AB Positions up for grabs
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@tim said in AB Positions up for grabs:
@nepia According to their respective team websites, Duffie is 1.92 m and 92 kg, while Havili is 1.84 m and 95 kg. Hence Duffie looking a lot skinnier.
Duffie is bigger than you think up close and looks tall on the Ardie scale. BFA is 1.86 m and 93 kg as a comparison.
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@stargazer I dont think it is, the RWC is next year, our encumbant 15 and his back up are on the wrong side of 30, so if they are gonna pluck out a rookie, it will be this year and likely sooner rather than later
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@tim said in AB Positions up for grabs:
Last and least controversial of the lot - Fullback.
Last year was a tough run to say the least. Ben Smith is the incumbent but is returning from a run of injuries and will be 32 soon. Expect him to start most, with others getting opportunities. McKenzie may be used as a Beauden Barrett like bench option, despite focussing on 1st 5.
Contenders:
Jordie Barrett - very talented player with good size for the high-ball and contact. Needs to work on positioning and one-on-one defence. May focus on midfield
David Havili - good all rounder, looked sharp in tests, how good can he get? Will be under more pressure from opposition in his second season as a prominent player.
Solomon Alaimalo - has the natural ability, how good are his decision making and defence?
Shaun Stevenson - gained some experience now, how good can he get? Will he play 15 for the Chiefs?
Melani Nanai - has all the ability, but how are his decision making and kicking game developing?
Matt Duffie - classy player, but questions over size, defence, and kicking game.
Then there are the possible bolters like Josh McKay, Will Jordan etc.
I think I might have mentioned once or twice that Jordie should be a 12.
I'm a big fan of Duffie. Think his aerial ability could be a massive asset at test level. He's still learning the game so hopefully this will be his breakout year.
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@taniwharugby said in AB Positions up for grabs:
@stargazer I dont think it is, the RWC is next year, our encumbant 15 and his back up are on the wrong side of 30, so if they are gonna pluck out a rookie, it will be this year and likely sooner rather than later
The incumbent (BFA) and his back-up (Dagg), and his back-up's back-up (JB) weren't available last year and they did already pluck out rookies (DMac, Havili, and also with Duffie as a wing able to shift to 15). With BB able to play fullback, they don't need to introduce more fullbacks IMO, even if they opt for playing DMac primarily as a 10. NMS is another that can be used at fullback if needed (and available). As I said, the queue is long; very long.
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@stargazer you also said it was premature to talk about those players...it isnt.
While unlikely they will be selected, IF they do decide to go with another (if any of those you mention get injured, form falls off a cliff or anyo f those it is premature to talk about, have a season that is so irresistable) it will more likely be sooner rather than later.
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@tim said in AB Positions up for grabs:
3rd Halfback
Smith and Perenara are obviously the top two. Kerr-Barlow has gone, and there are no players with significant international experience left. This is wide open.
Contenders:
Hall and Drummond at the Crusaders. Both good but not much more. Hall is faster around the field and looks a little bit sharper, not very consistent though. Was preferred for the playoffs last year. Was injured at the end of the year and Drummond got a chance with the ABs.
Brad Weber - has the pass and speed to the ruck, but does he have the game for test rugby? He's rather small, and has struggled on defence. Is returning from a serious injury.
Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi (T3) - Looks in good shape, looks faster too. Another small player. Has looked really good at times in lower grades.
Pulu - would make a good impact sub. Very physical. Would you want this man starting for your team? Pass is often too slow, not great at getting to rucks quickly.
Pity that Enari is injured. Looked really good for NZ U20.
Ruru has the potential to be added to your list. He's got a good pass and he is quite big for a scrum half.
No mention of the red haired nines of the Hurricanes ? -
@cgrant said in AB Positions up for grabs:
@tim said in AB Positions up for grabs:
3rd Halfback
Smith and Perenara are obviously the top two. Kerr-Barlow has gone, and there are no players with significant international experience left. This is wide open.
Contenders:
Hall and Drummond at the Crusaders. Both good but not much more. Hall is faster around the field and looks a little bit sharper, not very consistent though. Was preferred for the playoffs last year. Was injured at the end of the year and Drummond got a chance with the ABs.
Brad Weber - has the pass and speed to the ruck, but does he have the game for test rugby? He's rather small, and has struggled on defence. Is returning from a serious injury.
Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi (T3) - Looks in good shape, looks faster too. Another small player. Has looked really good at times in lower grades.
Pulu - would make a good impact sub. Very physical. Would you want this man starting for your team? Pass is often too slow, not great at getting to rucks quickly.
Pity that Enari is injured. Looked really good for NZ U20.
Ruru has the potential to be added to your list. He's got a good pass and he is quite big for a scrum half.
No mention of the red haired nines of the Hurricanes ?Don't know if he will get enough opportunities to press his case with the AB selectors before a Scotland jersey (and move) is offered.
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@taniwharugby said in AB Positions up for grabs:
@stargazer you also said it was premature to talk about those players...it isnt.
While unlikely they will be selected, IF they do decide to go with another (if any of those you mention get injured, form falls off a cliff or anyo f those it is premature to talk about, have a season that is so irresistable) it will more likely be sooner rather than later.
No, I didn't say that. I said "IMO it's premature to mention Alaimalo, McKay, Jordan and even Stevenson." I didn't say it was premature to talk about DMac, Havili or Duffie. Of all positions on the field, fullback is the least of their worries and therefore has the least priority for introducing rookies. They have 5 fullbacks plus BB, plus possibly NMS. More than enough to address any of the issues you mention.
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@cgrant said in AB Positions up for grabs:
It will be interesting to see where the Chiefs will use Stevenson and Alaimalo
As long as Cooper hasn't got rocks in his head and plays Charlie at fullback, as he did in a preseason game. The best Chiefs midfield combo is Ngatai-ALB.
With that said, I would select Stevenson at fullback and Alaimalo on the left wing with the latter taking over from Lowe as the power winger. They could be interchangeable across the back three. Pulu probably on the right wing if he is fit, otherwise MMac could go to fullback. I am excluding TNW and McNicol as both are unavailable.
I might try to pop down to a training this week to see who is on deck.
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Duffie a good option as a wing/fullback. We need one of those in the 14 jersey and I suspect Dagg may not make the RWC.
The question around JB and Mac is whether we can fit two utilities into a RWC squad. Neither are likely (barring other injuries) to command a specialist spot.
There is no way that JB will be an AB 12 at the next RWC part from being there as a backup and having others fall over, so scrap that idea. He goes as one of the back three or as a utility.
Usually there is only one utility in a squad but we have a few multi position guys with good talent lining up so maybe the mix will be different.
Crotty (12,13)
ALB (12,13)
Rieko (11,14,13)
DMac (15,10)
JB (15, and apparently everywhere else)
Dagg and Smith (14,15) -
@tim said in AB Positions up for grabs:
@crucial Goodhue covers 12 and wing too.
Everybody covers wing.
I'm more thinking of players that either will or could push for genuine positional selection. I can't see Goodhue doing that as a wing. He needs to get a foot in the door in one position first as well, and the midfield queue is not only long but there will likely be an aim to stop tinkering there and settle down, meaning less opportunity.
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In my eyes 6, 10, 12, 13, 14, 16, 19-23 *should * all be up for grabs, based purely on the large amounts of dross we served up last year
