2017 Bledisloe Cup & Rugby Championship (4 Nations)

[Stargazer]

@taniwharugby I wasn't suggesting starting Squire at 7. Actually, I was thinking of Dixon, who plays openside for Southland now. If I put my eye patch on, I'd name Gareth Evans, who also has the versatility that the selectors seem to like.

[KiwiMurph]

If you are going to call up an extra 7 go Gibson.

I suspect theyll just start Ardie and use who they have in the rest of the squad to cover (if Cane is a no go).

Most likely id say theyll get Kaino back in the mix either at 6 or off the bench.

[Bovidae]

You can get away from having specialist no.7 cover against the Argies as they don't really play a true openside themselves. Dixon was on the bench last year when Ardie started in Buenos Aires.

[booboo]

Any thought that Taufua would be physical enough and athletic enough to cover 7?

[antipodean]

@booboo is his work rate high enough?

[Duluth]

@antipodean

I wouldn't trust his defence. This week at lowly NPC level he made 8 tackles and missed 4

[Stargazer]

@Duluth Geez, judging someone on one NPC game?

2017 Super Rugby stats (source: SANZAAR)

Tackles made:
A Savea 138
B Gibson 126
M Todd 150
E Dixon 93
J Taufua 106
S Cane 120

Missed tackles:
A Savea 10
B Gibson 11
M Todd 16
E Dixon 10
J Taufua 17
S Cane 21

Tackle success
A Savea 93.2 %
B Gibson 92 %
M Todd 90.4 %
E Dixon 90.3 %
J Taufua 86.2 %
S Cane 85.1 %

Edited to add Blake Gibson and Elliott Dixon

[KiwiMurph]

@Stargazer said in 2017 Bledisloe Cup & Rugby Championship (4 Nations):

@Duluth Geez, judging someone on one NPC game?

2017 Super Rugby stats (source: SANZAAR)

Tackles made:
A Savea 138
M Todd 150
B Gibson 141
J Taufua 106
S Cane 120

Missed tackles:
A Savea 10
B Gibson 11
M Todd 16
J Taufua 17
S Cane 21

Tackle success
A Savea 93.2 %
B Gibson 92.8%
M Todd 90.4 %
J Taufua 86.2 %
S Cane 85.1 %

I included Blake Gibson (got stats from Fox Sports).

[Duluth]

@Stargazer said in 2017 Bledisloe Cup & Rugby Championship (4 Nations):

Geez, judging someone on one NPC game?

No

[Stargazer]

@KiwiMurph I have edited my previous post to add Blake Gibson & E Dixon based on the SANZAAR stats (it's better to use the same source).

[African Monkey]

@Bones Yeah why not, he's shit.

[ACT Crusader]

Taufua??? No way. I like Gibson, but no need to rush him in yet.

If Cane isn't fit and Matt Todd is crook, then just go with Savea to start and have a bigger loosie on the bench.

[booboo]

Hmmm. Interested in the reaction to Taufua. He seemed to get a lot of love on here and from foreign journos earlier this season.

I'm not an out and fan or proponent of him, and I've never considered him as a blindside but thought his slightly more robust technique may suit as cover for 7 (and 6) from the bench.

Seems I was wrong

[Wurzel]

Taufua in the 20 jumper would bring much the same as Ardie does.

[booboo]

@Wurzel said in 2017 Bledisloe Cup & Rugby Championship (4 Nations):

Taufua in the 20 jumper would bring much the same as Ardie does.

And given Ardie would likely be in 7 if Cane and Todd are out would that be a good thing or a bad thing? ie Same same on the bench or would we look to something different?

[Crucial]

@booboo said in 2017 Bledisloe Cup & Rugby Championship (4 Nations):

@Wurzel said in 2017 Bledisloe Cup & Rugby Championship (4 Nations):

Taufua in the 20 jumper would bring much the same as Ardie does.

And given Ardie would likely be in 7 if Cane and Todd are out would that be a good thing or a bad thing? ie Same same on the bench or would we look to something different?

He could actually make quite an impact if set loose for a 20 minute burst. He can make some hard tackles and rampaging runs for his size.
However, what's his international status? Surely he isn't holding out for an AB dream? He's not going to be a long termer.
I guess a black jersey ups his price up north but it would be a shame if he was lost to Samoa

[Tim]

It remains unclear whether Cane will be free to play after a head knock 12 minutes in forced him from the field against the Wallabies in Dunedin. While Ryan Crotty is expected to be available, Cane appears more doubtful.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11916107

[broughie]

Do we really need an open side? Hasn't that 7 position evolved and can't a team be selected to accommodate essentially 2 six's? Why not Akira or Fifita. Just thinking out of the box.

[Chris B.]

Surely they'll just pick Ardie at 7 and have a blindside flanker on the bench.

If Kaino is available I'd guess they'll go 6. Kaino, 7. Ardie, 8. Read, 20 Squire.

[Duluth]

@Chris-B. said in 2017 Bledisloe Cup & Rugby Championship (4 Nations):

Surely they'll just pick Ardie at 7 and have a blindside flanker on the bench.

If Kaino is available I'd guess they'll go 6. Kaino, 7. Ardie, 8. Read, 20 Squire.

Mostly agree..

It sounds like they want Kaino to play for Auckland before coming back to the Test side. Which is a good idea, he can take a few games to get up to speed.

I think it might be Savea/Read/Squire with Akira on the bench (who is suspiciously missing the NPC game today)

Looking at the squad cover going forward we have 3 very good opensides.. Squire and Kaino are the quality options at blindside. The number 8 behind Read is not clear.

Ardie has covered 8 from the bench. I suspect they'll want Squire to concentrate on 6 now. Akira seems to be the longer term backup option for 8, so they might as well start looking at him via the bench