Who will be in the 31-man All Blacks RWC Squad?

[cashead]

Debreczeni won't be eligible for another couple of years.

[cashead]

My preferred RWC match-day XXIII from the squad above):

1. Moody
2. Coles
3. Franks
4. Retallick
5. Whitelock
6. Squire
7. Cane
8. Read
9. A. Smith
10. B. Barrett
11. R. Ioane
12. Williams
13. Crotty
14 W. Naholo
15. B. Smith

16. Taylor
17. Tu'inukuafe
18. Tu'ungafasi
19. S. Barrett
20. A. Ioane
21. Perenara
22. Mo'unga
23. J. Barrett

Blindside and the centre combination were a bit sticky. The loss of McKenzie means having Mo'unga on the bench but only covering one position, which means you basically have to pick J. Barrett for his versatility, rather than a Laumape or ALB.

I'd consider swapping Squire out for Fifita or Hemopo. If we're going purely on form, it'll be hard to look past Big Red Tom Robinson, but he's probably a prospect for next year.

In the midfield, swap SBW for Nonu.

Also, put J. Barrett in at 14.

[zer0]

The loss of McKenzie means having Mo'unga on the bench but only covering one position, which means you basically have to pick J. Barrett for his versatility, rather than a Laumape or ALB.

I don't see why. In that configuration, Mo'unga covers 10, Barrett 10 & 15, B.Smith 15 & 14, ALB 12 & 13.

As it is, I'm still going for a backline of:

9. A.Smith
10. Mo'unga
11. Ioane
12. Crotty/Nonu (ideally Nonu)
13. Goodhue
14. B.Smith
15. B.Barrett

21. Perenara
22. Lienert-Brown
23. Bridge/Jordan

EDIT: As much of a fan as I am of A.Ioane, if it comes to a shootout with Savea for the bench spot, he won't win that battle. Though, IIRC, in 2015 they didn't carry lock cover on the bench. It's risky, especially given how good Best Barrett is, but you could always go for a Savea and A.Ioane double punch off the bench. Any opponent would be very hard pressed to try and contain them both in the final quarter.

[Lizard]

Debreczeni won't be eligible for another couple of years.

He was born in Auckland.

[Lizard]

I'd consider swapping Squire out for Fifita or Hemopo. If we're going purely on form, it'll be hard to look past Big Red Tom Robinson, but he's probably a prospect for next year.

In the midfield, swap SBW for Nonu.

Also, put J. Barrett in at 14.

I had Fifita down at first, but then put Squire in. I think experience counts at a RWC , and 23 caps beats 9.

I'm only selecting from the official foundation squad, so Nonu didn't figure but he is looking good.

Do you think there is enough match time to convert J. Barrett properly? I think the dual-fullback system works in general but it might take some time to bed down.

[Lizard]

The loss of McKenzie means having Mo'unga on the bench but only covering one position, which means you basically have to pick J. Barrett for his versatility, rather than a Laumape or ALB.

I don't see why. In that configuration, Mo'unga covers 10, Barrett 10 & 15, B.Smith 15 & 14, ALB 12 & 13.

As it is, I'm still going for a backline of:

9. A.Smith
10. Mo'unga
11. Ioane
12. Crotty/Nonu (ideally Nonu)
13. Goodhue
14. B.Smith
15. B.Barrett

21. Perenara
22. Lienert-Brown
23. Bridge/Jordan

EDIT: As much of a fan as I am of A.Ioane, if it comes to a shootout with Savea for the bench spot, he won't win that battle. Though, IIRC, in 2015 they didn't carry lock cover on the bench. It's risky, especially given how good Best Barrett is, but you could always go for a Savea and A.Ioane double punch off the bench. Any opponent would be very hard pressed to try and contain them both in the final quarter.

Yep. 6 and Loosie bench cover were hard. I would be pretty happy with Savea, but Ioane's current form is ace.

In the backs, I think Crotty is still a mandatory selection. The back-line organisation is much better when he is there.

You could go for Full-power Finishing with Nonu and A. Ioane on the bench alongside Tu'inukuafe!

[cashead]

I'd consider swapping Squire out for Fifita or Hemopo. If we're going purely on form, it'll be hard to look past Big Red Tom Robinson, but he's probably a prospect for next year.

In the midfield, swap SBW for Nonu.

Also, put J. Barrett in at 14.

I had Fifita down at first, but then put Squire in. I think experience counts at a RWC , and 23 caps beats 9.

I'm only selecting from the official foundation squad, so Nonu didn't figure but he is looking good.

Do you think there is enough match time to convert J. Barrett properly? I think the dual-fullback system works in general but it might take some time to bed down.

I've felt that Fifita has shown a bit more than Squires, regardless of any lack of test experience. I like Squires, but he was poor last year and I haven't been wowed by him this year either.

I'd also be comfortable with Barrett at 14, since he'd basically be playing fullback anyway, considering how often Ben Smith does second play-maker stuff, and him having a massive boot helps.

[morepork]

Relying quite a lot on Bin Smuff aren't we?

[cashead]

There is talk of Otere Black as a potential bolter, now that McKenzie is confirmed out of the tournament. The consistent game time he's getting, and being behind a competitive pack is definitely helping, but his lack of a big boot needs to be worked on - something that McKenzie had developed over the last few years.

Relying quite a lot on Bin Smuff aren't we?

I could see my boy Dave Havili making it into the squad - dude tends to make the right call, has the versatility to be able to cover fullback, wing and 12, and has a massive boot, which will come in handy when he's hanging back to fullback. I think he's also been mentioned a few times as a possibility.

[morepork]

There is talk of Otere Black as a potential bolter, now that McKenzie is confirmed out of the tournament. The consistent game time he's getting, and being behind a competitive pack is definitely helping, but his lack of a big boot needs to be worked on - something that McKenzie had developed over the last few years.

Relying quite a lot on Bin Smuff aren't we?

I could see my boy Dave Havili making it into the squad - dude tends to make the right call, has the versatility to be able to cover fullback, wing and 12, and has a massive boot, which will come in handy when he's hanging back to fullback. I think he's also been mentioned a few times as a possibility.

Has Black got the mean high impact of the bench madness of DMac?

[J Dory]

Looks like you're not alone on David Havilli call Cas.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/a ... d=12224649

[cashead]

Has Black got the mean high impact of the bench madness of DMac?

He's the "settler" option, IMO. He's the kind of guy you bring on when things are going tits-up, to settle the team and slow things right down. He won't let you down, unless you're wanting him to get a long-range kick in, which I've yet to see him do.

Looks like you're not alone on David Havilli call Cas.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/a ... d=12224649

Well, yeah. Havili rarely makes mistakes, is a reliable attacker, tends to make the right call, offers the versatility of covering multiple positions and has a howitzer boot. What's the problem?

[cashead]

So Fox has come out and said it's unlikely they'll have 3 10s in their initial 31-man squad. Japan is 10 hours away with direct flights to Narita and Haneda, so getting someone out there isn't exactly a Herculean task, so apparently Perenara, who played 10 at secondary schools level, will likely be the nominal 3rd choice 10 in the initial squad.

[Lizard]

What experience at 10 has Jordie B got? Actually, you could probably name Beauden but send Jordie out and no-one would pick the difference until after the anthems at least.

[Lizard]

So if it turns out that Mo’unga is a black-out drunk sex pest, do we give him a 2nd chance or stick with “better people make better All Blacks” and fast track Josh Ioane into the squad?

[morepork]

I hope this wasn't as ugly as it sounds.

[zer0]

After-David Smith is still there despite pesting around public toilets across the country. Jane and Dagg played in a RWC elimination match a few days after getting properly hammered. Cruden was enjoying the ambience of a suburban pub so much he missed an All Black team flight, but still played again. Mo'unga will be fine if it remains a one off.

Although Hansen the Hutt doesn't seem to like him/likes the Bogan too much, so that's all probably moot.

[Lizard]

Smith’s incident was, by all accounts, enthusiastically consensual. Jane & Dagg harmed nobody but themselves. The accusations against Mo’unga are of a different order.

[zer0]

Both Sitiveni Sivivatu and Julian Savea were entangled in domestic violence incidents while playing for the All Blacks.

EDIT: And both George Moala and Sione Lauaki played test matches are being involved in assaults.

Pretty sure all of them outrank a pinch on a bum in a nightclub.

EDIT II: Add pretty much anything Zac Guildford ever did to that as well.

[morepork]

By "entangled", do you mean convicted?

Not pretty.

[Puja]

Both Sitiveni Sivivatu and Julian Savea were entangled in domestic violence incidents while playing for the All Blacks.

EDIT: And both George Moala and Sione Lauaki played test matches are being involved in assaults.

Pretty sure all of them outrank a pinch on a bum in a nightclub.

EDIT II: Add pretty much anything Zac Guildford ever did to that as well.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but weren't Sivivatu's and Savea's crimes discovered after their ABs careers were over? I didn't think they'd played after being accused.

Puja

[zer0]

By "entangled", do you mean convicted?

Not pretty.

I originally had "convicted", but while looking it up to confirm, found that both got discharges without convictions. Technically I don't think it's a conviction. I assume Lizard would know more.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but weren't Sivivatu's and Savea's crimes discovered after their ABs careers were over? I didn't think they'd played after being accused.

Puja

Both were definitely charged while playing.

Apr 21 2013
Hurricanes and All Blacks winger Julian Savea has issued a tearful apology after he was charged with assault in relation to a domestic incident.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/8578164/Al ... th-assault

13 Apr, 2007
Outside the court Sivivatu said he regretted his actions and was sorry for the hurt caused. He asked that his privacy and his wife's be respected. "I'm clearly sorry about what I did - I totally regret it and I just want to move on."

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/arti ... d=10434024

[scuzzaman]

re DM: "He's out with a torn ACL so is unlikely to be fit for RWC2019."

Are there any 1st-string fullbacks or 10s playing - i.e. being picked as starters in international sides - AFTER having ACL reconstructions?

My own balance never recovered completely from mine, although to be fair I'm older than fuck and it was a pretty brutal process back then. Not like all the micro-surgery and hi-tech fibres they use today ...

Just thought someone might know, out of sheer curiosity.

[Lizard]

So there's been a bit of water under the bridge and the trimmed down Bledisloe squad has made a few things a bit clearer. The Big Announcement is on Wednesday. Here's my initial prediction from December 2018:

My prediction:
Looseheads: Moody, Tu’inukuafe, Perry
Tightheads: Franks, Tu’ungafasi, Laulala
Hookers: Coles, Taylor, Harris
Locks: Whitelock, Retallick, S. Barrett,
Loose forwards: Squire, Cane, Read, Savea, Todd
Halfbacks: A. Smith, Perenara, Tahuriorangi
1st5/8s: B. Barrett, Mo’unga
Mid-fielders: Crotty, ALB, Goodhue, SBW
Wingers: R. Ioane, Naholo
Fullbacks: B. Smith, McKenzie
Utility: J. Barrett

I would now predict:
Props: Joe Moody, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Owen Franks, Nepo Laulala, Angus Ta’avao-Matau
Hookers: Dane Coles, Codie Taylor, Liam Coltman
Locks: Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Patrick Tuipulotu, Scott Barrett
Loose forwards: Sam Cane, Matt Todd, Jackson Hemopo, Kieran Read, Ardie Savea
Halfbacks: Aaron Smith, TJ Perenara, Brad Weber
1st5/8s: Beauden Barrett, Richie Mo’unga
Mid-fielders: Anton Lienert-Brown, Ryan Crotty, Jack Goodhue, Sonny Bill Williams
Wingers: Reiko Ioane, George Bridge, Sevu Reece
Full Back: Ben Smith
Utility: Jordie Barrett

In the front row, I don't think we will carry 6 props (if we do, then Hemopo might miss out as the second utility forward behind S. Barrett). Perry has disappeared off the radar and Tu'inukuafe seems to be out of favour. I'm picking Ta'avao to make the 31 ahead of Moli. Harris is injured I think, so Coltman is in as the only experienced alternative.

Locks: With Retallick injured and Barrett short a gallop, we need four, don't we? Tuipulotu comes in, with extra cover from Hemopo. I'm assuming Retallick is recovering OK.

Loosies: The first choice starting trio is now clear as Cane, Read, Savea. Todd is the solid back up, with Hemopo as versatile cover. Frizell can feel hard done by. Fifita too, but I think he is injured now anyway?

Halfbacks: Top 2 pick themselves, Weber has form well over Tahuriorangi's.

Other Backs: Given the positional fuckery going on, any labels above are basically arbitrary. Naholo is well out of the frame and DMac is crocked, so hello George Bridge and Sevu Reece. For all the talk, everyone knows that experience wins World Cups so B. Smith will be in the team and will start the important matches. Laumape will be unlucky but first cab off the rank if anyone breaks down.

[Lizard]

HOLD THE DAMN PHONE ONE MINUTE!

Liam Squire has made himself available! So if anyone knows how to patch up fist-holes in walls, better call the Hemopo household.

Assuming Squire is back in, the big question is whether he slots straight back in at 6, pushing Savea to the bench.