All Blacks Squad 2023 TRC

[Caitlyn Jenner]

Yep, hence why I would go with ALB or Goodhue (if he’s fit again) at 13 over RI as well.

100% agree. ALB should be the front runner at 13 with Goodgue challenging him. Reiko should be fighting for the 11 Jersey with Faianganuku and Telea. Jordie is good at 12.

 

[Larksea]

ALB and Jordie are our best midfield right now. I hope Reiko's form comes back to him soon, he's clearly not at his best right now and we have pleanty of form wing options. He needs to keep hihs focus on Midfield and get over what ever he's got right now, would be interesting to know if he's carrying an injury. I think it turned out he was carrying an injury in 2019? I hope its not the same **** again.
Narawa is the real deal, more complete game than Telea and should be a starter. Fainga'anuku and Clarke should have the left wing sorted, I hope Clarkes form builds he's not quite at his best but he makes meters, still arguably the most powerful ball carrier we have and he's pretty well rounded. Just has a habit of dropping the odd takle he should make.

 

[Umaga's Witness]

No question about RI's game breaking ability given his next level acceleration, pace and lines.

For me personally though (and many will disagree!!), in tough WC quarters/semi's/final where there are so few opportunities, I struggle with his decision making, distribution skills and on occasion poor handling.

I feel like we have world class outside backs and with that identifying and creating space is of higher value in my mind. So for me, wanting to enable that strength, I prefer and prioritize stronger midfield defense and distribution skills (probably influenced somewhat by Conrad Smith, Frank Bunce, etc) than the electric but sometimes inconsistent RI skillset.

Wrt left wing.. the RI handling and decision making still holds as a concern and I also prefer the power left wing model as an additional destructive ball carrier/gain line option. We dont tend to have many downhill style ball carriers (Samisoni as major exception). Ardie great after contact, but less of a downhill style guy, Frizzell more so but not in obvious starting 15 form, Blackadder has it but is injured. Neither Cane or Whitelock are bruising downhill guys. Brodie and Barrett more so, but overall when you list the primary gain line/hard downhill carry options it feels thin given we do play a bruising 12 or 13. Therefore getting enough of that gain line carry from 2, 5, 6, 11 is important. I think this is primarily why Finau has been selected and I think why Sowakula last year as the selectors are desperate for more of that downhill carrying style on the park. Which I also think plays into why Akira and Hoskins are not in the squad - both being more ranging/dynamic/wide channel style guys and less the downhill type.

Interested in other thoughts and considerations?

I like your thoughts about downhill runners. Despite being a big ardie fan, I always get annoyed at how commentators and others go on and on about post contact meters. Sometimes being able to not go to ground can be good, yes. It can give opportunities for offloads, cattract additional defenders, or give time for your support to make the clean once you go to ground. But so often all it does is give time for the defence to organise for the next phase.

But I don't really agree with you that you need, necessarily, a power winger. To me you just need enough "downhill" runners in your team, wherever that might be. I always think you need three really good ones, and two or three in the next tier. Perhaps with our current stock of players that means you end up with a power winger.

 

[Kiwiwomble]

I like your thoughts about downhill runners. Despite being a big ardie fan, I always get annoyed at how commentators and others go on and on about post contact meters. Sometimes being able to not go to ground can be good, yes. It can give opportunities for offloads, cattract additional defenders, or give time for your support to make the clean once you go to ground. But so often all it does is give time for the defence to organise for the next phase.

But I don't really agree with you that you need, necessarily, a power winger. To me you just need enough "downhill" runners in your team, wherever that might be. I always think you need three really good ones, and two or three in the next tier. Perhaps with our current stock of players that means you end up with a power winger.

yeah, ive been shouted down before talking about ardie's "post contact meters"

Yes...he gets over the advantage line...but...he also, more often than i would like, isolates himself from support. others will get those meters in a pod with support right on your shoulder and so when you go to ground you have someone right there to clear out....ardie often does it in more open play and so doesn;t always have the support

 

[Umaga's Witness]

So ALB is out for first two tests. I wonder how McLeod is. Faingaanuku might have to cover 12 since there are no other twelves after Jordie if McLeod is out.

 

[Umaga's Witness]

I don't think leicester has ever played 12 in pro rugby, only 13, but it doesn't seem like the worst option. Although not the best combo with rieko. Could work if they had ennor on the bench, then if Jordie got injured they bring ennor on to 13, move rieko to 11, and leicester to 12.

They might just bring in goodhue though.

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

Could work if they had ennor on the bench, then if Jordie got injured they bring ennor on to 13, move rieko to 11, and leicester to 12.

Surely in that situation they just shift Rieko to 12. Not ideal but he did spend most of a season there with the Blues so has some experience and it wouldn’t involve shuffling around the whole backline.

 

[AngloScotsHybrid]

Oh dear. How low has Newzealand rugby sunk if they are having to settle for Rieko at 12 and Leicester at 13. Dear me!

 

[Umaga's Witness]

Surely in that situation they just shift Rieko to 12. Not ideal but he did spend most of a season there with the Blues so has some experience and it wouldn’t involve shuffling around the whole backline.

I really can't see that happening or being a good idea. Rieko is not a 12. Having played really badly at 12 for the blues five years ago doesn't count. Ennor at 12 would be a better idea as he has a good passing game. But an ennor ione combo is not a good one whichever way around it goes; neither of them truck the ball up, neither of them have a step (their running styles are incredibly similar). The shuffle I suggested seems to me the least disruptive option for the team as a whole.

Oh dear. How low has Newzealand rugby sunk if they are having to settle for Rieko at 12 and Leicester at 13. Dear me!

Well no one suggested that combo but yes that would indicate we had sunk very low. retallick at halfback on the hand...

 

[Kiwiwomble]

i know im bias but they should just call up TUJ, currently fit and has stayed that way for most of the season so i think his injury worries are behind him...and he tore it up for the Highlanders, managing to look good in a loosing team has to make you think about what they could do behind an AB pack

 

[Umaga's Witness]

Sorta makes you wonder what place ennor has in the squad, as it seems he'd only get selected if ione was injured.

 

[Kiwiwomble]

@Umaga's Witness i was wondering what his place in the squad was anyway

 

[Umaga's Witness]

@Kiwiwomble every time I watch the highlanders I look to assess the passing game of TUJ, and I imagine the all blacks selectors are doing the same. Unfortunately the highlanders game plan doesn't involve him passing the ball very often at all. So I imagine, like me, the all black selectors remain unsure of his all-round game. But I was disappointed not to see him in the all blacks XV, especially as goodhue is the only accomplished 12 selected. Not sure how bailyn Sullivan made it ahead of TUJ and Levi aumua.

 

[Kiwiwomble]

yeah, he may not be completely rounded...but what he does is what the AB's are missing in my my mind...taking flat foot ball a get getting over the advantage line...i think we need to stop focusing on having 15 10 out of 10 players....because we dont have them, we need to focus on getting 15 players that form an unbeatable team

 

[Bada-Bing!]

stop focusing on having 15 10 out of 10 players....because we dont have them,

Not even the class of 2012-2015 had 15 10/10 players I recall Richie saying that what they were aiming for was each player being at least 7/10 for each test match in terms of level of
Performance.

 

[Umaga's Witness]

Disappointed that the selectors have done what we probably all expected by not naming stevenson in the 23.

So, without three outside backs available who have all been picked ahead of him In the original squad, he still can't make the 23. This makes it ncreasiglt unlikely he will get to play for the all blacks this year

Also, are finau and McLeod going to get to play? When?

And who covers 12 in the team they have named for Argentina?

 

[Umaga's Witness]

...and Shaun stevenson has been released.

Beauden has no doubt cemented his spot as first choice fullback.

Remains to be seen who the second choice fullback is.

Was a pity we didn't get to see our players challenged u see the high ball vs SA.

Predicted team for wallabies:
I'm reckon they want to give some players a chance before putting out the top team in The second test

Front row depends on availability: moody and/or Newell on the bench if available, other players depends on what happens there.

If whitelock is available then Scooter to 6 with samipeni and jacobson on the reserves, taukeiaho (wishful thinking perhaps) to start.

Leicester to start with jordan at fullback, telea on the right wing, damian, roigard, and alb on the reserves

Although now I'm wondering if mcleod gets a go off the bench with alb starting

I'm a bit disappointed that ardie hasn't been himself this year, but still think he should and will be persevered with

 

[Kiwiwomble]

...and Shaun stevenson has been released.

Beauden has no doubt cemented his spot as first choice fullback.

you know what they say, easier to make the all blacks than get dropped

dont get me wrong....BB has been good....I just want to see people like SS rewarded for amazing form

 

[Kiwiwomble]

its also annoying because he's been holding tackle bags rather than playing for the AB XV against japan

 

[Umaga's Witness]

its also annoying because he's been holding tackle bags rather than playing for the AB XV against japan

Sure but I guess the main thing they wanted to know was what his attitude was like, how he worked with others, and how well he could absorb the required information. That way if players get injured they know whether or not it is a risk to bring him in and how seamlessly he could adjust.

The only players from the all blacks XV that I think can make it to the World Cup squad are players who have played for the all blacks before, or at least been in camp with them.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/66349863
Sets up the RC sides up nicely for the RWC. Well, maybe not EJ and Wobblies but still they have a good pool and side of the draw still.