How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?
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I am a huge fan of Luatua but some here and around the traps are carrying on as though his form was undeniable.
The spot they were picking for is a non playing reserve for an established loose trio and Ardie. There is no chance of competition to make it to match day. So it changes the equation a little.
Hansen is too canny to say this, but injury permitting whoever was picked maybe gets a look in for the third test if it's a dead rubber and Kaino and Read are better rested.
No point carrying a guy for three weeks when if all goes to plan he is going to get 60 minutes in the last game and then leave. Spend those resources wisely on building for the future.
Certainly not vindictive, if a clear selection was heading overseas they would be picked. That said it doesn't hurt to remind fringe players once in a while that they might want to think twice about leaving.
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@rotated Whilst I have a lot of sympathy for your view, the fact remains that Squire and Read are a non-negligible risk. If sod's law struck and both were to miss first two Lions tests I'd want my top man in reserve. For me, Luatua is it. If Read passed fully fit by all means release him. Nothing to stop Akira being apprentice or whatever they wish to call him.
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@pakman said in How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?:
@rotated Whilst I have a lot of sympathy for your view, the fact remains that Squire and Read are a non-negligible risk. If sod's law struck and both were to miss first two Lions tests I'd want my top man in reserve. For me, Luatua is it. If Read passed fully fit by all means release him. Nothing to stop Akira being apprentice or whatever they wish to call him.
Nothing to stop Luatua being called in if Kaino/Read/Squire are unable to play. We've seen them pick from outside the squad straight into the 23 regularly when a specific type of player is needed. I don't see Todd or Savea shoehorned into Kaino or Reads spot if out for the series.
Read and Kaino are pros - their injuries aren't going to be assessed like the average player. These two have the experience and demenour to be selected without a second thought unless they sustain further injury, irrespective of match fitness or chronic injury. They are on the Richie 2011 plan.
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I'm surprised they selected Laumape, mainly because after a player has a standout season they tend to wait to see how he backs it up. However, I can understand at some point form becomes simply undeniable. This is the thing that annoys me about Damian McKenzie's non-selection. By any measure he is the form fullback of the competition. I get that he is small but I have seen him chop down too many players twice his size, run the ball through too many forward packs and get up after getting merked too many times for that to count against him.
There is an argument that Jordie has more utility value, but in my opinion that's just theoretical until I actually see him playing some other positions at senior level. I could argue McKenzie has more utility value because no other player non-first five comes in first receiver as much as him, but I won't argue that because I wouldn't want to see either player playing anywhere but fullback for the All Blacks right now.
I'm excited about Jordie Barrett and think he will probably go on to have a far better All Blacks career than McKenzie, but I don't agree with this selection.
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@Milk said in How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?:
I'm surprised they selected Laumape, mainly because after a player has a standout season they tend to wait to see how he backs it up. However, I can understand at some point form becomes simply undeniable. This is the thing that annoys me about Damian McKenzie's non-selection. By any measure he is the form fullback of the competition. I get that he is small but I have seen him chop down too many players twice his size, run the ball through too many forward packs and get up after getting merked too many times for that to count against him.
There is an argument that Jordie has more utility value, but in my opinion that's just theoretical until I actually see him playing some other positions at senior level. I could argue McKenzie has more utility value because no other player non-first five comes in first receiver as much as him, but I won't argue that because I wouldn't want to see either player playing anywhere but fullback for the All Blacks right now.
I'm excited about Jordie Barrett and think he will probably go on to have a far better All Blacks career than McKenzie, but I don't agree with this selection.
I completely agree although I am guessing (hoping) that there is a plan for the future here with JB being the utility back (important for RWCs) and DMac becomes the new BB (pre BB becoming the 10)
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I don't have a massive problem with Luatua's non-selection. I get that if two players are relatively equal, the one with the future in NZ trumps the other. However, I don't personally believe that's what's happened here because I don't think Akira Ioane and Luatua are on the same level right now. I would be comfortable with Luatua starting a test at 6 or 8 but I wouldn't be with Ioane.
But, all in all I think at a certain point players servitude to the All Blacks and NZ rugby over a period of time should override them leaving. I don't personally think Luatua has earned that but Cruden and TKB have.
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I can see why they might think Jordie has more upside to Dmac , and im guessing that is what its more about at this stage , the future ,
But I am a Dmac fan , enjoy watching him and think he is a great asset to NZ rugby , unique little player ,
ironically , good chance he will get more game time against the lions than jordie anyway , with the maori game and then possibly the chiefs (?)
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Dmac has to go into that maori game and treat it as his test match ,
perfect opportunity for him with all eyes watching ,
Time is still on his side if he is good enough ,
Ben smith didnt become a regular AB until later
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@Crucial said in How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?:
@Bones said in How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?:
On the evidence so far, I'd be extremely worried to see DMAC at 10. JB for me.
No one is saying DMac at 10 this year and hopefully no one is saying JB at 10 either.
Of course not that would be preposterous.
Dagg has the emergency first five spot locked down.
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@Crucial said in How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?:
@Bones said in How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?:
On the evidence so far, I'd be extremely worried to see DMAC at 10. JB for me.
No one is saying DMac at 10 this year and hopefully no one is saying JB at 10 either.
Why are people saying JB is an option at 1st 5? When has he ever played there?
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@Bovidae said in How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?:
@Crucial said in How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?:
@Bones said in How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?:
On the evidence so far, I'd be extremely worried to see DMAC at 10. JB for me.
No one is saying DMac at 10 this year and hopefully no one is saying JB at 10 either.
Why are people saying JB is an option at 1st 5? When has he ever played there?
I don't know, that is why I reacted to Bones' comment
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cos he is Beaudens brother, Beauden plays 10, Jordie also looks like Beauden...not that much of a stretch is it? Sheesh!
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@taniwharugby Don't you mean he should be playing lock?
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Spare a thought for Whetu Douglas. The selectors have shown they're not adverse to plucking a guy out of leftfield if their Super Rugby form is compelling (Laumape). Douglas would have been a shoe-in for the Maori and given the injury situation in the AB loosies he might have started against Samoa had he managed to stay at the Crusaders covering for Read.
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@Milk said in How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?:
Commentators often throw out the "can play any where in the backline except halfback' when discussing Jordie.
I can play anywhere in the backline including halfback. Doesn't make me AB material in any of those positions though.
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@taniwharugby said in How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?:
cos he is Beaudens brother, Beauden plays 10, Jordie also looks like Beauden...not that much of a stretch is it? Sheesh!
Jordie doesn't look like Beauden, Beauden looks like Jordie
I agree with most of these posts re Dmac's non selection, particularly when we're talking fullback. But you could chuck Jordie on the bench for the first test and cover pretty much every position other than the halves. DMac would be great value if you could slot him in at flyhalf, but until then you get better value overall from JB.
Hopefully in the future DMac will take the Cruden bench position.
