All Blacks v Pumas
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@Hooroo Yep I'm happy they're testing some of the squad members out and giving others a well earned break. I would like to see Havili get a run at some stage to see how he copes. Plus interested to hear Shag speak of Blake Gibson in one of the pressers (in Matt Todd's absence)
Building toward the 2019 WC starts here and now. -
@Stargazer I think Fifita is in the squad and this is the game that makes the most sense to give him a run. If you don't play him in this game he probably doesn't get a run in TRC. They obviously want some experience/leadership in the 23 too so Cane.
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I think he's got to make the most of it too. He's certainly got the potential, but yet to deliver. Were he to do so, he could really make the bench interesting, especially as 6/lock cover.
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@booboo said in All Blacks v Pumas:
@Billy-Tell said in All Blacks v Pumas:
ALL BLACKS: Damian McKenzie, Israel Dagg, Anton Lienert-Brown, Sonny Bill Williams, Nehe Milner-Skudder, Beauden Barrett, TJ Perenara, Kieran Read (c), Ardie Savea, Vaea Fifita, Brodie Retallick, Luke Romano, Nepo Laulala, Dane Coles, Joe Moody.
Reserves: Codie Taylor, Wyatt Crockett, Ofa Tu'ungafasi, Scott Barrett, Sam Cane, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Lima Sopoaga, Ngani Laumape.
Return of the hot stepper.
Good to see Nehe back.
Little bit of rotation without going OTT. Good.
Sammy deserves a rest.
Would be fun to watch Laumape and Dubs together although I don't expect that to be plan A.
Only question for me is TKB on the bench. No problem in as much as he is clearly in the 3 best halfbacks, but as he's leaving are we missing a chance to get another 9 blooded? Or is Weber next in line and still not 100% so TKB is stop gap as nobody else is ready?
Who says they'll even have 3 full-time halfbacks in the squad after TKB leaves? It wasn't that long ago they only had Weepu and Cowan, with Ellis only called up when needed.
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@Stargazer Sonny Bill can cover centre and has done so in the past.
Big game for ALB. He's having second (test) season blues. Just a little concerned about our defence and who will be the backline leader.
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@Unco said in All Blacks v Pumas:
@booboo said in All Blacks v Pumas:
@Billy-Tell said in All Blacks v Pumas:
ALL BLACKS: Damian McKenzie, Israel Dagg, Anton Lienert-Brown, Sonny Bill Williams, Nehe Milner-Skudder, Beauden Barrett, TJ Perenara, Kieran Read (c), Ardie Savea, Vaea Fifita, Brodie Retallick, Luke Romano, Nepo Laulala, Dane Coles, Joe Moody.
Reserves: Codie Taylor, Wyatt Crockett, Ofa Tu'ungafasi, Scott Barrett, Sam Cane, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Lima Sopoaga, Ngani Laumape.
Return of the hot stepper.
Good to see Nehe back.
Little bit of rotation without going OTT. Good.
Sammy deserves a rest.
Would be fun to watch Laumape and Dubs together although I don't expect that to be plan A.
Only question for me is TKB on the bench. No problem in as much as he is clearly in the 3 best halfbacks, but as he's leaving are we missing a chance to get another 9 blooded? Or is Weber next in line and still not 100% so TKB is stop gap as nobody else is ready?
Who says they'll even have 3 full-time halfbacks in the squad after TKB leaves? It wasn't that long ago they only had Weepu and Cowan, with Ellis only called up when needed.
I don't think there is a clear 3rd choice after TKB leaves. And the options are a little thin at the moment, so IMO I wouldn't be just getting anyone. Smith and TJP are pretty durable.
If DMac stays in the squad then perhaps he will be our emergency standby....
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@Unco said in All Blacks v Pumas:
@booboo said in All Blacks v Pumas:
@Billy-Tell said in All Blacks v Pumas:
ALL BLACKS: Damian McKenzie, Israel Dagg, Anton Lienert-Brown, Sonny Bill Williams, Nehe Milner-Skudder, Beauden Barrett, TJ Perenara, Kieran Read (c), Ardie Savea, Vaea Fifita, Brodie Retallick, Luke Romano, Nepo Laulala, Dane Coles, Joe Moody.
Reserves: Codie Taylor, Wyatt Crockett, Ofa Tu'ungafasi, Scott Barrett, Sam Cane, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Lima Sopoaga, Ngani Laumape.
Return of the hot stepper.
Good to see Nehe back.
Little bit of rotation without going OTT. Good.
Sammy deserves a rest.
Would be fun to watch Laumape and Dubs together although I don't expect that to be plan A.
Only question for me is TKB on the bench. No problem in as much as he is clearly in the 3 best halfbacks, but as he's leaving are we missing a chance to get another 9 blooded? Or is Weber next in line and still not 100% so TKB is stop gap as nobody else is ready?
Who says they'll even have 3 full-time halfbacks in the squad after TKB leaves? It wasn't that long ago they only had Weepu and Cowan, with Ellis only called up when needed.
Still going to need that Ellis equivalent given some game time whether he's in the squad or not. Point stands.
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Yeah, I've seen that, but I personally don't see that much value in him as a straight up 6, unless he is some kind of project. My point was that he could cover 6/lock (not lock/6) in an era when both of our two front liners (and even Barrett) can go 80.
As injury cover, I think he's an interesting piece of the puzzle, if we are trying for full-on speed in the last 30.
Right now, the bench is pretty weak, so I assume they are trying to make Ofa the new Charlie (come back Charlie!), with Taylor plus ____?, a 6/lock like Fifita, Ardie, TJP, McKenzie (as 10 cover but coming on at 15), And Laumape/ALB there is plenty of power and speed.
Lots of those players need testing and experience of course, but I think that's where this year is most interesting. I feel like many are trying to guarantee a 23 spot.
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@ACT-Crusader Earlier in thread it was suggested that they were trying to make Ofa the new Charlie. I seem to recall Charlie wasn't the greatest scrummager in his early days but to paraphrase Joel Stransky had the potential to become a 10 in a prop's body. Ofa is certainly a physical specimen in the loose.
Laulala is scrumming specialist, so a straight back up for Franks. As are Hames and Moody. Moli seems to offer potential to be another mobile prop who can scrummage tidily.
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@gt12 said in All Blacks v Pumas:
Ha ha, Steve responds
Edit: Link not working to herald article?
nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11918985
Christ on a bike, any excuse to mention SBW as some kind of super athlete as if the rest are beer swilling club players.
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@gt12 said in All Blacks v Pumas:
www/nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11918985
@Duluth said in All Blacks v Pumas:
Only that link. Strange
I'll have a look at it tomorrow
It's just that the link is missing the '.'
www/nzheraldAnyway, high praise for Fifita. Looking forward to seeing him in action.
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@Milk said in All Blacks v Pumas:
@gt12 said in All Blacks v Pumas:
www/nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11918985
@Duluth said in All Blacks v Pumas:
Only that link. Strange
I'll have a look at it tomorrow
It's just that the link is missing the '.'
www/nzheraldAnyway, high praise for Fifita. Looking forward to seeing him in action.
Ah that was me ... kind of.
It didn't have the "www" for a start. So I edited it to add but put a "/" instead of a ".".
