BOKS WATCH: Depth Creates Brutal Selection Calls
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
Kia ora and welcome back to another box watch here on Aotearoa Rugby Pod. Now it's a little bit late in that the box squad came out last week but it came out after our show. So let's get a little into this box squad and what it looks like. The first thing when I looked at the squad naming... was looking at the utility backs and utility forwards section. They don't name their squad with traditional positions. Now there is a segment for both of those things within the way they name it. It's just another evolution of the way that rugby teams look at things.
What I always look at is the utility factor, or they call utility, we call versatility, is it's the bomb. That's how they make up the bomb squad. And it's almost like sometimes you feel like the bomb squad can be... better than the starters, do you know what I mean?
What does the new Bok squad naming reveal about utility players and versatility?
Because of the impact they can have on the game and that ability to play multiple positions. And, you know, I suppose the ultimate is Andre Esterhays in terms of buying forwards or backs, you know, similar to what Leicester sort of has tried to mimic. And then obviously their third hooker is a prop hooker. That creates versatility to the point that sometimes, I know this is worst case scenario, but from a bomb squad point of view, if you have three guys that can play prop, and say there's yellow cards or there's injuries, they don't want to go to Golden Oldies. The scrum is their weapon. So to have people that can go, actually, no, we're good enough to play international level at prop, it gives them the ability to keep playing to their strengths.
So in rugby teams, one of the biggest things in terms of squad make-ups and understanding and the preparation of the week is all the what-ifs. And what if it's a massive? It's like, okay, what back's going to play flanker if we get a yellow card? You know, what are we going to do if we go down to golden oldies? How are we going to run it? All those sorts of things are thought out. And, you know, Rusty's always ahead of the game. And you can see, I think, in the makeup of the squad, okay, worst case scenario, you know, if I go 7-1, who can go where and what can be done? Or if I go 6-2 and he's very, like, when you look at his squads, although they can be sometimes a riddle, In his head, he is covering what I believe would be every basis possible.
He's got a 43-man squad for this tour, including Argentina. Now, it looks like they're leaving 15 players behind to wait.
How does the 'bomb squad' concept change selection and bench strategy?
But they've got so many of those guys who are their senior players who are coming back from injury. Ibn Ezzabeth, Sir Khaleesi. Those guys, that trip to Argentina is going to be massive for them. That game, getting those guys back up to speed and ready for that test match.
It isn't who's back. It's who have they left out from that July series that performed. And the depth, you know, like you do get to the point and you feel, is this the deepest squad, which we've spoken about at length, I understand. But it is really amazing when you see all those names come back and guys that performed that didn't make the cut. And the opportunity that presents themselves with Argentina is, prepares them really, really well to know or iron the kinks out. Because there will be kinks. They haven't played rugby for a long time. Feinberg and Gonazulu would be a prime case because you'd think he's their number one. Hmm. statistically he's out and out there number one in terms of attack metrics, point differential, you know, in basketball terms, what do they call it?
Plus minus.
He would have a huge plus minus against top nations, against your All Blacks, your Islands, your French. So opportunity to get him some minutes and have him play a role where A few months ago, I don't think that was on the cards. And it provides a lot of interest in those Argentinian games in the lead-up to see where all of them are at. Ideally, I think like all of us, All Blacks fans and All Blacks players and staff included, you want the best players out there. You want to test yourself against the best 23, that first test in Joburg.
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Chapters
5 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:00–0:48
2
What does the new Bok squad naming reveal about utility players and versatility?
0:48–2:29
3
How does the 'bomb squad' concept change selection and bench strategy?
2:29–5:09
4
Why is scrummaging versatility important with a prop-hooker hybrid in the squad?
5:09–10:28
5
How will the Argentina tour be used to reintegrate injured veterans?
10:28–11:55
Speakers
2 identifiedMore from Aotearoa Rugby Pod
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