All Blacks v Argentina I

ACT Crusader

Hookers:
Codie Taylor (34, Crusaders / Canterbury, 98)
Samisoni Taukei’aho (27, Chiefs / Waikato, 33)
Brodie McAlister (28, Chiefs / Canterbury, 1)

Props:
Ethan de Groot (27, Highlanders / Southland, 32)
Tamaiti Williams (24, Crusaders / Canterbury, 18)
Ollie Norris (25, Chiefs / Waikato, 2)
Tyrel Lomax (29, Hurricanes / Ta$man, 45)
Fletcher Newell (25, Crusaders / Canterbury, 25)
Pasilio Tosi (27, Hurricanes / Bay of Plenty, 9 )

Locks:
Scott Barrett (31, Crusaders / Taranaki, 81) (Captain)
Patrick Tuipulotu (32, Blues / Auckland, 55)
Tupou Vaa’i (25, Chiefs / Taranaki, 40)
Fabian Holland (22, Highlanders / Otago, 3)

Loose forwards:
Samipeni Finau (26, Chiefs / Waikato, 11)
Simon Parker (25, Chiefs / Northland, * )
Ardie Savea (31, Moana Pasifika / Wellington, 97) (Vice-Captain)
Du’Plessis Kirifi (28, Hurricanes / Wellington, 3)
Wallace Sititi (22, Chiefs / North Harbour, 10)
Peter Lakai (22, Hurricanes / Wellington, 3)
Luke Jacobson (28, Chiefs / Waikato, 24)

Halfbacks:
Cortez Ratima (24, Chiefs / Waikato, 14)
Cameron Roigard (24, Hurricanes / Counties Manukau, 12)
Noah Hotham (22, Crusaders / Ta$man, 2)

First-five eighths:
Beauden Barrett (34, Blues / Taranaki, 136)
Damian McKenzie (30, Chiefs / Waikato, 64)

Midfielders:
Anton Lienert-Brown (30, Chiefs / Waikato, 85)
Jordie Barrett (28, Hurricanes / Taranaki, 71) (Vice-Captain)
Quinn Tupaea (26, Chiefs / Waikato, 16)
Billy Proctor (26, Hurricanes / Wellington, 4)
Timoci Tavatavanawai (27, Highlanders / Ta$man, 2)

Outside backs:
Rieko Ioane (28, Blues / Auckland, 83)
Caleb Clarke (26, Blues / Auckland, 29 )
Sevu Reece (28, Crusaders / Southland, 34)
Emoni Narawa (26, Chiefs / Bay of Plenty, 3)
Will Jordan (27, Crusaders / Ta$man, 44)
Ruben Love (24, Hurricanes / Wellington, 2)

Injury Cover:

The following players have been named as injury cover for the start of the Lipovitan-D Rugby Championship.

George Bower (33, Crusaders / Otago, 23) for Tamaiti Williams
Tevita Mafileo (27, Hurricanes / Bay of Plenty, * ) for Tyrel Lomax
Josh Lord (24, Chiefs / Taranaki, 7) for Luke Jacobson
Finlay Christie (29, Blues / Ta$man, 23) for Cameron Roigard/Noah Hotham
Kyle Preston (25, Crusaders / Wellington, * ) for Cameron Roigard/Noah Hotham
Leroy Carter (26, Chiefs / Bay of Plenty, * ) for Caleb Clarke

With the squad now selected, we can turn to possible selections for the all important first test in Cordoba.

For starters I think there are only a couple of question marks:

1 - EDG
2 - Codie Taylor
3 - Newell / Tosi
4 - Scooter
5 - Holland
6 - Vaa’i
7 - Savea
8 - Sititi

9 - Ratima
10 - Beaudie / DMac
11 - Ioane
12 - Jordie
13 - Proctor
14 - Reece
15 - Jordan

Mr Fish

Certainly seems like the most interesting calls will be on the bench, especially the make-up of the locks/loose forwards.

My best guess: Taukei'aho / Norris / Tosi / Finau or Tuipulotu / Parker / Christie / Tupaea / McKenzie

pakman

@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks v Argentina I:

Hookers:
Codie Taylor (34, Crusaders / Canterbury, 98)
Samisoni Taukei’aho (27, Chiefs / Waikato, 33)
Brodie McAlister (28, Chiefs / Canterbury, 1)

Props:
Ethan de Groot (27, Highlanders / Southland, 32)
Tamaiti Williams (24, Crusaders / Canterbury, 18)
Ollie Norris (25, Chiefs / Waikato, 2)
Tyrel Lomax (29, Hurricanes / Ta$man, 45)
Fletcher Newell (25, Crusaders / Canterbury, 25)
Pasilio Tosi (27, Hurricanes / Bay of Plenty, 9 )

Locks:
Scott Barrett (31, Crusaders / Taranaki, 81) (Captain)
Patrick Tuipulotu (32, Blues / Auckland, 55)
Tupou Vaa’i (25, Chiefs / Taranaki, 40)
Fabian Holland (22, Highlanders / Otago, 3)

Loose forwards:
Samipeni Finau (26, Chiefs / Waikato, 11)
Simon Parker (25, Chiefs / Northland, * )
Ardie Savea (31, Moana Pasifika / Wellington, 97) (Vice-Captain)
Du’Plessis Kirifi (28, Hurricanes / Wellington, 3)
Wallace Sititi (22, Chiefs / North Harbour, 10)
Peter Lakai (22, Hurricanes / Wellington, 3)
Luke Jacobson (28, Chiefs / Waikato, 24)

Halfbacks:
Cortez Ratima (24, Chiefs / Waikato, 14)
Cameron Roigard (24, Hurricanes / Counties Manukau, 12)
Noah Hotham (22, Crusaders / Ta$man, 2)

First-five eighths:
Beauden Barrett (34, Blues / Taranaki, 136)
Damian McKenzie (30, Chiefs / Waikato, 64)

Midfielders:
Anton Lienert-Brown (30, Chiefs / Waikato, 85)
Jordie Barrett (28, Hurricanes / Taranaki, 71) (Vice-Captain)
Quinn Tupaea (26, Chiefs / Waikato, 16)
Billy Proctor (26, Hurricanes / Wellington, 4)
Timoci Tavatavanawai (27, Highlanders / Ta$man, 2)

Outside backs:
Rieko Ioane (28, Blues / Auckland, 83)
Caleb Clarke (26, Blues / Auckland, 29 )
Sevu Reece (28, Crusaders / Southland, 34)
Emoni Narawa (26, Chiefs / Bay of Plenty, 3)
Will Jordan (27, Crusaders / Ta$man, 44)
Ruben Love (24, Hurricanes / Wellington, 2)

Injury Cover:

The following players have been named as injury cover for the start of the Lipovitan-D Rugby Championship.

George Bower (33, Crusaders / Otago, 23) for Tamaiti Williams
Tevita Mafileo (27, Hurricanes / Bay of Plenty, * ) for Tyrel Lomax
Josh Lord (24, Chiefs / Taranaki, 7) for Luke Jacobson
Finlay Christie (29, Blues / Ta$man, 23) for Cameron Roigard/Noah Hotham
Kyle Preston (25, Crusaders / Wellington, * ) for Cameron Roigard/Noah Hotham
Leroy Carter (26, Chiefs / Bay of Plenty, * ) for Caleb Clarke

With the squad now selected, we can turn to possible selections for the all important first test in Cordoba.

For starters I think there are only a couple of question marks:

1 - EDG
2 - Codie Taylor
3 - Newell / Tosi
4 - Scooter
5 - Holland
6 - Vaa’i
7 - Savea
8 - Sititi

9 - Ratima
10 - Beaudie / DMac
11 - Ioane
12 - Jordie
13 - Proctor
14 - Reece
15 - Jordan

Only quibble is that I’d start Kirifi/Lakai (depending on fitness) and save Wally for impact off bench.

pakman

@Mr-Fish said in All Blacks v Argentina I:

Certainly seems like the most interesting calls will be on the bench, especially the make-up of the locks/loose forwards.

My best guess: Taukei'aho / Norris / Tosi / Finau or Tuipulotu / Parker / Christie / Tupaea / McKenzie

I’d have Paddy and Wally on bench.

booboo

@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks v Argentina I:

1 - EDG
2 - Codie Taylor
3 - Newell / Tosi
4 - Scooter
5 - Holland
6 - Vaa’i
7 - Savea
8 - Sititi

9 - Ratima
10 - Beaudie / DMac
11 - Ioane
12 - Jordie
13 - Proctor
14 - Reece
15 - Jordan

Something not quite as expected ACTC...

I'm happy with that XV generallt but we need another VIII.

Am assuming Williams is injured?

So
16 Taukei'aho
17 Norris
18 Tosi
19 Tuipolutu
20 Parker
21 Christie
22 Beaudie/DMac
22 Tupaea

Mr Fish

@booboo Hey you copied my homework.

ploughboy

parker is playing npc this weekend so I doubt they would throw him in without full prep

george33

@ploughboy Aren't the ABs flying out on Friday so why would he be playing doesn't make sense.

Dan54

@george33 think they figure he needs game time? He won't be starting first test anyway.

mariner4life

@pakman said in All Blacks v Argentina I:

@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks v Argentina I:

Hookers:
Codie Taylor (34, Crusaders / Canterbury, 98)
Samisoni Taukei’aho (27, Chiefs / Waikato, 33)
Brodie McAlister (28, Chiefs / Canterbury, 1)

Props:
Ethan de Groot (27, Highlanders / Southland, 32)
Tamaiti Williams (24, Crusaders / Canterbury, 18)
Ollie Norris (25, Chiefs / Waikato, 2)
Tyrel Lomax (29, Hurricanes / Ta$man, 45)
Fletcher Newell (25, Crusaders / Canterbury, 25)
Pasilio Tosi (27, Hurricanes / Bay of Plenty, 9 )

Locks:
Scott Barrett (31, Crusaders / Taranaki, 81) (Captain)
Patrick Tuipulotu (32, Blues / Auckland, 55)
Tupou Vaa’i (25, Chiefs / Taranaki, 40)
Fabian Holland (22, Highlanders / Otago, 3)

Loose forwards:
Samipeni Finau (26, Chiefs / Waikato, 11)
Simon Parker (25, Chiefs / Northland, * )
Ardie Savea (31, Moana Pasifika / Wellington, 97) (Vice-Captain)
Du’Plessis Kirifi (28, Hurricanes / Wellington, 3)
Wallace Sititi (22, Chiefs / North Harbour, 10)
Peter Lakai (22, Hurricanes / Wellington, 3)
Luke Jacobson (28, Chiefs / Waikato, 24)

Halfbacks:
Cortez Ratima (24, Chiefs / Waikato, 14)
Cameron Roigard (24, Hurricanes / Counties Manukau, 12)
Noah Hotham (22, Crusaders / Ta$man, 2)

First-five eighths:
Beauden Barrett (34, Blues / Taranaki, 136)
Damian McKenzie (30, Chiefs / Waikato, 64)

Midfielders:
Anton Lienert-Brown (30, Chiefs / Waikato, 85)
Jordie Barrett (28, Hurricanes / Taranaki, 71) (Vice-Captain)
Quinn Tupaea (26, Chiefs / Waikato, 16)
Billy Proctor (26, Hurricanes / Wellington, 4)
Timoci Tavatavanawai (27, Highlanders / Ta$man, 2)

Outside backs:
Rieko Ioane (28, Blues / Auckland, 83)
Caleb Clarke (26, Blues / Auckland, 29 )
Sevu Reece (28, Crusaders / Southland, 34)
Emoni Narawa (26, Chiefs / Bay of Plenty, 3)
Will Jordan (27, Crusaders / Ta$man, 44)
Ruben Love (24, Hurricanes / Wellington, 2)

Injury Cover:

The following players have been named as injury cover for the start of the Lipovitan-D Rugby Championship.

George Bower (33, Crusaders / Otago, 23) for Tamaiti Williams
Tevita Mafileo (27, Hurricanes / Bay of Plenty, * ) for Tyrel Lomax
Josh Lord (24, Chiefs / Taranaki, 7) for Luke Jacobson
Finlay Christie (29, Blues / Ta$man, 23) for Cameron Roigard/Noah Hotham
Kyle Preston (25, Crusaders / Wellington, * ) for Cameron Roigard/Noah Hotham
Leroy Carter (26, Chiefs / Bay of Plenty, * ) for Caleb Clarke

With the squad now selected, we can turn to possible selections for the all important first test in Cordoba.

For starters I think there are only a couple of question marks:

1 - EDG
2 - Codie Taylor
3 - Newell / Tosi
4 - Scooter
5 - Holland
6 - Vaa’i
7 - Savea
8 - Sititi

9 - Ratima
10 - Beaudie / DMac
11 - Ioane
12 - Jordie
13 - Proctor
14 - Reece
15 - Jordan

Only quibble is that I’d start Kirifi/Lakai (depending on fitness) and save Wally for impact off bench.

lol what? why? Only one of the three has shown he's up to the standard

antipodean

Did anyone actually notice Lakai playing SR this year?

1kiwi

@george33 said in All Blacks v Argentina I:

@ploughboy Aren't the ABs flying out on Friday so why would he be playing doesn't make sense.

I believe the main squad fly out Friday and the players that are playing NPC this weekend fly out Monday.

ShaquilleOatmeal

One obvious question is whether or not to include Tuipulotu (who played very well against France) in the team, given that Vaa'i will probably be the starting blindside, covering lock. There's also the matter of what the loose forward starting and bench mix looks like with players recently returning from injury, lacking game time and the issue of fielding more than one of the smaller options on the field at the same time.

If we're looking at Vaa'i, Savea and Sititi as the starting trio, I'd like to see either Parker or Finau on the bench alongside Lakai and for both to get 30 minutes of game time. I'd also like to see Love on the bench with either Tupaea or Tavatavanawai and for those players to be given significant minutes as well - ideally more than 20.

It's time to start using the bench more effectively: not waiting until starters fade, but instead giving potential future stars genuine experience - more than the last five or ten minutes - alongside the current first-choice players. They're not going to develop real depth or properly evaluate alternative options if they don't.

mariner4life

@ShaquilleOatmeal said in All Blacks v Argentina I:

One obvious question is whether or not to include Tuipulotu (who played very well against France) in the team, given that Vaa'i will probably be the starting blindside, covering lock.

a real coach aimed at excellence would not be bringing Barrett back in to the starting side and playing the form 2nd rowers of the French series.

Chuck72

@mariner4life What? So Barrett is now not even worthy of starting? Dont see that myself. I cant remember when a player hasn't been selected following injury (not withstanding how well PT played)

mariner4life

no. we've just come off three tests and the other 3 talls all outplayed him.

Frank

Barrett had been carrying an injury, possibly limiting his play.
That being said, Holland and Patty T are a very powerful combo and if Scooter can't surpass them, then Ardie should be captain. There should be no favors.

ACT Crusader

If Scooter is fully fit then he will play. But I would like us to get used to playing with more size which I think is the goal. So for me it’s Patty T on the bench even with Vaa’i at 6.

We didn’t see it against France and I think available personnel influenced it but I still think a 6/2 is on the cards at some point in this RC.

My ideal bench is:

Hooker
LHP
THP
Lock
Big loosie
Quick breakdown attacking loosie
Halfback
Back 10/15 type.

Ardie covering 12

taniwharugby

@mariner4life has a captain of the ABs ever been dropped cos he got injured and the replacements stepped up?

Not saying it is right or wrong, but I cant see any coach do that, hopefully conversations are being had about the possibility if form doesn't improve.

ShaquilleOatmeal

@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks v Argentina I:

If Scooter is fully fit then he will play. But I would like us to get used to playing with more size which I think is the goal. So for me it’s Patty T on the bench even with Vaa’i at 6.

We didn’t see it against France and I think available personnel influenced it but I still think a 6/2 is on the cards at some point in this RC.

My ideal bench is:

Hooker
LHP
THP
Lock
Big loosie
Quick breakdown attacking loosie
Halfback
Back 10/15 type.

Ardie covering 12

I’m not opposed to a 6/2 split if they find the right players but Robertson seems reluctant and I get the feeling they’re looking for an impact midfield back on the bench in addition to the halfback and first five/fullback cover.

I also agree about wanting the forward pack to be bigger overall but the way to achieve that is to find a larger openside and/or eight, and they seem to be reluctant there too. Just look at the loose forwards in the squad and how often they get two of the smaller players on field together.

The Silver Fern

All Blacks v Argentina I