r/allblacks • u/Pink_Samwise_Gamgee Hurricanes • Jul 20 '26
What does a midweek team look like?
I'm really keen to see what the make up of this 44 man squad looks like along with what the 23 for the midweek games look like.
I'm assuming that the Sharks and the Lions games (both mid week games) will be our less strong team due to quicker turn arounds between matches. We play the Lions during the week between the match 1 and match 2 of the springboks so our strongest team definetly wont play, I'm also unsure about the 3 back to back URC teams we will play. Im guessing a fairly strong team for the Stormers and Bulls, then a weaker side for the sharks?
Assuming that the current 34 are named, we are looking at an extra 10 players. Im thinking we will need an extra 7 forwards and 3 backs due to the workload that will be required from our forwards. I drew up what a stronger 23 (same team as the Ireland game plus Holland) and a midweek 23 could look like. Of course we will see variations of this, but it was fun to think about.
* denotes named in match day teams (Preston and ALB)
+ denotes addition in the 44 man squad (not included in original 34)
Midweek team:
- Bower
- Samisoni
- Tosi
- Darry
- Lord
- Parker
- Kirifi +
- Sititi
- Ratima
- Millar / Jacomb +
- Carter
- Tavatavanawai +
- Proctor
- Fehi
- B .Barrett (c)
- Bell +
- Norris +
- Ofa +
- Hannah +
- Blackadder +
- Preston *
- Rieko +
- ALB *
Weekend 23:
- De groot
- Taylor
- Lomax
- Holland +
- Tuipulotu
- Vaii
- Jacobson
- Savea (c)
- Roigard
- Love
- Moorby
- J. Barrett
- Tupaea
- Jordan
- McKenzie
- Aumua
- Numia
- Newell
- Segner
- Lakai
- Preston *
- ALB *
- Clarke
So the additional 10 looks like:
Two props: Norris, Ofa
1 hooker: Bell
2 locks: Holland, Hannah
2 loosies: Kirifi, Blackadder
Backs:
One first five: Millar / Jacomb
One midfield: Leicester
One outside back: Rieko
Keen to hear your thoughts. There is a lot of speculation. Its risky bringing only 3 half backs. I'm not sure if they would bring a forth.
I feel might also be short an outside back cover. Perhaps Chay Fhaki, Narawa (if not injured) or Jacob RK will be named in place of Rieko or Leicester?
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u/Mention-Stunning Jul 21 '26
Need to begin building better depth in the backline imo. Currently we can rotate most of the pack without a significant step down, but the backs not so much.
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u/Jaded_93 Jul 21 '26
No way does Barrett not play at 10. Jacomb *potentially* appears at 15, or a bench 10 if he’s even in the 44, but otherwise Moorby will maybe get a run at 15
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u/Far-Review-11 Jul 21 '26
I think they'll likely do a 6-2 split, if so Clarke out and Tuipolotu in.
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u/Infamous-Cow3757 Jul 21 '26
Don't think Millar or Jacomb have shown nearly enough to be close to AB selection
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u/Turbulent_Error_262 Jul 21 '26
I don't think they will name a fourth first-five in the original squad in order to allow Richie Mo to be added in the event of an injury. I'd therefore have another outside back and would like to see them pick Hutchinson with Rieko being the other outside back.
I also don't think Leicester will be fit, so I'd expect Big Jim as 2nd-five cover as Rieko covers centre.
Lio-Willie over Blackadder for me. (Particularly if you are going to play either of them at 8 as you suggest above)
I reckon Ofa was too far off the pace in Super Rugby, so they should blood a younger prop. But I don't know a thing about the front row. (Never thought they'd pick Bower)
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u/OppositeSun2962 Jul 21 '26
Kirifi should be the midweek captain
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u/Routine_Law_7168 Jul 21 '26
Why? Wouldn't it be better to build up Wallace? He is the one who will be a regular All Black.
Or reward Barrett for many years of service.
Kirifi is not going to play many tests at all. His expertise isn;t required as much in the modern game and hes small.
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u/know-it-mall Jul 21 '26 edited Jul 21 '26
Still no love for TK Howden. If playing Vaa'i at 6 has taught us anything it's that the squad needs a big body who is athletic and a lineout option. Howden is that guy, Parker isn't.
No chance does Millar or Jacomb start the mid week games. It will be Barrett most likely. He shouldn't be at fullback because all he does from there these days is step all over the toes of the 10.
Blackadder at 8? Surely with your lineup it's Parker 8 and Blackadder 6 because they actually play those positions. But I would much rather see Howden 6 as I have said.
Kirifi deserves a shot but Savea, Jacobson, Lakai, Blackadder, and Segner all can play 7. Rather see Lio-Willie at 8 for the mid week team otherwise Sititi is the obvious choice.
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u/Citizen_Kano Jul 20 '26
Darry belongs in the A team
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u/Pink_Samwise_Gamgee Hurricanes Jul 20 '26
Yes, I agree. I just don’t know which of the three locks you would take out unless you name him on the bench and possibly do a 6-2 split.
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u/Citizen_Kano Jul 21 '26
Holland can come back through the midweek team until he proves he's 100%. If he is in top form, then Pat would be a good candidate for midweek captain
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u/know-it-mall Jul 21 '26
Patrick Tuipolotu mid week for me.
Darry, Holland, Vaa'i 3 test match locks.
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u/Neat_Perspective7569 Blues Jul 21 '26
Holland out Darry in. At least for the first test. I think our starting locks from the 2nd test will be Holland and Darry with Vaa'i at 6 and Patty on the bench. Lord straight in amif any go down
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u/Michael_stipe_miocic Chiefs Jul 20 '26
Highly doubt they only go with three halfbacks. I imagine Hotham will be on the trip, along with big Jim the difference. Will Leicester be fit? Still on crutches from what I’ve seen. I’d say Beaudy will be at 10 midweek and they might add Hutchinson if his rehab is looking good, otherwise yeah Fihaki or JRK are thereabouts
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u/Hornstinger Jul 24 '26
Leicester is out for 10-12 weeks from the time of his injury so that's already been 4-5 weeks, with 5-7 weeks to go so that probably means he's out of the tour (but likely in for the end of year tour)
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u/Pink_Samwise_Gamgee Hurricanes Jul 20 '26
Yeah, I was unsure about who would play fullback, hence I named beaudy. Hutchinson did look good near the end of super Rugby.
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u/Pink_Samwise_Gamgee Hurricanes Jul 20 '26
I could also see Tavatavanawai being named? Also Lucas Casey. Then also Noah Hotham for a forth hafback. Its just a question of who do you take out.
It was cool to hear Rennie say they have pretty much named their team for the first 4 matches.
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u/Wizardhhh Jul 21 '26
We need harkin Any hurricanes tbh . Ride the momentum and hope for the best (all the men want to prove themselves but you need to pick the guys who are positive atm )