All Blacks v France Test 3
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@chris-b said in All Blacks v France Test 3:
@bovidae Assuming it's going to 31 man squads for RWC2019, I can't see them carrying five midfielders.
They'll already need to shed two players from the 33 man squad they're using this year - plus almost certainly add a third hooker to what they used in June. So, one less loose forward, one less midfielder and they've still got to find somewhere else to prune - possibly in the outside backs.
Heaps of room. Cut Naholo and NMS from the outsides. Cut A Savea from the loosies. Turn Goodhue in to a competent winger. Then you can fit both sicknotes in the midfield. Because if you are taking both, you are going to need a heap of cover.
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@mariner4life said in All Blacks v France Test 3:
@chris-b said in All Blacks v France Test 3:
@bovidae Assuming it's going to 31 man squads for RWC2019, I can't see them carrying five midfielders.
They'll already need to shed two players from the 33 man squad they're using this year - plus almost certainly add a third hooker to what they used in June. So, one less loose forward, one less midfielder and they've still got to find somewhere else to prune - possibly in the outside backs.
Heaps of room. Cut Naholo and NMS from the outsides. Cut A Savea from the loosies. Turn Goodhue in to a competent winger. Then you can fit both sicknotes in the midfield. Because if you are taking both, you are going to need a heap of cover.
If only Maori Jesus wasn't off overseas, imagine having three sick note midfielders.
Sounds like you're suggesting we turn Goodhue into a Russian Kahui.
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@mariner4life They've got to cut several loosies from our June squad if they're going to fit in all the Fern favourites.
One (my one) just to get the numbers down to 31.
Another to fit in Kieran Read.
Another to fit in Matt Todd.
Another to fit in Akira Ioane.
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@chris-b said in All Blacks v France Test 3:
@mariner4life They've got to cut several loosies from our June squad if they're going to fit in all the Fern favourites.
One (my one) just to get the numbers down to 31.
Another to fit in Kieran Read.
Another to fit in Matt Todd.
Another to fit in Akira Ioane.
yea, piss easy. All of Squire, Frizzle Fry, and New Suitcase can all fuck off. Oh, and that other shithouse lightweight from the Hurricanes too.
There is heaps of room in this squad!
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@nepia said in All Blacks v France Test 3:
Sounds like you're suggesting we turn Goodhue into a Russian Kahui
yea pretty much. Unless a 14 actually turns up in the next 12 months, there is a gaping hole there. It seems like we are locked in to B Smith until late October 2019, so we just need a dude who can cover.
Goodhue looks alright, and apparently is going to be in the ABs for the next 20 years, so seems like as good a fit as any to be the 2nd or 3rd choice 13, and the 2nd choice 14
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@mariner4life said in All Blacks v France Test 3:
@nepia said in All Blacks v France Test 3:
Sounds like you're suggesting we turn Goodhue into a Russian Kahui
yea pretty much. Unless a 14 actually turns up in the next 12 months, there is a gaping hole there. It seems like we are locked in to B Smith until late October 2019, so we just need a dude who can cover.
Goodhue looks alright, and apparently is going to be in the ABs for the next 20 years, so seems like as good a fit as any to be the 2nd or 3rd choice 13, and the 2nd choice 14
If all we're caring about is 2019 are our right wing options that bad? They're ageing but any of NMS and I Dagg might rediscover their form (and stay fit) by the RWC next year.
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@mariner4life you hush your mouth bout Nehe!! 😀 but I suspect Daggs from is going the way of his hairline... receding!!
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So Ben Smith and Naholo are now past it? Haha yep just like Mccaw was past it every year for about 10 years.
Im not concerned anout our back 3 depth in the slightest.6, 8 and 2 are the areas of concern for me.
Who is going to be 6?
Will Read come back and perform at his best? And Is Whitelock really up to being back up ?
Will Coles come back and perform at his best? Is Harris really good enough to be 3rd choice or 2nd if Coles doesn't get back? -
@pukunui Naholo is now older than Joe Rok, Savea, Howlett et al when thier careers went to decline....
I think BFA still has alot to offer, lost half a yard but still pretty slippery.
One risk we run (again) I guess is protecting some of our older players to time thier run right to peak next year.
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@taniwharugby said in All Blacks v France Test 3:
Naholo is now older than Joe Rok, Savea, Howlett et al when thier careers went to decline
And those 3 were genuinely great wingers before they declined, while Naholo...
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@mariner4life Well, if Hansen had to pick his 31 man squad tomorrow and everyone was fit, I reckon he'd pick something pretty close to:
Moody, Hames, Franks, Laulala, Tu'ungafasi
Coles, Taylor, Coltman
Retallick, Whitelock, Barrett
Read, Cane, Squire, Whitelock, Todd, FifitaSmith, Perenara, TTT
Barrett, McKenzie, Mo'unga
SBW, Crotty, ALB, Laumape
Smith, Barrett, Ioane, NaholoThird hooker could be any one of Coltman, Harris or Aumua - or even someone like Funnell. None of them seem like great options at present.
Hansen could easily choose Ardie over Todd - or even Fifita
Goodhue might push his way into the midfield, but right now I think he's number 5. -
@chris-b said in All Blacks v France Test 3:
@bovidae Assuming it's going to 31 man squads for RWC2019, I can't see them carrying five midfielders.
In 2015 they took halfbacks (x3), 1st 5s (x3), midfielders (x5) and outside backs (x4).
Halfbacks - Smith, TJP, TTT
1st 5s - BB, DMac, Mo'unga
Midfield - SBW, Crotty, ALB, Laumape, Goodhue
Outside backs - BFA, Ioane, JB + one winger (Naholo/NMS/whoever).With JB as the fourth outside back you've also got additional midfield cover for the inevitable injuries to Crotty or SBW. BB and DMac can play fullback, BFA can move to the wing, as can DMac or ALB/Goodhue.
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@chris-b said in All Blacks v France Test 3:
@mariner4life Well, if Hansen had to pick his 31 man squad tomorrow and everyone was fit, I reckon he'd pick something pretty close to:
Moody, Hames, Franks, Laulala, Tu'ungafasi
Coles, Taylor, Coltman
Retallick, Whitelock, Barrett
Read, Cane, Squire, Whitelock, Todd, FifitaSmith, Perenara, TTT
Barrett, McKenzie, Mo'unga
SBW, Crotty, ALB, Laumape
Smith, Barrett, Ioane, NaholoThird hooker could be any one of Coltman, Harris or Aumua - or even someone like Funnell. None of them seem like great options at present.
Hansen could easily choose Ardie over Todd - or even Fifita
Goodhue might push his way into the midfield, but right now I think he's number 5.pretty much ban on i think. but Ardie would get in over Todd given recent history
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@bovidae said in All Blacks v France Test 3:
I would also hope we're not using Fifita full stop
FTFY
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@taniwharugby said in All Blacks v France Test 3:
@pukunui Naholo is now older than Joe Rok, Savea, Howlett et al when thier careers went to decline....
I think BFA still has alot to offer, lost half a yard but still pretty slippery.
One risk we run (again) I guess is protecting some of our older players to time thier run right to peak next year.
I think selecting on age is a stupid policy. It may indicate that someone might be coming to a time when they are on the decline but every player is different. Naholo has been his normal self at super level yet people are calling for him to be cut after one poor AB game. I don't think Smith's game has ever been based on out and out pace so don't see why he can't continue as usual. Especially after some time off last year.
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@bovidae Yeah - I think we've got most options covered in the backs.
DMac is hugely valuable, because he can play the role Beauden played last time (and Slade could have played if required). I wonder if we'll see Mo'unga given some time at fullback to help develop that as an additional utility option.
There's a few players I'm not that happy with in my squad, but if you look back at previous AB RWC squads, we've always had a few duffers.
