AB's v Samoa
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@Stockcar86 said in AB's v Samoa:
Congrats @Higgins on Fifita making his AB debut
Thanks. I elected to watch the match up in the Isherwood Lounge at the Wellington Football Club along with the best part of 180 other Axemen, the place where it all began for Vaea. Managed to find a nice corner to myself where I was able to sit back and quietly contemplate and reminisce in solitude on the long and tough five year journey to get this far rather than get caught up in the general excitement of Vaea becoming the Axemen's 17th All Black (and first since Dion Waller back in 2001).
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Amazing how when Conrad Smith retired we thought there would be a big hole to fill that may take years. Various names were thrown about but only through circumstance of injury did this ALB kid get plucked out as almost a last resort and thrown in the deep end.
Conrad who? -
@MiketheSnow said in AB's v Samoa:
And the understatement of the evening goes to
"The All Blacks threatening the offside line there"
Tsunaming it would be more apt.
Just practising mate. If we do it against the Lions and get away with it it will be a case 'can dish it out but can't take it'. If we get pinged we can ask the ref to watch the Lions as well to make things fair.
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@Crucial said in AB's v Samoa:
Amazing how when Conrad Smith retired we thought there would be a big hole to fill that may take years. Various names were thrown about but only through circumstance of injury did this ALB kid get plucked out as almost a last resort and thrown in the deep end.
Conrad who?Thinking about this and I may have mentioned it last year or something.
I don't see why the selectors may not also see ALB as wing cover. I know he was used there a fair bit earlier in his career at NPC/Super and age group too maybe? Or am I thinking Thompson again?
Certainly has the skill set.
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@Bones said in AB's v Samoa:
@Crucial said in AB's v Samoa:
Amazing how when Conrad Smith retired we thought there would be a big hole to fill that may take years. Various names were thrown about but only through circumstance of injury did this ALB kid get plucked out as almost a last resort and thrown in the deep end.
Conrad who?Thinking about this and I may have mentioned it last year or something.
I don't see why the selectors may not also see ALB as wing cover. I know he was used there a fair bit earlier in his career at NPC/Super and age group too maybe? Or am I thinking Thompson again?
Certainly has the skill set.
He'd handle wing easily. Far more simple for a centre to cover wing than the other way. He has the gas, haven't seen the highball skills too much though.
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Assuming SBW/ALB is the starting combination I don't see Hansen planning to substitute either.
The question then becomes do you go the safe route in Crotty and ensure you best possible positional cover or Ioane/Barrett and ensure maximum firepower off the bench (knowing BFA can slide to centre and is skilled enough to hold his own). I consider Barrett's improved goal kicking as a weapon off the bench of sorts.
Going from his track record unless Hansen determined Smith would be a liability covering centre or SBW/ALB is carrying a niggle - I'd say it's almost certain he will go with the aggressive option.
Down by 2 with 20 minutes to go how do you pull the trigger on Crotty for SBW or ALB?
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@Crucial said in AB's v Samoa:
Amazing how when Conrad Smith retired we thought there would be a big hole to fill that may take years. Various names were thrown about but only through circumstance of injury did this ALB kid get plucked out as almost a last resort and thrown in the deep end.
Conrad who?Much like how Conrad essentially got it by default in 2008 after a bit of an exodus - although Smith had been around for a while he was similarly unfancied.
One thing you have to say about Hansen's selectors is their "hunch" selections seem to pay off far better than Henry's did when someone was plucked from obscurity.
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It will interesting to see whether Fekitoa backs himself to improve or takes the easy (& lucrative) option and fecks off to France.
If you take out the older midfielders (Crotty, SBW), then the likes of ALB, Ngatai, Goodhue, and Laumape look this season much better options.
I much prefer ALB at 13 than 12. And SBW offers a lot on attack. But I suspect Crotty might still get the pick for his defensive reading of the game. It's probably the only real debatable call for next week, along with the 23 shirt. As much as there are better attackers, the ABs are not going to let Dagg's aerial skills and punt go to waste against a kicking Lion side. How much would the Lion like to be able to afford to leave out Naholo and Ioane from their back division...
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I suspect fekitoa will go now , if it was a question of loyalty in the beginning, he probably wouldve been playing for tonga in the beginning anyway .
Big money offer in France , feels on the outer with the abs now , I'm guessing he will move on . ( just a guess , happy to be proven wrong)With all midfielders fit I lean towards Crottys mistake free game in the early stages , with sbw doing more damage as the game loosens up.
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@rotated said in AB's v Samoa:
Much like how Conrad essentially got it by default in 2008 after a bit of an exodus - although Smith had been around for a while he was similarly unfancied.
One thing you have to say about Hansen's selectors is their "hunch" selections seem to pay off far better than Henry's did when someone was plucked from obscurity.
Wayne Smith was talking up ALB big time when he made the Chiefs side. Having seen him there he will have known that we was progressing nicely. I don't think there was much hunch involved.
ALB was merely lucky to have an early gap, because centres usually have to play a few years for it to become apparent to everyone that they are the actual glue, whereas the pretty boys like Julian catch the ball, fall over the line, and get the awesome stats.
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@kiwiinmelb said in AB's v Samoa:
I suspect fekitoa will go now
He's kind of gone back to what he showed at the Blues - not developing his game, limited skillset, etc. Very much a 'what might have been' player.
Still, he did well in a few test wins, and filled a real gap for us. Good luck to him in his future career
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@Bones said in AB's v Samoa:
Thinking about this and I may have mentioned it last year or something.
I don't see why the selectors may not also see ALB as wing cover. I know he was used there a fair bit earlier in his career at NPC/Super and age group too maybe? Or am I thinking Thompson again?
IIRC ALB made his debut for the Chiefs as a 19 year old on the wing vs the Bulls in Pretoria. I'm sure he could play on the wing as he has a similar skillset to Kahui. I don't remember him ever playing on the wing for Waikato.
If all 3 midfielders are fit then SBW would be the best impact player. Khoder might disagree though.
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@nzzp said in AB's v Samoa:
@kiwiinmelb said in AB's v Samoa:
I suspect fekitoa will go now
He's kind of gone back to what he showed at the Blues - not developing his game, limited skillset, etc. Very much a 'what might have been' player.
Still, he did well in a few test wins, and filled a real gap for us. Good luck to him in his future career
always looked like a winger playing midfield to me , not sure why wing wasnt a position he was given a go at some stage
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@pukunui said in AB's v Samoa:
Pretty entertaining game in the end. Good to get that first test out of the way.
How good is ALB?
How good is BBBR?
How good is BB?Thought both Ardie and Jules were good tonight. Some very nice touches by Jules and moves to equal second top AB try scorer with 46. Ardie with a nice tackle to save that "certain" try for Samoa early in the game.
Scott and Jordie Barrett also had some nice touches. Happy for Scott to be the bench lock in the big tests.
Aaron Smith had a couple of hiccups eg. a few poor kicks and that pass into touch but man his bullet pass is great to watch. Happy for him to start and TJP to come on with 20-30 mins to go and tear it up.
SBW not as good as he was for the Blues against the Lions. I'd probably have ALB and Crotty starting for the first test.
Still don't like this ref. The penalty against BB for holding on at 27min where he was poking out on side of the ruck with the ball under his chin and the Samoan player was tugging at something down near BBs legs and won the penalty was laughable. Fake news.
Oh and Fuck off Marshall.
Liked for your last sentence.
The man spouts some dribble (and yes I meant dribble not drivel) at times.
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Not much to add really.
Decent performance and got better as the game went on.
A little lucky early with the neck roll and the Ardie knock on, and the Samoan's inability to finish chances created through our midfield, but pretty much one way traffic from 20 mins.
ALB ... he was the guy I was picking to be the third mid-fielder. Always had SBW for the physicality and Crotty.
But now? Jeez. Can't pick all of them. And as alluded to above (maybe by @Crucial ?) how strong is the depth in midfield? When Fekitoa misses out and Moala isn't even in the conversation, Ngatai still on the comeback, Jordie Barrett's preferred position is 12, Ioane's is 13, Goodhue is on the rise, Proctor getting fan love, oh yeah and Laumape.
Couple of decent lads in the U20s too.
Anyways ...
Mrs boo was napping on the couch. Woke up to see Ardie score off TJP's chip kick commenting "now that's just showing off".
Didn't think that last pass was forward from SBW. His hand was even with the ball when it was caught by TJP. Hence momentum and all that tge pass was flat. Should have taken the easier option to pass to him before the tacler though.
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Just watched the first half.
Smith's box kicking has been excellent. Both him and Barrett looking a bit bigger this year.
Moody has been a bit more active than usual.
Ardie has been a lot more active on defence, good to see.
Kaino and BFA warming up nicely.
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@rotated said in AB's v Samoa:
@Crucial said in AB's v Samoa:
Amazing how when Conrad Smith retired we thought there would be a big hole to fill that may take years. Various names were thrown about but only through circumstance of injury did this ALB kid get plucked out as almost a last resort and thrown in the deep end.
Conrad who?Much like how Conrad essentially got it by default in 2008 after a bit of an exodus - although Smith had been around for a while he was similarly unfancied.
One thing you have to say about Hansen's selectors is their "hunch" selections seem to pay off far better than Henry's did when someone was plucked from obscurity.
Say what? Smith was always seen as the heir apparent and it was injury in 2007 which stopped him taking over the position full time for the world cup. That's how we wound up with Mils at centre.
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@Bovidae said in AB's v Samoa:
@Bones said in AB's v Samoa:
Thinking about this and I may have mentioned it last year or something.
I don't see why the selectors may not also see ALB as wing cover. I know he was used there a fair bit earlier in his career at NPC/Super and age group too maybe? Or am I thinking Thompson again?
IIRC ALB made his debut for the Chiefs as a 19 year old on the wing vs the Bulls in Pretoria. I'm sure he could play on the wing as he has a similar skillset to Kahui. I don't remember him ever playing on the wing for Waikato.
If all 3 midfielders are fit then SBW would be the best impact player. Khoder might disagree though.
I've gone away from this thinking, because under pressure with 20 to go, I feel like SBW often makes bad decisions. Having said that, he did a great job in that role at the WC.
For this game, I'd probably put Crotty at 23 because we have plenty of FB cover there, but not enough midfield cover. I rate Crotty's ability to be the dependable link during the last 20 (see Ireland 82 minute win) if we need to cinch the game, even chase it, rather than others. Within the next year though, the 23 short will be Ioane's - assuming he doesn't lock down the 11 shirt.
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For all the talk of Ioane, I just can't see them not selecting Savea. Hansen and co will give Savea who has been a pretty important player for them over many years, this once in a career opportunity.
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@ACT-Crusader said in AB's v Samoa:
For all the talk of Ioane, I just can't see them not selecting Savea. Hansen and co will give Savea who has been a pretty important player for them over many years, this once in a career opportunity.
I too think they will pick Savea, because the others haven't shown the absolutely demanding form that makes them first pick.
However not for "once in a career ..." because that sets an appalling precedent.
