AB RWC Squad

ACT Crusader

@Bones I think the concussion protocols has been a key issue in the bigger squad sizes.

For the stat nerds:

2007 - 30 (match day 22)
split - 16/14

Hookers - 3
Props - 4
Locks - 4
Loose Forwards - 5

Halfbacks - 3
1st 5s - 2
Midfield - 4
Outside backs - 5

—————————————————-
2011 - 30 (match day 22)
split - 16/14

Hookers - 3
Props - 4
Locks - 4
Loose Forwards - 5

Halfbacks - 3
1st 5s - 2
Midfield - 4
Outside backs - 5

—————————————————-
2015 - 31 (match day 23)
split - 17/14

Hookers - 3
Props - 5
Locks - 3
Loose Forwards - 6

Halfbacks - 3
1st 5s - 3
Midfield - 4
Outside backs - 4

—————————————————-
2019 - 31 (match day 23)
split - 17/14

Hookers - 3
Props - 5
Locks - 4
Loose Forwards - 5

Halfbacks - 3
1st 5s - 2
Midfield - 4
Outside backs - 5

—————————————————-
2023 - 33 (match day 23)
split - 18/15

Hookers - 3
Props - 6
Locks - 4
Loose Forwards - 5

Halfbacks - 3
1st 5s - 3
Midfield - 4
Outside backs - 5

Mr Fish

@ACT-Crusader

Suspect we would have taken at least four props to the 2007 World Cup, even with only three in the match-day squad...

ACT Crusader

@Mr-Fish said in AB RWC Squad:

@ACT-Crusader

Suspect we would have taken at least four props to the 2007 World Cup, even with only three in the match-day squad...

No only 3 selected in the squad naming. But I think they may have added Yoda

Forwards: Rodney So'oialo, Chris Masoe, Richie McCaw (captain), Jerry Collins, Sione Lauaki, Reuben Thorne, Ali Williams, Chris Jack, Keith Robinson, Carl Hayman, Neemia Tialata, Tony Woodcock, Anton Oliver, Keven Mealamu, Andrew Hore.

Mr Fish

@ACT-Crusader said in AB RWC Squad:

@Mr-Fish said in AB RWC Squad:

@ACT-Crusader

Suspect we would have taken at least four props to the 2007 World Cup, even with only three in the match-day squad...

No only 3

Forwards: Rodney So'oialo, Chris Masoe, Richie McCaw (captain), Jerry Collins, Sione Lauaki, Reuben Thorne, Ali Williams, Chris Jack, Keith Robinson, Carl Hayman, Neemia Tialata, Tony Woodcock, Anton Oliver, Keven Mealamu, Andrew Hore.

Looks like Greg Sommerville was added to the squad to make it a 30-man group.

ACT Crusader

Found it, Yoda was under an injury cloud and they were giving him more time to prove fitness before confirming him as the final player.

Schwalger was the other TH that played in 07 prior to the RWC

Billy Tell

Fair play to Jacobsen. He was really on the outer under foster but had fought his way back in. I think he is a better option than the likes of akira and sotutu. Does the basics well and reliably even if he is less flash.

I agree with the above comment. A year ago we were no chance now we are a definite chance. Hardest match outside the final will be the ¼ final. Yes the opening match will be tough but it’s only to decide who wins the pool. And with the lopsided draw it probably decides if we play Ireland or SA. But would love Scotland to knock Ireland (or SA) out.

Steve

@sparky said in AB RWC Squad:

Five loose forwards is utterly dumb. Even more so when you have an injured Lock.

Even if none of them get injured , surely they will be knackered.

The French , Irish and Springboks are big lumps. We need the back row fit and firing.

Cane is prone to the odd niggle. He isn’t a guaranteed 80 minute man like McCaw was.

The lack of game time given to Jacobsen is even more alarming now. He is covering 6 and 8 especially with BBBR injured.

If Frizell goes down we are into choppy waters.

Bones

@ACT-Crusader Interesting, I thought I'd read it was to allow more front rowers. But apparently it's for better preparation...

https://www.rugbyworldcup.com/2023/news/619345/increased-rest-days-confirmed-for-rugby-world-cup-2023

mencey

Webber for Christie.
Shame about Ennor would have taken him rather than David Havili if not injured.
Nepo is well past sell by date
Would have taken another lock rather than Caleb Clarke

That is my take. Lets go win it

Bones

@mencey said in AB RWC Squad:

Webber

Noooooo

Billy Tell

Also think Schmidt is making a difference. As I lived in Ireland during a lot of the Schmidt era, I watched virtually all of Ireland's games. His sides were always well-drilled. Yes he came up short in his 2 RWC attempts, but in the first he had really bad luck with injuries (he lost many of his best players in the final pool game vs France) and in 2019, Ireland did their choke vs a well-performed NZ side.

Steve

If Caleb Clark was playing like prime Jonah Lomu you’d make the concession for him.

But he isn’t playing any better than the others currently .

Never played better than the others in his previous body of work either.

Only plays one position.

I don’t see the point of his selection at all.

Steve

@Steve said in AB RWC Squad:

If Caleb Clark was playing like prime Jonah Lomu you’d make the concession for him.

But he isn’t playing any better than the others currently .

Never played better than the others in his previous body of work either.

Only plays one position.

I don’t see the point of his selection at all.

Unless it’s for pure beef against the Irish and French. Fight fire with fire.

Victor Meldrew

@Machpants said in AB RWC Squad:

Whereas now we have 3 locks and 5 loosies, fucking Muppet

Don't we have 4 - Sam, BBBR (assuming he gets over his injury) , Scooter & Vai'i?

RWC, the ideal place for excitements. Did a lot of that in the run up to the quarters in 07

Fair point, they have spent much of the last 12 months sorting out the top 15 & 23 and haven't had much chance to tweak things around the edges.

Rancid Schnitzel

@Billy-Tell said in AB RWC Squad:

Fair play to Jacobsen. He was really on the outer under foster but had fought his way back in. I think he is a better option than the likes of akira and sotutu. Does the basics well and reliably even if he is less flash.

I agree with the above comment. A year ago we were no chance now we are a definite chance. Hardest match outside the final will be the ¼ final. Yes the opening match will be tough but it’s only to decide who wins the pool. And with the lopsided draw it probably decides if we play Ireland or SA. But would love Scotland to knock Ireland (or SA) out.

Yeah I'm a big fan. Has the attributes to make an impact. The kind of player we need IMHO.

I'd tend to agree that Clark could have been left out but he's no Zac Guildford selection.

Bones

@Steve said in AB RWC Squad:

@Steve said in AB RWC Squad:

If Caleb Clark was playing like prime Jonah Lomu you’d make the concession for him.

But he isn’t playing any better than the others currently .

Never played better than the others in his previous body of work either.

Only plays one position.

I don’t see the point of his selection at all.

Unless it’s for pure beef against the Irish and French. Fight fire with fire.

Penaud, Lowe and Hansen don't exactly strike me as big boppers. Can't think of the other french wing.

Steve

@Bones said in AB RWC Squad:

@Steve said in AB RWC Squad:

@Steve said in AB RWC Squad:

If Caleb Clark was playing like prime Jonah Lomu you’d make the concession for him.

But he isn’t playing any better than the others currently .

Never played better than the others in his previous body of work either.

Only plays one position.

I don’t see the point of his selection at all.

Unless it’s for pure beef against the Irish and French. Fight fire with fire.

Penaud, Lowe and Hansen don't exactly strike me as big boppers. Can't think of the other french wing.

I mean for coming in off a strike move like Julian used to off Carter. Yards up the guts.

ACT Crusader

@sparky said in AB RWC Squad:

@ACT-Crusader Or Hoskins Sotutu.

I think there has been a fall from grace there and the fact that there had been a sighting of Ioane around the squad plus the precautionary requests flying around, I reckon he’s first cab off the rank.

sparky

@ACT-Crusader

Something has happened with Hoskins Sotutu that clearly ‘people in the know’ know. But I haven’t got a scooby about.

Anyway, great to see him playing NPC and I wish him well. What a talent!

I think in terms of pure ability (obviously being an All Black is about much more than that), he and Akira are the main ‘casualties’ not to make the cut for this NZ RWC squad.

Hopefully he can do a Ma’a Nonu and be back better than ever before for future World Cups.

kiwiinmelb

@Steve said in AB RWC Squad:

@Steve said in AB RWC Squad:

If Caleb Clark was playing like prime Jonah Lomu you’d make the concession for him.

But he isn’t playing any better than the others currently .

Never played better than the others in his previous body of work either.

Only plays one position.

I don’t see the point of his selection at all.

Unless it’s for pure beef against the Irish and French. Fight fire with fire.

Only watched the game the once live but thought in the first bledisloe when he came on he was doing a lot of in close work , looking for ball close to the ruck, pick and driving with the forwards etc

I’m guessing it’s still between him and leister to get that role

Still feels like one too many though , even allowing for Jordan potentially needing to play some fb

Have havilli and leister played together in midfield?
Thinking of pool games.

The Silver Fern

AB RWC Squad