ALL BLACKS AI SQUAD

The squad for the next phase of a record breaking run. A run I expect to last for about another 18 games after all who is going to beat them?? Please let's not hear the same opinionated English 'non' argument and go on about 2003. Even in those days NZ were the best. Oh and a big congratulations to the Barrett family that's quite an achievement.

All Blacks squad: Beauden Barrett, Sam Cane, Dane Coles, Liam Coltman, Wyatt Crockett, Ryan Crotty, Aaron Cruden, Israel Dagg, Elliot Dixon, Charlie Faumuina, Malakai Fekitoa, Owen Franks, Rieko Ioane, Jerome Kaino, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Anton Leinert-Brown, Steven Luatua, Damien McKenzie, George Moala, Joe Moody, Waisake Naholo, TJ Perenara, Kieran Read (captain), Brodie Retallick, Luke Romano, Ardie Savea, Julian Savea, Aaron Smith, Ben Smith, Lima Sopoaga, Liam Squire, Codie Taylor, Matt Todd, Patrick Tuipulotu, Ofa Tu'ungafasi, Sam Whitelock.

Injury cover: Scott Barrett

Apprentice player: Jordie Barrett.

You could have used the thread to be positive but alas no.

No 7&1/2 wrote:You could have used the thread to be positive but alas no.

WOW quickest wum yet! It is incredibly positive for New Zealand, in fact how more positive can you get??

I can't believe NZ have managed to dodge England this year.

Running scared.

Really looking forwards to the two test series against Ireland. Currently look the strongest team in the NH. It's a shame that both tests aren't played in Ireland.

I imagine the abs to have a bigger advantage in the US.

It is a formidable All Blacks team.

maestegmafia wrote:Really looking forwards to the two test series against Ireland. Currently look the strongest team in the NH. It's a shame that both tests aren't played in Ireland.

I imagine the abs to have a bigger advantage in the US.

It is a formidable All Blacks team.

I doubt you would find even an Irish fan who would agree with that!

Like I said take a positive and twist to an anti England wum.

Cyril wrote:I can't believe NZ have managed to dodge England this year.

Running scared.

The ABs have a very busy schedule and are in massive demand, sometimes some people just have to learn be patient and wait their turn.

1.Moody, Crockett
2.Coles, Taylor, Coltman
3.O Franks, Faumuina, Tu'ungafisi
4.Rettallick, Tuipulotu
5.Whitelock, Romano
6.Kaino, Squire, Luatua
7.Cane, Todd, A Savea
8.Read, Dixon

9.Smith, Perenera, Kerr-Barlow
10.B Barrett, Cruden, Sopoaga

11.J Savea, Ioane
12.Crotty, Moala
13.Lienert-Brown, Fekitoa
14.Dagg, Nadolo
15.B Smith, McKenzie

Even with a few uncapped players coming on tour it's a fantastic squad when you look at the depth. The half-backs and back row are outstanding.

Lienert-Brown looks like a brilliant player.

With Ngatai,Milner-skudder,SBW,Lualua injured only Luke Whitelock is missing.
Barrett brothers travelling as cover/Apprentice.IT`s Naholo NOT Nadolo he
played for Fiji.
Covering the two best lock pairing injured could be a major problem lets
see if they make it another unbeaten year.
Another 18 that's a really ridiculous statement with 2 bledisloes in OZ
next year.Could very well mean at least one loss.

No 7&1/2 wrote:Like I said take a positive and twist to an anti England wum.

Strange to include the English in AB thread really?

Retallick may not make the tour. He's undergoing concussion protocol from the game. Got hit in the face by Dean Mumm. Mumm may not make the tour either. Hearings in the next day or so.

It's kind of an odd tour by New Zealand - playing Ireland, Italy and France.

It's all a bit meh. I don't see any of the teams getting within a 25 point losing margin of the team. Game over before it gets started.

The NZ Maori matches will be worth watching - looking forward to seeing their games against the US and Munster - don't know if they have other ones planned.

The Australian tour up here is a bit more interesting given the year they've had.
They're planning to try win a grand slam of the old 5 Nations with five matches in five weeks - a tall order, but would be a great achievement for them after their annus horribilis. It might even cheer up Michael Cheika who's been getting a bit of a media pasting down under from the usual suspects with his post-match diatribes about the unfairness of it all.

Equally South Africa's tour should also be interesting to watch. England have to fancy their chances to break a long drought and beat them for the first time in a while. And I'm sure Wales would like to repeat the dose from their last game with them.

Must look up Argentina's line-up - they haven't tended to fare well in the November Internationals, but their quick-fire game should be great to watch against some of the NH teams.

Not grey and not a ghost wrote:Retallick may not make the tour. He's undergoing concussion protocol from the game. Got hit in the face  by Dean Mumm. Mumm may not make the tour either. Hearings in the next day or so.

Mumm suspended for one week will miss the Welsh test.

Cyril wrote:

maestegmafia wrote:Really looking forwards to the two test series against Ireland. Currently look the strongest team in the NH. It's a shame that both tests aren't played in Ireland.

I imagine the abs to have a bigger advantage in the US.

It is a formidable All Blacks team.

I doubt you would find even an Irish fan who would agree with that!

An odd claim - England are quite clearly the best in the NH. Ireland will have done well to not ship 60 points in either of their All Black tests.

France, Ireland 2 and Italy.

um... we'd be talking a suzie special to get any one of those 4 games down to single digit losses.

In the RC, NZ won all 6 games at an average of 44-14 scoreline.  They played SA twice (who beat Ireland a few months earlier, perhaps fortuitously) by a 28 and 42 point margin. Ireland would need every single first choice player available and on form and hope NZ got a string of injuries with a force 10 gale to boot.

It ain't happening. If England had all their best players available and fit I think they could get them within a score... could that is. But by all accounts they have quite a high butchers bill at the moment so its probably a good thing they're not facing them this autumn.

Ireland were a good side and even with many injuries took SA all the way but given SA and AUS were pretty much on level ground I would say it would be difficult to claim IRE are at the moment the best in the NH. But how much impact has Itoje had on England? I think its been quite significant so if he's injured I think the loss is quite great.

fa0019 wrote:France, Ireland 2 and Italy.

um... we'd be talking a suzie special to get any one of those 4 games down to single digit losses.

In the RC, NZ won all 6 games at an average of 44-14 scoreline.  They played SA twice (who beat Ireland a few months earlier, perhaps fortuitously) by a 28 and 42 point margin. Ireland would need every single first choice player available and on form and hope NZ got a string of injuries with a force 10 gale to boot.

It ain't happening. If England had all their best players available and fit I think they could get them within a score... could that is. But by all accounts they have quite a high butchers bill at the moment so its probably a good thing they're not facing them this autumn.

No they would not, not sure why you think you are that good to be honest.

Cyril wrote:

maestegmafia wrote:Really looking forwards to the two test series against Ireland. Currently look the strongest team in the NH. It's a shame that both tests aren't played in Ireland.

I imagine the abs to have a bigger advantage in the US.

It is a formidable All Blacks team.

I doubt you would find even an Irish fan who would agree with that!

Yea I'd put us at no3 behind Sarries and Clermont.

rainbow-warrior wrote:

fa0019 wrote:France, Ireland 2 and Italy.

um... we'd be talking a suzie special to get any one of those 4 games down to single digit losses.

In the RC, NZ won all 6 games at an average of 44-14 scoreline.  They played SA twice (who beat Ireland a few months earlier, perhaps fortuitously) by a 28 and 42 point margin. Ireland would need every single first choice player available and on form and hope NZ got a string of injuries with a force 10 gale to boot.

It ain't happening. If England had all their best players available and fit I think they could get them within a score... could that is. But by all accounts they have quite a high butchers bill at the moment so its probably a good thing they're not facing them this autumn.

No they would not, not sure why you think you are that good to be honest.

Not sure if he thinks anyone bar SA are good.