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The Rugby Championship 2023
All Blacks Rugby Championship Squad?
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<blockquote data-quote="Larksea" data-source="post: 809865" data-attributes="member: 43875"><p>pretty uninspiring squad really.</p><p></p><p>I'm glad they have gone with Moala, I've been saying for the last year or so he should be in the AB's and it seems now the shot he got against Wales was enough to get the selectors on his side.</p><p></p><p>apart from that its very conservative. Crotty & Fekitoa have been quiet and they didn't really impress against Wales.</p><p></p><p>The squad is instantly downgraded without McKenzie. I think most of the NZ public is just waiting to see how he will do in test footy. He's young and pretty much a dead set lock in for the EoY tour but why wait. I think after a long and impressive super campaign he would be better off now getting back into the AB squad than mucking about in the NPC.</p><p></p><p>Ive ranted long and often with my opinion on Savea. Hes well off his game, hes further off his game than he was in June. Hansen isn't going to magically change that. As Ive said many times in the past, hes like 26 now clearly past his peak, next WC he will be 28-29 and he wont be a factor for the AB's. Players like him tend to peak very young and burn out quick. Amazing player in his prime, legend for what hes done but lets be realistic about his future. We have some brilliant young wingers coming through.</p><p></p><p>Lowe didn't help his cause in the last few weeks of super rugby though. For a while he could do no wrong and was in blistering form, utterly destroyed the welsh. But the last 3 games he made some uncharacteristic mistakes and his finishing wasn't good. As much as anything it must be from the heavy workload and travel schedule of the chiefs. He will be back.</p><p></p><p>For mine the other position that is a real disappointment is that 4th locking spot. While Romano hasn't really done anything wrong he hasn't been playing the house down either and just generally his workload doesn't seem that great, I even think Barrett has been better at the Crusaders. While Dominic Bird has come back from injury he has week in week out performed on a level or better than Retalick at the chiefs. The guy has been phenomenal.</p><p></p><p>I think Aaron Cruden's spot in the squad is going to come under question more and more. With McKenzie, Barrett & Sopoaga on the rise Cruden's stocks are falling. He didn't finish the super campaign well and he could potentially be watching test matches from the stands outside the match day 23 because he lacks versatility, isn't kicking goals and isn't seen as a genuine impact player.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Larksea, post: 809865, member: 43875"] pretty uninspiring squad really. I'm glad they have gone with Moala, I've been saying for the last year or so he should be in the AB's and it seems now the shot he got against Wales was enough to get the selectors on his side. apart from that its very conservative. Crotty & Fekitoa have been quiet and they didn't really impress against Wales. The squad is instantly downgraded without McKenzie. I think most of the NZ public is just waiting to see how he will do in test footy. He's young and pretty much a dead set lock in for the EoY tour but why wait. I think after a long and impressive super campaign he would be better off now getting back into the AB squad than mucking about in the NPC. Ive ranted long and often with my opinion on Savea. Hes well off his game, hes further off his game than he was in June. Hansen isn't going to magically change that. As Ive said many times in the past, hes like 26 now clearly past his peak, next WC he will be 28-29 and he wont be a factor for the AB's. Players like him tend to peak very young and burn out quick. Amazing player in his prime, legend for what hes done but lets be realistic about his future. We have some brilliant young wingers coming through. Lowe didn't help his cause in the last few weeks of super rugby though. For a while he could do no wrong and was in blistering form, utterly destroyed the welsh. But the last 3 games he made some uncharacteristic mistakes and his finishing wasn't good. As much as anything it must be from the heavy workload and travel schedule of the chiefs. He will be back. For mine the other position that is a real disappointment is that 4th locking spot. While Romano hasn't really done anything wrong he hasn't been playing the house down either and just generally his workload doesn't seem that great, I even think Barrett has been better at the Crusaders. While Dominic Bird has come back from injury he has week in week out performed on a level or better than Retalick at the chiefs. The guy has been phenomenal. I think Aaron Cruden's spot in the squad is going to come under question more and more. With McKenzie, Barrett & Sopoaga on the rise Cruden's stocks are falling. He didn't finish the super campaign well and he could potentially be watching test matches from the stands outside the match day 23 because he lacks versatility, isn't kicking goals and isn't seen as a genuine impact player. [/QUOTE]
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