The annual exodus is underway. Lachlan Boshier, Otere Black, TJ Faiane and Gerald Cowley-Tuioti are off to Japan.

4 very good players lost, with Boshier, Faiane and Black in their prime years.

A bit of frivolity

Some surprising results I thought.

Handle9:

 

The annual exodus is underway. Lachlan Boshier, Otere Black, TJ Faiane and Gerald Cowley-Tuioti are off to Japan.

 

4 very good players lost, with Boshier, Faiane and Black in their prime years.

 

 

 

I am a little surprised at Boshier leaving, not that surprised at the others. I guess Boshier may have felt he wasn't going to get a Black Jersey. Some reports saying his lack of versatility was hindering his progress in that area. It's a big blow for the Chiefs. When fit he is one of their best, if not their best forward.

Otere Black may find a few people helping him pack after Saturday night ;)

It's a fairly uninspiring All Blacks team that has been named. The props are extremely weak, with only one really top tier prop in there (Laulala).

networkn:

 

Handle9:

 

The annual exodus is underway. Lachlan Boshier, Otere Black, TJ Faiane and Gerald Cowley-Tuioti are off to Japan.

 

4 very good players lost, with Boshier, Faiane and Black in their prime years.

 

 

 

 

I am a little surprised at Boshier leaving, not that surprised at the others. I guess Boshier may have felt he wasn't going to get a Black Jersey. Some reports saying his lack of versatility was hindering his progress in that area. It's a big blow for the Chiefs. When fit he is one of their best, if not their best forward.

 

Otere Black may find a few people helping him pack after Saturday night ;)

 

If he got a good offer there is no reason for Boshier to stay. His value was never going to be higher and the All Black selectors made his place very clear last year.

Handle9:

 

It's a fairly uninspiring All Blacks team that has been named. The props are extremely weak, with only one really top tier prop in there (Laulala).

 

How would you have changed it to make it "inspiring"?

networkn:

 

Handle9:

 

It's a fairly uninspiring All Blacks team that has been named. The props are extremely weak, with only one really top tier prop in there (Laulala).

 

 

What would your inspiring team have been?

 

A team with a high quality forward pack. The front row is bad and the loosies are weak.

I'm more worried about the age profile, t.b.h.

In this squad there are eight over-thirty players and four more who'll be thirty by the next RWC in 2023
The average age of the three half backs picked today will be thirty-one at the next RWC

At this stage of the RWC cycle I'd expect to see a few younger players being looked at

=====
Coles 34
Taylor 30
Ta'avao 31
Retallick 30
Whitelock 32
Smith 32
Weber 30
B Barrett 30
-----
Bower 29
Laulala 29
Tu'inukuafe 28
Tuipolotu 28

Handle9:

 

A team with a high quality forward pack. The front row is bad and the loosies are weak.

 

So who, from our uninjured players, would you have picked instead?

networkn:

Handle9:

A team with a high quality forward pack. The front row is bad and the loosies are weak.

So who, from our uninjured players, would you have picked instead?

 

PolicyGuy:

I'm more worried about the age profile, t.b.h.

In this squad there are eight over-thirty players and four more who'll be thirty by the next RWC in 2023
The average age of the three half backs picked today will be thirty-one at the next RWC

At this stage of the RWC cycle I'd expect to see a few younger players being looked at

 

=====
Coles 34
Taylor 30
Ta'avao 31
Retallick 30
Whitelock 32
Smith 32
Weber 30
B Barrett 30
-----
Bower 29
Laulala 29
Tu'inukuafe 28
Tuipolotu 28

Are any tests being played in Christchurch this year?

networkn:

Are any tests being played in Christchurch this year?

 

Handle9:

 

There will not be a test in Christchurch for many years.

I thought as much, I was trying to coincide a trip to visit friends with an AB's game but it's not to be.

Handle9:

 

A team with a high quality forward pack. The front row is bad and the loosies are weak.

 

I agree, needed more Blues players.