NZ Rugby selection thread / all blacks

[Grandpa]

More arrant nonsense from a Kiwi rugby hack. Tony Smith wrote this in a Stuff article about Mo'unga's potential successor in the ABs:



FFS, Mehrtens was barely even on the age-group radar in 1993. After Fox's last test against Western Samoa, we tried Marc Ellis against Scotland and England (then selector Earl Kirton predicted he'd become one of our great test first fives - LOL), Simon Mannix crashed and burned in his only start against France, and then Stephen Bachop got the job for the rest of '94. Just like many of Mains' muddled selections, first five was a problem position for us pre-1995.

I thought the same reading that... Mehrtens was a bolter in 1995 wasn't he? I think I remember his first game against Canada just before the World Cup?

Maybe not quite a bolter, as he'd caught the eye playing well for Canterbury in '94. But there's no way he was even in the ABs conversation in '93, let alone earmarked as our future starting 10 for the '95 RWC. This Tony Smith fella's just pulled that bollocks out of his arse.

This from allblacks.com:

Though left out of the initial training squads, Merhtens developed so much that he forced his way into the 1995 World Cup squad, having made a stunning All Black debut in the early season test against Canada when he scored 28 points.

I remember watching Mehrtens playing against Bedford (2nd tier team) and even at an advanced age he stood out a mile from anyone else on the pitch, he toyed with the Bedford side... the strange thing is I don't know how he ended up playing against Bedford? He played for Harlequins... maybe they were relegated for a year?

[Certain Navigator]

More arrant nonsense from a Kiwi rugby hack. Tony Smith wrote this in a Stuff article about Mo'unga's potential successor in the ABs:

By the time 1987 World Cup winner Grant Fox bowed out in 1993, it was obvious Mehrtens would be running the cutter at the 1995 World Cup...

FFS, Mehrtens was barely even on the age-group radar in 1993. After Fox's last test against Western Samoa, we tried Marc Ellis against Scotland and England (then selector Earl Kirton predicted he'd become one of our great test first fives - LOL), Simon Mannix crashed and burned in his only start against France, and then Stephen Bachop got the job for the rest of '94. Just like many of Mains' muddled selections, first five was a problem position for us pre-1995.

Correct. Tony Smith is a league (not rugby) hack who thinks the NRL is the greatest competition in the universe (followed closely by anything to do with softball), so it's unsurprising he's confused.

[Gumboot]

Correct. Tony Smith is a league (not rugby) hack who thinks the NRL is the greatest competition in the universe (followed closely by anything to do with softball), so it's unsurprising he's confused.

Ah right, then maybe he should've stuck to his knitting. Confusion's one thing, but it's quite another to just make stuff up to support a bogus "succession planning" theory about an unfamiliar sport.

[JM2K6]

I thought the same reading that... Mehrtens was a bolter in 1995 wasn't he? I think I remember his first game against Canada just before the World Cup?

Maybe not quite a bolter, as he'd caught the eye playing well for Canterbury in '94. But there's no way he was even in the ABs conversation in '93, let alone earmarked as our future starting 10 for the '95 RWC. This Tony Smith fella's just pulled that bollocks out of his arse.

This from allblacks.com:

Though left out of the initial training squads, Merhtens developed so much that he forced his way into the 1995 World Cup squad, having made a stunning All Black debut in the early season test against Canada when he scored 28 points.

I remember watching Mehrtens playing against Bedford (2nd tier team) and even at an advanced age he stood out a mile from anyone else on the pitch, he toyed with the Bedford side... the strange thing is I don't know how he ended up playing against Bedford? He played for Harlequins... maybe they were relegated for a year?

Yep, Quins spent a year in the second tier after being relegated. I got a season ticket the year they came back (a friend started playing for them). Mehrts was class for sure.

When I did my trip to NZ I ended up next to Mehrts on a internal flight and had a great chat about his time at Quins. Enzedder collected me at Hamilton airport at exactly the right time to see Mehrts hand me his business card...

[Enzedder]

Reality check - I saw JMK exchanging numbers with this fat old fella at the airport.

[Grandpa]

Maybe not quite a bolter, as he'd caught the eye playing well for Canterbury in '94. But there's no way he was even in the ABs conversation in '93, let alone earmarked as our future starting 10 for the '95 RWC. This Tony Smith fella's just pulled that bollocks out of his arse.

This from allblacks.com:

I remember watching Mehrtens playing against Bedford (2nd tier team) and even at an advanced age he stood out a mile from anyone else on the pitch, he toyed with the Bedford side... the strange thing is I don't know how he ended up playing against Bedford? He played for Harlequins... maybe they were relegated for a year?

Yep, Quins spent a year in the second tier after being relegated. I got a season ticket the year they came back (a friend started playing for them). Mehrts was class for sure.

When I did my trip to NZ I ended up next to Mehrts on a internal flight and had a great chat about his time at Quins. Enzedder collected me at Hamilton airport at exactly the right time to see Mehrts hand me his business card...

Did you offer him a job?

Are you English or a Kiwi? Or both? And who was the friend who started playing for them.. not Nick Evans?

[JM2K6]

I remember watching Mehrtens playing against Bedford (2nd tier team) and even at an advanced age he stood out a mile from anyone else on the pitch, he toyed with the Bedford side... the strange thing is I don't know how he ended up playing against Bedford? He played for Harlequins... maybe they were relegated for a year?

Yep, Quins spent a year in the second tier after being relegated. I got a season ticket the year they came back (a friend started playing for them). Mehrts was class for sure.

When I did my trip to NZ I ended up next to Mehrts on a internal flight and had a great chat about his time at Quins. Enzedder collected me at Hamilton airport at exactly the right time to see Mehrts hand me his business card...

Did you offer him a job?

Are you English or a Kiwi? Or both? And who was the friend who started playing for them.. not Nick Evans?

English, I did a quickfire tour round NZ to watch super rugby and meet boredies.

Mike Ross, the former Ireland prop.

[Grandpa]

Yep, Quins spent a year in the second tier after being relegated. I got a season ticket the year they came back (a friend started playing for them). Mehrts was class for sure.

When I did my trip to NZ I ended up next to Mehrts on a internal flight and had a great chat about his time at Quins. Enzedder collected me at Hamilton airport at exactly the right time to see Mehrts hand me his business card...

Did you offer him a job?

Are you English or a Kiwi? Or both? And who was the friend who started playing for them.. not Nick Evans?

English, I did a quickfire tour round NZ to watch super rugby and meet boredies.

Mike Ross, the former Ireland prop.

That's dedicated! Then again in 1990 me and a mate visited all the major rugby grounds in the UK and Ireland... including the old Lansdowne Road... but as it was summer, we didn't see any games. Met some nice girls in Dublin though.

[Guy Smiley]

I have a favourite Andrew Merhtens story but it doesn't involve meeting him or JMK...

he was in SA for a game in Durban, must have been a Supe game. Interviewed before the game, someone asked him whether there were any specific challenges to playing there, or words to that effect...

his pokerfaced reply was that the humidity was a definite factor and he thought a good deodorant would be a must...'probably something like Brut 33'.

[Grandpa]

I have a favourite Andrew Merhtens story but it doesn't involve meeting him or JMK...

he was in SA for a game in Durban, must have been a Supe game. Interviewed before the game, someone asked him whether there were any specific challenges to playing there, or words to that effect...

his pokerfaced reply was that the humidity was a definite factor and he thought a good deodorant would be a must...'probably something like Brut 33'.

My favourite co commentator. Shame he works on an Aussie channel!

[Ymx]

Bump.


Found it,

[Ymx]

The squad in full is as follows:

Hookers:

Codie Taylor (32, Crusaders / Canterbury, 76)
Dane Coles (36, Hurricanes / Wellington, 84)
Samisoni Taukei’aho (25, Chiefs / Waikato, 24)

Props:

Ethan de Groot (24, Highlanders / Southland, 13)
Fletcher Newell (23, Crusaders / Canterbury, 6)
Nepo Laulala (31, Blues / Counties Manukau, 45)
Ofa Tu’ungafasi (31, Blues / Northland, 50)
Tamaiti Williams (22, Crusaders / Canterbury, *)
Tyrel Lomax (27, Hurricanes / Tasman, 23)

Locks:

Brodie Retallick (32, Chiefs / Hawkes Bay, 100)
Josh Lord (22, Chiefs / Taranaki, 2)
Samuel Whitelock (34, Crusaders / Canterbury, 143)
Scott Barrett (29, Crusaders / Taranaki, 58)
Tupou Vaa’i (23, Chiefs / Taranaki, 18)

Loose forwards:

Ardie Savea (29, Hurricanes / Wellington, 70)
Dalton Papali’i (25, Blues / Counties Manukau, 22)
Luke Jacobson (26, Chiefs / Waikato, 12)
Sam Cane (captain) (31, Chiefs / Bay of Plenty, 86)
Samipeni Finau (24, Chiefs / Waikato, *)
Shannon Frizell (29, Highlanders / Tasman, 25)

Halfbacks:

Aaron Smith (34, Highlanders / Manawatu, 114)
Finlay Christie (27, Blues / Tasman, 14)
Cam Roigard (22, Hurricanes / Counties Manukau, *)

First-five eighths:

Beauden Barrett (32, Blues / Taranaki, 112)
Damian McKenzie (28, Chiefs / Waikato, 40)
Richie Mo’unga (29, Crusaders / Canterbury, 44)

Midfielders:

Anton Lienert-Brown (28, Chiefs / Waikato, 60)
Jordie Barrett (26, Hurricanes / Taranaki, 48)
Rieko Ioane (26, Blues / Auckland, 59)
Braydon Ennor (25, Crusaders / Canterbury, 6)
Dallas McLeod (24, Crusaders / Canterbury, *)

Outside backs:

Caleb Clarke (24, Blues / Auckland, 15)
Emoni Narawa (23, Chiefs / Bay of Plenty, *)
Leicester Fainga’anuku (23, Crusaders / Tasman, 2)
Mark Telea (26, Blues / North Harbour, 2)
Will Jordan (25, Crusaders / Tasman, 21)

[Gumboot]

^

There are at least a dozen players on that list I'd have starting on the left wing ahead of Clarke.

[Grandpa]

^

There are at least a dozen players on that list I'd have starting on the left wing ahead of Clarke.

When you say a dozen... you mean 36...

[Ymx]

Stevenson definitely deserves a place.

Hilarious that Foster as having a chiefs bias, has bottled a bolter in Stevenson.

He is so far king useless!

[Certain Navigator]

Stevenson definitely deserves a place.

Hilarious that Foster as having a chiefs bias, has bottled a bolter in Stevenson.

He is so far king useless!

Stevenson's match last night showed precisely why he should be in the ABs, and precisely why he isn't. Rocks and diamonds...

[Ymx]

Stevenson definitely deserves a place.

Hilarious that Foster as having a chiefs bias, has bottled a bolter in Stevenson.

He is so far king useless!

Stevenson's match last night showed precisely why he should be in the ABs, and precisely why he isn't. Rocks and diamonds...

No one is saying a starter just yet. But he should be a great option on the bench.

[Gumboot]

Stevenson definitely deserves a place.

Hilarious that Foster as having a chiefs bias, has bottled a bolter in Stevenson.

He is so far king useless!

Stevenson's match last night showed precisely why he should be in the ABs, and precisely why he isn't. Rocks and diamonds...

No one is saying a starter just yet. But he should be a great option on the bench.

His defence in the lead-up to Mo'unga's try was decidedly ropey. His lack of commitment once Leicester went past him was one thing, but then he had another chance to make a tackle on the tryline and ended up just kinda getting in the way. Not saying he would've stopped the try, but he could've done a lot better imho. I'd still rather have him in the team ahead of Clarke, though.

[Gumboot]

The RWC squad will be named in under an hour.

Sounding like BBBR's knee injury means he could miss the first few games, at least. Josh Lord may make it as insurance cover.

Ennor's injury sounds more serious, so Havili's probably back in.

Narawa hopefully fit enough to travel and Clarke hopefully gets dropped.

I hope they stick with the contingent of young props. Don't mind if Moody's recalled, but Laulala...naah.

[Guy Smiley]

Ennor would be seen as centre / outside back cover, I guess...

but Jack fucking Goodhue fercryinoutloud

[Kiwias]

Live here

https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/sport/20 ... ement.html

And here

[Guy Smiley]

Live here

https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/sport/20 ... ement.html

Hilariously, the official AB site can't stream this live.

[Gumboot]

Another one:

[Kiwias]

Havili INNNNNN

[Guy Smiley]

Caleb Clark....


and Leicester

[Kiwias]

Roigard and Christie both in

[Kiwias]

Happy to see Luke Jacobson in

[Kiwias]

Did I miss it or is Finau not in?

[Guy Smiley]

I guess Havili the only real surprise for me, otherwise pretty much as we'd expected. Happy to see Jacobson in.

[Guy Smiley]

Did I miss it or is Finau not in?

He missed out

[Gumboot]

Surprised that Finau's missed out, and with the 18-15 split.

No extra lock to cover Brodie. Is that encouraging, or worrying?

[Gumboot]

And why do they keep naming Beauden as a first five when he's the starting fullback?

[Gumboot]

Head coach Ian Foster also confirms the All Blacks will take three extra players to London ahead of their final warm-up game against South Africa on August 25.

Brad Weber, Samipeni Finau and Canterbury and Crusaders hooker George Bell will be there. Asafo Aumua was set to go, only for him to hurt his calf at the weekend and open the door for Bell.

Foster added that Finau could well play against South Africa due to the Retallick injury. Weber and Bell will only train (minus injuries).

[Grandpa]

Only five loosies... but 6 props. The loosies get worked to death.... I'd have had Finau in instead of Clarke.

Pray that Smith doesn't get injured cause will mean Christie starting...

[Ymx]

The order of the players is telling.

[Grandpa]

The order of the players is telling.

What order?

[Ymx]

The order of the players is telling.

What order?

Those listed in the same position. Who is at the top of the list (in the image) per shirt number.

BB at the top of the 10’s is a bit weird. God I hope Foster isn’t going to …

[JM2K6]

The order of the players is telling.

What order?

Those listed in the same position. Who is at the top of the list (in the image) per shirt number.

BB at the top of the 10’s is a bit weird. God I hope Foster isn’t going to …

It's basically alphabetical per position with a bit of confusion in a couple of places, isn't it? Unless you think Scott Barrett is considered #1 ahead of Retallick and Whitelock, or Will Jordan the lowest ranked of the back 3 options

[Ymx]

What order?

Those listed in the same position. Who is at the top of the list (in the image) per shirt number.

BB at the top of the 10’s is a bit weird. God I hope Foster isn’t going to …

It's basically alphabetical per position with a bit of confusion in a couple of places, isn't it? Unless you think Scott Barrett is considered #1 ahead of Retallick and Whitelock, or Will Jordan the lowest ranked of the back 3 options

Ahhh, phew.

Dunce cap for me.

[Ymx]

Actually, not sure.

Aaron Smith at the top ahead of Christie

Also MO ahead of McKenzie

And so on. It’s certainly more than a few positions.

I’m talking about specific numbers as in 4 or 15.