The 36-man All Blacks squad for the Rugby Championship will be named in about 3 hours.
Really hope we see some new blood - Tamaiti Williams, Shaun Stevenson and Cam Roigard deserve to be there, and I wouldn't mind seeing Emoni Narawa make it as well.
Time to move on from Laulala, Akira, Beauden and Clarke imho, but doubt the selectors will think the same. I'm not a big Ennor fan, but he's playing well and his defence has improved a lot. If they persist with the clueless Clarke as our starting 11, we're in deep shit.
Your thoughts?
The Rugby Championship
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OomStruisbaai
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There will be a lot of Crusaders, much less Chiefs players.
Do go on...OomStruisbaai wrote: Sun Jun 18, 2023 5:06 am There will be a lot of Crusaders, much less Chiefs players.
Foster mentioned that one player had essentially played himself out of contention in the Supe semi-finals. I suspect it was Sotutu.Hookers: Dane Coles, Samisoni Taukei'aho, Codie Taylor
Props: Ethan de Groot, Nepo Laulala, Tyrel Lomax, Fletcher Newell, Ofa Tu'ungafasi, Tamaiti Williams
Locks: Scott Barrett, Josh Lord, Brodie Retallick, Tupou Vaa'i, Sam Whitelock
Loose forwards: Sam Cane, Samipeni Finau, Shannon Frizell, Luke Jacobson, Dalton Papali'i, Ardie Savea
Halfbacks: Finlay Christie, Cam Roigard, Aaron Smith
First-fives: Beauden Barrett, Damian McKenzie, Richie Mo'unga
Midfielders: Jordie Barrett, Braydon Ennor, Rieko Ioane, Anton Lienert-Brown, Dallas McLeod
Outside backs: Caleb Clarke, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Will Jordan, Emoni Narawa, Mark Telea
And Akira... should have been Clarke and Christie too!Gumboot wrote: Sun Jun 18, 2023 9:53 pmFoster mentioned that one player had essentially played himself out of contention in the Supe semi-finals. I suspect it was Sotutu.Hookers: Dane Coles, Samisoni Taukei'aho, Codie Taylor
Props: Ethan de Groot, Nepo Laulala, Tyrel Lomax, Fletcher Newell, Ofa Tu'ungafasi, Tamaiti Williams
Locks: Scott Barrett, Josh Lord, Brodie Retallick, Tupou Vaa'i, Sam Whitelock
Loose forwards: Sam Cane, Samipeni Finau, Shannon Frizell, Luke Jacobson, Dalton Papali'i, Ardie Savea
Halfbacks: Finlay Christie, Cam Roigard, Aaron Smith
First-fives: Beauden Barrett, Damian McKenzie, Richie Mo'unga
Midfielders: Jordie Barrett, Braydon Ennor, Rieko Ioane, Anton Lienert-Brown, Dallas McLeod
Outside backs: Caleb Clarke, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Will Jordan, Emoni Narawa, Mark Telea
I have probably missed it, but I don't get the heebie jeebies when Stevenson is defending like I do with Clarke... seems such a bloody waste. I know it's awful, but I hope Clarke gets an injury that gives Stevenson a chance...Gumboot wrote: Sun Jun 18, 2023 10:28 pm Yeah, I don't get how Foster can be critical of Stevenson's much improved defence, yet he seemingly has a blind spot when it comes to Clarke - whose woeful defence hasn't improved at all.
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Guy Smiley
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Stevenson has been a key element in the Chief’s success this year. Strong defender AND an impressively effective kicker who complements DMac’s kicking game perfectly. He’s got a huge boot and is deadly accurate.Grandpa wrote: Sun Jun 18, 2023 10:50 pmI have probably missed it, but I don't get the heebie jeebies when Stevenson is defending like I do with Clarke... seems such a bloody waste. I know it's awful, but I hope Clarke gets an injury that gives Stevenson a chance...Gumboot wrote: Sun Jun 18, 2023 10:28 pm Yeah, I don't get how Foster can be critical of Stevenson's much improved defence, yet he seemingly has a blind spot when it comes to Clarke - whose woeful defence hasn't improved at all.
Clarke is a massive lump of lard.
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Guy Smiley
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I look at the listed exclusions and inclusions and I can see some that seem to be merit based... players who aren't up to scratch or in form like A Ioane are dropped and my reaction to that is a sort of easy agreement.
Then you look at the selection of players like Clarke and ( I know this is big ticket and controversial ) Beauden Barrett... players who have failed all season to deliver any sort of convincing performance beyond the odd highlight / easy break off team mates' work and I revert back to my settled position on Ian Foster as a coach who selects based on personal preference, favourites with a few half hearted changes thrown in for appearances' sake.
I can ride with Ennor being selected as he's improved this year and offers a serious threat in midfield with speed and a decent defensive game but he's like a carbon copy of Rieko. Two players who bring very similar qualities so there's a duplication there... while Goodhue who is a genuine midfielder with massive ability is dumped. That leaves a heavy responsibility on the shoulders of ALB along with yet another token Barrett who will never impress me as a serious midfield threat in the same way Goodhue and ALB are. The defensive organisational skills those two bring into the line is massive and you can see the difference when they're not there.
We'll all have our pet faves and dislikes like always but the overwhelming feeling for me is that this whole Foster tenure has been a waste of time and talent and I just want to see the end of it with as little damage done as possible.
Then you look at the selection of players like Clarke and ( I know this is big ticket and controversial ) Beauden Barrett... players who have failed all season to deliver any sort of convincing performance beyond the odd highlight / easy break off team mates' work and I revert back to my settled position on Ian Foster as a coach who selects based on personal preference, favourites with a few half hearted changes thrown in for appearances' sake.
I can ride with Ennor being selected as he's improved this year and offers a serious threat in midfield with speed and a decent defensive game but he's like a carbon copy of Rieko. Two players who bring very similar qualities so there's a duplication there... while Goodhue who is a genuine midfielder with massive ability is dumped. That leaves a heavy responsibility on the shoulders of ALB along with yet another token Barrett who will never impress me as a serious midfield threat in the same way Goodhue and ALB are. The defensive organisational skills those two bring into the line is massive and you can see the difference when they're not there.
We'll all have our pet faves and dislikes like always but the overwhelming feeling for me is that this whole Foster tenure has been a waste of time and talent and I just want to see the end of it with as little damage done as possible.
Not to mention Telea's pitifully bad defense on at least two occasions on Friday.Gumboot wrote: Sun Jun 18, 2023 10:28 pm Yeah, I don't get how Foster can be critical of Stevenson's much improved defence, yet he seemingly has a blind spot when it comes to Clarke - whose woeful defence hasn't improved at all.
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Guy Smiley
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I don't think it's fair on anyone to judge a selection based on a single game performance. When your team is faced with a total onslaught like that no-one's going to come out looking good and individual players are going to be in the spotlight due to failings elsewhere.Kiwias wrote: Sun Jun 18, 2023 11:52 pmNot to mention Telea's pitifully bad defense on at least two occasions on Friday.Gumboot wrote: Sun Jun 18, 2023 10:28 pm Yeah, I don't get how Foster can be critical of Stevenson's much improved defence, yet he seemingly has a blind spot when it comes to Clarke - whose woeful defence hasn't improved at all.
Telea's been good all year... unbeatable most of the time. He goes looking for work. Clarke just sort of gets in the way and runs fast.