RugbyRebels

Just over 6 weeks out from the French test series, what XXIII would you field? The All Blacks are unlikely to have the services or Kieran Read or Dane Coles, and we should probably prepare to see Joe Moody sit this one out as well. So what squad should be fielded for the first test, on the 9th of June?

The key areas are the front-row, particularly on the loosehead side, where neither Moody nor Hames have appeared due to injury, while on the tighthead side, Nepo Laulala is better to wait for the Rugby Championships rather than rush a return.

Who's in form, and who needs a kick up the butt to encourage them to get their shit together?

1. Tim Perry (Crusaders)
2. Codie Taylor (Crusaders)
3. Owen Franks (Crusaders)
4. Brodie Retallick (Chiefs)
5. Sam Whitelock (Crusaders, Captain)
6. Liam Squire (Highlanders)
7. Sam Cane (Chiefs)
8. Luke Whitelock (Highlanders)
9. Aaron Smith (Highlanders)
10. Beauden Barrett (Hurricanes)
11. Ben Smith (Highlanders, Vice-Captain)
12. Ryan Crotty (Crusaders)
13. Anton Lienert-Brown (Chiefs)
14. Waisake Naholo (Highlanders)
15. Jordie Barett (Hurricanes)

16. Ricky Riccitelli (Hurricanes)
17. Chris Eves (Hurricanes)
18. Ofa Tu'ungafasi (Blues)
19. Vaea Fifita (Hurricanes)/Scott Barrett (Crusaders)
20. Dillon Hunt (Highlanders)/Vaea Fifita (Hurricanes)
21. TJ Perenara (Hurricanes)
22. Damian McKenzie (Chiefs - if fit)/Mike Delaney (Crusaders)
23. Matt Duffie (Blues)

So yeah, that'd be my form XXIII

Tim Perry has been the best performing loosehead out of the NZ teams, with Eves not far behind, so those are straight form selections. Whitelock, IMO, is the next best 8 behind Read, so it's a straight swap. Ben Smith being placed out on the wing is more a case of having 2 fullbacks, with him at 11 to accommodate for Naholo, and Barrett at 15 is a straight-forward form selection.

The bench is where there'd be some questions, outside of Perenara.

Riccitelli's form has meant that the Hurricanes have barely missed Coles, and he's kept Aumua on the bench all season. Tu'ungafasi has also, up until Franks' return, been the form NZ tighthead prop. Fifita covers lock/blindside, or Barrett. It's an either/or situation.
Hunt has been one of the best opensides in NZ at the moment, and only Cane has outperformed him on a weekly basis.
I'm not a fan of McKenzie at 10, but he is improving there. It's unclear how bad his headknock against the Reds was, so I'd plump for Mike Delaney on the basis of his season at the Crusaders.
Duffie has also been a quiet and steady performer at the Blues, and is still one of the most reliable back three players under the high ball.

When is Richie Mo’unga due back?

Probably a couple of months. He fractured his jaw, after all. And once that is done, he'll need further time to rebuild his frame and regain his form.

Skudder back for Hurricanes this weekend, will be interesting to see if he can find his way back into the ABs fold.

He'll break down again. Touch of the Kahui about that one.

Bit of confusion on Squire's availability.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/a ... d=12039106
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/a ... d=12039749

Alright lads, we've got a week before the team is selected. It'll be 32 players, probably with carry-on into the Rugby Champs and Bledisloe tests. Dane Coles and Kieran Read are going to be unavailable, and there may be some questions about Moody's availability. List your team, and captain.


Hookers
Codie Taylor
Nathan Harris
Liam Coltman

Props
Joe Moody
Tim Perry
Owen Franks
Jeffery Toomaga-Allen/Ofa Tu'ungafasi

Locks
Brodie Retallick
Sam Whitelock (Captain)
Scott Barrett
Patrick Tuipulotu

Loose Forwards
Vaea Fifita
Liam Squire
Sam Cane
Dillon Hunt
Luke Whitelock
Akira Ioane

Halfbacks
Aaron Smith
TJ Perenara
Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi

Five-Eighths
Beauden Barrett
Damian McKenzie
Richie Mo'unga

Midfielders
Sonny Bill Williams
Ryan Crotty
Anton Lienert-Brown
Ngani Laumape

Back Three
Waisake Naholo
Israel Dagg
Ben Smith
Rieko Ioane
Jordie Barrett

Whitelock definitely as captain, a much better option than Cane. Hunt for Todd. Would also definitely make room for Jack Goodhue, and possibly Proctor as well. Fairly indifferent over which combination of fringe halfbacks (Tahuriorangi), midfielders (Lienert-Brown) or outside backs (Dagg, McKenzie) get cut to make it happen.

Sam Whitelock captained the last test match the All Blacks played, and Cane was in the starting XV.

Hunt, I think, would be a selection for the future, and his form speaks for itself. To be honest, I wouldn't even consider McKenzie as a 10, but it looks like that's the direction the selectors want to go in.

If Moody is unavailable, Perry should start.

morepork wrote:He'll break down again. Touch of the Kahui about that one.

Aye. Bloody shame, but there it is.

I just watched the semi-final against Australia from 2011; Kahui was magnificent. Like Milner-Skudder in 2015.

Moody will be available. Out for just 2 games.

And yeah, there's plenty to like about Nehe, but he's so injury-prone that a part of me hopes he takes a contract from Japan, where he's probably better suited from a physical standpoint.