All Blacks EOYT 2021

[Bovidae]

I read that Cane, Whitelock and Frizell (yes, him) will be joining the team in DC. I'm not sure about Coles. Smith definitely isn't going.

[Stargazer]

@family-man The squad that was name on 26 August (for the RC) is basically the squad for both the RC and the EOYT, minus players joining them later.

As @Machpants says, nobody of the current squad will be sent home due to MIQ availability. Only a few players will be joining the squad.

Mo'unga already coming out MIQ in Oz on Tuesday.
Smith unlikely to be available due to late expected arrival of baby; will only travel if baby comes early.
Other players joining them will be Whitelock; and Cane and Coles depending on injury status. I think Frizell's name has been named by Foster in the media, too, but hopefully they keep him at home. He's not needed anyway.

[taniwharugby]

@stargazer aside from being a thug, also been found wanting in black too often and been pretty average in the last 2 rounds of npc...where he should be dominating

[Kirwan]

@taniwharugby said in What should the eoyt squad look like?:

@stargazer aside from being a thug, also been found wanting in black too often and been pretty average in the last 2 rounds of npc...where he should be dominating

Blackadder surely has replaced him now? Better squad member too, covering more positions.

Akira, Luke, Dalton can all cover six as well.

[canefan]

@kirwan said in What should the eoyt squad look like?:

@taniwharugby said in What should the eoyt squad look like?:

@stargazer aside from being a thug, also been found wanting in black too often and been pretty average in the last 2 rounds of npc...where he should be dominating

Blackadder surely has replaced him now? Better squad member too, covering more positions.

Akira, Luke, Dalton can all cover six as well.

Yup. I would have expected Frizell to be gone, no reason to keep him IMHO

[TheMojoman]

Whitelock and Mo'unga, maybe Coles or Smith depending on injury and fatherhood.

Would surprise me if Frizell got the nod given how competitive the current crop of loosies are. AB's lack the traditional big 6 ala Kaino and Squire but TBH haven't needed it thus far. Their high-tempo game is more suited to Akira and Blackadder.

[cgrant]

@themojoman

Akira is as big as Squire or Kaino.

[Chris]

@machpants said in What should the eoyt squad look like?:

As to your points
Whitlock, Smith, Coles a given.

You've got to remember, no one can be sent back cos of MIQ, everyone is there to the end.

So we don't need another loosie, frizzle can stay home.
We've got enough props so no more of them
Clarke hasn't played any high level rugby, let alone 15s since last year, so nope
PUJ is not even starting for Wellington, so nope

I can only see the first three joining, plus cane if fit

Yes agree only Whitelock,Smith,Coles and maybe Cane to be added to the current squad.

[Bones]

@cgrant said in What should the eoyt squad look like?:

@themojoman

Akira is as big as Squire or Kaino.

Pretty sure he's bigger!

[nostrildamus]

@bones said in What should the eoyt squad look like?:

@cgrant said in What should the eoyt squad look like?:

@themojoman

Akira is as big as Squire or Kaino.

Pretty sure he's bigger!

heavier not quite as tall (2cm) depending on where you read it...I find it hard to believe Kaino was only 110 kg though..

[Victor Meldrew]

@themojoman said in What should the eoyt squad look like?:

Would surprise me if Frizell got the nod given how competitive the current crop of loosies are

I'm actually struggling to think of a time when we were so strong at 6/7/8. And the current crop are still pretty raw experience-wise and will only get better.

[canefan]

@victor-meldrew said in What should the eoyt squad look like?:

@themojoman said in What should the eoyt squad look like?:

Would surprise me if Frizell got the nod given how competitive the current crop of loosies are

I'm actually struggling to think of a time when we were so strong at 6/7/8. And the current crop are still pretty raw experience-wise and will only get better.

Apart from Kaino/McCaw/Read Cane, Messam, Vito right?

[Bones]

@canefan Poor Marty.

[Victor Meldrew]

@canefan said in What should the eoyt squad look like?:

@victor-meldrew said in What should the eoyt squad look like?:

@themojoman said in What should the eoyt squad look like?:

Would surprise me if Frizell got the nod given how competitive the current crop of loosies are

I'm actually struggling to think of a time when we were so strong at 6/7/8. And the current crop are still pretty raw experience-wise and will only get better.

Apart from Kaino/McCaw/Read Cane, Messam, Vito right?

We can probably take Cane out of the equation as he'll be in both squads, but I think the current squad is as strong overall and will only get better. Vito & poss. Messam would struggle to get into the current squad, IMHO.

Foster's big problem is getting the combinations right but that's a nce problem to have.

[ACT Crusader]

@victor-meldrew said in What should the eoyt squad look like?:

@canefan said in What should the eoyt squad look like?:

@victor-meldrew said in What should the eoyt squad look like?:

@themojoman said in What should the eoyt squad look like?:

Would surprise me if Frizell got the nod given how competitive the current crop of loosies are

I'm actually struggling to think of a time when we were so strong at 6/7/8. And the current crop are still pretty raw experience-wise and will only get better.

Apart from Kaino/McCaw/Read Cane, Messam, Vito right?

We can probably take Cane out of the equation as he'll be in both squads, but I think the current squad is as strong overall and will only get better. Vito & poss. Messam would struggle to get into the current squad, IMHO.

Foster's big problem is getting the combinations right but that's a nce problem to have.

The year after Kaino left, Messam was pretty impressive for the ABs.

Loosies that played in 2015
Kaino
McCaw
Read
Cane
Vito
Messam
Todd

Loosies that have played in 2021
Ioane
Cane
Savea
Papali’i
Jacobsen
Blackadder
Sotutu
Frizell

In 2015 we basically played Whitelock and Retallick for 80 minutes in most tests so often had two loosies on the bench too.

[DaGrubster]

@crucial

I am not sure if Cole’s gets back into the AB squad given the strength of our hookers at the moment.

ST has been a revelation this year.

[Duluth]

@themojoman said in What should the eoyt squad look like?:

Would surprise me if Frizell got the nod given how competitive the current crop of loosies are.

He's basically already been picked though. He was named in the squad and the only reason he didn't travel was pending legal issues.

Personally I wouldn't pick him and I think he should be in jail.

Even if they did unselect him I struggle to think of a large blindside they could take a chance on? All the other serious options are injured

[nostrildamus]

@duluth one of these is a big blindside flanker...is he still injured?

[Stargazer]

@duluth Don't think it matters whether their preferred position is 6 or 8, and can play the other well, but MMT and Flanders are serious options IMO. Not sure what injury kept MMT from playing last Saturday, but DF just going through head knock protocols and available again soon. But I don't think they'll take newbies (incl Robinson if he were fit) on EOYT and would keep their limited MIQ spots for experienced players. If he was actually fit and playing (well) that could have been Squire, or even Cullen Grace, who has been in the squad already, but they're not available.

[taniwharugby]

@nostrildamus assuming you are talking Robinson, he is possibly making a return this weekend from being out for several weeks after a concussion (I personally think there is no reason to risk him, even for my beloved Taniwha given the state of the season, so better off letting him recover ready for Super)