All Blacks 2023

Duluth

Here's what I said when the squad was named

There might be some shenanigans with Narawa?

His niggly injury is taking ages to recover from. I wonder if the AB's a still paid by which squads they make? (it used to be three chunks - June Tests, 3N, EOYT)
Narawa gets paid, pulls out and replaced by Blackadder, who they keep talking about

Mattasaurus

I hope to see Blackadder...he's a cut above Finau and Frizzle in my opinion...

But hey Fozzie might double down and bring another back in...

frugby

@Mattasaurus said in All Blacks 2023:

I hope to see Blackadder...he's a cut above Finau and Frizzle in my opinion...

But hey Fozzie might double down and bring another back in...

No doubt in my mind at least they will bring in Blackadder, as he was a guy crucial to their original plans.

Big call to say he is a cut above Frizzell though. This is a guy who has been very good for the ABs this year v a guy who has spent the majority of the past 18 months sidelined with injury, and has only played 380 minutes of test footy.

African Monkey

Geez this hype about Blackadder is OTT. He's played 9 tests 2 years ago which included the likes of Fiji, Tonga C, the USA etc. played about 35 Super Rugby games in 7 seasons yet somehow has this rep of being one of the first names on the teamsheet every time an ABs squad is about to be named. I think he had 1 good test against SA in Townsville, and was solid, without being spectacular in the rest of his outings in Black.

mariner4life

I'm probably the biggest Finau cheerleader on this site, bit i can see why he didn't get picked

He's super inexperienced, as recently as this season he was still a bench player for the Chiefs. And because he hasn't racked up big minutes, i don't think he's fit enough for lots of test rugby yet. If he goes now, and has to play 3 play off games in a row (in a perfect world) i don't know how he is going to go.

He's a good raw talent with the right physical and metal attributes, but i think the World Cup was a year early for him.

That being said, we are desperately short of guys like him in NZ rugby. Most are too small (hybrid 7s like every loose forward we selected), or too slow (small locks). Or we've never been able to unlock their potential when they do have the physical gifts.

reprobate

@mariner4life All of that is true, but the most important part is 'desperately short'. We need that type of player if we are going to pick Cane (or Dalton) and Savea. So whether Finau is ready or not, I think we know Jacobsen and Dalton - as good as they are - will never be ready to be that player. The other option is to change other players to fix the balance, but I think we know Foster is not going to do that. At the very least Finau should have played against the boks, and should have been training with the squad ahead of a winger - but that's been done to death.
Akira and Luatua are two big missed opportunities, for whatever reason. could even include Fifita and Sowakula in that too I guess.

mariner4life

Luatua wasn't wanted for some ungodly reason

I know why they wanted Fifita, incredibly gifted, but they couldn't get the balance right. Akira very similar. PGS should never have been picked.

I am very interested in what the side looks like next year.

gt12

@mariner4life

See here.

Chris

@gt12
Finally a Team that can win shit consistently.

mariner4life

Everyone: The All Blacks and the Wallabies are shit now and have shit players

Crusaders Fans: The Crusaders are fucking awesome because they beat NZ and Aus teams.

Chris

@mariner4life
You can only beat who they put in front of you,Short memory they also beat SA teams and the Argentine side who had a great number of test players in it. lol.

mariner4life

How many games did the Crusaders lose this year?

Stargazer

@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2023:

Everyone: The All Blacks and the Wallabies are shit now and have shit players

Except that not everyone is saying that. I think the majority of people would disagree with the bolded bit.

mariner4life

not if you read an AB game thread you wouldn't

Stargazer

@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2023:

How many games did the Crusaders lose this year?

And how many injuries did they have?

mariner4life

dunno, how many?

Stargazer

@mariner4life Haha.

Awful analysis, incorrect conclusions, zero insight

Wrong about pretty much everything

Chris

@mariner4life
I think they won the title, play off is all that counts remember,It does not matter if the ABs lose to France all about the 3 games at the end according to some Ferners
All about the trophy History remembers who won .
Crusaders success really does twist up some people I love it.

mariner4life

which trophies did the ABs not win?

mariner4life

@Chris said in All Blacks 2023:

Crusaders success really does twist up some people I love it.

and no it doesn't. I don't care, they are fucking good when it matters, all power to them.

the overwhelming smug of supporters who have absolutely zilch to do with that success however does make me laugh

The Silver Fern

All Blacks 2023