All Blacks 2023
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Starting point ought to be 35 named for 2022 Northern Tour.
Comments in each position. My selections in bold, including a bolter.
Hookers
Dane Coles (35, Hurricanes / Wellington, 84)
Samisoni Taukei’aho (25, Chiefs / Waikato, 17)
Codie Taylor (31, Crusaders / Canterbury, 72)
Unchanged.
Props
George Bower (30, Crusaders / Otago, 19)
Ethan de Groot (24, Highlanders / Southland, 10)
Nepo Laulala (31, Blues / Counties Manukau, 42)
Tyrel Lomax (26, Hurricanes / Ta$man, 20)
Fletcher Newell (22, Crusaders / Canterbury, 4)
Ofa Tu’ungafasi (30, Blues / Northland, 48)
Moody, Newell & Bower injured. I’d like to see a TH and a LH/utility. Williams as the latter seems likely, although Ross has been very good in play offs. For TH could Ainsley, Jager or even Ma’u or Dyer be worth a shot?
Locks
Scott Barrett (28, Crusaders / Taranaki, 55)
Brodie Retallick (31, Chiefs / Hawke’s Bay, 98)
Tupou Vaa’i (22, Chiefs / Taranaki, 15)
Samuel Whitelock (33, Crusaders / Canterbury, 140)
Unchanged.
Loose Forwards
Sam Cane – Captain (30, Chiefs / Bay of Plenty, 85)
Shannon Frizell (28, Highlanders / Ta$man, 21)
Akira Ioane (27, Blues / Auckland, 19)
Dalton Papali’i (24, Blues / Counties Manukau, 18)
Ardie Savea (28, Hurricanes / Wellington, 67)
Hoskins Sotutu (24, Blues / Counties Manukau, 12)
No one out. Huge competition. Not sure Jacobson, Finau or Blackadder have done enough to force their way in ahead of Sotutu or Akira.
Backs:
Halfbacks
Finlay Christie (27, Blues / Ta$man, 12)
Folau Fakatava (22, Highlanders / Hawke’s Bay, 2)
Aaron Smith (33, Highlanders / Manawatu, 111)
Fakatava playing without ACLs! I’d instead be inclined to give Roigard a shot.
First five-eighths
Beauden Barrett (31, Blues / Taranaki, 109)
Richie Mo’unga (28, Crusaders / Canterbury, 41)
Stephen Perofeta (25, Blues / Taranaki, 1)
DMac can’t be left out and BB looks a lock, so even though I really like Perofeta, expect him to miss out.
Midfielders
Braydon Ennor (25, Crusaders / Canterbury, 5)
David Havili (27, Crusaders / Ta$man, 21)
Rieko Ioane (25, Blues / Auckland, 56)
Anton Lienert-Brown (27, Chiefs / Waikato, 56)
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (29, Blues / Auckland, 2)
RTS is off the pace and Havili out. I’d be inclined to try Aumua in place of the former and Goodhue for the latter. Or one of these and select Jordie as a midfielder. Heem and Proctor outside shots.
Outside backs
Jordie Barrett (25, Hurricanes / Taranaki, 45)
Caleb Clarke (23, Blues / Auckland, 11)
Leicester Fainga’anuku (22, Crusaders / Ta$man, 2)
Will Jordan (24, Crusaders / Ta$man, 21)
Sevu Reece (25, Crusaders / Ta$man, 21)
Shaun Stevenson is a cert for no. 36. Telea in for Reece. On form case for bringing in Narawa for Clarke. -
Starting point ought to be 35 named for 2022 Northern Tour.
Comments in each position. My selections in bold, including a bolter.
Hookers
Dane Coles (35, Hurricanes / Wellington, 84)
Samisoni Taukei’aho (25, Chiefs / Waikato, 17)
Codie Taylor (31, Crusaders / Canterbury, 72)
Unchanged.
Props
George Bower (30, Crusaders / Otago, 19)
Ethan de Groot (24, Highlanders / Southland, 10)
Nepo Laulala (31, Blues / Counties Manukau, 42)
Tyrel Lomax (26, Hurricanes / Ta$man, 20)
Fletcher Newell (22, Crusaders / Canterbury, 4)
Ofa Tu’ungafasi (30, Blues / Northland, 48)
Moody, Newell & Bower injured. I’d like to see a TH and a LH/utility. Williams as the latter seems likely, although Ross has been very good in play offs. For TH could Ainsley, Jager or even Ma’u or Dyer be worth a shot?
Locks
Scott Barrett (28, Crusaders / Taranaki, 55)
Brodie Retallick (31, Chiefs / Hawke’s Bay, 98)
Tupou Vaa’i (22, Chiefs / Taranaki, 15)
Samuel Whitelock (33, Crusaders / Canterbury, 140)
Unchanged.
Loose Forwards
Sam Cane – Captain (30, Chiefs / Bay of Plenty, 85)
Shannon Frizell (28, Highlanders / Ta$man, 21)
Akira Ioane (27, Blues / Auckland, 19)
Dalton Papali’i (24, Blues / Counties Manukau, 18)
Ardie Savea (28, Hurricanes / Wellington, 67)
Hoskins Sotutu (24, Blues / Counties Manukau, 12)
No one out. Huge competition. Not sure Jacobson, Finau or Blackadder have done enough to force their way in ahead of Sotutu or Akira.
Backs:
Halfbacks
Finlay Christie (27, Blues / Ta$man, 12)
Folau Fakatava (22, Highlanders / Hawke’s Bay, 2)
Aaron Smith (33, Highlanders / Manawatu, 111)
Fakatava playing without ACLs! I’d instead be inclined to give Roigard a shot.
First five-eighths
Beauden Barrett (31, Blues / Taranaki, 109)
Richie Mo’unga (28, Crusaders / Canterbury, 41)
Stephen Perofeta (25, Blues / Taranaki, 1)
DMac can’t be left out and BB looks a lock, so even though I really like Perofeta, expect him to miss out.
Midfielders
Braydon Ennor (25, Crusaders / Canterbury, 5)
David Havili (27, Crusaders / Ta$man, 21)
Rieko Ioane (25, Blues / Auckland, 56)
Anton Lienert-Brown (27, Chiefs / Waikato, 56)
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (29, Blues / Auckland, 2)
RTS is off the pace and Havili out. I’d be inclined to try Aumua in place of the former and Goodhue for the latter. Or one of these and select Jordie as a midfielder. Heem and Proctor outside shots.
Outside backs
Jordie Barrett (25, Hurricanes / Taranaki, 45)
Caleb Clarke (23, Blues / Auckland, 11)
Leicester Fainga’anuku (22, Crusaders / Ta$man, 2)
Will Jordan (24, Crusaders / Ta$man, 21)
Sevu Reece (25, Crusaders / Ta$man, 21)
Shaun Stevenson is a cert for no. 36. Telea in for Reece. On form case for bringing in Narawa for Clarke.@pakman Lots of concerns for me re Ofa, Nepo, Frizell, Christie and BB, their form has been pretty average to be honest. On the other hand Williams, Ross, Jacobson, Christie, Weber, Dmac, Goodhue, Poihipi, Narawa, Sullivan have been playing well. It will be interesting to see what way they go.
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@pakman Lots of concerns for me re Ofa, Nepo, Frizell, Christie and BB, their form has been pretty average to be honest. On the other hand Williams, Ross, Jacobson, Christie, Weber, Dmac, Goodhue, Poihipi, Narawa, Sullivan have been playing well. It will be interesting to see what way they go.
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@Stargazer said in All Blacks 2023:
@chimoaus You've watched another Christie than I have.
How very dare you besmirch Tom. I thought he'd be your boy.
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Hookers: Samisoni Taukei'aho, Codie Taylor, Dane Coles
Props: Ethan de Groot, Tyrel Lomax, Ofa Tuungafasi, Nepo Laulala, Aidan Ross, Tamaiti Williams
Locks: Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Tupou Vaa'i, Scott Barrett, Josh Lord
Loose forwards: Sam Cane, Ardie Savea, Shannon Frizell, Dalton Papalii, Luke Jacobson, Christian Lio-Willie
Halfbacks: Aaron Smith, Brad Weber, Cam Roigard
No 10s: Richie Mo'unga, Beauden Barrett, Damian McKenzie
Midfielders: Anton Lienert-Brown, Jordie Barrett, Rieko Ioane, Braydon Ennor, Bryce Heem
Outside backs: Will Jordan, Mark Telea, Shaun Stevenson, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Caleb Clarke
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The selection of the props and loose forwards will tell us if Foster/Ryan/Schmidt are conservative or bold. I'm expecting the former.
@Bovidae said in All Blacks 2023:
The selection of the props and loose forwards will tell us if Foster/Ryan/Schmidt are conservative or bold. I'm expecting the former.
I feel we could find out our World Cup fate by the end of the announcement based on the above.
The likes of Stevenson, Fainga'anuku, Roigaad are "weather vanes" for me.
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The selection of the props and loose forwards will tell us if Foster/Ryan/Schmidt are conservative or bold. I'm expecting the former.
@Bovidae On the props - they could go two ways - either they decide Moody and Newell are both likely to be ready by RWC, so no need to develop more - or decide that they know what one or two of their experienced guys bring, so they'll give someone else a go who might bring more.
Regardless, I think Big Tamaiti will get picked - he's been outstanding and they're short on looseheads.
I think most likely, de Groot, Ross, Williams, Lomax, Ofa, Nepo - but, they might pick someone else instead of the latter two - and they might decide Williams is playing tighthead for the ABs.
On the loose forwards, I'm mainly wondering if they like Blackadder enough to take him without match play.
Won't surprise me if there are a couple of extras picked to "train with" or "injury cover" - Whitelock and Blackadder open that door for a start.
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Folau Fakatava was running around for Dunedin yesterday in club rugby. So good to see he is keeping himself up to scratch
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Hookers: Samisoni Taukei'aho, Codie Taylor, Dane Coles
Props: Ethan de Groot, Tyrel Lomax, Ofa Tuungafasi, Nepo Laulala, Aidan Ross, Tamaiti Williams
Locks: Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Tupou Vaa'i, Scott Barrett, Josh Lord
Loose forwards: Sam Cane, Ardie Savea, Shannon Frizell, Dalton Papalii, Luke Jacobson, Christian Lio-Willie
Halfbacks: Aaron Smith, Brad Weber, Cam Roigard
No 10s: Richie Mo'unga, Beauden Barrett, Damian McKenzie
Midfielders: Anton Lienert-Brown, Jordie Barrett, Rieko Ioane, Braydon Ennor, Bryce Heem
Outside backs: Will Jordan, Mark Telea, Shaun Stevenson, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Caleb Clarke
@Mr-Fish Not bad.
I don't think Lio-Willie will make it and I'll be a little bit surprised (but not amazed) if Jacobson does.
I reckon they might do something like name Lord as injury cover for Whitelock, which would allow an extra loose forward - Akira, Blackadder and Sotutu.
Goodhue for Heem.
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@Bovidae On the props - they could go two ways - either they decide Moody and Newell are both likely to be ready by RWC, so no need to develop more - or decide that they know what one or two of their experienced guys bring, so they'll give someone else a go who might bring more.
Regardless, I think Big Tamaiti will get picked - he's been outstanding and they're short on looseheads.
I think most likely, de Groot, Ross, Williams, Lomax, Ofa, Nepo - but, they might pick someone else instead of the latter two - and they might decide Williams is playing tighthead for the ABs.
On the loose forwards, I'm mainly wondering if they like Blackadder enough to take him without match play.
Won't surprise me if there are a couple of extras picked to "train with" or "injury cover" - Whitelock and Blackadder open that door for a start.
@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2023:
@Bovidae On the props - they could go two ways - either they decide Moody and Newell are both likely to be ready by RWC, so no need to develop more - or decide that they know what one or two of their experienced guys bring, so they'll give someone else a go who might bring more.
Regardless, I think Big Tamaiti will get picked - he's been outstanding and they're short on looseheads.
I think most likely, de Groot, Ross, Williams, Lomax, Ofa, Nepo - but, they might pick someone else instead of the latter two - and they might decide Williams is playing tighthead for the ABs.
On the loose forwards, I'm mainly wondering if they like Blackadder enough to take him without match play.
Won't surprise me if there are a couple of extras picked to "train with" or "injury cover" - Whitelock and Blackadder open that door for a start.
Blackadder will be there or there abouts all year. He has Allblack written all over him.
Has a super attitude and that's what the selectors love. The boy is perpetual motion and gives everything every game.
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@Mr-Fish Not bad.
I don't think Lio-Willie will make it and I'll be a little bit surprised (but not amazed) if Jacobson does.
I reckon they might do something like name Lord as injury cover for Whitelock, which would allow an extra loose forward - Akira, Blackadder and Sotutu.
Goodhue for Heem.
@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2023:
@Mr-Fish Not bad.
I don't think Lio-Willie will make it and I'll be a little bit surprised (but not amazed) if Jacobson does.
I reckon they might do something like name Lord as injury cover for Whitelock, which would allow an extra loose forward - Akira, Blackadder and Sotutu.
Goodhue for Heem.
I seen Goodhue chasing a kick ahead in the semi final and it was like watching a bloke run in porridge.
The Goodhue/ALB combo from 2019 still gives me nightmares. So vanilla.
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If Fainga'anuku doesn't make it, and someone like Clarke does, who is a total liability, then I have no hope.
@Darren said in All Blacks 2023:
If Fainga'anuku doesn't make it, and someone like Clarke does, who is a total liability, then I have no hope.
If big Leicester doesn't make it he can join the list of top super rugby try scorers over looked in the same season. Ben Lam and Ngani Laumape come to mind.
Surely his omission would be for either political or "character" reasons.
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@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2023:
@Bovidae On the props - they could go two ways - either they decide Moody and Newell are both likely to be ready by RWC, so no need to develop more - or decide that they know what one or two of their experienced guys bring, so they'll give someone else a go who might bring more.
Regardless, I think Big Tamaiti will get picked - he's been outstanding and they're short on looseheads.
I think most likely, de Groot, Ross, Williams, Lomax, Ofa, Nepo - but, they might pick someone else instead of the latter two - and they might decide Williams is playing tighthead for the ABs.
On the loose forwards, I'm mainly wondering if they like Blackadder enough to take him without match play.
Won't surprise me if there are a couple of extras picked to "train with" or "injury cover" - Whitelock and Blackadder open that door for a start.
Blackadder will be there or there abouts all year. He has Allblack written all over him.
Has a super attitude and that's what the selectors love. The boy is perpetual motion and gives everything every game.
@Steve said in All Blacks 2023:
@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2023:
@Bovidae On the props - they could go two ways - either they decide Moody and Newell are both likely to be ready by RWC, so no need to develop more - or decide that they know what one or two of their experienced guys bring, so they'll give someone else a go who might bring more.
Regardless, I think Big Tamaiti will get picked - he's been outstanding and they're short on looseheads.
I think most likely, de Groot, Ross, Williams, Lomax, Ofa, Nepo - but, they might pick someone else instead of the latter two - and they might decide Williams is playing tighthead for the ABs.
On the loose forwards, I'm mainly wondering if they like Blackadder enough to take him without match play.
Won't surprise me if there are a couple of extras picked to "train with" or "injury cover" - Whitelock and Blackadder open that door for a start.
Blackadder will be there or there abouts all year. He has Allblack written all over him.
Has a super attitude and that's what the selectors love. The boy is perpetual motion and gives everything every game.
Yeah - my only question-mark is whether they want him to get some matchplay given how many loose forward options they have.
If it wasn't a RWC year, I reckon Samipeni Finau might have been in the frame, as well. Not impossible that he is.
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@Steve said in All Blacks 2023:
@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2023:
@Bovidae On the props - they could go two ways - either they decide Moody and Newell are both likely to be ready by RWC, so no need to develop more - or decide that they know what one or two of their experienced guys bring, so they'll give someone else a go who might bring more.
Regardless, I think Big Tamaiti will get picked - he's been outstanding and they're short on looseheads.
I think most likely, de Groot, Ross, Williams, Lomax, Ofa, Nepo - but, they might pick someone else instead of the latter two - and they might decide Williams is playing tighthead for the ABs.
On the loose forwards, I'm mainly wondering if they like Blackadder enough to take him without match play.
Won't surprise me if there are a couple of extras picked to "train with" or "injury cover" - Whitelock and Blackadder open that door for a start.
Blackadder will be there or there abouts all year. He has Allblack written all over him.
Has a super attitude and that's what the selectors love. The boy is perpetual motion and gives everything every game.
Yeah - my only question-mark is whether they want him to get some matchplay given how many loose forward options they have.
If it wasn't a RWC year, I reckon Samipeni Finau might have been in the frame, as well. Not impossible that he is.
@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2023:
@Steve said in All Blacks 2023:
@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2023:
@Bovidae On the props - they could go two ways - either they decide Moody and Newell are both likely to be ready by RWC, so no need to develop more - or decide that they know what one or two of their experienced guys bring, so they'll give someone else a go who might bring more.
Regardless, I think Big Tamaiti will get picked - he's been outstanding and they're short on looseheads.
I think most likely, de Groot, Ross, Williams, Lomax, Ofa, Nepo - but, they might pick someone else instead of the latter two - and they might decide Williams is playing tighthead for the ABs.
On the loose forwards, I'm mainly wondering if they like Blackadder enough to take him without match play.
Won't surprise me if there are a couple of extras picked to "train with" or "injury cover" - Whitelock and Blackadder open that door for a start.
Blackadder will be there or there abouts all year. He has Allblack written all over him.
Has a super attitude and that's what the selectors love. The boy is perpetual motion and gives everything every game.
Yeah - my only question-mark is whether they want him to get some matchplay given how many loose forward options they have.
If it wasn't a RWC year, I reckon Samipeni Finau might have been in the frame, as well. Not impossible that he is.
Finau gives me serious Kaino and Collins optics when I watch him.....and I aint talking about skin tone.
The boy has a shoulder and he aint afraid to throw it about.
No scrag tackles in his repertoire. You're getting emptied.
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After Lio-Willie was so good on Friday, it might just have tipped things in his favour.
The way I see it, they'll pick seven loose forwards, three of whom are Ardie, Cane and Dalton. They could be absolutely anyone, and I wouldn't be surprised if anyone does/doesn't make it because it is that open - largely because the incumbents have either been injury-ravaged are just a bit shit for both the All Blacks and in Super Rugby this season.
Think the rest of the forwards more or less pick themselves with the only potential new cap Tamaiti Williams.
Third halfback will be Russian Roulette, I give each of Christie, Roigard and Fakatava a 33.33% chance of being selected.
Then I think they'll pick 10 across the back contingent. Battling for two places in my mind are Fainga'anuku, Narawa, Ennor & Procter... can't see them picking L Aumua, but he was there in their thinking last year.
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@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2023:
@Mr-Fish Not bad.
I don't think Lio-Willie will make it and I'll be a little bit surprised (but not amazed) if Jacobson does.
I reckon they might do something like name Lord as injury cover for Whitelock, which would allow an extra loose forward - Akira, Blackadder and Sotutu.
Goodhue for Heem.
I seen Goodhue chasing a kick ahead in the semi final and it was like watching a bloke run in porridge.
The Goodhue/ALB combo from 2019 still gives me nightmares. So vanilla.
@Steve said in All Blacks 2023:
@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2023:
@Mr-Fish Not bad.
I don't think Lio-Willie will make it and I'll be a little bit surprised (but not amazed) if Jacobson does.
I reckon they might do something like name Lord as injury cover for Whitelock, which would allow an extra loose forward - Akira, Blackadder and Sotutu.
Goodhue for Heem.
I seen Goodhue chasing a kick ahead in the semi final and it was like watching a bloke run in porridge.
The Goodhue/ALB combo from 2019 still gives me nightmares. So vanilla.
Be nice if he had a bit more pace - but, he's got a midfielder's brain.
ESPN tackles stats from Friday.
Jack made 25 missed 2.
Bryce made 7 missed 4.
