All Blacks squad for Lions I
Posted: Thu Mar 30, 2017 12:50 am
Is it too early for this?
The starting tight 5 pick themselves, I think. In the reserves, back-up hooker is a bit of a lottery. I prefer Taylor purely on experience which will be crucial against a Lions team I expect to be pretty niggly. (Coles will need to be on his best behaviour). I reckon Shag will go with Wyatt “Penalty-machine” Crockett on the bench but I don’t think he’s going to get any better. I would prefer the versatile Tu’ungafasi to cover loosehead. There’s little question that Faumuina should back up on the other side. In the second row, Luke Romano has been going through the motions for a while. I liked the look of Scott Barrett and would give him a crack off the pine, but would be happy with Tuipulotu who I think will be the selectors’ preference.
There’s an embarrassment of talent in the loose forwards. Read, as captain, is the only nailed on starter. You need at least one horrible, hard bastard against the Lions (who will be similarly blessed in this area) so Kaino has to wear 6. Open side is a race between the incumbent Cane and up-and-coming talent Ardie Savea. I think Ardie is the future and deserves a go (but won’t get it). The Lions will find it harder to prepare for him, too. It’s hard luck in my XV for Cane (who Shag will pick) and Todd given the need for versatility in the subs, where I would go for Squire. Luatua would be an option if combined lock/loose cover was wanted but I think we need plenty of fresh legs up front. Dixon could be next cab off the rank.
Halfback is a straight shoot-out between Smith and Perenara. TKB is off the boil a little, I’m biased against players who’ve already given notice, and we need real speed of pass off the floor. TJ outplayed Aaron head-to-head so he gets the nod.
World’s best player Beauden Barrett gets the 10 jumper, but by crikey he needs to be practising his goalkicking. I think McKenzie is the long term replacement but we need more experience in such a crucial position against the Lions. Wiley old Aaron Cruden therefore edges out Sopoaga as a replacement at least until the series is safe. McKenzie would provide a little more versatility, but I think that is covered by the mid-field and outside back selections.
2nd 5/8 and Centre are still the biggest question. Crotty has exceeded the journeyman expectations placed on him, but Lienert-Brown also surprised. Fekitoa can be frustratingly inaccurate and seems to lose confidence in a Black jersey. Reiko Ioane is the hype and I think his future is at 13. Moala and Tamanivalu are perhaps a wash but there’s always room for a bolter given the uncertainly so look out for Ngani Laumape. I think that Shag will stick with Crotty’s relative experience (still only 11 caps) but maybe go for more of a bruiser at 13 in Fekitoa. I really want to see Ioane have a crack outside ALB but the sensible option I reckon is to put him on the bench as an impact player covering wing as well and go with ALB as the incumbent at 13.
In the back three, you have to pick Julian “45 tries in 52 tests” Savea. Bender hasn’t been in superlative form but he’s been in a struggling team so far in Super Rugby and his class is permanent. I’m not sure if Milner-Skudder will be fit in time, but if not Dagg will do. This leaves Naholo out in the cold unfortunately, but I don’t think that will actually happen.
So this is my preferred XXIII, with predicted different actual selections in brackets:
1. Moody
2. Coles
3. Franks
4. Retallick
5. Whitelock
6. Kaino
7. A. Savea (Cane)
8. Read
9. Perenara
10. Barret
11. J. Savea
12. Crotty
13. Lienert-Brown (Fekitoa)
14. NMS if fit and had some game time, if not then Dagg (possibly swapped with B Smith)
15. B. Smith
16. Taylor
17. Tu’ungafasi (Crockett)
18. Faumuina
19. S. Barrett (Tuipulotu)
20. Squire (A. Savea)
21. A Smith
22. Cruden
23. R. Ioane (Naholo)
I’m sure I’ve overlooked some injuries or retirements though…
The starting tight 5 pick themselves, I think. In the reserves, back-up hooker is a bit of a lottery. I prefer Taylor purely on experience which will be crucial against a Lions team I expect to be pretty niggly. (Coles will need to be on his best behaviour). I reckon Shag will go with Wyatt “Penalty-machine” Crockett on the bench but I don’t think he’s going to get any better. I would prefer the versatile Tu’ungafasi to cover loosehead. There’s little question that Faumuina should back up on the other side. In the second row, Luke Romano has been going through the motions for a while. I liked the look of Scott Barrett and would give him a crack off the pine, but would be happy with Tuipulotu who I think will be the selectors’ preference.
There’s an embarrassment of talent in the loose forwards. Read, as captain, is the only nailed on starter. You need at least one horrible, hard bastard against the Lions (who will be similarly blessed in this area) so Kaino has to wear 6. Open side is a race between the incumbent Cane and up-and-coming talent Ardie Savea. I think Ardie is the future and deserves a go (but won’t get it). The Lions will find it harder to prepare for him, too. It’s hard luck in my XV for Cane (who Shag will pick) and Todd given the need for versatility in the subs, where I would go for Squire. Luatua would be an option if combined lock/loose cover was wanted but I think we need plenty of fresh legs up front. Dixon could be next cab off the rank.
Halfback is a straight shoot-out between Smith and Perenara. TKB is off the boil a little, I’m biased against players who’ve already given notice, and we need real speed of pass off the floor. TJ outplayed Aaron head-to-head so he gets the nod.
World’s best player Beauden Barrett gets the 10 jumper, but by crikey he needs to be practising his goalkicking. I think McKenzie is the long term replacement but we need more experience in such a crucial position against the Lions. Wiley old Aaron Cruden therefore edges out Sopoaga as a replacement at least until the series is safe. McKenzie would provide a little more versatility, but I think that is covered by the mid-field and outside back selections.
2nd 5/8 and Centre are still the biggest question. Crotty has exceeded the journeyman expectations placed on him, but Lienert-Brown also surprised. Fekitoa can be frustratingly inaccurate and seems to lose confidence in a Black jersey. Reiko Ioane is the hype and I think his future is at 13. Moala and Tamanivalu are perhaps a wash but there’s always room for a bolter given the uncertainly so look out for Ngani Laumape. I think that Shag will stick with Crotty’s relative experience (still only 11 caps) but maybe go for more of a bruiser at 13 in Fekitoa. I really want to see Ioane have a crack outside ALB but the sensible option I reckon is to put him on the bench as an impact player covering wing as well and go with ALB as the incumbent at 13.
In the back three, you have to pick Julian “45 tries in 52 tests” Savea. Bender hasn’t been in superlative form but he’s been in a struggling team so far in Super Rugby and his class is permanent. I’m not sure if Milner-Skudder will be fit in time, but if not Dagg will do. This leaves Naholo out in the cold unfortunately, but I don’t think that will actually happen.
So this is my preferred XXIII, with predicted different actual selections in brackets:
1. Moody
2. Coles
3. Franks
4. Retallick
5. Whitelock
6. Kaino
7. A. Savea (Cane)
8. Read
9. Perenara
10. Barret
11. J. Savea
12. Crotty
13. Lienert-Brown (Fekitoa)
14. NMS if fit and had some game time, if not then Dagg (possibly swapped with B Smith)
15. B. Smith
16. Taylor
17. Tu’ungafasi (Crockett)
18. Faumuina
19. S. Barrett (Tuipulotu)
20. Squire (A. Savea)
21. A Smith
22. Cruden
23. R. Ioane (Naholo)
I’m sure I’ve overlooked some injuries or retirements though…
