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'It's impressive': The player Dave Rennie was stunned the All Blacks didn't want
By Online Editors
Wallabies coach Dave Rennie has admitted to some envy over the All Blacks' squad depth, as he revealed the squad that is set to take them on in the Bledisloe Cup and Rugby Championship.
Rennie revealed a 44-man squad yesterday as the Wallabies prepare to travel to New Zealand this weekend to play two Bledisloe Cup tests - though they first have to negotiate a stint in quarantine that Rennie has called 'unacceptable'.
However, when asked about the All Blacks' squad, Rennie noted the fortune of his counterparts' strength in depth - pointing to someone who he used to coach at the Chiefs as an example of a player he was surprised the All Blacks selectors didn't pick - not even for the North v South clash.
"Geez, it's impressive, isn't it? If you can leave someone like Lachlan Boshier out, who I thought was incredible during Super Rugby Aotearoa, he didn't even make the North Island side. That tells you about the depth of New Zealand rugby," remarked Rennie.
"But in the end they can only put 15 on the field at once, so we'll be working hard to make sure we've got a side that can compete."
Boshier was the surprise omission from the final 23-man teams for the North v South match, with his snub speaking to New Zealand rugby's rich loose forward depth and the All Blacks' desire to harness more physicality from this area of their game.
Boshier, often in tandem with All Blacks captain Sam Cane, was one of New Zealand's form loose forwards this season. He was a constant menace at the breakdown where he frequently won telling turnovers while his defensive work rate was off the charts.
New All Blacks selector John Plumtree admitted leaving Boshier out of the North v South clash, and with it, ultimately the All Blacks' squad, was one of his most difficult decisions.
"If you look at the group it's a tough loose forward trio to break into and that can happen.
"He's got a couple of things he's going to work on and he has a bit of direction around that. I'm sure he's going to get many opportunities above Super level in the future.
"It was a tough call but there were many tough calls there's many good players not here."
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Latest Comments
I so wish we could use BIG words here to say what an absolute %^$# this guy is, but we can't so I won't.
Go to commentsGet world rugby to buy a few Islands in the Mediterranean. Name them Rugby Island #1, #2, #3 etc. All teams are based there all season and as the knockouts progress, losers go home for a few months rest. Sell the TV rights to any and all.
Have an open ballot/lottery each week to fly fans out to fill the stadiums. They get to enter the draw if they pay their taxes and avoid crime which would encourage good social engagement from rugby supporters as responsible citizens. The school kids get in the draw if they are applying themselves at school and reaching their potential.
Or maybe there is some magic way to prioritise both domestic rugby and international rugby by having the same players playing for 12 months of the year...
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