RugbyRebels

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

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

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.

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?

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

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.

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.

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.

By "entangled", do you mean convicted?

Not pretty.

zer0 wrote: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

morepork wrote: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.

Puja wrote: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

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.

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:

Lizard wrote: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.

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.

Yes, I think you’re right.

Franks has 108 caps to his name but is not yet 32. I expect him to still be in the 1st XV but not to rack up huge minutes in the pool stages. I think Hansen is big on experience at RWCs and no other prop at the tournament will have played or won more RWC matches as Owen.

Squire has never consistently delivered, despite being given plenty of opportunities. Bit of a flat track bully, TBH. So I'd absolutely take Hemopo ahead of him as blindside/lock cover. Indeed, it's pretty criminal that he's barely been given a look in, while guys like Squire and Fifita are given chance after chance after chance. Though I'm resigned to the fact that Squire will go. Best I can do is hope he won't be on the bench for the serious games, let alone starting. Because if he is starting, then our pack will have f*ck all go-forward until Savea gets on the field.

I'd also have Bridge as the starting safety winger, with Ioane and Reece duelling it out in the pool matches for the strike winger spot. I'd have liked to have seen Ennor get a go there, but seems somewhat unlikely at this stage.

As for the case for experience, it certainly does have its place, but it can also easily be overstated. Sticking with a guy just because he was good four years ago leads to 1991. Guys like Franks and Smith seem to be in the over-the-hill/a-bridge-too-far category. Thank them for their service over the years, move them on, and bring in replacements (Laulala and Bridge, to be specific).

EDIT: I'd also take Tu'inukuafe ahead of Ta’avao, because I don't trust his scrummaging.

You guys always talk about your strike winger and safety winger (or picking one with FB experience) but how does it work? Genuine question as I understand the principal in a way but what if all the good ball gets to your safety winger in space or all the high kicks go to your strike winger? I know your safety wingers can still run etc. but there seems a danger that you end up with a less good finisher than might have been on the end of a key chance.

Cameo wrote:You guys always talk about your strike winger and safety winger (or picking one with FB experience) but how does it work? Genuine question as I understand the principal in a way but what if all the good ball gets to your safety winger in space or all the high kicks go to your strike winger? I know your safety wingers can still run etc. but there seems a danger that you end up with a less good finisher than might have been on the end of a key chance.

Good question.

Obviously even though each winger is to an extent a specialist, they also must be generally capable of the role i.e. competent under a high ball and have some turn of speed. So at a pinch either can deal with a situation.

The rest of the answer is in game plan and execution. They have the FB and “safety winger”’covering back but the strike winger or another strike option will also drop back on a long kick. They use wide, flat passes quickly after the kick reception to get the ball to the right player able to run the right line (at least in theory).

The system has been tested lately by a combination of rush defence and quickly taken, short kicks into space behind the line but ahead of the FB.

A more analytical mind will explain all this much better.

Ardie is looking like a key cog in this wheel.

NZ Herald is reporting that Franks and Laumape are out.

It is also reporting that both omissions are a “shock” which is probably only half true. One worthy mid-fielder was always going to miss out.

Official announcement is in 40 minutes

Rumours about Matt Todd, too.

Here we go...

Would've much preferred Hemopo for Jacobson, Tu'inukuafe for Ta'avao, and Laumape for Williams.

Regardless, I believe it's a squad capable of winning the tournament. Now just need to see what the 1st XV is. The players for what I consider to be our best XV are in the squad, but whether they make the 1st XV remains to be seen...

Props: Joe Moody, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Atu Moli, 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, Luke Jacobson, 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

So, Moli in - Franks out. No Squire or Hemopo - Jacobson bolts in.

Backs as predicted.

Shag says emergency 10s are J Barrett, TJ Perenara and Ryan Crotty, plus Bender.

And Brodie will probably not play unless we get to the play-offs.