Is there anything that stops a union from taking 40 players, paying them as squad members, have them all participate in training etc, but with only 31 as official squad members until someone gets injured ?
You make some good points in your justifications but ...I think the rule is that if you replace a player they can't come back into the squad, so there is extra risk in specialist positions if you were to have short term injuries. For example, say Aaron Smith got injured in the first game but was expected to be available by the final. With your squad you'd only be playing with one halfback in the quarter and semi finals, with no one else remotely able to play there. That means Perenara would play 80 mins of every game? And that if Perenara were to get injured you'd have to play the rest of the game with say Mo'unga at halfback in a semifinal? The other option is you send Aaron home and replace him, but you can't bring him back for the final. I agree that at 9 and 10 there is a gulf between the top 2 and what comes after, but that to me is more reason to bring in a third to protect them .So I think squad should be;
Props
Joe Moody
Owen Franks
Karl Tu'inukuafe
Ofa Tu'ungafasi
Hookers
Dane Coles
Cody Taylor
Nathan Harris
Locks
Brodie Retallick
Sam Whitelock
Scott Barrett
Patrick Tuipulotu
Back Row
Kieran Reid
Sam Cane
Liam Squire
Akira Ioane
Shannon Frizell
Ardie Savea
Vaea Fifita
Half backs
Aaron Smith
TJ Perenara
1st 5/8ths
Beauden Barrett
Richie Mo'unga
Centres
Ryan Crotty
Jack Goodhue
Ngani Laumape
Anton Leniert-Brown
Outside backs
Ben Smith
Jordie Barrett
David Havili
Reiko Ioane
Waisake Naholo
Talking points (for the above);
- gone for an extra back rower as we've had some injury problems there recently and I worry that given the speed we need to hit rucks to generate the quick ball we want, we'll likely lose a number to injury. I also don't think the drop off is particularly steep if any of these players came in
- 3 hookers as Dane has his injury problems too and it's one of those specialised positions that seems to usually have 3 deep travelling.
- only 2 half backs. The drop off from TJ and Aaron to the rest is a chasm and I don't feel comfortable having passengers at the World Cup is appropriate. Also they've had a relatively ok injury history and both have phenomenal stamina so should be able to cope with the volume of games
- only 2 1st 5/8ths. This is completely driven by no D-Mac, with Havili in his place. Jordie can cover centre and if desperately needed 10 as well as 14&15 so he will be our emergency 10 I think. Havili has been excellent this season in super rugby, been around the wider squad for a while now and can cover a number of positions well.
- no Nonu; he'll be at the end of a long season and he's not getting much rest from the Blues, so I worry that he will run out of steam at a crucial point.
Aah didn't see this before I posted. Tuungafasi can play both sides. Are you sure Jordie has played at ten for the canes?I was reading the rules and seems that you're right regarding the need for emergency replacements to be in the 31 man squad. Does this mean though that at least one of your props must be able to play and be "suitably trained and experienced" in packing down both sides of the scrum, or you're going to have to take 6 props? If one has to take 5, I'd have to drop Fifita or Akira, although would be reticent to do so.
On 4 half backs, I'm using Jordie as a fallback at 10 if needs be. He has done it at age grade level and filled in there a couple of times for the Canes, so as an emergency could do the job. I'd also suggest that if one of the half backs was injured, even the day before a game, the other could play 80 mins and they'd then have someone come out for the next game. I think also if needed Ben Smith could fill in at half back.
I'm pretty sure there's a rule against that.Is there anything that stops a union from taking 40 players, paying them as squad members, have them all participate in training etc, but with only 31 as official squad members until someone gets injured ?
I like the way you've looked at the half back situation, where if one is out they're out for good effectively. Ach it's tough, and I agree that Tahuriorangi would be 3rd choice, and so perhaps sacrificing another outside back (Havili in this case) or a centre (which I think would have to be crotty or laumape) would have to be the ones missing out.Aah didn't see this before I posted. Tuungafasi can play both sides. Are you sure Jordie has played at ten for the canes?
I like the way you've looked at the half back situation, where if one is out they're out for good effectively. Ach it's tough, and I agree that Tahuriorangi would be 3rd choice, and so perhaps sacrificing another outside back (Havili in this case) or a centre (which I think would have to be crotty or laumape) would have to be the ones missing out.
On Jordie I recall him ending a game there last but can't recall who against (BB wasn't playing if that is any help). He has done it age group though I do know.
Was listening to the short ball with Ali Williams today and he's still on the Nonu train, which is interesting. He was also suggesting JB could fill in at 10,
Alternatively we take Richie as our main 10, Bender at 15, BB as 22/3 and take along another 10 (Otere Black for me) and drop JB altogether. 31 is not a big squad!!!!
Not a bad shoutMy prediction of England's (with strength marks) :
M Vunipola 9
Genge 7
Moon 6
Sinckler 8
Cole 7
Williams 4
George 7
Hartley 7
LCD 4
Lawes 9
Itoje 9
Kruis 8
Launchbury 7
Robshaw 7
Curry 9
Underhill 8
B Vunipola 8
Wilson 7
Youngs 6
Spencer 5
Wigglesworth 5
Farrell 4
Ford 7
Tuilagi 7
Slade 7
Joseph 6
May 9
Nowell 8
Daly 7
Watson 7
Goode 7
On standby :
Marler (7), Singleton (4), ?(4), Hughes (6), Shields (7), Simmonds (7), Care (5), Teo (5), Cokanasinga (7), Brown (7)
You make some good points in your justifications but ...I think the rule is that if you replace a player they can't come back into the squad, so there is extra risk in specialist positions if you were to have short term injuries. For example, say Aaron Smith got injured in the first game but was expected to be available by the final. With your squad you'd only be playing with one halfback in the quarter and semi finals, with no one else remotely able to play there. That means Perenara would play 80 mins of every game? And that if Perenara were to get injured you'd have to play the rest of the game with say Mo'unga at halfback in a semifinal? The other option is you send Aaron home and replace him, but you can't bring him back for the final. I agree that at 9 and 10 there is a gulf between the top 2 and what comes after, but that to me is more reason to bring in a third to protect them .
Maybe dreaming maybe not but this thread was about our 31 not what we predict will be the 31, so let me dream, oh please let me dream.Anyone Posting a New Zealand team that has players not listed on the Foundation 41 list are dreaming. With the exception of replacing Dmac which is next to impossible skill wise. The team going to Tokyo will consist of these players barring further catastrophe.
Forwards: Dane Coles, Liam Coltman, Nathan Harris, Codie Taylor, Owen Franks, Nepo Laulala, Tyrel Lomax, Joe Moody, Angus Ta'avao, Karl Tu'inukuafe, Ofa Tuungafasi, Scott Barrett, Jackson Hemopo, Brodie Retallick, Patrick Tuipulotu, Samuel Whitelock, Sam Cane, Vaea Fifita, Shannon Frizell, Akira Ioane, Kieran Read, Ardie Savea, Liam Squire, Matt Todd, Luke Whitelock
Backs: TJ Perenara, Aaron Smith, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Beauden Barrett, Damian McKenzie, Richie Mo'unga, Ryan Crotty, Jack Goodhue, Ngani Laumape, Anton Lienert-Brown, Sonny Bill Williams, Jordie Barrett, George Bridge, Rieko Ioane, Waisake Naholo, Ben Smith
I'd also like to note that your thread topic suggests special importance to the starting 15, but in my ideal squad I picked my ending 15 first. To me that's more important in a World Cup final.my Wales team
1 Nickey Smith
2 Ken Owens,
3 Samson lee
4 Corry Hill
5 Alun Wyn Jones (Captain),
6 Aaron Wainwright
7 Justin Tipuric
8 Toby Faletau
9 Tomos Williams,
10 Gareth Anscombe,
11 Josh Adams,
12 Scott Willams
13 Jonathan Davies,
14 George North,
15 Leigh Halfpenny
Replacements:
16 Elliot Dee,
17 Rob evens
18 Dillon Lewis,
19 Seb Davies
20 Ellis Jenkins,
21 Aled Davies
22 Dan Biggar,
23 Liam willams
reverses
24. Leon Brown
25. Jake Ball
26. Josh Navidi
27. Ross Moriarty
28. Gareth Davies
29. Rhys Patchell
30. Jonah holmes
31. Owen Watkin
whats your idea Squad for your Country guys