All Blacks vs Boks
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Just read that Kriel is out and returning to South Africa with a shoulder injury. Big loss for the Boks. His form has been outstanding this year.
The team I think they'll go for:
Crockett, Coles, Laulala, Retallick, Whitelock, Squire, Cane, Read, Smith, Barrett, Ioane, Williams, Crotty, Milner-Skudder, McKenzie
Taylor, Hames, Tu'ungafasi, Barrett, Fifita, Perenara, Sopoaga, Lienart-Brown
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not the tallest back 3...
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@taniwharugby said in All Blacks vs Boks:
not the tallest back 3...
Taller than the back three against Argentina maybe with the addition of Ioane?
I don't think Fifita has leap frogged Squire (or Kaino for that matter). I think the ABs are doing some experimenting this year with players and playing style (a bit like they did in the RWC pool matches).
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@taniwharugby said in All Blacks vs Boks:
not the tallest back 3...
Options are limited.
Going from Bender, Dagg, Reiko to a back three that includes both Skudder and DMac is a massive drop off in size.
Naholo has become a bit of a Foodbill
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NMS was very good under the high ball last game. How good are the Bok back 3? I saw most of the Aus game and the Ghanaen-born dude was pretty good, but honestly have no idea who the other 2 are. Iirc Leroux and Habana weren't there.
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@Rancid-Schnitzel yeah he was and only 5cm? taller than DMac?
Thier kicking game would need to be spot on to exploit the height diff I reckon, but is just a long way from a back 3 of BFA, Dagg and someone else...think they need Jane to help them with the work under the high ball.
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Think Act C's team looks about right, but it's a bit of a worry when you look at that bench. I wonder whether Romano gets a go this week - he was pretty good last week, I thought.
I'm also not really loving ALB's work right now, but he is probably the safer player to bring on and I can't think of another I'd rather have there against the boks.
Suddenly, there are plenty of places where a third and fourth world class player is needed.
You'd be feeling good if you were a young loose head prop - plenty of opportunity there right now.
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I think ALBs play is an indicator of how well the back play overall is gelling. He needs to be the guy that fits well into movements but has the ability to unleash a moment when opportunity arises.
To me Crotty/ALB works well. BB/Crotty works well. BB/SBW doesn't work so well.
I don't know the selectors plans but we keep seeing combos that don't make sense to me. I can't see why SBW isn't being used off the bench and BB/Crotty/ALB isn't the go. -
Unless Lima gets a start we won't be finding out much about 10-12 combo's. I agree that BB/Crotty works well, and SBW seemed to thrive outside Crudes, who had an extraordinary ability to navigate heavy traffic.
The issue with BB/Crotty is that neither at the highest level offers a direct physical threat. The AB wise guys see SBW and Laumape as having that. Moala, for me did too. The ability to have 12 straighten things keeps defences honest (can't drift) and opens up holes elsewhere. A 12 with a good step can also create havoc. Trouble is that none of the current crash ballers has much of a passing game, nor step from what I've seen.
Crotty is truly a second five eighth more than an inside centre. But he has a low error rate and excellent option taking so at 13 does seem the best bet outside BB/SBW. ALB is similar, but with much less experience. I see him as having potential to be another Conrad.
We really were spoiled by Nonu who developed from a crash baller with a step into a passing and kicking 12, one of the two best of the professional era.
Still keen to see Charlie N on EOYT. Almost a hybrid 2nd five/inside centre. Can run hard line, fast, experienced and passes well. Crudes/Charlie/ALB was a good combo for the Chiefs. I think he'd also BB look more rounded.
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The matchday 23 (with Test caps in brackets) is:
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Kane Hames (2)
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Dane Coles (51)
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Nepo Laulala (6)
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Brodie Retallick (67)
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Samuel Whitelock (90)
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Liam Squire (10)
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Sam Cane (47)
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Kieran Read (103) - Captain
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Aaron Smith (64)
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Beauden Barrett (56)
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Rieko Ioane (6)
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Sonny Bill Williams (39)
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Ryan Crotty (29)
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Nehe Milner-Skudder (9)
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Damian McKenzie (5)
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Codie Taylor (22)
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Wyatt Crockett (64)
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Ofa Tu'ungafasi (7)
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Scott Barrett (10)
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Ardie Savea (19)
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TJ Perenara (36)
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Lima Sopoaga (10)
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Anton Lienert-Brown (16)
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@pakman said in All Blacks vs Boks:
The matchday 23 (with Test caps in brackets) is:
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Kane Hames (2)
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Dane Coles (51)
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Nepo Laulala (6)
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Brodie Retallick (67)
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Samuel Whitelock (90)
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Liam Squire (10)
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Sam Cane (47)
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Kieran Read (103) - Captain
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Aaron Smith (64)
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Beauden Barrett (56)
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Rieko Ioane (6)
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Sonny Bill Williams (39)
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Ryan Crotty (29)
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Nehe Milner-Skudder (9)
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Damian McKenzie (5)
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Codie Taylor (22)
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Wyatt Crockett (64)
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Ofa Tu'ungafasi (7)
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Scott Barrett (10)
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Ardie Savea (19)
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TJ Perenara (36)
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Lima Sopoaga (10)
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Anton Lienert-Brown (16)
Pretty much the A team given availbilty IMO.
Surprised Hames over Crockett. Maybe that's a starter v best bench option option.
Difficult to quibble with the rest. It would really only be twraking around the edges to fit Fifita in. And BB at fullback really isn't a starting option.
Not that I'm advocating him (i like these eing options) but what's happened to Naholo?
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