AB RWC Squad

[Bones]

@Bovidae Narawa covers fullback at a pinch too doesn't he?

The current backline is all wings and first fives, so selecting 5 wings makes sense if you want to carry that on I guess.

[His Bobness]

They’re taking only three working locks? They’re travelling with only five loose forwards and expecting Frizell to cover for broken Brodie at a pinch? They’ve got (count ‘em) FIVE outside backs on board, plus BB? This is like launching an airliner with multiple wings, a small engine and no reserve power. I’m sure everything will be fine.

[Victor Meldrew]

Pretty much as expected when you consider the TWM's thinking over the last year and how they seem to look at players performance in camp as well as on the field.

Havili I get as he's a known quantity and can cover multiple positions and Ennor is injured. But, like others, don't get the surfeit of wingers over 5 loose forwards. Think Clarke and Christie are lucky and Finau a bit unlucky.

Big worry for me is if Scooter gets injured as we are then really exposed at lock and 6. Can we call up other players if a squad member gets injured?

[Bones]

@Victor-Meldrew That injured player would have to be replaced.

[Duluth]

I mentioned before that think they are settling on a backline bench of a halfback/ALB/winger. No need for 10 or fullback cover with Jordan & BB in the starting xv

5 wings is still too much, but I think this confirms they’ll be using 3 specialist wings in the 23

[Stargazer]

@Victor-Meldrew I think they can only call a player into the squad if the injured player is going home. So if a player has a minor injury and they don't want to send him home, they can not use an injury cover player from outside the squad.

[cgrant]

@Victor-Meldrew
Havili is a known quantity : I would have preferred a known quality player instead. I hope he won't repeat the same blunders that we saw on Saturday against Otago.

[kiwi_expat]

Don't have too much of an issue with Foster's 33-man squad, just would've liked to have seen Goodhue over Havili, Finau instead of Clarke, and Fakatava over Christie.

[sparky]

@Bovidae

Clarke can also play 14.

[Yeahtheboys]

Thank god. If we have 4 wingers go down, we still have 2 more to play with. No point having cover for ageing forwards who are currently injured, would make too much sense

[Bones]

@sparky he should be able to, can't think when I last saw that though.

[Yeahtheboys]

Having wingers on the bench is brain dead. Especially when Reiko is in the centers. Should be doing a 6-2 split, how often do you NEED 2 back replacements because of injury? You need more forwards coming on fresh especially with our aging pack.

Jordie can cover 12 15 and wing (at a pinch)

Reiko is the best winger in the world just playing Center for shits and gigs.

Beauden covers 10/15

Jordan covers wing / 15

Everyone position is covered, just need one back to cover for a possible injury

[Yeahtheboys]

1. Ethan De Groot

2. Samisoni Taukeiaho

3. Tyrell Lomax

4. Scott Barrett

5. Sam Whitelock

6. Shannon Frizell

7. Sam Cane

8. Ardie Savea

9. Aaron Smith

10. Richie Mounga

11. Leicester Faingaanuku

12. Jordie Barrett

13. Reiko Ioane

14. Will Jordan

15. Beaudy (should be Dmac but anyway..)

16. Codie Taylor

17. Tamaiti Williams

18. Fletcher Newell

19. Brodie Retallick

20. Luke Jacobson

21. Dalton Papalii (should’ve been Finau)

22. Cam Roigard

23. Anton Lienert Brown

[kiwi_expat]

@His-Bobness said in AB RWC Squad:

They’re taking only three working locks? They’re travelling with only five loose forwards and expecting Frizell to cover for broken Brodie at a pinch?

Finau should be on the plane, of all the loose-forward options only Barrett is bigger than Sampeni, at 194cm/115kg he's bigger than Frizell, Papali'i, Jacobson, Cane & Savea.

Finau has also played well at lock for Chiefs previously, should be going as the backup to Frizell at 6 and as emergency lock cover.

[Duluth]

@Yeahtheboys

Yes a 6/2 is possible but there is no indication that they are interested in it. 6/2’s are a gamble

There are signs they want a specialist winger on the bench. I’m talking about what I think they’ll do, not what I want them to do.

Why? I think in recent years the bench has had minimal impact (some positive signs this year though). Maybe they think that’s the best way of getting an impact?

[Yeahtheboys]

Minnows

1. Ofa Tuungafasi

2. Dane Coles

3. Nepo Laulala

4. Brodie Retallick

5. Tupou Vaa’i

6. Scott Barrett

7. Dalton Papalii

8. Luke Jacobson

9. Cam Roigard

10. Damian McKenzie

11. Mark Telea

12. David Havili

13. Anton Lienert-Brown

14. Emoni Narawa

15. Will Jordan

16. Samisoni Taukeiaho

17. Tamaiti Williams

18. Fletcher Newell

19. Shannon Frizell

20. Sam Cane

21. Aaron Smith (fuck Christie)

22. Reiko Ioane

23. Leicester Faingaanuku (fuck Clarke)

[TeWaio]

Extrapolating the selection logic here, why not just take 33 wingers, then we'll score load of tries?

[Bones]

@kiwi_expat Looking at it...he kinda is on the plane. I'm thinking the 3 heading to the springbok game won't be on a long haul afterwards.

Also picking a winger will be unfortunately injured out at some stage and probably replaced by a loosie, especially if it's towards the end of pool play.

[Bones]

@TeWaio said in AB RWC Squad:

Extrapolating the selection logic here, why not just take 33 wingers, then we'll score load of tries?

Because then you haven't selected Beauden Barrett and that's sacrilege.

[ACT Crusader]

@Duluth agree. I think with Mo’unga and Beaudie starting they will want a bench of

1 x midfield (ALB)
1 x winger (impact)

I reckon it’s a good formula and perhaps the thinking is that we need our wingers working harder than ever with certain elements (more kick chase, carrying the ball more off set piece and in the pods etc).

The other thought I had was will Fozzie want to pull a rabbit out of the hat and have Jordan start at fullback. This selection certainly gives him options.

Or will Fainga’anuku cover blindside flanker….