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All Blacks Rugby Championship Squad?
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<blockquote data-quote="Larksea" data-source="post: 806007" data-attributes="member: 43875"><p>rather than listing a squad, I think the main areas of interest are the midfield, the 5th & 6th loose forward slots, 10 and basically Julian Savea vs McKenzie....</p><p></p><p>Midfield</p><p>Ngatai will likely be back but Moala made good use of the time he had on the park to climb up the pecking order</p><p>If Ngatai gets gametime in super rugby he will be re-selected for the AB's, his form and the skills he has are far to good to leave out.</p><p>SBW may also be back in the mix...</p><p></p><p>SBW, if not then Fekitoa</p><p>Ngatai</p><p>Moala</p><p>Crotty</p><p></p><p>Seta & Fekitoa drop out. Fekitoa is a big call but how can you drop Moala out after he took his chance, both chances(samoa last year as well) while fekitoa hasn't really been making par.</p><p></p><p>I expect our midfield from here onwards will take a different shape with SBW & Ngatai back in the mix and Moala's true value for the AB's being more obvious now than his blues form suggests. Of course its not set in stone that SBW will walk straight back in. Crotty has got a pass mark and his experience will be of value, but hes not busting doors down either. I think its fair to say the Crotty-Fekitoa combination at best only just scraped a pass mark and to be harsh didn't really meet expectations.</p><p></p><p>At the back, savea has to drop out. Unless he comes back into super rugby and winds back the clock 2-3 years on his form which is unlikely he needs to be left out. With the realization what he needs is a really good off-season to drop a bit of weight and get his speed & confidence back.</p><p></p><p>McKenzie wasn't used but is obviously part of longer term plans. It may be that his role in the squad was to learn gameplans & expectations, work on some skills and get ready for potential involvement in the championship. He should keep his spot unless his form dips in the later stages of super rugby. Which is unlikely, I think with the time in the AB's camp and rest from match days, heal up a ****le or two he will finish strongly. Also with Barrett being a likely starter at 10 now McKenzie becomes a very attractive bench option. Someone with the ability to change the game in the last 20 and cover 10/15 or wing.</p><p></p><p>in those loose forward slots Dixon & Squire will keep the inside running. I need to watch that last test again but it feels like squire made better of the chance he got. But Dixon will still be valued for his abilities and versatility. I dont know if/when Messam will com back into selection plans as far as I know he is not contracted to the chiefs or Waikato and may have an eye on Japan.</p><p></p><p>If Anything, Dixons spot could be taken by Akira Ioane. The more you think about it... its pretty much a dead cert that Ioane is going to be in the AB's mix post 7's. hes too good to ignore, easily the biggest arrival of loose forward talent since Read Burst onto the scene. And he can add so much from the bench while being very sound technically...</p><p></p><p>10, barrett has fairly and squarely taken the starting 10 position. That does put Crudens role in the side under the microscope. He's not considered a great bench option I think the coaches see Sapoaga as a better option in that Role and McKenzie as well. with Barrett starting his focus will be less about covering 15 and more on his role at 10. So the dynamic of the squad changes a bit. It would be a harsh call and Cruden will have every chance to play super rugby and you would back him to maintain his position in the squad.</p><p></p><p>The rest is fairly settled, other than injury related changes the only talking point is Romano's 4th lock spot. There are a few contenders there.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Larksea, post: 806007, member: 43875"] rather than listing a squad, I think the main areas of interest are the midfield, the 5th & 6th loose forward slots, 10 and basically Julian Savea vs McKenzie.... Midfield Ngatai will likely be back but Moala made good use of the time he had on the park to climb up the pecking order If Ngatai gets gametime in super rugby he will be re-selected for the AB's, his form and the skills he has are far to good to leave out. SBW may also be back in the mix... SBW, if not then Fekitoa Ngatai Moala Crotty Seta & Fekitoa drop out. Fekitoa is a big call but how can you drop Moala out after he took his chance, both chances(samoa last year as well) while fekitoa hasn't really been making par. I expect our midfield from here onwards will take a different shape with SBW & Ngatai back in the mix and Moala's true value for the AB's being more obvious now than his blues form suggests. Of course its not set in stone that SBW will walk straight back in. Crotty has got a pass mark and his experience will be of value, but hes not busting doors down either. I think its fair to say the Crotty-Fekitoa combination at best only just scraped a pass mark and to be harsh didn't really meet expectations. At the back, savea has to drop out. Unless he comes back into super rugby and winds back the clock 2-3 years on his form which is unlikely he needs to be left out. With the realization what he needs is a really good off-season to drop a bit of weight and get his speed & confidence back. McKenzie wasn't used but is obviously part of longer term plans. It may be that his role in the squad was to learn gameplans & expectations, work on some skills and get ready for potential involvement in the championship. He should keep his spot unless his form dips in the later stages of super rugby. Which is unlikely, I think with the time in the AB's camp and rest from match days, heal up a ****le or two he will finish strongly. Also with Barrett being a likely starter at 10 now McKenzie becomes a very attractive bench option. Someone with the ability to change the game in the last 20 and cover 10/15 or wing. in those loose forward slots Dixon & Squire will keep the inside running. I need to watch that last test again but it feels like squire made better of the chance he got. But Dixon will still be valued for his abilities and versatility. I dont know if/when Messam will com back into selection plans as far as I know he is not contracted to the chiefs or Waikato and may have an eye on Japan. If Anything, Dixons spot could be taken by Akira Ioane. The more you think about it... its pretty much a dead cert that Ioane is going to be in the AB's mix post 7's. hes too good to ignore, easily the biggest arrival of loose forward talent since Read Burst onto the scene. And he can add so much from the bench while being very sound technically... 10, barrett has fairly and squarely taken the starting 10 position. That does put Crudens role in the side under the microscope. He's not considered a great bench option I think the coaches see Sapoaga as a better option in that Role and McKenzie as well. with Barrett starting his focus will be less about covering 15 and more on his role at 10. So the dynamic of the squad changes a bit. It would be a harsh call and Cruden will have every chance to play super rugby and you would back him to maintain his position in the squad. The rest is fairly settled, other than injury related changes the only talking point is Romano's 4th lock spot. There are a few contenders there. [/QUOTE]
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