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- Thread starter GonaRear
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Banana
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Jamie Joseph and Tony Brown will be my pick.Bring back FOZZIE BEAR
Definitely the two favourites, rumours are that Brown has an out clause with his Boks contract to coach with Jamie Joseph again. The problems are a bit wider than head coaches though, they've lost all the high level mental and performance coaching since Enoka departed and you see it in the disjointed way they have played the past couple of years, they start a game off well then lose the plot and give the lead and points away in the second half to come away with a really sketchy win or a loss
here's hoping the cycle can be turned around, the Boks are still world dominant and well ahead of NZ rugby
Banana
Debauchee
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Also player selection. We should bring back independent selectors like in the past. Why we still have Seevu Reece running around during a EOY tour is a great mystery to me.Definitely the two favourites, rumours are that Brown has an out clause with his Boks contract to coach with Jamie Joseph again. The problems are a bit wider than head coaches though, they've lost all the high level mental and performance coaching since Enoka departed and you see it in the disjointed way they have played the past couple of years, they start a game off well then lose the plot and give the lead and points away in the second half to come away with a really sketchy win or a loss
Look at the Boks, the amount of experimentation (both tactics and players) and depth building is nut. Our tour there next year will be a hard reality check for us.
GonaRear
Horndog
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Definitely one of the dumbest things Rugby Australia have ever done, and it got worse, The Clown sacked a whole pile of senior experienced players and selected all the inexperienced young fellars to go off to their first world cup and they crumpled under pressure with the team exiting the competition early.
It'll be interesting to see what assistants Rennie brings in, he's already said he's got people he'd like to bring in, it'll be a shame to see Ryan go if he has to go
Richie McCaw
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Yup, assistants will be crucial. Make or break.
Just look at how it turned out for Razor...
GripMaster
Horndog
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Glad to see you here Rich. Miss you leadership and stability at 7. Assistants look good. Tana was an underrated defender and I think he thrives as an assistant more than a head coach. Don’t know about the other 2.
Thought on Beauden? Is his time up or is his versatility needed at least on the bench.
We have seem to be lacking centres is ALB and Reiki still in the picture ?
Richie McCaw
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I've been waiting for you to ask!
I've been watching the team since my retirement and noted the lack of steel, which I put down to not having my strong leadership...
I fully agree that a head coaching position does not seem to suit Tana. I have my reservations about him joining the coaching lineup. His coaching record falls well short of his playing one. But I will give him the benefit of the doubt and see what he can do this season before casting dispersions.
Barnes is a good pick for assistant. He is a no-nosense type and I expect him to bring that steel back that we so desperately need.
I don't know much about Blair, but I think an outside voice from another country is a good move.
As for Beauden - his time has been up since the 2019 world cup. As a starter at least - he would have been much better employed as a impact sub - like he did so well against to Poms in 2024.
I can see a role for him the in the squad still, but I think even as an impact sub there are now better options. So he's more of a mentor in the wider group.
ALB and Reiko are done for me. The centers are some mix of Quinn Tupaea, Billy Proctor, Jordie Barrett & Timoci Tavatavanawai.
I would have said Leicester Fainga’anuku a month ago - but he seems to be thriving in my old position for now.
That was Razor's first season when he was starting McKenzie at 10, I remember that game, it was one of Barret's outstanding game changing performances when he came on in about the last 15 or 20, despite Beaudie having a poor performance this super rugby season I don't think RNZ is in a hurry to get rid of him until he announces his retirement due to his standing in seniority, experience, leadership, knowledge and as a big mentor, it'll be interesting to see how it pans out with an almost brand new coaching team coming in from out of the AB circles and having Mounga looking for a starting jersey as well as the improving Love performance waiting in the shadows for more opportunity, I'm sort of not a fan of McKenzie as a starter and think his best performances are off the bench and have far better impact than him starting as 10. Whatever happens this season its going to be some exciting rugby and the clean out and changing of appointments and direction in RNZ head office were desperately needed, Mark Robinson former CEO desperately needed to go, whether you love or hate Foster he was against him and drove division from the start of his appointment
GripMaster
Horndog
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Cheers Rich, must be good to have Ted there as well as a selector.I've been waiting for you to ask!
I've been watching the team since my retirement and noted the lack of steel, which I put down to not having my strong leadership...
I fully agree that a head coaching position does not seem to suit Tana. I have my reservations about him joining the coaching lineup. His coaching record falls well short of his playing one. But I will give him the benefit of the doubt and see what he can do this season before casting dispersions.
Barnes is a good pick for assistant. He is a no-nosense type and I expect him to bring that steel back that we so desperately need.
I don't know much about Blair, but I think an outside voice from another country is a good move.
As for Beauden - his time has been up since the 2019 world cup. As a starter at least - he would have been much better employed as a impact sub - like he did so well against to Poms in 2024.
I can see a role for him the in the squad still, but I think even as an impact sub there are now better options. So he's more of a mentor in the wider group.
ALB and Reiko are done for me. The centers are some mix of Quinn Tupaea, Billy Proctor, Jordie Barrett & Timoci Tavatavanawai.
I would have said Leicester Fainga’anuku a month ago - but he seems to be thriving in my old position for now.
That midfield doesn’t inspire me much. Quinn is a talent but they all feel like twelves to me. An outside centre who make the right defensive reads and can distribute to release the outside backs is lacking since the days of your old mate Conrad. Depth is also an issue.
The outside backs seem unsettled as well. I feel that Jordie is a case of what could have been at 15 (too late now), instead of making him fill a hole in the midfield. Will Jordan is there but I feel McKenzie is better than our wing stocks so it feels right to have him there.
Leicester has done well and has probably secured a bench spot for me as the hybrid 21. Ratima to cover scrum half and beauden as the 23.
Do you have a matchday 23 if we were to face the French tomorrow.
Richie McCaw
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Right from the mouth of Ted, the wise old selector, to you:
1. Ethan de Groot
2. Samisoni Taukei'aho
3. Fletcher Newell
4. Fabian Holland
5. Josh Lord
6. Ardie Savea (Vice Captain)
7. Peter Lakai
8. Wallace Sititi
9. Cam Roigard (Captain)
10. Ruben Love
11. Caleb Clarke
12. Jordie Barrett
13. Quinn Tupaea
14. Caleb Tangitau
15. Will Jordan
16. Asafo Aumua
17. Tamaiti Williams
18. Tyrel Lomax
19. Tupou Vaa'i
20. Leicester Fainga'anuku
21. Dylan Pledger
22. Damian McKenzie
23. Timoci Tavatavanawai
Note: This pretends there aren't injuries to Tangitau & Pledger. If we want to live in the real world, then they're replaced with Emoni Narawa and Kyle Preston.
Cue the outrage.....
1. Ethan de Groot
2. Samisoni Taukei'aho
3. Fletcher Newell
4. Fabian Holland
5. Josh Lord
6. Ardie Savea (Vice Captain)
7. Peter Lakai
8. Wallace Sititi
9. Cam Roigard (Captain)
10. Ruben Love
11. Caleb Clarke
12. Jordie Barrett
13. Quinn Tupaea
14. Caleb Tangitau
15. Will Jordan
16. Asafo Aumua
17. Tamaiti Williams
18. Tyrel Lomax
19. Tupou Vaa'i
20. Leicester Fainga'anuku
21. Dylan Pledger
22. Damian McKenzie
23. Timoci Tavatavanawai
Note: This pretends there aren't injuries to Tangitau & Pledger. If we want to live in the real world, then they're replaced with Emoni Narawa and Kyle Preston.
Cue the outrage.....
GripMaster
Horndog
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Huge call on Roigard to be skipper but I can get behind it. Giving Scott Barrett the Reuben Thorne treatment I see. No codie Taylor?
4's out for the rest of the season I think
Where's that little chief's wing I forget his name, the fastest man in the world that came from 7's
Leroy Carter? I think Narewa is injured, as is Nanai-Seturo
Not sure about Caleb Clarke, he's lost a yard of pace but his size might be handy.
We need to move on from Scooter - and from Beauden too - we have good locks available.
Our 9 and 10 is pretty thin, Roigard seems very injury prone, Love is nothing special.
That bench has a good Bomb Squad look.
Surely Mo'Leister has to start? Too valuable not to
Not sure about Caleb Clarke, he's lost a yard of pace but his size might be handy.
We need to move on from Scooter - and from Beauden too - we have good locks available.
Our 9 and 10 is pretty thin, Roigard seems very injury prone, Love is nothing special.
That bench has a good Bomb Squad look.
Surely Mo'Leister has to start? Too valuable not to
Richie McCaw
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Scooter lost his way. I think the captaincy wore him down. Some thrive with it (like me, of course) and some don't.
I'd still have him in the squad. And I think he might get back to his best without the pressure of captaincy.
Codie would be in my squad, too. But I think he's no longer the best.
Richie McCaw
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Fabian is due back in August.4's out for the rest of the season I think
Where's that little chief's wing I forget his name, the fastest man in the world that came from 7's
So not the French game, but hopefully the tour of SA. We'll sure need him.
We've seen it many times. The old warhorses coast along until a big occasion, then they rise and play a blinder.
I'd happily play the likes of Cody or Scott in a SA match, I'd doubt they'd let you down.
Once an AB gets to 30-40 caps, there's a class there that over-rides form.
GripMaster
Horndog
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Rich, going to need your views on the squad. I’m sure you had Ted’s ear before the team was finalised
Richie McCaw
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I tried my best to talk Ted into putting Big Jim 'the difference' Tavatavanawai in the squad over ALB, but he was adamant.
Time will tell if that was the right call.
Plus, I tried to tell him that my old mate BB is past his prime...