AB EOYT 2018
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@tim sub-Editor should have headed it "Blindingly obvious comments from once heralded but now irrelevant coach"
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Probably bollaux too. I would imagine without the carrot of a ton of easy Yen he might be signed permanently overseas. This way he makes his cash and the ABS keep him for, basically, an emergency backup at RWC. There has to be some good offer to keep someone of his calibre around as nothing but emergency backup, with no time in the black jersey guaranteed or even likely. The ABs will cope with Mr A N Other for 7 this tour in the north
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Here's a rough shot by the numbers. I've got no great opinion on the replacement 7, so I've chucked in John Hart's pick.
I've tended to go for people who've been there before among the 19 reinforcements, with a few exceptions for balance.
32 MAN SQUAD
Joe Moody
Karl Tu'inukuafe
Owen Franks
Ofa Tuungafasi
Tim PerryCodie Taylor
Dane Coles
Nathan HarrisSamuel Whitelock
Brodie Retallick
Scott BarrettKieran Read
Ardie Savea
Liam Squire
Luke Whitelock
Shannon Frizell
Dillon Hunt??Aaron Smith
Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi
TJ PerenaraBeauden Barrett
Richie Mo'unga
Damian McKenzieAnton Lienert-Brown
Jack Goodhue
Ryan Crotty
Sonny Bill WilliamsBen Smith
Jordie Barrett
Rieko Ioane
Nehe Milner-Skudder
Waisake NaholoTEAM FOR JAPAN (INCLUDING 10 FROM ABOVE)
Tim Perry
Dane Coles
Nepo Laulala
Luke Romano
Patrick Tuipolotu
Shannon Frizell
Dillon Hunt
Luke Whitelock
Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi
Richie Mo'unga
George Bridge
Ngani Laumape
Anton Lienert-Brown
Nehe Milner-Skudder
Jordie BarrettLiam Coltman
Angus Ta'avao
Alex Hodgman??
Jackson Hemopo
Akira Ioane
Bryn Hall
Otere Black
Matt ProctorPLUS ANOTHER SIX
Asafo Aumua
Jeff Toomaga-Allen
Vaia Fifita
Brad Weber
Ben Lam
David HaviliEdit: And a slight shuffle, because I've got a loose forward too many.
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Here's a rough shot by the numbers. I've got no great opinion on the replacement 7, so I've chucked in John Hart's pick.
I've tended to go for people who've been there before among the 19 reinforcements, with a few exceptions for balance.
32 MAN SQUAD
Joe Moody
Karl Tu'inukuafe
Owen Franks
Ofa Tuungafasi
Tim PerryCodie Taylor
Dane Coles
Nathan HarrisSamuel Whitelock
Brodie Retallick
Scott BarrettKieran Read
Ardie Savea
Liam Squire
Luke Whitelock
Shannon Frizell
Dillon Hunt??Aaron Smith
Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi
TJ PerenaraBeauden Barrett
Richie Mo'unga
Damian McKenzieAnton Lienert-Brown
Jack Goodhue
Ryan Crotty
Sonny Bill WilliamsBen Smith
Jordie Barrett
Rieko Ioane
Nehe Milner-Skudder
Waisake NaholoTEAM FOR JAPAN (INCLUDING 10 FROM ABOVE)
Tim Perry
Dane Coles
Nepo Laulala
Luke Romano
Patrick Tuipolotu
Shannon Frizell
Dillon Hunt
Luke Whitelock
Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi
Richie Mo'unga
George Bridge
Ngani Laumape
Anton Lienert-Brown
Nehe Milner-Skudder
Jordie BarrettLiam Coltman
Angus Ta'avao
Alex Hodgman??
Jackson Hemopo
Akira Ioane
Bryn Hall
Otere Black
Matt ProctorPLUS ANOTHER SIX
Asafo Aumua
Jeff Toomaga-Allen
Vaia Fifita
Brad Weber
Ben Lam
David HaviliEdit: And a slight shuffle, because I've got a loose forward too many.
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@footy01 To be honest I only saw him come off the bench against Ta$man and he looked pretty sharp.
Any of our next options are a fair way from international quality IMO. And if I'd picked Mitch Hunt I'd be accused of bias!
In all honesty, if we had a run like 2011 at RWC and lost a couple of Beauden, DMac and Richie, I'd be inclined to break our own rules and call up Sopoaga, Cruden or Slade.
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@footy01 To be honest I only saw him come off the bench against Ta$man and he looked pretty sharp.
Any of our next options are a fair way from international quality IMO. And if I'd picked Mitch Hunt I'd be accused of bias!
In all honesty, if we had a run like 2011 at RWC and lost a couple of Beauden, DMac and Richie, I'd be inclined to break our own rules and call up Sopoaga, Cruden or Slade.
@chris-b said in AB EOYT 2018:
@footy01 To be honest I only saw him come off the bench against Ta$man and he looked pretty sharp.
Any of our next options are a fair way from international quality IMO. And if I'd picked Mitch Hunt I'd be accused of bias!
In all honesty, if we had a run like 2011 at RWC and lost a couple of Beauden, DMac and Richie, I'd be inclined to break our own rules and call up Sopoaga, Cruden or Slade.
IS DAGG GOING OVERSEAS?????
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@chris-b said in AB EOYT 2018:
@footy01 To be honest I only saw him come off the bench against Ta$man and he looked pretty sharp.
Any of our next options are a fair way from international quality IMO. And if I'd picked Mitch Hunt I'd be accused of bias!
In all honesty, if we had a run like 2011 at RWC and lost a couple of Beauden, DMac and Richie, I'd be inclined to break our own rules and call up Sopoaga, Cruden or Slade.
IS DAGG GOING OVERSEAS?????
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@chris-b said in AB EOYT 2018:
@footy01 To be honest I only saw him come off the bench against Ta$man and he looked pretty sharp.
Any of our next options are a fair way from international quality IMO. And if I'd picked Mitch Hunt I'd be accused of bias!
In all honesty, if we had a run like 2011 at RWC and lost a couple of Beauden, DMac and Richie, I'd be inclined to break our own rules and call up Sopoaga, Cruden or Slade.
IS DAGG GOING OVERSEAS?????
@bones said in AB EOYT 2018:
@chris-b said in AB EOYT 2018:
@footy01 To be honest I only saw him come off the bench against Ta$man and he looked pretty sharp.
Any of our next options are a fair way from international quality IMO. And if I'd picked Mitch Hunt I'd be accused of bias!
In all honesty, if we had a run like 2011 at RWC and lost a couple of Beauden, DMac and Richie, I'd be inclined to break our own rules and call up Sopoaga, Cruden or Slade.
IS DAGG GOING OVERSEAS?????
If Dagg won us a WC at 10 then I think the Fern would be complete, no need for any further threads.
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@footy01 Who are the other options with Super Rugby experience? Hunt, Perofeta, Garden-Bachop, Gatland, and Falcon?
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@bones said in AB EOYT 2018:
@chris-b said in AB EOYT 2018:
@footy01 To be honest I only saw him come off the bench against Ta$man and he looked pretty sharp.
Any of our next options are a fair way from international quality IMO. And if I'd picked Mitch Hunt I'd be accused of bias!
In all honesty, if we had a run like 2011 at RWC and lost a couple of Beauden, DMac and Richie, I'd be inclined to break our own rules and call up Sopoaga, Cruden or Slade.
IS DAGG GOING OVERSEAS?????
If Dagg won us a WC at 10 then I think the Fern would be complete, no need for any further threads.
@no-quarter said in AB EOYT 2018:
@bones said in AB EOYT 2018:
@chris-b said in AB EOYT 2018:
@footy01 To be honest I only saw him come off the bench against Ta$man and he looked pretty sharp.
Any of our next options are a fair way from international quality IMO. And if I'd picked Mitch Hunt I'd be accused of bias!
In all honesty, if we had a run like 2011 at RWC and lost a couple of Beauden, DMac and Richie, I'd be inclined to break our own rules and call up Sopoaga, Cruden or Slade.
IS DAGG GOING OVERSEAS?????
If Dagg won us a WC at 10 then I think the Fern would be complete, no need for any further threads.
I think we could still debate how great Charlie Ngatai might have been
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Possible bolters ?
Hooker : Makalio. He's on fire. I think his lack of speed is not a problem for the AB game. Remember the SA vs AB last saturday : the AB spent the last 10 minutes driving with their forwards and did not take high risks with their backline. So Makalio could fit in very well in similar circumstances.
Props : I don't see any new cap here as there are a sufficient number of players. Maybe Lomax ?
Locks : Pari Pari Parkinson as an apprentice ? He is the one with the best potential and could be the next Retallick.
Blind side flankers : None
Open side flankers : Dalton Papali'i.
Utility loose forward : Gareth Evans.
Halfbacks : Drummond is playing very well but will they bring 4 halfbacks ?
1st Fives : None
2nd Fives : Havili (can he be considered a bolter ?)
Centres : Thompson, Proctor, Ennor, Faddes ... None of them is really convincing.
Wings : this is a position where the AB need new names => Alaimalo, maybe Lam
Full backs : Jordan as an apprentice. He's an outstanding talent. Maybe the next AB fullback when B. Smith retires.
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@no-quarter said in AB EOYT 2018:
@bones said in AB EOYT 2018:
@chris-b said in AB EOYT 2018:
@footy01 To be honest I only saw him come off the bench against Ta$man and he looked pretty sharp.
Any of our next options are a fair way from international quality IMO. And if I'd picked Mitch Hunt I'd be accused of bias!
In all honesty, if we had a run like 2011 at RWC and lost a couple of Beauden, DMac and Richie, I'd be inclined to break our own rules and call up Sopoaga, Cruden or Slade.
IS DAGG GOING OVERSEAS?????
If Dagg won us a WC at 10 then I think the Fern would be complete, no need for any further threads.
I think we could still debate how great Charlie Ngatai might have been
@crucial said in AB EOYT 2018:
@no-quarter said in AB EOYT 2018:
@bones said in AB EOYT 2018:
@chris-b said in AB EOYT 2018:
@footy01 To be honest I only saw him come off the bench against Ta$man and he looked pretty sharp.
Any of our next options are a fair way from international quality IMO. And if I'd picked Mitch Hunt I'd be accused of bias!
In all honesty, if we had a run like 2011 at RWC and lost a couple of Beauden, DMac and Richie, I'd be inclined to break our own rules and call up Sopoaga, Cruden or Slade.
IS DAGG GOING OVERSEAS?????
If Dagg won us a WC at 10 then I think the Fern would be complete, no need for any further threads.
I think we could still debate how great Charlie Ngatai might have been
Oooooooooo......OOOOOO!!!! Can We?!?!?!?!
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@crucial said in AB EOYT 2018:
@no-quarter said in AB EOYT 2018:
@bones said in AB EOYT 2018:
@chris-b said in AB EOYT 2018:
@footy01 To be honest I only saw him come off the bench against Ta$man and he looked pretty sharp.
Any of our next options are a fair way from international quality IMO. And if I'd picked Mitch Hunt I'd be accused of bias!
In all honesty, if we had a run like 2011 at RWC and lost a couple of Beauden, DMac and Richie, I'd be inclined to break our own rules and call up Sopoaga, Cruden or Slade.
IS DAGG GOING OVERSEAS?????
If Dagg won us a WC at 10 then I think the Fern would be complete, no need for any further threads.
I think we could still debate how great Charlie Ngatai might have been
Oooooooooo......OOOOOO!!!! Can We?!?!?!?!
@mn5 said in AB EOYT 2018:
@crucial said in AB EOYT 2018:
@no-quarter said in AB EOYT 2018:
@bones said in AB EOYT 2018:
@chris-b said in AB EOYT 2018:
@footy01 To be honest I only saw him come off the bench against Ta$man and he looked pretty sharp.
Any of our next options are a fair way from international quality IMO. And if I'd picked Mitch Hunt I'd be accused of bias!
In all honesty, if we had a run like 2011 at RWC and lost a couple of Beauden, DMac and Richie, I'd be inclined to break our own rules and call up Sopoaga, Cruden or Slade.
IS DAGG GOING OVERSEAS?????
If Dagg won us a WC at 10 then I think the Fern would be complete, no need for any further threads.
I think we could still debate how great Charlie Ngatai might have been
Oooooooooo......OOOOOO!!!! Can We?!?!?!?!
Feel free my friend. The stage is yours.
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So 29 that currently aren't in the squad. Guesses?
May be easier to start by guessing the 10 not going straight to their nice room at the Lensbury
I'm guessing a Front Row from the likes of Ofa, Angus, Harris. Patrick T and possibly BBBR if he needs a warmup game.
Loosies are an issue with Cane injured as it cuts down the options to have experience in the mix if Read goes to London.
Two of the halfbacks will have to stay in Japan surely? TJP (dark horse captain) and TTT
I'm guessing RM at 10, the youngsters at 12/13 and DMac at 15So starting XV of
Angus
Harris
Ofa
Pat T
? (BBBR?)
?
?
?
TJP
RM
?
ALB
Goodhue
?
DMacSo the big places up for grabs for a starting jersey are in the loose forwards and/or lock (Fifita?) along with a couple of wings.
FABGB is an option on one wing and Havili is a good bench option.
NMS could possibly drop from main squad to the Japan only group and take a spot.When does Todd become available again?
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@crucial Are you suggesting Ofa gets a run at LH? BTW anyone heard anything regarding Hames, who was awesome on last year's EOYT?
@pakman said in AB EOYT 2018:
@crucial Are you suggesting Ofa gets a run at LH?
Only if the powers that be see value in that with an eye to RWC.
It is handy in a RWC squad to have a prop that plays both sides (Ben Franks) especially given a possible hard 3 game finals run (at least a hard 2 games).Usually 5 Props. 2 specialists each side plus one versatile.
