AB Positions up for grabs
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@crazy-horse Ah, yes, of course. Edit: Scarlets. 
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@booboo said in AB Positions up for grabs: @chris-b said in AB Positions up for grabs: So..as we get closer, I haven't seen any specific "number" the selectors are aiming for, but I'd like to see quite a big squad Moody, Perry, Crockett, Eves 
 Taylor, Harris, Coltman
 Franks, Tu'ungafasi, Toomuga-Allen
 Retallick, Whitelock, Romano, Barrett
 Squire, Whitelock, Ioane, Fifita, Cane, ToddSmith, Perenara, Hall 
 Barrett, Mo'unga, DMac
 Crotty, SBW, Laumape, Goodhue, ALB
 Ioane, Naholo, Lam, Dagg
 Smith, Barrett37 - it's probably bigger than what the selectors are thinking, but get those guys in there! Just a check of who is missing from ... please help ... not sure who is injured ... Hames 
 Coles, Aumua
 ...
 Tuipolutu
 Read, Savea
 ...
 Aso
 NMSOthers? Duffie, Havili and Seta are three recent guys who aren't on that list. Is Seta confirmed as leaving? All three have been pretty forgettable so far this season. I would take TTT before Hall and i think the selectors see Drummond as an AB before hall too given they took him on the EOYT. Did he also go to the recent camps too? 
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@pukunui said in AB Positions up for grabs: @booboo said in AB Positions up for grabs: @chris-b said in AB Positions up for grabs: So..as we get closer, I haven't seen any specific "number" the selectors are aiming for, but I'd like to see quite a big squad Moody, Perry, Crockett, Eves 
 Taylor, Harris, Coltman
 Franks, Tu'ungafasi, Toomuga-Allen
 Retallick, Whitelock, Romano, Barrett
 Squire, Whitelock, Ioane, Fifita, Cane, ToddSmith, Perenara, Hall 
 Barrett, Mo'unga, DMac
 Crotty, SBW, Laumape, Goodhue, ALB
 Ioane, Naholo, Lam, Dagg
 Smith, Barrett37 - it's probably bigger than what the selectors are thinking, but get those guys in there! Just a check of who is missing from ... please help ... not sure who is injured ... Hames 
 Coles, Aumua
 ...
 Tuipolutu
 Read, Savea
 ...
 Aso
 NMSOthers? Duffie, Havili and Seta are three recent guys who aren't on that list. Is Seta confirmed as leaving? All three have been pretty forgettable so far this season. I would take TTT before Hall and i think the selectors see Drummond as an AB before hall too given they took him on the EOYT. Did he also go to the recent camps too? Yes. 
 Havili has been solid, just no x-factor stuff this season, but great on defence.
 Drummond did indeed attend the AB camps.
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@stargazer said in AB Positions up for grabs: Daniel Lienert-Brown Both Eves and Lienert-Brown are good around the field but weak in the scrum. I think that Eves is better in both aspects, but not good enough. They won't pick either. 
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@stargazer said in AB Positions up for grabs: @chris-b said in AB Positions up for grabs: So..as we get closer, I haven't seen any specific "number" the selectors are aiming for, but I'd like to see quite a big squad Moody, Perry, Crockett, Eves 
 Taylor, Harris, Coltman
 Franks, Tu'ungafasi, Toomuga-Allen
 Retallick, Whitelock, Romano, Barrett
 Squire, Whitelock, Ioane, Fifita, Cane, ToddSmith, Perenara, Hall 
 Barrett, Mo'unga, DMac
 Crotty, SBW, Laumape, Goodhue, ALB
 Ioane, Naholo, Lam, Dagg
 Smith, Barrett37 - it's probably bigger than what the selectors are thinking, but get those guys in there! Eves? Can't imagine them calling up a 30-year old who has never been in the squad. I was more thinking of Daniel Lienert-Brown. Don't think there's much else separting the two, both not AB level, but at least DLB has time on his side. How old is Perry ? 
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@chris-b said in AB Positions up for grabs: So..as we get closer, I haven't seen any specific "number" the selectors are aiming for, but I'd like to see quite a big squad Moody, Perry, Crockett, Eves Has Crockett confirmed he's prepared to come out of international retirement? 
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@bovidae said in AB Positions up for grabs: The French will be a good test in the scrums with the right ref in charge. Who are the refs? OK, i googled, Eden Park: Luke Pearce (England) 
 Westpac: Angus Gardner (Australia)
 Dunedin: John Lacey (Ireland)New Zealand 
 v
 France
 Eden Park, Auckland, New Zealand
 9 Jun 2018Referee 
 Luke Pearce (England)
 Assistant 1
 Angus Gardner (Australia)
 Assistant 2
 John Lacey (Ireland)
 TMO
 George Ayoub (AustraliaNew Zealand 
 v
 France
 Westpac Stadium, Wellington, New Zealand
 16 Jun 2018Referee 
 Angus Gardner (Australia)
 Assistant 1
 John Lacey (Ireland)
 Assistant 2
 Luke Pearce (England)
 TMO
 George Ayoub (Australiaew Zealand 
 v
 France
 Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin, New Zealand
 23 Jun 2018Referee 
 John Lacey (Ireland)
 Assistant 1
 Angus Gardner (Australia)
 Assistant 2
 Graham Cooper (Australia)
 TMO
 George Ayoub (Australia)
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@machpants said in AB Positions up for grabs: LOL He's OK now, it's only taken dozens of matches to get him to average You reckon? Can't teach an old dog new tricks and Ayoub never learnt a feel for the game when he was a ref. Was moved to the admin dept then handed a lifeline with the advent of TMOs. Surely he can't stuff things up too much when he has time and replays? Oh yes he can! 
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While the AB selectors are sweating about finding a good LH substitute for Moody, the left wing is the richest spot in NZ. The best IMO is Rieko Ioane but there is also Juilan Savea, Ben Lam, Solomon Alaimalo plus the likes of George Bridge and Tevita Li who are playing very good rugby this season though I doubt the latter to be called into the AB squad one day. Naholo has already played test rugby on the left wing too. And then there is Mataele who is equally at home on both wings and will be eligible this year. Melani Nanai is another one who can play left wing too. 










