*Official* All Blacks Thread

I wouldn't say much younger....Barrett's actually the youngest (24) whilst Lima's 25.

 

Nah he's being overhyped a bit. He's been playing fullback anyway and with our depth there and at 10 he's gonna see very limited time with the ABs if he makes it there.....will have to make the most of it.

 

Also one thing to consider is next year is the Lions tour.....

 

My predictions for our first test against Wales: (Not necessarily the squad I'd choose but the one I reckon Hansen will choose)

1. Wyatt Crockett
2. Dane Coles
3. Owen Franks
4. Brodie Retallick
5. Sam Whitelock
6. Jerome Kaino
7. Sam Cane
8. Kieran Read
9. Aaron Smith
10. Aaron Cruden
11. Julian Savea
12. Ryan Crotty
13. Malakai Fekitoa
14. Waisake Naholo
15. Ben Smith

16. Codie Taylor
17. Joe Moody
18. Charlie Faumuina
19. Luke Romano
20. Ardie Savea
21. TJ Perenara
22. Beaudan Barrett
23. Charlie Ngatai

2 Blues
8 Crusaders
4 Chiefs
4 Highlanders
5 Hurricanes

Now as much as I'd love to see Ngatai starting, I don't think it'll happen in the first test and Hansen will go for reliable Crotty. No room for McKenzie in the first test 23 with Naholo back and looking to be straight back into form. No way will he start McKenzie over Smith - Smith is the best fullback in the world and is a lot more stable.

As much as I'd love to see Ardie starting, it won't happen. He probably won't cement a starting spot for quite some time over Cane tbh - just the nature of international rugby, nevertheless he'll be a great impact player and thus takes the bench spot over the likes of Todd. Todd's just too similar to Cane.

TJ Perenara is a good player but that hasn't really shone through in his shortish international career yet but nevertheless he can thank TKB for being injured. Weber at his heels too.

I reckon in the full 30 odd squad we'll see a few new faces, McKenzie will probably be introduced into the environment and players like Elliot Dixon must be close if not in as well. I'd like to see Blade Thomson in there in the next few years too - highly rate him and he can play in the second or back row.

 

Mostly predictable squad tbh. Todd will feel disappointed but Ardie is the much better bench option and Todd's inability to play 6/8 well... makes his bed. Squire the benefit of that too. Dixon thoroughly deserves his spot so pretty expected to see him there.

Probably only surprise is Franklin coming in as an injury replacement - wanting an athletic lock, from that perspective you have to feel like Thomson would be the better option and can play in the loose as well but unlikely Franklin will play unless there's further injuries so probably doesn't matter.

The side I named 20 days a go, looking likely to be spot on.

 

Forwards
Hookers
Dane Coles (Wellington, 36 Tests)
Codie Taylor (Canterbury, four Tests)
Nathan Harris (Bay of Plenty, two Tests)
Props
Wyatt Crockett (Canterbury, 45 Tests)
Charlie Faumuina (Auckland, 33 Tests)
Owen Franks (Canterbury, 78 Tests)
Joe Moody (Canterbury, 11 Tests)
Ofa Tu'ungafasi (Auckland, new cap)
Locks
Brodie Retallick (Hawke's Bay, 47 Tests)
Luke Romano (Canterbury, 22 Tests)
Patrick Tuipulotu (Auckland, seven Tests)
Samuel Whitelock (Canterbury, 73 Tests)
Loose Forwards
Sam Cane (Bay of Plenty, 31 Tests)
Elliot Dixon (Southland, new cap)
Jerome Kaino (Auckland, 67 Tests)
Kieran Read, captain (Canterbury, 84 Tests)
Ardie Savea (Wellington, new cap)
Liam Squire (Tasman, new cap)

Backs

Halfbacks
Tawera Kerr-Barlow (Waikato, 20 Tests)
Aaron Smith (Manawatu, 47 Tests)

First five-eighths
Beauden Barrett (Taranaki, 36 Tests)
Aaron Cruden (Manawatu, 37 Tests)
Lima Sopoaga (Southland, one Test)

Midfielders
Ryan Crotty (Canterbury, 15 Tests)
Malakai Fekitoa (Auckland, 13 Tests)
Charlie Ngatai (Taranaki, one Test)
Seta Tamanivalu (Taranaki, new cap)

Outside backs
Israel Dagg (Hawke's Bay, 49 Tests)
Damian McKenzie (Waikato, new cap)
Waisake Naholo (Taranaki, three Tests)
Julian Savea (Wellington, 41 Tests)
Ben Smith (Otago, 48 Tests)

 

Bit of a shame but Ngatai out - really struggling with those concussion problems. Moala in.

 

I feel like if Weber was brown that he could complain about racism. Why exactly has he been overlooked for TKB? At least pick TJP instead!

 

TJ has been picked - injury replacement for TKB as he definitely won't play at least the 1st game.

Weber's too similar to Smith so no value off the bench. TKB is massive defensively and is quick to rucks, what you need in the last 10 mins out of a bench halfback

 

Yep he's still doing the Olympic thing.

 

Nah, can't see him starting.

 

Agreed. Damien has been closed down in recent super rugby rounds. He does deserve a spot in the WTG though.

Still on the other hand if he came from another country in the world he would be starting. New Zealand has always had, and hopefully always will have an embarrassment of riches in its reserve ranks.

No one is even excited about Ryan Crotty as a player and I could argue he is as good as Aaron Mauger.

 

Agreed, a lot of these players if not all would start for any other country.

Crotty's reliable at the very least.

 

Crotty is brilliant in the basics and shines in the crucible of test match rugby.

Shines may be too strong a word but he shows well.

 

[MENTION=2357]Rego[/MENTION]

Let's talk bets for the test match.

I am liking Wales 18.5

And even Abs by 12 or less

Or do you see the abs romping home?