him at his position at his own franchise. A third string Hooker at his own franchise making a squad like this… not what I expected.
Nothing against the guy but man… there is either no one better around other franchises or it’s a safe pick. If so, McAlister should be looking at moving franchise to get more minutes. Then again, he’s selected on limited minutes for this side so…..
@Landers92 Well he's only young and has heaps of potential so... oh wait, sorry nah I've got nothing.
@Bovidae said in All Blacks XV 2024:
Suafoa is an omission.
I think it could be a blessing in disguise
Watching him in npc he looks like he needs a proper offseason.
Given mentally and physically everything he has gone through over the last 12 months it makes sense.
@Bovidae said in All Blacks XV 2024:
Suafoa is an omission.
I thought that, but then couldn't really work out who he would be in ahead of. Maybe Lio-Willie, but that's a 50/50 call.
@KiwiMurph Yes, which is why I hope we get some explanation on why players were omitted.
As a Blues fan I agree he needs a good off season to recover.
@Duluth said in All Blacks XV 2024:
@Bovidae said in All Blacks XV 2024:
Suafoa is an omission.
McWhannell, Ennor, Sullivan
Yes Ennor too... I think Z Sullivan fits into the same category as JRK, where they were always going to be up against it once Fihaki was named as training cover.
McWhannell is a good player, but I wouldn't have him ahead of any of those other four.
There are a few provincial captains in the squad, although most are in positions where they will be subbed. Others not guaranteed to start.
Some pretty unlucky players missing out there.
Fihaki is kissed on the dick, but we knew that already.
Those hookers are all fucking average.
I’m surprised there is no Ennor - none of those guys are out and out 13s.
2024 is quite a momentous year. Apparently, the Pope has just decreed there will be two Easters.
The usual one - and another one in October to commemorate Surf Jesus raising Hoskins from the dead!
Well, aside from the obvious amazement at Hoskins' selection (please make him captain, Razor), the biggest surprise for me is no Ricky Riccitelli - with Eklund seemingly preferred. I guess we'll wait for any forthcoming news, but Ricky came off the bench for Taranaki at the weekend and I don't recall him hobbling off.
Aside from that, seems like most of the rest of the squad were name-checked on the fern. Don't recall du Plessis Kirifi getting many mentions, but he's an incumbent from last year.
Dallas McLeod the other surprise for me - though I guess being a test player last year, it's not that big of a surprise. I thought he was pretty poor in Super rugby, but I haven't watched much of Canterbury in the NPC so maybe he's gone better in recent times.
