Your 4 midfielders for the Lions
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@Billy-Tell said in Your 4 midfielders for the Lions:
Based on what Hansen has said and who he has selected, these seem to be the pool of players.
- Sonny Bill Williams (injured), Ryan Crotty (injured this week), Malakai Fekitoa, George Moala (injured), Anton Lienert-Brown, Seta Tamanivalu, Rieko Ioane, Charlie Ngatai (injured), and Hansen also named-checked Richard Buckman at one stage.
I consider NgÄtai totally unproven at AB level. At the moment, assuming everyone fit and 4 spots: SBW, Crotty, Fekitoa, Moala for me.
And bump. Laumape has been a revelation this season, whereas I thought he looked completely one-dimensional in 2016. Meanwhile Moala & Ioane haven't really put their hands up, Tamanivalu has been injured and was on the wing anyway, Ngatai remains unsighted, and Buckman is back. Some people have been impressed by Proctor.
Crotty, SBW and ALB seem certainties. And Fekitoa has been steadily improving.
But should be interesting times. Definitely not the massive weakness feared after the end of Nonu/Smith anyway.
- Sonny Bill Williams (injured), Ryan Crotty (injured this week), Malakai Fekitoa, George Moala (injured), Anton Lienert-Brown, Seta Tamanivalu, Rieko Ioane, Charlie Ngatai (injured), and Hansen also named-checked Richard Buckman at one stage.
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@Billy-Tell Moala has to work on his distribution skills. Ioane apparently has to further develop his work ethic. As good as Laumape has been, Proctor makes everyone around him look good by doing everything well.
If I wanted a centre for his defence alone, it would be Fekitoa. On attack he just needs to be decisive.
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@Billy-Tell said in Your 4 midfielders for the Lions:
Crotty, SBW and ALB seem certainties. And Fekitoa has been steadily improving.
I think this is the 4 they'll select in the end. Who starts in the 1st test is still to be decided.
Ioane and Moala's best chance is to make the squad as a utility. Ioane a better bet.
Laumape is still untested at the pointy end of the Super season, which the AB selectors focus on.
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Tamanivalu might be getting time on the wing to fill the midfield/wing spot with Cruden coming off the bench. He's my pick for 5th or 6th right now, ahead of R Ioane.
I can't see Ngatai getting in for the Lions -perhaps later in the year if he is fit - so it's really between Fekitoa, SBW and Moala with ALB and Crotty nailed on certainties. I can't see them leaving out SBW or, for that matter, Fekitoa unless Moala, Ioane etc are totally playing down the house. Buck man is a dark horse, but would need injuries. He's about 7th or 8th by my list.
In (my) order: ALB, Crotty, SBW, Fekitoa, Moala or Tamanivalu, Ioane, Buckman or Ngatai
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@Billy-Tell you fucker! I was reading all these posts not even mentioning ALB and becoming exasperated, only to realise they were almost a year old.
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@Bones said in Your 4 midfielders for the Lions:
@Billy-Tell you fucker! I was reading all these posts not even mentioning ALB and becoming exasperated, only to realise they were almost a year old.
Ha. Same here... and all these people suggesting Ngatai... OTT even by Fern standards.
Crotty, ALB, Williams for sure IMO. Probably Fekitoa to round out the 4. I can't see them bringing in Proctor, or elevating Ioane or Moala during a Lions tour.
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I'd like to see
ALB
SBW
Laumape
CrottyCrotty and ALB give you options at both 12 and 13. Laumape snakes Moala for me, and I just can't warm to Fekitoa. He has done pretty well for us in black, but I don't rate his distribution and decision making. He has played well this year though, I'd expect he's doing enough currently to hold his spot.
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@infidel said in Your 4 midfielders for the Lions:
SBNZ
ALB
Crotty
FekitoaYep, me too. Moala is very close & probably next cab, but I don't buy the idea that in a Lions test they'd look at guys like Crotty & Fekitoa who have been in the system for years & are playing well & go "hmm.. maybe we should pair Laumape & Procter with Rieko on the bench?"
The selectors have never really once in 10 odd years been anything other than conservative & coinsistant bar the odd wing. I doubt they'll start tossing wild cards v Gatland. Plus, super form is a shit thing to go by.
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@gollum said in Your 4 midfielders for the Lions:
@infidel said in Your 4 midfielders for the Lions:
SBNZ
ALB
Crotty
FekitoaYep, me too. Moala is very close & probably next cab, but I don't buy the idea that in a Lions test they'd look at guys like Crotty & Fekitoa who have been in the system for years & are playing well & go "hmm.. maybe we should pair Laumape & Procter with Rieko on the bench?"
The selectors have never really once in 10 odd years been anything other than conservative & coinsistant bar the odd wing. I doubt they'll start tossing wild cards v Gatland. Plus, super form is a shit thing to go by.
Yep. As long as injury doesn't interfere I think you can ink Crotty in at 12. The incumbent 13s (Fekitoa and ALB) will battle it out for first shot.
That provides 3 midfielders and there is probably only going to be 4. SBW gets the last spot as he is not only always in the coaches plans they love using him for impact in the last 20.
I think selecting our bench is going to be one of the big keys in this series. The NH teams have finally caught up with the realisation that the bench shouldn't just be your next best cover player but someone that can take on the responsibility to keep the tempo up and better still someone with the vision to spot weak areas where tired players are grouped.Crockett, Faumuina, Squire, Ardie Savea, TJP, SBW are all proven in this regard. Nathan Harris was probably the guy they really wanted to sub on for Coles but Taylor fits for now. Biggest question would be whether they take a chance on DMac on the bench.
Back to the midfield options though the next in line players are probably Tamanivalu, Ioane, Moala, then the group that includes Ngatai, Proctor, Laumape and Buckman
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@MN5 said in Your 4 midfielders for the Lions:
Umaga
McCallister
Smith
MaugerNo room for Bunce or Little?
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@No-Quarter said in Your 4 midfielders for the Lions:
@MN5 said in Your 4 midfielders for the Lions:
Umaga
McCallister
Smith
MaugerNo room for Bunce or Little?
Stensness and E Clarke get a look in too.
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@MN5 said in Your 4 midfielders for the Lions:
@No-Quarter said in Your 4 midfielders for the Lions:
@MN5 said in Your 4 midfielders for the Lions:
Umaga
McCallister
Smith
MaugerNo room for Bunce or Little?
Stensness and E Clarke get a look in too.
Surely Matthew Cooper, no?
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MacDonald, Mils, Cullen certainties. And Ben Smith to round out the four.....
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@ACT-Crusader said in Your 4 midfielders for the Lions:
MacDonald, Mils, Cullen certainties. And Ben Smith to round out the four.....
That one hurt.
