Dave Rennie unveils first All Blacks squad ahead of Nations Championship Tests

Haha yea well I would have taken Hotham but he didn’t quite have the season I thought he was going to but neither did the Saders injuries hobbled them some

yea but also get more intelligent than that. subs for instance all have far high per 80s because they only play 20/30. Look at Preston being picked for getting to the ruck faster than Hotham, well DURR

Yea u know age height weight meters made per 80 minutes tries per 80 minutes tackles per 80 minutes missed tackles per 80 linebreaks per 80 and probaly just the ones more relevant to their positions

I don’t often pay attention to them but I think it’s on the breakdown show where they put stats along the bottom of the screen which are sometimes more intersting than what you can get online.

I’m not familary with bb broadcasting but it and baseball/cricket have really engaging stats. i was more thinking about metrics yea like NFL preseason style.

Ratima needs to lift his decision making and speed to ruck….he was very poor last year in the black jumper. Last chance for Parker….mr anonymous last year in black. Jim over ALB….he will prove himself when he gets game time in SA. Jacobson is another in last chance saloon…..not really nod to the future. Lets see BB play the Rennie way to see if he’s still got it. Im sure we would be lauding his season if he was still a Hurricane

From now on, we can start looking at Rennie’s first squad. I think the real selection decisions will be made there. The demotion of Beauden Barrett, along with a number of Hurricanes players from 9 through 15, will be particularly interesting.

In my view, it’s still difficult to get a clear picture of the No. 2 and No. 3 positions. Taylor could still keep the jersey, much to my surprise.

I’d go with:

De Groot / Taylor / Tosi

Darry / Vaai

Sititi / Lakai / Ardie or Ardie / Lakai

Roigard / Love

Fineanganofo / J. Barrett / Proctor / Moorby

McKenzie

Jordan probably shouldn’t play the first Test.

6–2 bench against France:

Bower / Aumua / Lomax / Lord / Parker / Segner / Preston / Tupaea

I think a lot of this squad picked itself, and it’s great to see so many players getting in there on form rather than past deeds or potential.

ALB is one of the biggest head scratchers. Tupea is everything ALB promised to be but never became. He peaked at the 2019 World Cup and has never stepped up to secure a starting spot since, and has arguably only been in the team because he covers 12 and 13 rather than being the second best at either one. Tavatavanawai must not be what Rennie is looking for.

Jacobson makes sense on paper but the stats shared on the ARP pod before the final did not paint him in a particularly good light. Despite appearances he is one of the least busy loosies in the comp. Blackadder would have made way more sense.

I feel for Kirifi. He played as well as anyone and was one of the most influential players in the best team. I think he is 20% better than he was last year. I think he has added some weight, and having had a taste of international footy now knows where he needs to be. He was immovable over the ball, insane anticipation, crazy work rate. I think he has lost out on versatility rather than not being the best out and out 7 in the country. It is very tough not to reward someone who was top 3 of every valuable stat for a loose forward. I would love to have seen him to get a crack against France, but also understand the selectors want to get a look at Segner.

Tuipolotu is lucky Walker-Leawere is leaving. He would have taken that spot in the squad. He absolutely owned much higher rated locks with much bigger reputations all year. Having watched every lock named in this squad get made to look like they were not on the field against Dearns, Delaney, and Walker-Leawere in the semi and final it is definitely the most worrying position for the ABs. The Hurricanes did not even have a lock on the bench in the final.

Moorby is an exciting player, but I haven’t seen much of him defensively. How’s he under the high ball or on defence?

Hope he makes the selection to the tactis of the team and games to come. It is not always “base on merits” - yet more “ shall be fitting to the picture of the game the coaches have in mind” - the problem is that picture could be of the hard one - the first taste vs France shall be a hell of the game, and again hard to see what new on offer from selection. Ardie as the Skipper - hard to say - it looks like he has never managed it well at SR by Huricanes, yet was quite OK for Moana, as AB Cap - some of the presenters tell - he is not enojoying it too much… Yet as by Razor - new coach need “his man”…. Otherwise - hard to judge on the selection without seen “new tragectory” on the field.

Interesting - only one Highlinder in the selection… just a coinsidence, or…

Hope it works well, though for AB and we may cheers before SAFA challenge!

Surely big Jim offers more than ALB?? Thin air offers more than BB at this stage of his career but I guess who else is there…???